C.J. Skuse

Once upon a time, there was a 16 year old girl who wrote to her favourite author and asked her how she might write a book that would get published one day. And that author, Gillian White, very kindly wrote back and sent me two signed books of hers (one of which I stupidly leant someone to go on holiday with and it came back covered in sodding Piz Buin 😠 ) but anyway, I turn 46 this year so never forget where you started and never stop believing. #writingcommunity #bookstagram #amwriting #crimewriting

And baby makes 12 🥳

DARLING BUD, a companion novel to the Sweetpea series books, is coming out in June. It’s about Ivy Silverton, Rhiannon’s 16-year-old daughter as she approaches a sad crossroads in her life. Here are some answers to the FAQs I’ve had about it so far, you eager little Bad Seeds... 1) Is AJ in it? Sort of. 2) Is Rhiannon in it? Sort of. 3) Is Ivy more like her mum or her dad? Best of both. 4) Is Ivy in danger? Yes. 5) What other characters are in it from the series who we might remember? Guess... 6) Are there more Kill Lists? Sort of. 7) Does Ivy have a boyfriend? No, she’s gay af. 8) Does Ivy have a dog like Tink? No, a giant house rabbit called Maddox. 9) Does Ivy swear? Yes. Lots. 10) Will there be blood? Bit. 11) Is it as funny as the Sweetpea books? No. Different character (but there’s some trademark Skuse filth, dw) 12) Does it have a happy ending? Erm ... 13) Any more spoilers you can give? No. Have a bit of fucking patience. Mwah x If you fancy a preorder you can find it here: /2cbfn6rj here: /2pen97j4 and here: https://shorturl.at/QAd2f #newbookreleases #crimefiction #serialkillers #sweetpeaseries

I’m so excited to be teaching ‘Writing Crime’ with @faber_academy starting in April. This is a 12-week improving-level course designed to help writers develop the skills to plan, write and progress a crime or thriller novel. You don’t need to have started your book yet, but you should have at least an idea you want to work on. Over the six two-week sessions, we’ll look at what defines crime fiction and how to shape a strong, compelling central idea. We’ll explore practical ways to build and sustain suspense, thinking about pacing, structure and how much information to give the reader and when. You’ll learn how to plot and structure a novel, including using timelines, flashbacks and non-linear storytelling to keep tension building. We’ll spend time creating rounded, memorable characters and looking at how character choices drive plot and theme through action and dialogue. We’ll also focus on viewpoint and narrative voice, exploring how perspective and psychic distance can deepen suspense and pull readers in. Finally, we’ll look at how to keep going after the course ends, from tackling the 'soggy' middle of a manuscript and building good writing habits to thinking about next steps towards publication, with personalised feedback on your plans and a work-in-progress extract. Find out more and book here: /product/writing-crime-6-april-2026/ #writingcrime #crimefiction #writingcourses #faberacademy #cjskuse #sweetpea

Well that was quite the monumental waste of time, seeing as I’m no longer an academic! Lol🤪🤣🤪 #phd

I’m so excited to be back teaching Writing a Novel (Online) for @faber_academy this year! Over seven months, you’ll get: 📚 Bespoke writing advice 👩‍🏫 Access to world-renowned authors & tutors 💻 A dynamic online classroom 🤝 Supportive workshops & community Whether you’re finally finishing that pesky novel or starting a new one afresh, this course is designed to help you get there. 📅 Applications close 8th September — apply now via this link - shorturl.at/ITJh9 #writingcommunityofınstagram #writingcommunity #bookstagram #writingcourses #writinganovel #faberacademy

✨More exciting news!✨ I’m now officially working with Curtis Brown Creative as a writing mentor. If you're working on a novel and looking for in-depth, tailored support, you can now request me via their editor pool just follow the link below to enquire. Whether you’re stuck in the middle, tackling a tricky edit, or just getting started, mentoring is a brilliant way to get that personalised guidance and motivation to keep going. You’ll receive detailed feedback on up to 10,000 words of your work-in-progress each time we meet, plus support with craft, troubleshooting, and momentum. You’ll get three one-hour sessions, spaced over three, six or nine months (you choose the pace), all designed around your project and your goals. I’m here to help you move from idea to finished draft, with structure, encouragement and expert insight along the way. If that sounds like the help you need right now, and you've always wondered what it might be like to have the writer of Sweetpea as your 1-2-1 editor, head on over to the CBC site and request me. More info about CBC here: https://shorturl.at/7oYMS All about me here: https://shorturl.at/J61f4 #CurtisBrownCreative #WritingMentor #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingSupport #WritersOfInstagram #ManuscriptMentor

Nice pressie for Chrimbo for the love of your life, or perhaps someone you fucking hate, I dunno. Just buy them please so I can afford an extra lump of coal for my Christmas hearth. Cheers dolls. https://shorturl.at/E2ZKB #sweetpea #fivebookseries #crimefiction #serialkiller #femaleserialkiller

Got up mega early this morning to treat myself to a precious hour looking over Darling Bud, my lil Sweetpea companion novel which I started in 2023 and dipped into again last summer. It’s 50k words currently. My plan is to finish it once my PhD is done in Feb - strictly speaking I’m not allowed to write it at the moment 😞 But it cheers me to remember I’m a writer now and again so I’m treating it as therapy 😊 Fingers crossed someone somewhere wants to publish it someday so you guys can read it. This is Ivy’s story - I have mentioned it at a few live events this year - so not strictly Rhiannon-esque. There’s a few Easter eggs in there though, and some people you might recognise from the other books, and it’s the only story (I think) left to tell in the Sweetpea-book-universe. Watch this space … #Sweetpea #CrimeFiction #SerialKillers

I was so excited to get the email from netgalley and the publisher to invite me to read the final installment of the Sweetpea series. You know those things you wish you could experience again for the first time - reading Sweetpea was one of mine. Sweetpea ignited a passion for a very specific genre in me and I've adored the whole series, but with this one I truly feel like it's gone full circle and I got those same feels like the first book. After leaving us on the mother of all cliffhangers at the end of thorn in my side, the bad seeds throws us straight back into the thick of it. I laughed so hard at so many different points - the deliciously dark humour and sarcastic one liners are just so on point. I wasn't sure how the story of Rhiannon/Sweetpea would end - I obviously didn't want it to! But I think the way that it has is actually pretty perfect. I'm also truly honoured that a little piece of me is in this final book as I'm mentioned in the acknowledgements! @ceejayismeeejay I'm a Bad Seed for life! #KeepHerBuried #netgalleyreview #arcreview #arcreviewer #bookrecommendations #booklover

📚SERIES GROUP READ📚 It’s not too late to join author @ceejayismeeejay and @datewithathriller for a group buddy read of the Sweet Pea series!! 🔪 We will be kicking things off with Sweet Pea July 1st and then reading through the rest of the series, ending with The Bad Seeds in November!! At the end of each month we will discuss that month’s book in our group chat right here on IG!! 💬🙌 Members will be added to the group chat next week, so if you want to join let us know in the comments!!! ⬇️ Who’s ready to get this party started?!? 🎉🎉🎉 ⁉️QOTD⁉️ What are you currently reading? ~ OR ~ Predictive text: The last person who called me _______ ended up dead. #groupread #buddyread #bookseries #bookdiscussion #thriller #thrillerbooksaddict #thrillerreads

Well my publisher told me go out there and do my thing. This is my schmoozing technique 🤷🏼‍♀️