A Passionate Spirit About to Go to Print!

My new novel A Passionate Spirit is about to go to print, after several rounds of revision to the typeset proofs. I’ve recently been contacted by a journalist who sought my permission to quote me in a book he’s writing – and coincidentally I’ve also quoted him in an appendix to my novel! He wantedContinue reading “A Passionate Spirit About to Go to Print!”

Cotswolds Locations to Give Spice and Colour to the World of A Passionate Spirit

Recently I’ve been visiting a number of Cotswolds locations in which key scenes of my novel A Passionate Spirit are set, and locations which are referred to in the story. A Passionate Spirit is a paranormal thriller, and some of the events of the story cross the borderline between the real world and the unexplained. IContinue reading “Cotswolds Locations to Give Spice and Colour to the World of A Passionate Spirit”

Fellow Author’s Book Launch in “The Greatest Bookshop in the World”…

This weekend I attended the book launch of a fellow author: Philip Davies who has published the first in a series of young adult fantasy books called “Destiny’s Rebel.” Philip is a member of a writers group I attend, and we were all delighted when he was at last able to announce he’d signed aContinue reading “Fellow Author’s Book Launch in “The Greatest Bookshop in the World”…”

A Passionate Spirit – My New Thriller / Suspense Novel

I’m excited to present the cover design for my new novel A Passionate Spirit, due to be published by Matador on  28 November 2015. Do let me know in your comments what you think of the design! Here is the Advance Information provided by Matador: Zoe ran through the wood in gathering dusk, her heart racing. SheContinue reading “A Passionate Spirit – My New Thriller / Suspense Novel”

Action Adventure Tropes and Powerful Archetypes in Stories

I love to see how tropes specific to certain genres of story telling can cross boundaries into different genres. One example came to my mind recently whilst watching our DVD of Tintin and the Adventure of the Unicorn again. This story centres around “an old Sea Captain’s estate”; we learn from the villain (an unreliableContinue reading “Action Adventure Tropes and Powerful Archetypes in Stories”

Review of “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green

I’ve just finished reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This story of two young cancer “survivors” is a story that eats into your marrow. And if you haven’t seen the film or read the book, and would like to, don’t read on, for my review contains plot spoilers! Even though I hadContinue reading “Review of “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green”

A Night When Neil Gaiman – Quirky, Subversive, Whimsical – Held Us Entranced at the Barbican Hall, London

Last Friday evening I was at the Barbican, London, to hear author Neil Gaiman read some of his  short stories plus a novelette called The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains, accompanied by the Australian string quartet Four Play. This production was originally commissioned by Sydney Opera House for its Graphic Festival andContinue reading “A Night When Neil Gaiman – Quirky, Subversive, Whimsical – Held Us Entranced at the Barbican Hall, London”