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”
Category Archives: psychology
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”
What a Great Actress Has to Say to Creative Writers: Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes is an actress I have watched and been captivated by for decades. She is of course the essential Dickensian character and she was perfect as a JK Rowling character too, and has been so in many other roles, both on TV and radio. I have often marvelled at her wonderful fluid and flexibleContinue reading “What a Great Actress Has to Say to Creative Writers: Miriam Margolyes”
I Have a New Book Coming Out Soon
I’m pleased to announce I have a new book coming out soon, this time non-fiction. It will be a short one, 100 pages, and will be available in paperback as well as an ebook. I’ve written it for all those who’d love to know about the process of writing novels: whether they be aspiring writers,Continue reading “I Have a New Book Coming Out Soon”
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