My Australian Journey 2022 #2: Mount Coot-tha and Mount Glorious

Continuing my journey in Australia, today’s photos are from the Brisbane region, and I share photos of Mount Coot-tha Lookout, the Lookouts from Mount Glorious (Jolly’s, Westridge and Wivenhoe), and Somerset Dam. Somerset Dam, northwest of Brisbane.

Book Review: ‘The Little Ice Cream Shop by the Sea’ by Lizzie Chantree

Today I am pleased to be sharing with you my review of ‘The Little Ice Cream Shop by the Sea‘ by Lizzie Chantree. I discovered this author through a Facebook support group for writers, and my decision to read this book is an example of how good feelings towards an author purely on the basisContinue reading “Book Review: ‘The Little Ice Cream Shop by the Sea’ by Lizzie Chantree”

Book Review: ‘The Last Princess’ by Shelley Wilson

Today I’m pleased to be reviewing this excellent Young Adult novel by Shelley Wilson: The Last Princess. The Last Princess was published in May 2022 by BHC Press. Loosely based on what is known of the period when Vikings regularly raided Northumbria, this novel is strong and dramatic; in particular, the first few chapters areContinue reading “Book Review: ‘The Last Princess’ by Shelley Wilson”

Warwick Folk Festival 2022 in Warwick Castle Park

I was delighted to visit the Warwick Folk Festival in July 2022 both as a singer with the Folk Festival Choir, and as an author, searching for special musicians, singers and dancers, and that one perfect photo to include in my forthcoming book ‘A-Z of Warwick’. The Folk Festival Choir conducted by Bruce Knight wereContinue reading “Warwick Folk Festival 2022 in Warwick Castle Park”

The Tower of London in Bloom

I loved our recent visit to the Tower of London  where we enjoyed wandering through the Tower through a moat filled with wildflowers. Superbloom celebrates the Platinum Jubilee year of Her Majesty the Queen. 20 million seeds were planted and the result is astonishingly beautiful and moving. Superbloom will be on till September 2022 –Continue reading “The Tower of London in Bloom”

Book Review: ‘The Fever of the World’, book 16 in Phil Rickman’s Merrily Watkins series

Today I review The Fever of the World by Phil Rickman, who is one of my favourite authors. Phil’s genre defies categorisation, but Amazon often kindly list him under Welsh crime, and he variously takes the tags contemporary horror, horror thrillers, paranormal, women sleuths, gothic romance, and mystery, the last two being the case withContinue reading “Book Review: ‘The Fever of the World’, book 16 in Phil Rickman’s Merrily Watkins series”

Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire blog tour

This week Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire goes on tour through seven book blogs. Thank you to Ruth Leigh who began the tour and to Ritu Bhathal who looks at the book on her blog. Both bloggers have shared lovely reviews of the book. On 11th May, it’s the turn of Joy Margetts. Shelley Wilson followsContinue reading “Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire blog tour”

Folklore in Action at Book Launch

On the day of writing this blog post I shall be launching my new book Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire at Hill Close Gardens in Warwick. Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire is published by Amberley, and the book deals with strange stories from around Shakespeare’s county, stories which cover many topics: folklore, ancient ceremonies, spooky experiences, intriguingContinue reading “Folklore in Action at Book Launch”

Book Reviews: Works by Charles Harris

I had the pleasure of meeting Charles Harris as we were both among the authors who attended the Brechin Book Festival in Brechin, Scotland in November, 2021. It was great chatting to Charles, award-winning film director and screenwriter, and fiction author. He has also written, besides his fiction, a complete screenwriting course. I’ve now readContinue reading “Book Reviews: Works by Charles Harris”

Book Review: ‘The Secret River’ by Kate Grenville

As one who lived in Australia for nearly five years, before returning to live in England, I found this novel by Australian author Kate Grenville totally immersive. Kate Grenville takes her main protagonist William Thornhill from his life as a Thames waterman in the late 1700s out to New South Wales on a convict transport,Continue reading “Book Review: ‘The Secret River’ by Kate Grenville”