Tag Archives: Speculative Fiction

The Garden

Of the Of the plotting and structural challenges in writing my novel, Another Life, the chapter ‘The Garden’ was one of the most demanding. It provides an overview of the life of the main character, Oliver, and suggests that not everything is as it seems and that his visit is expected. Oliver stops at the […]

The Use of Music to Convey Mood and Emotion

Music is often used by authors as an indicator of mood and emotion. To do so effectively, they must decide how much detail to provide to convey their message so that the reader does not necessarily need to be familiar with the piece. One of the allusions to death in my new novel, Another Life, […]

The Grim Reaper Is All Around Us

Death plays an important part in my novel, Another Life. There are physical deaths, many in unexpected circumstances. The symbolism of death is ever-present, sending signals and warnings to the characters. In one example, the main protagonist, Oliver, is driving along a country lane in the late afternoon sun. He notices a farmer, or agricultural […]

Some Books Used in the Research for Another Life

Here are just a few of the books used as reference and inspirational material in the writing of my new novel, Another Life.Peter Ackroyd’s Albion, subtitled ‘the origins of the English imagination’ is nostalgic in its celebration of the historic ability to assimilate foreign influences in an inclusive, eclectic way.Engraved Gardens, illustrated by four leading […]

Solomon’s Knot

Several people have asked me about the significance of the cover image of Another Life, in particular, the design that encloses the image of the Green Man. The main protagonist, Oliver, decides to seek a woman he saw, fleetingly, thirty years ago, a woman whom he will encounter in various guises in the present time. […]

Good Feedback From Essex Authors Day 2020

In March, I hosted a discussion session at the Essex Authors Day, an event within the 2020 Essex Book Festival. I chose the title of ‘Using Familiar Landscapes to Inspire Fictional Locations’; the session was billed as follows: ‘An author-led discussion session to show and discuss how familiar features in the Essex countryside can be […]

Dreams & Reality

I am delighted that my publisher, Burton Mayers Books, has provided me with a number of advertising images to promote Another Life, my new, speculative fiction novel, published 1st May 2020. Those that I have included refer to the interweaving of dreams and reality, which is a major theme of the book.