Last Saturday I was in Southwark, London SE1, researching locations for my new novel. To me, the setting for a novel must have a strong emotional connection. My first two novels were set in the Cotswolds, near where I now live. My next novels will be set in London, near where I was born andContinue reading “Research in Southwark for Setting for New Novel”
Category Archives: British
Book Review: The Looking Glass House by Vanessa Tait
The story of Alice Liddell and the real Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) is one that has inspired so much speculation and analysis since the creation of Alice in Wonderland in 1862; and here is another book on the subject, The Looking Glass House, this time a novel told by Alice’s great granddaughter Vanessa, which draws onContinue reading “Book Review: The Looking Glass House by Vanessa Tait”
Fun, Tranquility and Happiness on My Third Visit to Highgrove Garden
Last week I visited HRH the Prince of Wales’ garden at Highgrove for the third time. Each time I’ve visited – the first time in pouring rain in August 2015, the second time near the end of the wildflower season in June 2016, and now in October 2016, we’ve been led by a different guide and each hasContinue reading “Fun, Tranquility and Happiness on My Third Visit to Highgrove Garden”
Beatles Shine with Passion and Energy in New Documentary “8 Days a Week: the Touring Years”
How young, innocent, and naive they were, aged in their early twenties: cheeky and endearing. As Paul McCartney puts it, “At the beginning it was all very simple. By the end it had become very complicated.” And in the Beatles new documentary “8 Days a Week: The Touring Years” we saw a transformation rather similarContinue reading “Beatles Shine with Passion and Energy in New Documentary “8 Days a Week: the Touring Years””
“Dream” Book Buyers at Festival of Crafts, Coombe Abbey
Thank you to the “dream buyers” who bought my books on Saturday at the Coombe Abbey Festival of Crafts. They needed no promotional chat of any kind from me, (which I’ve discovered is counter-productive), studied my banner, reviews and blurbs closely, and recognised that the stories were just their type of thing. Abigail, Jamie and IContinue reading ““Dream” Book Buyers at Festival of Crafts, Coombe Abbey”
The Joys of a Great Building, and its Healing Power to Relieve the Stresses of Our Lives: Beautiful Pershore Abbey
As the mother of a son with autism, I have throughout his life acted as an advocate, carer, companion, supporter. One of his difficulties is taking unfamiliar journeys alone. Now aged 18, he has just started a new course in Horticulture at Pershore College in Worcestershire. Yesterday we met what was, for both of us,Continue reading “The Joys of a Great Building, and its Healing Power to Relieve the Stresses of Our Lives: Beautiful Pershore Abbey”
Writing Stories That Grow Legs and Run Away From You
In my creative writing class at Lancaster University years ago, our tutor said to us: Once written and completed, your work is A Thing on the Table. The world can make what it likes of it. It doesn’t belong to you any more.” More recently, novelist Susan Hill, speaking at a local author event,Continue reading “Writing Stories That Grow Legs and Run Away From You”
Thrilling Holiday Reading: Mystical Circles and A Passionate Spirit
Looking for gripping novels to fill up your ereader with? Want to while away the time at the airport? Include A Passionate Spirit on your holiday reading list. If you like thrillers with more than a touch of the paranormal this is for you! Janice an Amazon reviewer, took A Passionate Spirit on holiday withContinue reading “Thrilling Holiday Reading: Mystical Circles and A Passionate Spirit”
Heatwave Inspiration – The View From Broadway Tower in Bright Sunshine
What do you do in a heatwave? We headed for the Cotwolds and one of our favourite places, Broadway Tower. The last time I was there a cold gusty wind and a heavy damp mist greeted us. But on this visit, the sun blazed out of an azure sky, and it was an idealContinue reading “Heatwave Inspiration – The View From Broadway Tower in Bright Sunshine”
Amateur Actors, No Rehearsal, Disorganised Direction, Disappearing Props – A Dream for Shakespeare
This weekend I joined a cast in a drama – at St Mark’s Church in Leamington Spa – which I think Shakespeare would have loved. Why? because we were rather like the little band of local workmen in that Athenian wood in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But we were not playing “Pyramus and Thisbe”. Instead,Continue reading “Amateur Actors, No Rehearsal, Disorganised Direction, Disappearing Props – A Dream for Shakespeare”
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