Love, Laughter and the Suitcase of Doom: Part 2
So, to the Suitcase of Doom. I’ve had a grin plastered on my face all week from memories of the conference. Lots of catching up with old friends done, lots of opportunities to make new ones and get to know those only previously known online. It was a fantastic weekend. I wish I could say […]
Love, Laughter and the Suitcase of Doom: Part 1
It was the Romantic Novelists’ Association conference and the room was full of love. It really was! It was that time of year again. Time for the annual conference. Except excitement was mounting even more feverishly because it was going to be the first time we were able to meet in person for three years. News of possible rail strikes and heatwaves […]
Mary Stewart
Last month’s edition of Writing Magazine (highly recommended by the way for all things writerly) featured Susanna Kearsley choosing her favourite books. I’m a longtime fan of Susanna Kearsley’s books and have always read and reread Mary Stewart so I was thrilled. Without giving it much thought, I fired off a letter. Opened the August […]
A Country Mouse Goes OutOut
It’s been a long three years since the last author party was held and even longer since I was able to attend. It’s a pretty hot ticket so you can guess how thrilled I was when the invite popped into my inbox. Yes, this country mouse was going to the Harper Collins Summer Party! The […]
A Weekend of Mixed Emotions …
Warning: opinions of a contradictory nature ahead! As a (soft) republican and historian I had conflicted feelings over the Platinum Jubilee Celebration Weekend just gone. I couldn’t deny the importance of seeing history in the making, but wondered at the same time whether it was all a bit over the top. The monarch is in place, in a position […]
A Donkey Tale
Lots of family stuff going on at the moment, of the tricky kind, so it was good to get out and meet a few writer chums. For this morning’s meeting we decided on the Donkey Sanctuary at Sidmouth. It’s exactly what it says it is – a sanctuary for donkeys. It’s been expanded and redeveloped […]
The ‘Grimly Cute’
Saturday saw me tootling off to meet a select few from the RNA Dorset Chapter. I’m honoured to be allowed to still attend as I’m now in Devon (although only just). Lots of members live in north and east Dorset and often meet in Bournemouth which is a bit too much of a trek for […]
Bank Holiday reads!
It’s May and the Bank Holidays are coming thick and fast. In Devon, so is the rain! Still, it’s not a traditional holiday weekend without some inclement weather. I suggest you curl up with a coffee and read some good books. You can check out a few here: https://www.agetimes.co.uk/entertainment/culture/top-20-summer-books I’m currently reading Natalie Jenner’s The […]
Ah! Bridgerton!
I devoured the Bridgerton books, all eight of them, back in 2002 when I became mildly obsessed with everything Julia Quinn. I loved the books, although (sorry Gregory) my enthusiasm was beginning to wane by the time I got to On the Way to the Wedding. I’m not a great reader of Regency romance, Jane Austen being the exception, and […]
Amor Vincit Omnia.
I’m deep in the research again. While waiting on a few submissions, I’ve returned to a dual narrative I began with great enthusiasm a few months ago. (Last year was the year of beginning things only to get interrupted or lose confidence). It’s set partly at the end of the Roman Empire and in present […]
