Let's start with the obvious. There are older libraries in the world. However, the Chapter Library of Verona is apparently the oldest continuously operating library in the world, dating from before the 5th century It's no surprise, given where it's located that this library has seen some turbulent times - earthquakes, plague, war and ransacking... Continue Reading →
With everything going on, I've not been on the ball with my shameless self-promotion. Well that stops now. During my recent writing competition blitz (or maybe spritz is more appropriate), I was fortunate to be shortlisted for the Hammond House 2024 International Literary Competition which also means I've been published in their latest short story... Continue Reading →
I'm writing this post in a rental somewhere in deepest, darkest Wiltshire. I've sold my house and crammed most of my stuff into a storage container - including my books. My most precious ones aka all my Discworld and related works, are stashed in my parents loft in case of disaster. All of which leaves... Continue Reading →
This summer we took a trip to London, making a not-so-quick detour to Kensal Green Cemetery to find Wilkie Collins' grave. The Victorian author is most well-known for his mystery novels "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone", and was friends with Charles Dickens. Wilkie Collins was born in London in 1824. His father, William... Continue Reading →
In my post "Taking Stock of 2024" I talked about how I'd been entering a lot of writing competitions, mostly for poetry and short stories. And I've been shortlisted for some too, which I'm pretty happy with. Recently I was thrilled to find out I've reached the semi-final in the Fabuly Writer's Challenge short story... Continue Reading →
A new novel idea has me in a chokehold. And as I have a very good feeling about it, I've scrapped my original plan for a new short story collection. However, I've already written a bunch of stories for said collection and I've got more floating about in old folders. To make sure they don't... Continue Reading →
The first thing I said on approaching this building was 'It looks like something from Game of Thrones.' It hasn't actually been used in any filming as far as I can tell - but walking through it makes you feel a bit like you're in a movie. It's also not actually a medieval castle, but... Continue Reading →
T.E. Lawrence is known to most as Lawrence of Arabia. That's thanks in no small part to the autobiographical stories he wrote and the incredibly successful film made of them starring Peter O'Toole. Lawrence was a writer but had many strings to his bow. And much about his life (including those same stories) is shrouded... Continue Reading →
Misery - Writing can be dangerous Stories about writers often seem to end up on the precarious side of things. Writing, it's implied, is dangerous. "Misery" (by the man who loves writing about writers, Stephen King) follows a famous writer who's sick of his own creation (shout out to Arthur Conan Doyle) and kills her... Continue Reading →
Kenneth Grahame is famous as the author of one of the most iconic children's stories of all time, "The Wind in the Willows". This classic book was written in 1908 but has enchanted children for decades (myself included). Grahame was born in 1859. His mother died when he was just five and, as his father... Continue Reading →
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