Angels and Supernatural Experiences: Book Review

Angel on My Shoulder: Inspiring True Stories from the Other Side by Theresa Cheung My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is one of those books where you feel the title and cover image give a misleading idea of the contents. An Angel on My Shoulder was passed on to me and I admit fromContinue reading “Angels and Supernatural Experiences: Book Review”

Cover Reveal of My New Book ‘Perilous Path: a Writer’s Journey’

I’m delighted to reveal the cover design of my new book which is due out soon:The cover was created by graphic designer Annabelle Bradford. Perilous Path: a writer’s journey is a short non-fiction book (106 pages) which will be available both as a paperback and also as a Kindle ebook. It’s in the Self-Help / CreativityContinue reading “Cover Reveal of My New Book ‘Perilous Path: a Writer’s Journey’”

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”

What the Tide at Lindisfarne Has To Teach a Creative Writer

During my visit to The Holy Island of Lindisfarne last year, I sat on the shore by the Lindisfarne Causeway and watched the tide come in and cover the road. Here are my insights – and a few images – from that experience. Sitting at the end of the causeway and watching the tide comeContinue reading “What the Tide at Lindisfarne Has To Teach a Creative Writer”

Staying Focused as a Writer: Learning From Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy, the author of the novel widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest, War and Peace,  not only crafted characters we love and  care about – Pierre, Natasha, Anna Karenina, and many others – but was also fond of sideways excursions into his theory of history during the course of a novel. SoContinue reading “Staying Focused as a Writer: Learning From Leo Tolstoy”

The Gatiss/Moffatt Post-StoryTelling World of Sherlock

We’re familiar with the phrase postmodern and more recently with the notion of post-truth. But now I think, for writers, it is true that there is a post-storytelling phenomenon – which moves beyond and over-turns current rules. And it’s illustrated in the scripts that Steven Moffatt  and Mark Gatiss create for their TV drama seriesContinue reading “The Gatiss/Moffatt Post-StoryTelling World of Sherlock”

How Many Books Do You Read in a Year?

Recently I thought it would be fun and interesting to ask this question of fellow-writers on our own dedicated Facebook group, having just learned from Goodreads that I’d reviewed or  rated 28 books this year.  I made a fascinating discovery.  Annual reading achievement varied enormously. I thought I was doing quite well at approximately 30 –Continue reading “How Many Books Do You Read in a Year?”

Dark TV Drama for Christmas 2016 and New Year 2017

This year darkness seems to be the keyword for some of our best drama offerings on TV: from Agatha Christie: The Witness for the Prosecution: through Jonathan Creek: Daemons’ Roost; Sherlock in The Six Thatchers. and the Bronte Family in To Walk Invisible. In Sherlock we discovered that Death had an appointment – with Mary WatsonContinue reading “Dark TV Drama for Christmas 2016 and New Year 2017”

Boxing Day Entertainment by the Kenilworth Lions at Kenilworth Castle and Abbey Fields

The English love to do fun – and some might even think silly – things on Boxing Day. Perhaps this is a relief from all the stress of preparing for Christmas. It’s also the opportunity for people to gather together in the fresh air and enjoy themselves with traditional English entertainments. Here are a fewContinue reading “Boxing Day Entertainment by the Kenilworth Lions at Kenilworth Castle and Abbey Fields”