BLOG TOUR My review of Hunter’s Blood, the new book in the Edinburgh Crime Series by Val Penny

Today I’m delighted to be reviewing Val Penny‘s latest Edinburgh crime mystery as part of her blog tour. Hunter’s Blood is published by Spellbound Books. I met and chatted with Val at a writers conference at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, and found her an ebullient character. Her Edinburgh crimes give me a new conceptContinue reading “BLOG TOUR My review of Hunter’s Blood, the new book in the Edinburgh Crime Series by Val Penny”

Book Review: Jane Austen the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly, and introducing a new upcoming series of Jane Austen Short Stories by Ruth Leigh

Today I offer my review of a provocative book for Jane Austen fans. Jane Austen the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly is published by Vintage. I also introduce you to a new book of Jane Austen short stories, coming soon. As a keen reader of Jane Austen’s novels I was intrigued to read Helena Kelly’sContinue reading “Book Review: Jane Austen the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly, and introducing a new upcoming series of Jane Austen Short Stories by Ruth Leigh”

Book Review: ‘The Spirit Engineer’ by AJ West

The Spirit Engineer by AJ West: This fictionalisation of a true story was probably one of the creepiest tales I’ve ever read. The Spirit Engineer by AJ West was published in July 2022. Its creepiness does not come from the purported spirits conjured up by the deceptive Goligher family in 1920s Belfast, but much moreContinue reading “Book Review: ‘The Spirit Engineer’ by AJ West”

The Art of Writing Backwards: a Novelist’s Sleight of Hand?

When you saw that title what did you imagine?  A scene from Alice through the Looking Glass? One of those high speed reverse sequences in a magical fantasy film, when everything rewinds? Or perhaps a time-slip scenario? Or simply an image of mirror writing? Would it be wonderful if we could indeed start at theContinue reading “The Art of Writing Backwards: a Novelist’s Sleight of Hand?”

Algorithms and Magical Thinking – at St Mary’s Church Warwick and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

How do we deal with the unpredictabilty of the world we find ourselves in? Recently I’ve been challenged at two quite separate events to consider the ways in which we look at the world and handle the unpredictability and unaccountability of our lives. One event was held in St Mary’s Church Warwick where I heardContinue reading “Algorithms and Magical Thinking – at St Mary’s Church Warwick and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford”

Inspiration, Motivation and Keeping To The Path

On 7th September 2017 on the seventh day  of my Mystical Circles blog tour, MJ Mallon published an article by me on her blog which has the wonderful title of  Kyrosmagica. This is the seventh in a series of blog posts in which I re-publish the articles on that blog tour. So with my thanksContinue reading “Inspiration, Motivation and Keeping To The Path”

Forging Our Own Paths and Surviving the Internet Sirens

On 1st September at the beginning of my Mystical Circles blog tour, author and blogger Sacha Black hosted a guest post from me on her blog.   In my next few posts I shall be re-blogging my posts and auhor interviews on that blog tour. So today’s post is the article Sacha first published, calledContinue reading “Forging Our Own Paths and Surviving the Internet Sirens”

BOOK COVER REVEAL: NEW LUMINARIE EDITION OF MYSTICAL CIRCLES, THE PREQUEL TO A PASSIONATE SPIRIT

I’m delighted to announce that I can now show you the Cover Reveal for my new Luminarie edition of Mystical Circles! It’s been a long and sometimes fraught journey with the cover designers but I’m very excited with the final result! Read two reviews here from young adult authors: Intense Psychological Drama in a BeautifulContinue reading “BOOK COVER REVEAL: NEW LUMINARIE EDITION OF MYSTICAL CIRCLES, THE PREQUEL TO A PASSIONATE SPIRIT”

That’s Life – in the Eyes of Noel Coward

I’ve loved the work of Noel Coward since I first saw one of his comedies, in my teens. Among many different archetypal character-types which I hold in my mind, is that of an indolent Noel Coward male lead, lounging against a mantelpiece wearing a silk brocade smoking jacket, elegant, mannered, and dispensing witticisms with theContinue reading “That’s Life – in the Eyes of Noel Coward”

Joan of Arc: Mystical Experiences and Empowerment

The other day I saw an encore screening of George Bernard Shaw’s play “St Joan” from National Theatre Live. I studied this play at university. Then, as in my recent viewing, I was entranced by the character of Joan herself, and by the words Shaw puts into her mouth. Joan has  special resonance for me becauseContinue reading “Joan of Arc: Mystical Experiences and Empowerment”