Role Reversal
A year ago I retired from a long-term part-time job, which gave me plenty of time for writing. I intended to transform my life and re-brand myself as a full-time professional writer. So why have I written so little and [...]
My Dragon won’t Listen to me
At last my voice is beginning to return to how it used to be, though it still sounds pretty ragged to me at times. I lost it back in April and I'm disappointed that it is still strangely hoarse. [...]
Struck Dumb
Nine weeks ago I woke up, tried to say good morning to my darling husband and found I could not speak. I couldn’t even to croak - nothing! Very strange. My vocal cords had gone AWOL. The evening before, having [...]
Downhill Run
You need to put words on pages to make books. It's more about quality than quantity but you must have both. And it takes time and hard work. Right now I'm focused on writing a new novel - my fourth [...]
Abbs and Acronyms
We hear a lot about Apps and rather less about Abbs, unless you happen to be into bodybuilding. People who talk about their abbs are generally into flaunting their well-toned abdominal muscles. But an ABB could be an abbreviation of [...]
Why I Write Fiction
Here are five reasons why I write fiction: Because I love stories and storytelling. Because creating believable characters is a challenge. Because I am fascinated by the human heart and mind. Because I love words, language, learning and communicating. Because [...]
No Satisfactory Ending
I've just read a book by well-known author that was beautifully written, with an ingenious plot and memorable characters - but it did not have an ending. There was an intriguing story with tension, insights and twists but with no [...]
Winterborne Slepe
Winterborne Slepe is the name of an imaginary village in Dorset, where much of the action in my new book takes place. Whilst I was searching for an appropriate name, I drove through a small village in the eastern part [...]
Festivals should pay Authors
I applaud Philip Pullman in his decision to resign as patron of the Oxford Literary Festival because it refuses to pay authors to attend and speak. He was right to say that writers should be paid. They are not on [...]
Book Reviews
Here are some recent reviews of my latest novel: ‘The Lost Journey Homeward’, published in June by Onwards & Upwards in Hardback (£16.99), Paperback (£9.99) and eBook (£5.99). The book also has a number of reviews posted by readers on [...]