Which books did you love reading as a child? My earliest choices included the stories of Mary Plain by Gwynedd Rae – a little bear born in the Bearpit at Berne in Switzerland who is found and adopted by a man she calls The Owl Man because of the glasses he wears, and she is taken byContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Three: What Books Did You Love Reading as a Child? What Made You Want to be a Writer? What Authors Have Influenced You?”
Category Archives: British
Author Research – Gems in Paranormal Gloucestershire
Author research in Gloucestershire for me means a photography trip as well, in order to gather the best images to go with my stories. This is for my forthcoming nonfiction book ‘Paranormal Gloucestershire‘ which is to be published by Amberley and which I will deliver to the publishers before October 2024, for publication in 2025.Continue reading “Author Research – Gems in Paranormal Gloucestershire”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Two: What is Your Earliest Memory? – The Tale of a Much Loved Family Pet
What is your earliest memory? A car journey when I was four years old. I grew up in Orpington, Kent, and our family were driving back home after a visit to pedigree poodle breeding kennels near Tunbridge Wells. We had bought a miniature poodle pup. We called him “Kimmings”. He was officially a silver poodle, but when veryContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Two: What is Your Earliest Memory? – The Tale of a Much Loved Family Pet”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part One: Who put the pop-up in the pop-up toaster?
And the answer is: I did! That was just one of my previous jobs, on the conveyor belt at Morphy Richards factory in my hometown, when I was in my teens. In fact it was first ever paid job and I was thrilled, and when I received my first pay packet I thought I wasContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part One: Who put the pop-up in the pop-up toaster?”
Review of the RSC’s new 2023 Midsummer Night’s Dream production starring Mat Baynton as Bottom
Today, I’m pleased to be reviewing the latest production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. I saw a ‘pre-performance’ in a packed auditorium. Mathew Baynton, of course, was the main drawcard for all those who loved him in ‘Horrible Histories’ and ‘Ghosts’! And I must say that here in this RST production, he was ableContinue reading “Review of the RSC’s new 2023 Midsummer Night’s Dream production starring Mat Baynton as Bottom”
Blog Tour for Val Penny’s New Book: ‘Hunter’s Christmas and Other Stories’
I’m delighted to be part of Val Penny’s blog tour for ‘Hunter’s Christmas and other stories’, the latest addition to her Edinburgh crime series. I’m a keen follower of Hunter’s team as they investigate the activities of the Edinburgh criminal fraternity, having read all the books in the series so far. Who knew that beautiful,Continue reading “Blog Tour for Val Penny’s New Book: ‘Hunter’s Christmas and Other Stories’”
A Visit to the Newly-Reopened Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick December 2023
Lord Leycester Hospital is one of the town of Warwick‘s great medieval treasures, formerly a home for the Brethren (injured military heroes of Queen Elizabeth I‘s wars), and the pride and joy of Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leycester, from 1571, the time when he first took it over to please Elizabeth. It is nowContinue reading “A Visit to the Newly-Reopened Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick December 2023”
A Visit to Denis Severs’ House, Spitalfields, East London
We recently visited Dennis’ Severs’ House at 18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields. This was a revelation to me, and I’ve discovered new things since my visit, about Dennis himself, his life, the creation of the interiors in the House, and the life of the Spitalfields community around him, which make the visit an even more poignantContinue reading “A Visit to Denis Severs’ House, Spitalfields, East London”
Book Launch for ‘A-Z of Warwick’ by SC Skillman pub Amberley
I enjoyed my book launch event at Warwick Visitor Centre on Saturday, 25 November 2023. Thank you to the Warwick Visitor Centre staff for making space for us next to the new Guy of Warwick exhibition (which was fascinating). Thank you too to fellow author Fran Hill, whose very funny and highly acclaimed novel, ‘CuckooContinue reading “Book Launch for ‘A-Z of Warwick’ by SC Skillman pub Amberley”
My new book ‘A-Z of Warwick’ is out now from Amberley
I’m delighted to announce that my new book ‘A-Z of Warwick‘ is now available online and in all bookshops. This completes my trilogy of Warwickshire books – ‘Paranormal Warwickshire‘, ‘Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire’ and now ‘A-Z of Warwick’. As with all my Warwickshire books, William Shakespeare has something to say, at the head of everyContinue reading “My new book ‘A-Z of Warwick’ is out now from Amberley”
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