Christine Bell’s No Small Shame is one of many novels that has been impacted by the Corona virus shutdown. But, it has been wonderful to see just how supportive the online literary world has been. Here’s hoping that Chris’ novel receives all the attention it deserves. Here a few thoughts. No Small Shame focuses on … Continue reading Christine Bell’s No Small Shame
Gulliver’s Wife by Lauren Chater
I don’t usually write book reviews for my blog, but there are so many good books being released and caught up in the Covid-19 isolation that I thought I’d give some of them just a little extra push. I love the premise of this novel, a fictional extension of Jonathan Swift’s eighteenth-century, Gulliver’s Travels, the … Continue reading Gulliver’s Wife by Lauren Chater
From the Editing Room Floor
You might have heard me jumping up and down with excitement a couple of days ago, when I found out that I had been longlisted for the Voss Literary Award. It is a huge honour to be on such a list. It came as a big surprise, and shook up my semi-solitary writing life. Book … Continue reading From the Editing Room Floor
BODIES OF MEN: THE LAUNCH
The launch of Nigel Featherstone’s Bodies of Men was a wonderful celebration. I was invited to say a few words about the man and his novel. Here they are.
Map is Not Territory
At the moment, I’m researching my third novel, and gradually working my way toward building a sense of place. One of the basic elements I like to have in my mind is a simple map, just to have a sense of the physical spaces my medieval characters will negotiate.
Doodling
I’m hoping to learn, or allow myself, to draw with no judgement, no purpose but to play, to let loose that young child with the fat paintbrush. No, to be honest, I do have a purpose, but a wide-ranging one: to encourage right brain creativity, which will, I hope, allow my writing to be more easily set free from my thinking, controlling brain.
