Honesty and truthfulness – these are the outstanding virtues of a great artist. And as a creative writer I have in recent times found inspiration from two contemporary artists, Grayson Perry and Tracy Emin. Both artists hold personal challenges for me…
Category Archives: life
The Christmas List
Who else finds writing Christmas cards the cause not just of gladness but pain and sorrow? I put off “doing” my Christmas list until I’m in the mood – and light a candle and have a glass of sherry or wine to help create that mood. Why? Because each year I have to engage with the majorContinue reading “The Christmas List”
How to Develop Villainous Characteristic Traits in Your Writing
An effective fictional villain has, to my mind, one essential characteristic. The villain should build up in the reader a passionate desire for his or her comeuppance.
Ways to Express the Person on the Inside, on the Outside
Why is it that we sometimes fail to express the person on the inside, on the outside? We can often be held back by self-limiting negative beliefs.
Dangerous Interpersonal Tensions at The Wheel of Love, Esoteric Spiritual Group
As a novelist I enjoy writing about relationships. I’ve spent years observing people’s behaviour in all sorts of situations – within romantic relationships, family relationships, within groups both informal and structured, at dinner parties or self-help therapy groups or in other group situations such as writing workshops. In my mystery romance novel “Mystical Circles”, I create aContinue reading “Dangerous Interpersonal Tensions at The Wheel of Love, Esoteric Spiritual Group”
How To Answer The Question at a Writers Workshop “Does Anyone Here Want To Become Rich and Famous?”
At a recent Writers Workshop which I attended in London, one of the delegates asked this question of all of us who sat at my table: “Is there anybody here who wants to become rich and famous?” A silence followed, of about three seconds in duration, when it seemed that no writer present dared toContinue reading “How To Answer The Question at a Writers Workshop “Does Anyone Here Want To Become Rich and Famous?””
A Portal to Another World – What Makes Any Place a Dream Home?
A couple of days ago the words ‘dream home’ sprang into my mind. I don’t know why. Perhaps it was a bit like J.K. Rowling on that train journey when she was gazing out of the window day-dreaming and she thought ‘Boy wizard – doesn’t know he’s a wizard – gets invited to wizard school.’ Anyway,Continue reading “A Portal to Another World – What Makes Any Place a Dream Home?”
Interpersonal Relationships in the Hothouse Atmosphere of a New Age Commune
In my mystery romance novel “Mystical Circles” I explore the interpersonal relationships to be found in the hothouse atmosphere of a New Age commune. This is a place where relationships and liaisons flare and flourish or fizzle out quickly. The group I describe is based in an idyllic farmhouse in the Cotswolds. It is aContinue reading “Interpersonal Relationships in the Hothouse Atmosphere of a New Age Commune”
A US Reviewer’s Take on “Mystical Circles”
A US reviewer says: “What Juliet finds when she reaches the ranch is an oddly charismatic and dysfunctional group of people…. there are strange things happening in the commune, and when a priest shows up it further traumatizes the group… This loving and freedom-believing cult, while wonderful on the surface is a cauldron of deceitContinue reading “A US Reviewer’s Take on “Mystical Circles””
Family Relationships in Mystical Circles – Conflict Between Sisters
In “Mystical Circles” I explore the conflict between two sisters Juliet and Zoe. Juliet, the older sister, aged around 30, is worried that the impetuous Zoe, age 22 and fresh out of university, has fallen in love with charismatic New Age guru Craig McAllister, and rushed off to join his esoteric spiritual group in the Cotswolds,Continue reading “Family Relationships in Mystical Circles – Conflict Between Sisters”
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