Non-fiction
A growing list of books which can aid the Struggling Author in their endeavours. These are all personal recommendations and not just mass 'reviews' of what is selling.
(Please note this page is under construction and also needs input from YOU!)
Writer's Market UK
Whether you’re looking for a publisher, a writing group or a book group, this is the place to look. It contains listings for UK and Irish publishers as well as consumer magazines and literary agents. Best of all it costs less than a tenner for nearly 1,000 pages of information! Writers Market
Novel Writing 16 Steps to Success by Evan Marshall
Review by Helen Edwards
When I first decided to write a novel, I looked around for a book which would help me with the structure.
After browsing the shelves in Borders, I found a little gem called ‘Novel Writing: 16 Steps to Success’ by Evan Marshall.
This book has been invaluable to me. It is an easy read, and takes you through logical steps in order to get you started on your novel. It covers, amongst other things, genre, your story idea, creating your lead and other characters such as the opposition, the confidant, and the romantic involvement (if applicable). There is a guide to plotting, and Evan starts you off by using a certain pattern with the sections. He also covers interweaving storylines and surprises. There is so much more there, and I haven’t got to the ‘polishing your manuscript’ or the ‘marketing your novel’ sections yet, because I’m still in the middle of writing my novel!
On Writing - by Stephen King
Perfect book to boost your morale during those lonely times when you feel like giving up. Details his early years writing short stories through to his first novel being published and on through to his accident when he got around to writing this book.
Click on the link to see reviews etc on Amazon.
Writer's & Artists' Yearbook
Invaluable aid for aspiring authors. Page after page of Literary Agents, Publishers, magazines etc etc. A long haul but, with the aid of a highlighter, not insurmountable.
Click on the link
Really Simple English Grammar - by Carolyn Humphries
Helps you overcome any nightmare experiences that may still haunt you from high school English classes. Holds your hand and gently reminds you that you used to know this stuff once - and, if you didn't, you will do by the end of it. Really Simple English Grammar
The Creative Writing Coursebook - J Bell & P Magrs
With forty different authors contributing to this book it runneth over with advice, tips and real world anecdotes. Ideal compendium of Do's and Don'ts for authors of Short Stories and Novels. I pick it up and read it where it drops open rather than cover to cover. Creative Writing 
Collins Good Punctuation Guide
Have read this cover to cover a number of times (although sometimes you can't tell) and I keep it on the shelf in my work area. Brilliant reference for when you're stuck with whether to use a semi-colon or a full stop, or which kind of parentheses would suit which sentence. Don't be without it or one similar. Collins Good Punctuation