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”
Category Archives: life
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”
New Book About Writing, For Aspiring Writers
I’m currently working on a new book about writing, which has the working title of Perilous Path: a Writer’s Journey. The book contains 30 short pieces I’ve published online over the past 6 years, both on ezine articles and on this blog, all on the subject of writing a novel. Here’s a taster from theContinue reading “New Book About Writing, For Aspiring Writers”
Come and See Me at Costa Coffee in Royal Priors Leamington Spa on Fri 24 June and Buy a Signed Copy of Mystical Circles And A Passionate Spirit
I had a great time at the Leamington Peace Festival over the weekend, and enjoyed chatting to many interesting people at my local author stall. Not only did I sell some books to keen readers, and meet someone who was uncannily like one of my characters in Mystical Circles, who asked me for advice onContinue reading “Come and See Me at Costa Coffee in Royal Priors Leamington Spa on Fri 24 June and Buy a Signed Copy of Mystical Circles And A Passionate Spirit”
Reflections on Australia: Binna Burra, Rainforest Resort in the Gold Coast Hinterland
As my daughter Abigail and her friend Gaby have just flown out to Australia to stay with my sister in Brisbane for the next few weeks, I’m thinking of Australia – and of the times I’ve visited that continent, and of the four and a half years I spent living and working there. I’veContinue reading “Reflections on Australia: Binna Burra, Rainforest Resort in the Gold Coast Hinterland”
Wildflower Inspiration from Highgrove
One of the loveliest things about England is the sight of our native wildflowers. For some it may be possible to take these things for granted, but to me, cow-parsley growing in the hedgerows, and bluebells appearing in unexpected places, is something miraculous – along with the oxeye daisy, the meadow buttercup, viper’s bugloss, redContinue reading “Wildflower Inspiration from Highgrove”
Thank you to Mog and Pauline of Warwick Books for hosting my book-signing event on Saturday 7th May
Many thanks to Mog and Pauline at Warwick Books for hosting my book-signing in the shop on Saturday 7th May… and thank you to those lovely customers who bought copies of my two novels Mystical Circles and A Passionate Spirit.Although the beautiful weather kept custom low – I suspect all the regular clientele may haveContinue reading “Thank you to Mog and Pauline of Warwick Books for hosting my book-signing event on Saturday 7th May”
“Inner Child” Faces Down “the Perpetrators” at Constellations Therapy Workshop at Hayes Conference Centre
The most powerful workshop I took part in at the conference “Continuing the Journey: Rummaging for Reality” last week was a constellations therapy group run by a therapist who specialises in working with people who have suffered spiritual, satanic and sexual abuse. Approximately 12 of us took the part of various ‘voices’ in the client’sContinue reading ““Inner Child” Faces Down “the Perpetrators” at Constellations Therapy Workshop at Hayes Conference Centre”
Rummaging For Reality at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick
Here I am, a psychological suspense writer, at a conference for psychotherapists, healers, counsellors and creative people – and together with them I am rummaging for reality. This is very brief post in a spare hour before I go off to a workshop this afternoon. But already I feel I am working my way towardsContinue reading “Rummaging For Reality at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick”
Reflections on Crime, Wickedness, and Redemption from the Crime Museum Uncovered, Museum of London
On Thursday 31st March 2016 I read many stories at the Crime Museum Uncovered, an enthralling exhibition currently showing at the Museum of London, London Wall. Crime cases from Victorian times to 1975, solved by the Metropolitan Police. Most of the criminals were hanged; some were miscarriages of justice; vulnerable people, who today would haveContinue reading “Reflections on Crime, Wickedness, and Redemption from the Crime Museum Uncovered, Museum of London”
scskillman.com 