I was fascinated to see this Maori meeting house in the grounds of Clandon Park, Surrey. It immediately attracted me as I loved learning about the Maori culture in New Zealand during my November 2019 visit. I discovered that the original meeting house, Hinemihi, had been sited in an area of New Zealand’s North IslandContinue reading “Rescued Maori Meeting House in the Grounds of an English Stately Home”
Category Archives: empowerment
Book Review: ‘On This Day She’ by Jo Bell, Tania Hershman and Ailsa Holland
This is a book which will probably arouse many different emotional reactions in the reader: fascination, inspiration, astonishment, disgust, anger, depression… you name the life situation the reader is in, and that will determine his or her response to On This Day She by Jo Bell, Tania Hershman and Ailsa Holland. Many different women, acrossContinue reading “Book Review: ‘On This Day She’ by Jo Bell, Tania Hershman and Ailsa Holland”
Book Reviews: The Poetry of Phil Hill
Today, I’m pleased to be able to bring you my reviews of a collection of poetry books written by local Leamington Spa poet Phil Hill, which will be of interest not only to all those who love cutting edge contemporary poetry, but also to those who wish to gain a deeper insight into mental healthContinue reading “Book Reviews: The Poetry of Phil Hill”
Blog Tour for Debut Novelist Ruth Leigh: Introducing The Diary of Isabella M Smugge
On 7th April 2020 fellow-author Ruth Leigh published a Post under the title “The Utter Joy of One’s Craft” on morethanwriters.blogspot.com. That was the first appearance of Isabella M Smugge, under that name, out in the world. I was one of those who left a comment on the post, and many of us were intriguedContinue reading “Blog Tour for Debut Novelist Ruth Leigh: Introducing The Diary of Isabella M Smugge”
Virginia Woolf on the art of reading a book
Listening to an interview by Andrew Marr on BBC Radio 4 the other day, I was delighted to learn that Virginia Woolf‘s classic essay How Should One Read a Book? has been republished in a new edition (12 October 2020). I studied this text in school as part of my GCE ‘O’ level English LiteratureContinue reading “Virginia Woolf on the art of reading a book”
A Resurgence in Withdrawal – Covid-19 Lockdown Art
So many of us have reacted in different ways in the UK lockdown, some being energized and leaping into action in house and garden, others relapsing into lethargy, feeling flat and down and disorientated and bewildered by what’s going on in the world. Others may have taken up a new activity or found themselves behavingContinue reading “A Resurgence in Withdrawal – Covid-19 Lockdown Art”
Angel Encounters Mini Series: Part 3. A Divine Encounter: the Right People in the Right Place at the Right Time
Angel encounters: another person, who just happens to be nice? God? Or an angel? In the Bible the identity of angels is often confused with/ blurred with God. “Was it God or an angel?” is often a question you have in your mind after a biblical encounter. Examples are the story where Jacob wrestled withContinue reading “Angel Encounters Mini Series: Part 3. A Divine Encounter: the Right People in the Right Place at the Right Time”
Angel Encounters Mini Series: Part 2. “I met Two Angels in a Mercedes Benz on a Dark Road Near Oxford.”
In the days before we all had mobile phones and satnavs, I drove north along the M40, heading home to Warwick, having visited my elderly father near Sevenoaks in Kent. Dusk had fallen. I looked at my petrol gauge; the marker hovered on red. I had no hope of reaching the next services before runningContinue reading “Angel Encounters Mini Series: Part 2. “I met Two Angels in a Mercedes Benz on a Dark Road Near Oxford.””
Inspiration for Creative Writers From Grayson Perry in Grayson’s Art Club
Honesty and truthfulness – these are the outstanding virtues of a great artist. And as a creative writer I am currently finding inspiration from artist Grayson Perry as he showcases “Covid-19 lockdown art” in his TV show “Grayson’s Art Club” on Channel 4. Grayson makes use of our contemporary culture which he transforms into artContinue reading “Inspiration for Creative Writers From Grayson Perry in Grayson’s Art Club”
Inspiration from Fantasy Novelist Philip Pullman, President of the Society of Authors
During the Covid19 lockdown, the Society of Authors are presenting a number of webinars with notable authors, and the other day I attended “Afternoon Tea with Philip Pullman”. I was keen to hear from the author of a fantasy trilogy that captivated me, “His Dark Materials“. 500 of us attended, all waiting with drinks andContinue reading “Inspiration from Fantasy Novelist Philip Pullman, President of the Society of Authors”
scskillman.com 