Having just read an interesting blog post about depression, I was led to reflect upon how easy it is to allow your own “principles” to override compassion, empathy and honesty about the reality of human life. This applies to all of us, but there is a special challenge here for those of us who write stories, andContinue reading “Mental and Emotional Byways, Complexes and Hang-Ups in Fictional Characters”
Category Archives: literature
On the Outside Looking In, Royal Barges, Rowing Boats, Glimpses, Panoramas and Artistic Vision
As I watched The Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on TV and tried to work out whether I wished I was there, or whether I was glad not to be, I remembered these words in a radio interview several months ago. ‘I have always felt myself to be on the outside of everything, looking in.’ IContinue reading “On the Outside Looking In, Royal Barges, Rowing Boats, Glimpses, Panoramas and Artistic Vision”
Currents, Backwaters and Muddy Tributaries in Fiction: and the Fascination of the One Star Review
Reading a novel is like going on a voyage down a river. Sometimes the water’s smooth and calm, sometimes rough; occasionally you may find yourself in whitewater rapids; and ultimately it flows into the sea. If your boat gets ambushed by a rogue current and becomes snarled up among tree roots and rushes in aContinue reading “Currents, Backwaters and Muddy Tributaries in Fiction: and the Fascination of the One Star Review”
Searching for Love… And Craving Celebrity
In my last post, on the case of Jimmy Savile, I wrote about the dark side of celebrity. We live in a society obsessed with celebrities – the gods of this secular age. And we try to convince ourselves that fame would guarantee entry into a perfect region of love, wealth and success. Yet theContinue reading “Searching for Love… And Craving Celebrity”
Offerings to the Water Spirit
“If there is magic on the planet it is contained in the water” (Loren Eiseley – American anthropologist, philosopher & natural science writer). I’m led to reflect on this every time I come upon a pool of water in a public place – whether that be the pool in the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew,Continue reading “Offerings to the Water Spirit”
Places of Inspiration Part 4: The White Garden at Sissinghurst and the Flambuoyant Spirit of Vita Sackville-West
Near Sevenoaks in Kent we find the house formerly owned and occupied by writer Vita Sackville West and her husband Harold Nicolson. Now handed over to the safekeeping and care of the National Trust (something Vita once swore she would never do!) this house and its much beloved White Garden is a place which has inspired many.Continue reading “Places of Inspiration Part 4: The White Garden at Sissinghurst and the Flambuoyant Spirit of Vita Sackville-West”
Places of Inspiration Part 2: The Heavenly City: A View of London
What is your view of the city? Is it a place you work in, and suffer all the stress of commuting? Or perhaps it’s a place you live in? In my novel Zoe emails her sister with these words: Hi, you in crowded, stressed old London from me in the peaceful, perfect Cotswolds… But thoseContinue reading “Places of Inspiration Part 2: The Heavenly City: A View of London”
The Psyche of a Cat and Emily Bronte’s School Essay
Cats both domestic and wild have been worshipped, adored, feared, coveted, persecuted, psychoanalysed, parodied, wondered over, painted, written about, sculpted, photographed… and there is no sign of this fascination ever abating. Some of us find cats enchanting; others greatly prefer dogs. Personally, I love both; but admit that I’ve probably spent longer pondering the psyche of aContinue reading “The Psyche of a Cat and Emily Bronte’s School Essay”
Welcome To My Blog – About Me
Thank you for visiting my blog! I write psychological, paranormal and mystery fiction and non fiction. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers. My new book Paranormal Warwickshire is out now from Amberley Publishing. It’s available everywhere good books are sold. If you’d like a signed copy sentContinue reading “Welcome To My Blog – About Me”
Literary Criticism, Joseph Conrad Corns and Jane Austen’s Irony
A friend recently asked me this question on behalf of her daughter, an Eng Lit A level student: “How do you analyse a novel?” And I tried to be helpful… but what strikes me most about literary criticism is that even though you may analyse a novel on many levels, according to the personal preference of theContinue reading “Literary Criticism, Joseph Conrad Corns and Jane Austen’s Irony”
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