POLICE ADVISOR-THE REVIEWS
ANNOUNCEMENT
20 August 2020
SOLVING A MURDER – THE FIRST 48 HOURS THE REVIEWS….
Former Police Chief Superintendent and now bestselling author, Graham Bartlett has been touched by the number of positive responses to his recent crime online writers course.
Graham, who advises top crime writers, in both the literary and multi-media world, recently directed an intensive weekend course in which he provided the tools to gain a complete understanding of real UK crime procedure and how to use them to write compelling crime fiction.
The course allowed attendees to gain knowledge of processes that leads to identification, arrest and interviews of suspects. It also explained the professional roles involved and how they work. Students were immersed into a virtual murder scene, then learned how, hour by hour, the investigation unfolded.
Graham, who is co-author with Peter James of best sellers ‘Death Comes Knocking – Policing Roy Grace’s Brighton’ and ‘Babes in The Wood’, the course naturally included ways for authors to maintain authenticity in both stories and characters whilst keeping their readers at the centre of the action.
As a part of The Professional Writing Academy’s Crime Writing: Making it Real course series, it drew the attention of participants from across the globe.
Thriving on the combination of research and fiction writing, Mike L from Australia attended the recent intensive weekend course and described Graham’s engaging personality and deep experience in policing as making it even more valuable than he had expected.
“Thanks to Graham and the team for a superb course, squeezed into a necessarily challenging time frame. I’ve learnt so much, had fun and managed to be pretty productive. And everyone taking the course has been stunning – talented, highly effective and generous. What a pleasure it’s been. The other terrific thing about these courses is that we can juggle the timing and complete exercises when we can. What a broadening experience this weekend is!”
Mike has since expressed a keenness to join Graham’s future workshops and courses
Also from the other side of the world, in Sydney, Australia, crime novel enthusiast and writer Stephanie M explained that she lacked confidence when it came to getting the procedure right. She was clearly very invested in the course and wanted to offer a real insight into how she found the weekend course.
“I have done a lot of writing courses, and there is nothing else like Graham’s courses out there. I wanted to know the details of how an investigation is conducted so my writing would be believable – what is the pecking order in a police station, who is the first responder to a murder, when are the detectives brought in, which rank of detective would fulfil what role in the investigation, how do investigators identify lines of inquiry and witnesses, what surveillance and forensic techniques do they use to identify potential suspects. Graham’s course answered all of these questions.
“I realised that in order to make my crime novel authentic, I needed to understand the nuts and bolts of how an investigation takes place – what surveillance and forensic techniques are used as well as how and why. What interview protocol and procedures are followed in interviewing witnesses and once a suspect is arrested. When is legal representation brought in. What happens between the arrest, charge and court appearance. Graham knows the answers to all these questions because he has been an SIO himself, and his advice means I can write without being hampered by anxiety about correct procedures
“I have completed both Graham’s Surveillance and First 24 Hours courses, and they have provided a window into how detectives successfully investigate murders and other crimes. The kind of hands-on advice and insight Graham can provide on how to write any forensic interview and other crime investigation scenes means that I don’t have to just rely on what I think I’ve seen on TV crime dramas. I feel so lucky to have access to Graham’s advice, especially as he has such an impressive track record in advising other published crime novelists like Rosamunde Lupton whose novels I love to read”.
This kind of review demonstrates the level of research writers consider so vital to becoming a professional author. It expresses the lengths they will go to, to ensure authenticity and attract loyal readers.
Jack P:
I’m based in the south of England, in Surrey, and at the beginning stages of my writing career. I’ve published three novels and am in the process of publishing six more. All self-published. I’d used Graham’s services – his thorough manuscript readthrough – twice before undertaking the Crime Scene Weekend course, and I still managed to learn something new. I was thoroughly impressed with Graham’s knowledge, the style of teaching, and also hearing from other industry experts – which was invaluable”.
With the ever-changing world we live in, with new and inspiring plots in TV dramas and crime fiction, what is sometimes a first experience of learning for some authors becomes refresher courses for them later on in their career.
Effie joined the course from Scotland. She is an incredibly hard working and accomplished writer, achieving great success over the past few years. However the seriousness with which she continues her writing career is perhaps why she finds Graham’s courses invaluable. She expressed how the recent weekend course exceeded her expectations. She revealed that she wasn’t prepared for how intense the course was but she thoroughly embraced and loved all of it.
“I was delighted at the opportunity to attend an online course with Graham. His reputation and expertise set him apart from other advisers and tutors. As an ex-cop and writer myself, I am well aware of how outdated my knowledge is and as I want to be as authentic as possible, this course came at the perfect time. I’d love to do more courses with Graham again. His manner is very approachable, respectful and keen. I was impressed with his working relationships with the other experts and policing’s loss is certainly the writing community’s gain. I couldn’t recommend this course more highly”.
Absolute authenticity is the foundation of Graham’s consultancy, his police advisory service and his invaluable online writing courses. There are great authors out there and it’s those award-winning great authors that never, ever run the risk of scrimping on research and many of those great authors continue to turn to Graham when writing their novels.
Graham’s next course is a one day workshop ‘Behind The Cell Door’ on 12th September. Another chance to attend his ‘Solving a Murder – The First 48 Hours’ will be the weekend of October 10th this year. Early bird price expires early September. (The 12th September’s Behind The Cell Door will be offered FREE to those who book the Solving a Murder course in time. For details and to register go to https://www.profwritingacademy.com/police-advisor-courses to sign up for Graham’s newsletter go to http://www.policeadvisor.co.uk/contact
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Note to Editors
All enquiries, interviews and image rights please contact:
Stephanie St James
Tel: +44 (0)1273 806950 or +44 (0)7976 973951+34 645 323 400
stephanie@stephaniestjamespr.com
