A Storyteller’s Christmas: Saturday 18th November 2017, Leigh-on-Sea
Together with 33 other local authors, I took a table at this event, which included book signings, storytelling and the opportunity to meet the authors (and some of their characters). Books for all ages and a raffle in aid of Southend Mencap SaveSave more…
Philip Pullman on Writing Fantasy
A pragmatic observation from Philip Pullman in The Sunday Times Magazine. Good advice for authors: stick to what you are comfortable with. For the full interview, refer to The Sunday Times Magazine, Sunday 15th October 2017. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave more…
The Invisible College Trilogy: Two Years on…
This was indeed a proud moment when, two years ago, I received my five author’s copies of They Do Things Differently Here, book 1 of The Invisible College Trilogy. Over the past two years I have enjoyed many new experiences, including three appearances on BBC Essex Tony FisherLive, three more on Sarah Banham‘s Writer’s Block […] more…
Invisible College Gin Now Available!
How cool is this? A bespoke bottle of gin, distilled by Adnams to include my preferred botanicals and named after my YA trilogy! So how did this come to be produced? My daughter Emily, proprietor of the respected and popular Bristol Bites food blog, entered a competition to create your own gin…and she was the […] more…
August 2017: The Beginning of Autumn
I’m sure that autumn arrives a month earlier than it used to. On my early morning walk today, the first of August, there were definite signs. I was pleased that my secret supply of wild raspberries was not completely exhausted. These are hidden in a remote part of the local woods that not many know […] more…
First Hitchin OpenBook Festival an Amazing Success
On Saturday 29th July, the first ever ‘Books, Beers & Banter’ Open Book Literary Festival took place at the British Schools Museum, Hitchin. Organised by the Society of Authors Hertfordshire group, twenty local professional authors, whose subjects include fiction, poetry, history, royals and lifestyle genres (including cake decorating) gave a series of talks, readings and workshops. They were on […] more…
July 2017: Holloways
A ‘holloway’ is a sunken lane, usually created over a period of time by water, erosion and traffic. The main characteristics are the steep banks to either side, which may be up to five metres in height, and the trees and hedges that touch overhead, giving the impression of a tunnel. This is a modest […] more…