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: empowerment
Book Reviews: ‘We Can’t Breathe’ by Olusola Sophia Anyanwu
Today I’m pleased to bring you my review of ‘We Can’t Breathe‘ by Olusola Sophia Anyanwu. I’ve read a few of Sophia’s books now and she gives us a vivid insight into many aspects of life and experience from within an African point of view. She is herself, besides being an incredibly prolific author, anContinue reading “Book Reviews: ‘We Can’t Breathe’ by Olusola Sophia Anyanwu”
Book Review: The Picture House Murders, historical cozy mystery by Fiona Veitch Smith
Today I’m delighted to bring you my review of the latest historical cosy mystery from Fiona Veitch Smith, set in 1929. Published by Embla Books on 19 August 2023, The Picture House Murders is book 1 in the Miss Clara Vale Mysteries. It’s available now and highly recommended. AUTHOR BIO Fiona Veitch Smith is aContinue reading “Book Review: The Picture House Murders, historical cozy mystery by Fiona Veitch Smith”
Book Review: ‘How the Irish Saved Civilization’ by Thomas Cahill
How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill has the subtitle: ‘The Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe.’ I loved the title of this book and was led to read it after I visited Tintagel; the Roman remains and exhibition at St Albans; andContinue reading “Book Review: ‘How the Irish Saved Civilization’ by Thomas Cahill”
Book Review: ‘Madam’ by Phoebe Wynne
This gothic novel Madam by Phoebe Wynne held me captive throughout, despite some reservations about the plot and development of ideas. The author builds a strong feeling of creepy, sinister, weird claustrophobia in an exclusive independent girls’ school on the Scottish coast. The main protagonist, Rose, has just been appointed to the highly paid postContinue reading “Book Review: ‘Madam’ by Phoebe Wynne”
Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #11 Tweed Regional Art Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, Murwillumbah, New South Wales
This is the eleventh highlight: the Tweed Regional Art Gallery was an enchanting discovery set in the idyllic landscape of the Tweed Valley. The Gallery showcased the work of Margaret Olley, Australia’s most celebrated painter of still life and interiors. What I learned of Margaret Olley fascinated me. She lived alone in a corner houseContinue reading “Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #11 Tweed Regional Art Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, Murwillumbah, New South Wales”
Book Reviews: ‘Heaven is For Real’ by Todd Burpo and ‘Eye Can Write’ by Jonathan Bryan
Recently two related memoirs have come into my hands within a short space of time. The first, Heaven is For Real I picked up from a secondhand book sale at a local Warwickshire Open Gardens event. The second, I bought at a writing conference in the Hayes Centre, Swanwick, just this weekend (3-5 June 2022).Continue reading “Book Reviews: ‘Heaven is For Real’ by Todd Burpo and ‘Eye Can Write’ by Jonathan Bryan”
Book Review: ‘Write Well’ compiled by Amy Scott Robinson published by Instant Apostle
I have just finished this excellent anthology Write Well which I found an inspiring resource. A varied selection of writers have contributed pieces to this book, which are arranged under three main headings: Section One: Digging the Well; Section 2: Priming the Pump and Section 3: Filling the Bucket. I found the different chapters veryContinue reading “Book Review: ‘Write Well’ compiled by Amy Scott Robinson published by Instant Apostle”
Book Blog Tour for ‘The Migrant’: action thriller novel by Paul Alkazraji
I’m pleased to be hosting a stop today on the blog tour for Paul Alkazraji’s powerful novel of Albanian and Greek aspirations, politics and social tension, The Migrant. In view of the current world situation, the themes of this novel are acute: “Crossing borders does not always lead you further from home.” The action ofContinue reading “Book Blog Tour for ‘The Migrant’: action thriller novel by Paul Alkazraji”
Blog Tour for ‘Creativity Matters’, a new inspirational anthology compiled by Wendy H Jones
I’m pleased to be hosting a stop on the blog tour today for an exciting new anthology for writers, Creativity Matters, the third of a series published by Scott and Lawson, and compiled by Wendy H Jones. Wendy H Jones is a fellow author who has been a great encouragement to me and many otherContinue reading “Blog Tour for ‘Creativity Matters’, a new inspirational anthology compiled by Wendy H Jones”
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