Blog Entries
I’m Heather Belleguelle of Behest Fiction Editing. Welcome to my blog! I hope the posts I write will give you some handy tips, information, and ideas to help you on your writing journey.
As a British editor working with authors from both sides of the pond and having spent a year living in Canada myself, I’m very aware of the differences that exist between British and North American life and culture. My hope is that if you aren’t so familiar with all things British, I’ll be able to pass on some tips to help you ensure your British characters and settings are as authentic as possible and that I’ll also be able to introduce you to beautiful Britain.
If you have any questions or subjects you’d like me to consider covering, please drop an email to heather@behest-editing.com or send me a message via the contact form on this website.
- A Whitsun Wedding Murder by Susan D. Cook
Recently one of the cozy mystery groups I’m in on Facebook, Cozy Mystery Village, hit a big membership milestone. To celebrate, the admins organised a huge giveaway, with authors offering free books and swag, and those of us in other aspects of publishing finding ways to make a gift of our services to authors. I’d Continue reading...Category: Book Reviews - A Killer in the Crystal Palace by Deb Marlowe
For twenty years now, I’ve enjoyed the rather addictive hobby of researching my family history. I love the detective aspect of it, and being someone with an eye for detail, I enjoy persevering to winkle out information. I look forward to poring over historical records at weekends. Fleshing out ancestors’ lives so that they’re more Continue reading...Category: Book Reviews - Books, Betrayal & Blame by Sally Bayless
A question that’s regularly asked of cozy mystery fans is: What’s your favourite aspect of a cozy? Is it the small-town or village location? The sleuth and their band of helpful friends and assistants? The cozy setting, which could be a bookshop, tea shop, or florist, for example? Or might it be the furry, feathered, Continue reading...Category: Book Reviews - How Can I Tell If a Book Has Been Written by Generative AI?
Recently there have been discussions in a couple of the cozy mystery Facebook groups I’m in regarding AI-generated books. Like me, many readers don’t want to spend their hard-earned money or their time on something that hasn’t been created by a human author. A living, breathing author has poured themselves into developing their setting, plot, Continue reading...Category: Generative AI - The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
I remember discovering that TV quiz presenter Richard Osman was launching his debut novel during the dark days of the COVID lockdown of 2020. Being a fan of this intelligent and funny man, I was keen to read the book as soon as possible. I’ve always felt a bit of kinship with Richard as we Continue reading...Category: Book Reviews - The Only Way is Murder by Lou Collins
Editors Love to Read Interviewer: Ooh, being an editor must be such a lovely job. You get to read novels all day! Me: Well, yes, I do read books, of course, but reading with my editor’s head on is a bit different from reading purely for pleasure. Interviewer: So what about your leisure time? What Continue reading...Category: Book Reviews - Britain in the Snow
Happy new year from Northumberland! The UK has begun 2026 with quite a cold snap, something that certainly doesn’t happen every year. We’ve had snow – enough snow for it to officially look like snow and not just a sprinkling of icing sugar. And it feels darn chilly and icy out there. My husband and Continue reading...Category: All Things British - British Christmas Baking
In our earlier blog post about Christmas food, we looked at the traditional British Christmas dinner. That sounded delicious, I hear you say, but what about Christmas baking? Don’t panic – we’re coming to that now, although, to be honest, there aren’t too many traditional sweet treats to write about. My husband and I lived Continue reading...Category: All Things British - A British Christmas Dinner
“Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat. Please do put a penny in the old man’s hat.” We’re in December now, and Christmas really is coming, although the rain currently pouring down outside isn’t making me feel very Christmassy! But let’s not worry about that and turn our thoughts instead to food and what Continue reading...Category: All Things British - Money, Money, Money
“In for a penny, in for a pound.” “Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves.” “A penny for your thoughts.” British English has plenty of sayings and proverbs relating to the country’s currency. But how many pennies (or is it “pence”?) are there in a pound? And what about Continue reading...Category: All Things British - The Giant’s Causeway
Legend has it that long ago, an Irish giant named Finn McCool built a causeway across the Irish Sea to Scotland so that he could accept the challenge of fighting Scottish giant Benandonner. This fascinating natural phenomenon welcomes thousands of visitors every year and became a World Heritage Site in 1986. Whatever the weather, grey Continue reading...Category: Beautiful Britain - Get A Handle On
I was trying to update a financial spreadsheet yesterday but ended up losing those magical formulae that total it all up for you. Fortunately I’m married to Mr Tech, who was able to restore them for me. I really need to do some spreadsheet training to help me “get a handle” on how to set Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday