Highlights – G. B. Ralph

2025 Writing Highlights: Visualising

Addison, Jake, Mabel, and Keith have never looked so adorable! I’ve always had a strong impression of their appearance in my head while writing The Milverton Mysteries and I periodically describe them on page but this year was the first time we’ve had a visual representation. I had great fun working with illustrator Surya Dexter…

G. B. Ralph

22 Dec 2025

Writing

Character art, Characters, Commission, Highlights, Illustration, Milverton, Mystery, The Milverton Mysteries

2025 Writing Highlights: Performing

I’m a regular at the Palmerston North City Library, often going there to write, so when the librarians asked if I’d be willing to feature in a video, of course I had to say yes! To quote my video self, “just being in the library is inspiring, being surrounded by books and knowing that every…

G. B. Ralph

20 Dec 2025

Writing

Author, Books, Highlights, Library, Palmerston North City Library, Video, Writing

2025 Writing Highlights: Translating

Konnichiwa to my first translated work! Originally published in English in The Law of Consequences anthology, my short story was picked up and translated into Japanese by Tokyo-based translator Nona Umezawa. It was then published by the Translation Sisters in their third issue of Letters Unbound which was centred around the theme of Food. ‘The Sand…

G. B. Ralph

18 Dec 2025

Writing

Books, Highlights, Japanese, Short Stories, The Law of Consequences, The Sand Witch’s Sandwich, Translation

2025 Writing Highlights: Judging

I was invited to help judge two writing competitions this year! The Mysterious Murders short story competition was open for entries from adults around the world and Te Kura o Karere Amazing Authors Awards competition was open for entries from students in years 5–8 at a local primary school. It was such a treat reading…

G. B. Ralph

16 Dec 2025

Writing

Authors, Books, Competition, Highlights, Judging, New Zealand, Panel, Short Stories

2025 Writing Highlights: Hosting

Introducing MC Ralph – your book launch host and author panel chair! As we know from highlight #2, I love to chat. But what’s better (i.e. less stressful) than being faced with a curly question and frantically attempting to articulate an intelligent and interesting answer on the spot? Asking them, of course! I was delighted…

G. B. Ralph

14 Dec 2025

Writing

Authors, Books, Event, Highlights, Hosting, Library, New Zealand, Panel

2025 Writing Highlights: Reviewing

As an indie author, with ~95% of my book sales being ebooks or audiobooks and ~98% of my readers living outside New Zealand, my promotional efforts tend to be focused online. So, it’s a real highlight and unexpected thrill whenever I capture the attention of a local reviewer and/or get coverage in traditional media! In…

G. B. Ralph

12 Dec 2025

Writing

Books, Fright on Stage Right, Highlights, Magazine, Murder on Milverton Square, New Zealand, Radio, Radio New Zealand, Reviews, The Milverton Mysteries

2025 Writing Highlights: Chatting

I recently started my writing highlights recap with publishing and for my next trick: talking, chatting, discussing, gas-bagging, shooting the breeze, yabbering on… I love chatting with fellow readers and writers about all things books – plotting, planning, drafting, editing, researching, publishing, promoting – so it was a real privilege and pleasure to be invited…

G. B. Ralph

10 Dec 2025

Writing

Author event, Authors, Books, Events, Highlights, New Zealand

2025 Writing Highlights: Publishing

Can you believe it’s December? I could’ve sworn it was September last time I checked. Alas, here we are! I’ve been looking back over what I’ve been up to in 2025 and it turns out it’s quite a bit. So, I thought it’d be fun to do a little recap of a few writing highlights.…

G. B. Ralph

8 Dec 2025

Writing

Audiobook, Books, Death in Douglas Glade, Ebook, Fright on Stage Right, Highlights, Paperback, Publishing, Tantor Audio, The Law of Mischief

My top 5 reads of 2023 (+ more)

I read so many great books last year, but today I’ve pulled out: 5 stand-out books of 2023 Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle meet Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club in this fiendishly clever blend of classic and modern murder mystery. It’s just…

G. B. Ralph

9 Jan 2024

Reading, Writing

2023, Books, Fantasy, Highlights, LGBTQ, Mystery, Reading, Recap, Reviews

My top 5 writing highlights of 2023

I love a recap, don’t you? It can sometimes feel like a year has evaporated with little to show for it, but I’m always surprised by what I come up with when I put my mind to it. 2023 was no different! I even had trouble narrowing down my list of highlights to just five……

G. B. Ralph

4 Jan 2024

Writing