New Cover Design Coming for Edition 3 of Mystical Circles To Be Published by Luminarie on 31 August 2017

Mystical Circles will be published by Luminarie in a new third edition on 31 August. Instead of the present cover, it will have a new cover created by the designer behind the cover of A Passionate Spirit. The cover design will be darker and more mysterious than that for edition 2, in keeping with the toneContinue reading “New Cover Design Coming for Edition 3 of Mystical Circles To Be Published by Luminarie on 31 August 2017”

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”

The Laborious Art of Book Writing

I love this post by Lucy Mills and it echoes my own thoughts about the process of writing a book. Lucy is writing an inspirational book, not a novel, but she describes an experience common to all those who throw themselves heart and soul into writing a full-length work for publication. Lucy refers to theContinue reading “The Laborious Art of Book Writing”

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”

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”

A Passionate Spirit and The Cult That Stole Children

A couple of years after I left university, whilst on a spiritual search, I went to a lecture at the Royal Overseas League in London, met, chatted to and  became captivated by an inspirational speaker: a Physics professor who wrote spiritual books. His name was Dr Raynor Johnson. Subsequently I read and loved all his books,Continue reading “A Passionate Spirit and The Cult That Stole Children”

A Poet’s View of Life – Shakespeare, the Jesuit Priest and the ex-Archbishop

What did Shakespeare believe?  He lived and created his work during a period of religious turmoil; and scholars are left to guess at his true spiritual worldview, despite his association with Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, and the fact that he was baptized and buried there. And so it was appropriate that Holy Trinity Church, theContinue reading “A Poet’s View of Life – Shakespeare, the Jesuit Priest and the ex-Archbishop”

Fun, Tranquility and Happiness on My Third Visit to Highgrove Garden

Last week I visited HRH the Prince of Wales’ garden at Highgrove for the third time. Each time I’ve visited – the first time in pouring rain in August 2015, the second time near the end of the wildflower season in June 2016, and now in October 2016, we’ve been led by a different guide and each hasContinue reading “Fun, Tranquility and Happiness on My Third Visit to Highgrove Garden”

What does Eadfrith, artist-scribe of the Lindisfarne Gospels, have to teach creative writers and artists today?

Nothing much, you may think – because Eadfrith was a seventh century monk in a monastery on an island, and we live in the fast, materialistic, time-pressured world of 2016. I’ve just spent three days on Lindisfarne (otherwise known as Holy Island), just off the Northumberland coast, where Eadfrith sat in the monastery scriptorium and scribedContinue reading “What does Eadfrith, artist-scribe of the Lindisfarne Gospels, have to teach creative writers and artists today?”

Writing Stories That Grow Legs and Run Away From You

  In my creative writing class at Lancaster University years ago, our tutor said to us:  Once written and completed, your work is A Thing on the Table.  The world can make what it likes of it.  It doesn’t belong to you any more.” More recently, novelist Susan Hill, speaking at a local author event,Continue reading “Writing Stories That Grow Legs and Run Away From You”