One of the things I like about exploring is finding out the history of a place - the stories it holds essentially. A case in point is Featherstone Prisoner Of War camp in Northumberland. When I looked into what happened there, I discovered a number of fascinating facts. Firstly, in 1944 it was one of... Continue Reading →
Brean Down is a natural pier, protruding out between Weston-Super-Mare and Burnham-On-Sea in Somerset. At its very end lies what remains of Brean Down Fort, an eerie ruin. The Down appears to have had settlements on it from the early to middle bronze age. Some Roman artifacts have also been recovered there. Brean Down Fort... Continue Reading →
Glastonbury is a place long entwined with myth and legend, most famously that of King Arthur. Even today it's a pace that attracts those with an alternative bent, and the town is filled with shops selling crystals, herbs, and various Pagan items. If you're interested, I also have a post about Glastonbury Abbey. But today... Continue Reading →
You smug-faced crowds with kindling eyeWho cheer when soldier lads march by,Sneak home and pray you'll never knowThe hell where youth and laughter go.”Suicide in Trenches, Siegfried Sassoon You'll find the grave of Siegfried Sassoon in the lovely small Somerset town of Mells. Sassoon is one of the most famous poets of the First World... Continue Reading →
The latest in my "3 Things" series - this time the humorous genre. 1) Er... how to be funny Yeah ok, I know this is obvious - but as I've mentioned in a previous full blog post, I think all stories no matter their genre or subject matter can benefit from humour. Even if it's... Continue Reading →
I didn't post last week because, well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that world matters have (once again) been hard to comprehend. And the post I was going to share didn't quite feel right. So I've dug this post out instead. Sadly, I've had cause to share this more than once over... Continue Reading →
I was browsing through some old photos and discovered a set from a visit to a fascinating convent we visited near Lisbon, Portugal, in 2019. This winding, cramped religious complex was established in 1560 by just eight monks. It's tucked away from the world even now and, curiously, has walls, doors, and windows lined with... Continue Reading →
As a writer, there's nothing better than getting a great idea for a new story. Something exciting, something unique, something...in need of some work. Before you can start writing, you need more than just an idea - a lot more. But where do you start when all you've got is an initial "What if..?" Read... Continue Reading →
Straighten up your ruff and fix your doublet, we're delving back into the archives for this week's "3 Things..." with historical fiction. 1) How fiction can educate We're taught history as a series of highlights, large events like wars or big social changes. Or we learn about a series of prominent figures such as Kings,... Continue Reading →
2021 was as unpredictable and uneven as the year-that-must-not-be-named that came before. Whilst some things have changed, others have stayed the same. Personally, I'm grateful for my health and the health of my friends and family, and that I've been able to get out a bit more than I did last year. Book-wise I finished... Continue Reading →
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