It is a dream… of what has never been… true, it has never been, and therefore, since the world is alive, and moving yet, my hope is the greater that it one day will be… dreams have before now come about of things so good… we scarcely think of them more than the daylight, thoughContinue reading “Believing in Dreams”
Author Archives: SC Skillman
People of Inspiration: Russ Parker, Poet, Priest, Author, and Champion of Celtic Spirituality and Healing Dreams
My upcoming novel A Passionate Spirit tells the story of a young woman who defies a sinister spiritual healer. The novel is about a conflict between good and evil, and I am fascinated by the idea of great beauty used to mask malevolent spiritual power. But the story also deals with the subject of healing, and whatContinue reading “People of Inspiration: Russ Parker, Poet, Priest, Author, and Champion of Celtic Spirituality and Healing Dreams”
A Passionate Spirit – My New Thriller / Suspense Novel
I’m excited to present the cover design for my new novel A Passionate Spirit, due to be published by Matador on 28 November 2015. Do let me know in your comments what you think of the design! Here is the Advance Information provided by Matador: Zoe ran through the wood in gathering dusk, her heart racing. SheContinue reading “A Passionate Spirit – My New Thriller / Suspense Novel”
Witty Insight into the London Art World
For all those who’ve wondered how one starts to get noticed as an artist in London, and is in the mood for a light-hearted approach to the subject I can recommend a book which might have escaped my notice if I hadn’t recently met the author at a conference. Emily Benet first posted her bookContinue reading “Witty Insight into the London Art World”
Action Adventure Tropes and Powerful Archetypes in Stories
I love to see how tropes specific to certain genres of story telling can cross boundaries into different genres. One example came to my mind recently whilst watching our DVD of Tintin and the Adventure of the Unicorn again. This story centres around “an old Sea Captain’s estate”; we learn from the villain (an unreliableContinue reading “Action Adventure Tropes and Powerful Archetypes in Stories”
Exotic Lands and Mysterious Cultures: Ancient China
Recently I finished reading a book about “The Forbidden City” and this coincided with a BBC Radio 4 programme presented by Melvyn Bragg about the first western missionary to China, the Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci. I heard that Matteo Ricci set out from Portugal to convert China to Christianity in 1584, and published a bookContinue reading “Exotic Lands and Mysterious Cultures: Ancient China”
New Novel ‘A Passionate Spirit’ by SC Skillman
I’m pleased to announce that I’ve just signed a contract with Matador to publish my new novel A Passionate Spirit. I hope to have the cover art to show you here on my blog before too long!
The Classic Children’s Author: A Sad Person Who Creates an Amazing Character Loved by Millions?
The other day I watched Saving Mr Banks with my film club. Later we had much to discuss about author P.L. Travers and her difficult relationship with Walt Disney throughout his quest to get her to sell him the film rights to her Mary Poppins books. During our discussion we considered the curious fact that many great children’sContinue reading “The Classic Children’s Author: A Sad Person Who Creates an Amazing Character Loved by Millions?”
Book Review: Born Survivors by Wendy Holden
This is the story of how three young women – Anka, Rachel and Priska – hid their pregnancies from Dr Josef Mengele on the ramp at Auschwitz, and went on to suffer in the concentration camps and give birth to their babies just before Liberation in April 1945. All three of those babies then metContinue reading “Book Review: Born Survivors by Wendy Holden”
Book Review (English Social History): “Through the Keyhole” by Susan C Law
It seems part of the psychological make-up of the English people to bestow power upon the wealthy and privileged; whilst at the same time depriving them of the right to privacy. And as we’ve all recently seen in the General Election, you have to be tough to play for high stakes; winner takes all, and Continue reading “Book Review (English Social History): “Through the Keyhole” by Susan C Law”
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