About me
Greetings! Thanks for visiting my blog.
My name is Leigh Turner, writer and ex-ambassador. I used to write under the name of Robert Pimm. You’ll find references to him in older posts on this site.
I started writing novels in 1986 when I worked at the British Embassy in Vienna. One night, my girlfriend was late for a date. While I waited, I had an idea that turned into my first novel. When I worked at the British Embassy in Moscow 1992-95, someone told me to “write about what you know”. I wrote a thriller set in early 1990s Russia.
The first became my satirical thriller Eternal Life. The second is “in the drawer” – not yet among my first four published books.
My latest novel is my Istanbul thriller Palladium, published Immortal Works Press in May 2022. My next book is my diplomatic and life handbook The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Diplomacy, to be published by Czernin Verlag in spring 2023.
To find out more about my writing, click on the “Read More” link below. Otherwise, “Books” or “New Posts” are good places to start. Happy reading!
Latest Articles
Publishing your own book: part 1
Publishing your own book on Amazon is easy, but you may find a bit of help useful the first time. A simple step-by-step guide to self-publishing.
“The Latest Thing”: Ms N and Tatiana return
“The Latest Thing” is the 12th “Hotel Story”. Ms N, the world’s most brilliant, unpredictable and occasionally homicidal hotelier, must fight off a team of experts sent from HQ to “improve” her hotel…
John Savage in therapy: an interview
John Savage: ‘I won’t talk more about what happened that winter in Moscow. It’s between me, the Office and – I suppose the Russians know the whole story. Moscow was worse for Clare than it was for me. She suffered most. Obviously. She’s dead. I’m alive.’
Resources for writers
Resources for writers on this post include how to write articles and blogs; how to write a novel; dealing with rejection; scenes, sequels and cliff-hangers; editing as you go along – or not – and a selection of writing courses for you to try.
Russia’s war on Ukraine: what’s happening?
Russia’s war on Ukraine has failed on most fronts. But Russian President Putin continues to slaughter vast numbers of his own troops, and Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, in the hope of a military breakthrough. That could yet happen. The top task for countries supporting Ukraine must be to maintain unity for weeks, months or years to come. This will be a challenge.
Istanbul thriller “Palladium” published
My Istanbul thriller “Palladium” was published on 17 May. I’m delighted with the launch, including readings, interviews and articles.
Pleasure Pathways
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