Controlling women are a recurring theme in my life. Add to this a love of history. And so when I found the book Bess of Hardwick: First Lady of Chatsworth by Mary S. Lovell, I felt impelled to read it. It is said that only when a lesson is learned, does an issue stop recurringContinue reading “Controlling Women in History and Life: Bess of Hardwick and Tudor England”
Category Archives: empowerment
The Joy of Singing, from the Challenge of J.S. Bach, to A Community Choirs Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon
Singing is a gift of God, and a channel for empowerment. This weekend has been an amazing time of singing. And I’ve learned a few things about this life too. On Saturday night, the choir I sing with, the Warwick & Kenilworth Choral Society, gave a performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass that truly honouredContinue reading “The Joy of Singing, from the Challenge of J.S. Bach, to A Community Choirs Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon”
Youth, Time and Soul – Old Photographs & Memories: Coloured Rags or Treasures?
Birthdays and old photographs. How they arouse our emotions! So many words have been written about time, and our attitude to it. Memory is a crazy woman that hoards colored rags and throws away food said Austin O’Malley. How much is concentrated in this deceptively simple remark: far more than a comment on human fallibility, Continue reading “Youth, Time and Soul – Old Photographs & Memories: Coloured Rags or Treasures?”
Shakespeare’s Wronged Women: A Reflection In The Light Of International Women’s Day
The other day I went to a see a production given by Playbox Theatre, held at their local headquarters, Dream Factory, Warwick. There we saw members of the Shakespeare Young Company present to us “Shakespeare’s Wronged Women”. In the words of Stewart McGill & Mary King, the Artistic Directors of this company, “Having explored withContinue reading “Shakespeare’s Wronged Women: A Reflection In The Light Of International Women’s Day”
International Women’s Day 2013 in Leamington Spa – Women and Girls, Come and Support the Cause!
I shall be selling signed copies of “Mystical Circles” at the International Women’s Day event at The Sydni Centre, Leamington Spa, this afternoon (Friday 8 March 2013). You can find The Sydni Centre here. This is a Women and girls only event, held at the SYDNI centre – ALL WELCOME 0-90 – bring your daughtersContinue reading “International Women’s Day 2013 in Leamington Spa – Women and Girls, Come and Support the Cause!”
Why Les Miserables Is So Popular
How is it that the story of Les Miserables has tapped into the emotions of so many? I first read Victor Hugo’s novel in my late teens/early twenties, and a central idea stayed with me over the years (though not necessarily in the exact words Victor Hugo used): You have been taken away from evil,Continue reading “Why Les Miserables Is So Popular”
People of Inspiration Part 6 – Gareth Malone, The Love of Singing and the Rediscovery of the Power of Sound
What or who would inspire you to start singing? Gareth Malone, self-described as an “animateur, presenter and populariser of choral singing” (Wikipedia) Even if you’ve spent years of your life thinking you “can’t sing”? And there are many people with this gift – I’ve met quite a few in my own life of singing –Continue reading “People of Inspiration Part 6 – Gareth Malone, The Love of Singing and the Rediscovery of the Power of Sound”
The Core of a Successful Novel: The Ring of Truth
Q – What is the core of a successful novel? A – You can in some way identify with it; you recognise it as relating to your own life experience. And this doesn’t mean you need to have experienced exactly the same events that the novel describes: simply that you recognise the truth in theContinue reading “The Core of a Successful Novel: The Ring of Truth”
The Next Big Thing: A Passionate Spirit
I was invited to take part in “The Next Big Thing” – a blog hop for authors – by Fay Sampson who has written many wonderful books for children and adults arising from Celtic history, and also includes mystery, suspense and crime fiction in her output. In her capacity as a manuscript editor for TheContinue reading “The Next Big Thing: A Passionate Spirit”
Page-Turning Psychological Suspense Free on Kindle
Mystical Circles by SC Skillman PAGE-TURNING ROMANTIC SUSPENSE FREE ON KINDLE Download for free any time between 8pm on 24 November and 8am on 27 November “Hi, you in crowded, stressed old London from me in the peaceful, perfect Cotswolds. Massive change of plan. I’m in love. Craig is gorgeous, sexy, intelligent. Paradise here.Continue reading “Page-Turning Psychological Suspense Free on Kindle”
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