One of the joys of this New Year for me has been reading the reviews of A Passionate Spirit that are starting to come in via Net Galley. It has reaffirmed for me that although a review may not carry a 5 star rating, nevertheless an honest review from a reader who seriously engaged withContinue reading “The Joy of Honest,Thoughtful Book Reviews”
Author Archives: SC Skillman
2015 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,900 times in 2015. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 7 trips to carry that many people. Click here toContinue reading “2015 in review”
Refugee Family Saved by the Gold of the Magi
At a recent carol service at St Mark’s Church Leamington Spa the Bishop of Coventry spoke to us about refugee families. Referring to the current crisis across Europe he drew a parallel between these refugees and the family of Jesus. Jesus was born into poverty in an occupied nation in a region in conflict – then,Continue reading “Refugee Family Saved by the Gold of the Magi”
A Passionate Spirit Now on Net Galley
If you’re a member of Net Galley and enjoy paranormal thrillers A Passionate Spirit is now available there for you to request your free download. If you do request it I hope you enjoy it; and I look forward to your review!
Christmas: Time for Joy, Time for Mourning
Christmas arouses so many emotions. Magical in childhood, often much more of a challenge in adulthood – which of us are “Ding Dong Merrily On High”, and which of us are “Bah Humbug”? I love many things about Christmas: The anticipation through Advent – Advent candles Christmas carols – many of them have the most beautifulContinue reading “Christmas: Time for Joy, Time for Mourning”
A Passionate Spirit and Mystical Circles: Give Books for Christmas
Waterstones’ current slogan is Give books for Christmas. And I must admit I could find no better message to give those passing by my stall at the Clapham Terrace School Christmas Fair on Friday – unless of course it be Roald Dahl’s observation in “Matilda”: If you are going to get anywhere in life youContinue reading “A Passionate Spirit and Mystical Circles: Give Books for Christmas”
Out at the Christmas Fairs Meeting Prospective Readers
One of the joys of selling books at local Christmas Fairs is that you get a chance to introduce yourself to possible new readers and to chat to them about their reading tastes. I had some interesting chats at the Princethorpe College Christmas Fair on Sunday afternoon whilst promoting and selling signed copies of my two novelsContinue reading “Out at the Christmas Fairs Meeting Prospective Readers”
From the Launch of A Passionate Spirit to the Writing of the Next Novel
Only four days now until publication day for “A Passionate Spirit“. Instead of a bookshop party I shall be “launching” this novel with visits to three local Christmas fairs in Warwickshire this year, and then starting in February, I plan to do a series of signings, one in Kenilworth Books, one in Waterstone’s Leamington Spa, and aContinue reading “From the Launch of A Passionate Spirit to the Writing of the Next Novel”
A Passionate Spirit Hot Off the Press
I was excited today to receive a delivery of 50 copies of my new novel “A Passionate Spirit”. Although I’ve seen and approved the cover design and read through the typeset proofs several times, nevertheless, to hold the freshly-printed book is a thrilling moment, worthy of celebration. At last it’s a reality! Now I canContinue reading “A Passionate Spirit Hot Off the Press”
The Power of Personal Stories, for Remembrance, for Empathy and to Ignite a Passionate Spirit for Change
The love of story telling which I learned as a young child, through reading adventure stories, grew into a passion to write stories myself. Writing and reading stories is all about our ability to enter other hearts and minds and worlds, and to exercise and develop our powers of empathy. I hope that is what myContinue reading “The Power of Personal Stories, for Remembrance, for Empathy and to Ignite a Passionate Spirit for Change”
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