I’ve long admired JK Rowling, and not simply because she’s one of the world’s most successful contemporary authors. Although it’s true I love all the Harry Potter novels, and followed the stories as each was published, and saw every film as it was released, I have special reasons for finding JK Rowling a source of inspiration.Continue reading “People of Inspiration: JK Rowling”
Category Archives: book reviews
Progress on Marketing of A Passionate Spirit
I’ve just heard from Matador that my front cover for my new novel A Passionate Spirit is now approved, and I’ve just seen the final drafts of my marketing material for the novel. My “Advance Information” sheet will shortly be mailed out to retailers, library suppliers and local bookshops. My Press Release marketing will begin once copies ofContinue reading “Progress on Marketing of A Passionate Spirit”
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”
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”
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”
Secret Gardens: The First Glimpse of the ‘Privy Garden’ at Kenilworth Castle for Elizabeth in 1575
I find this view of the Elizabethan Garden at Kenilworth Castle very evocative. It would have been the view Elizabeth first saw when Sir Robert Dudley led her into the garden in 1575, hoping that this time she’d accept his proposal of marriage. This first sight of the garden, glimpsed from the Keep, conjures upContinue reading “Secret Gardens: The First Glimpse of the ‘Privy Garden’ at Kenilworth Castle for Elizabeth in 1575”
Words From a Cave – Part 3
Here I am about to step out of the cave nearly 3 weeks after my hip replacement operation – without crutches! Yesterday I took part in a beautiful performance of Mozart’s Requiem with the Coventry Spires Philharmonic Choir in Holy Trinity Church Coventry. I think that, together with a walk through the Coventry city streets, counts as aContinue reading “Words From a Cave – Part 3”
Versatile Blogger Award
I was very pleased to learn that I’ve been nominated for this award by fellow-blogger and Goodreads friend Lance Greenfield whose blog I follow. Lance is the author of “Eleven Miles” a book which I reviewed recently and which I can thoroughly recommend. Writing a weekly blog post is an excellent writing discipline, and a wonderful creativeContinue reading “Versatile Blogger Award”
Exciting Times for the People of Leicester, for Those Who Love English History, and for the Power of Story
In the last few years we’ve seen an astonishing and exciting thing here in our country: a relatively small, minority interest group dismissed by some as a gathering of eccentrics, has been triumphantly vindicated in the most extraordinary way. And the Ricardians‘ journey has drawn with them a city, a nation, the sweep of English history, andContinue reading “Exciting Times for the People of Leicester, for Those Who Love English History, and for the Power of Story”
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