Funny what you find when you're out and about. Take Masseys Folly, a large, red brick Victorian construction complete with two towers and adorned with carvings. It's like something out of a Bronte novel - and it's slap-bang in the middle of a small village in Hampshire. The story behind the folly is just as... Continue Reading →
If there one period of history I love most it's got to be ancient history. The pre-history of the UK holds a special fascination and seeing as I live here, it's easier for me to visit what remains of it. Chysauster Ancient Village near Penzance in Cornwall, is an Iron Age settlement consisting of a... Continue Reading →
Finding ideas for blog posts can be tricky. But there's a website I've used in the past that could give you some inspiration. It's called Answer the Public. Very simply you type in a keyword or phrase, and it shows you a bunch of questions asked online by, well, the public. It's a pretty good way... Continue Reading →
If you're not familiar with BBC series "Poldark" let me sum it up - set in Cornwall in the eighteenth century, it focuses on Ross Poldark, played by Aidan Turner, who's trying to make his fortunes by mining copper, and has a penchant for scything things with his top off. Ok, so there's actually far... Continue Reading →
If you're a regular reader, you'll know I'm rather interested in history and cemeteries. So the 'Roman Dead' exhibition at 'The Museum of London Docklands' was definitely worth a visit. And as an added bonus it was free. The exhibition showcases finds from excavations around London, with the focus being on a stunning sarcophagus... Continue Reading →
Brookwood Cemetery is the UK's largest graveyard. It was built in 1854 and covers around 400 acres. In Victorian times trains carried the dead, divided by class, from the London Necropolis Station to this quiet, leafy town. I've wanted to visit Brookwood ever since reading 'Necropolis: London and its Dead' by Catharine Arnold. I've passed it... Continue Reading →
It's taken four months, 21 pages and over 11.5K of words to complete my plan for 'The Cauldron Trilogy'. And whilst this is terrific, I'm fully aware that any book plan is on uneven ground once you start writing and your characters try to misbehave. This is the most complex writing project I've ever attempted,... Continue Reading →
It's always nice to find an unexpected treat. At 'Velvet Rose' in Whitchurch, we discovered a whole shop full of them. If you love quirky, vintage jewellery, scarves, skirts, gloves and much more, this is the place for you. And as if it was meant to be, I'm now the proud owner of this gorgeous... Continue Reading →
Websites and apps can be more of a hindrance than a help when it comes to writing. But just as Pinterest can help writers, so can Instagram. Plenty of people shy away from it, pointing out that the unrealistic view of reality it promotes isn't exactly healthy. But the same can be said of everything... Continue Reading →
Our house move means I can have a desk again. Our previous pad didn't have space for it so writing time was spent tucked wherever I could on my Chromebook. I still like to do that, moving around to be creative. But it's nice to have my own spot, especially for writing and this reclaimed... Continue Reading →
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