Book research is the name of this article. Based on the initial research I have done into the lives of gypsies in the UK and fisherfolk in Auchmithie, to get a sense of their lives and challenges, I have begun to draft my early scenes in my new noval (The Read more…
On conducting research for my current book The Fisherwomen of Auchmithie, it’s been tough going finding information on the lives of fisherfolk in the 19th century. I began to read The Antiquary (Walter Scott), as cited on some websites. However, there’s but one description of the inside of a fisherman’s Read more…
How to find an agent, or no agent at all? I felt inspired on the subject of how to find an agent by this quote from K.Welsh: “When I was querying agents with The Wages of Sin, I posted the opening chapters to my website on the off-chance someone might Read more…
I received a lovely present in the post today: a book! Not just any book, but a gift from one of my clients. Very charming of Roobens to bother to send me a copy with a small note of thank you for helping him proofread the final version. The book Read more…
I’ve been asked by some inquisitive readers why my novella Shattered Roses tells Rose’s fragmented story. And why this old lady’s story is told through the eyes of 16-year-old Megan? To answer this question requires talking about the writing process. It can be so much fun to explore new Read more…
While social media (radio, television, and other platforms) focus on what it’s like to work from home for the first time, juggle family life, take an at home vacation, I have many friends reeling from the effects of COVID-19. Some don’t earn enough to get the government grant (though I Read more…
Past or passed? Personally, I find it easier to learn how to use these words correctly through examples as we tend to use it in English in certain ways. So I hope the following lists will be useful for your creative writing. Basically, ‘Passed’ is the past tense of ‘to Read more…
Got excited when I got my hands on this one. However, my first impression was disappointment. I almost stopped reading when an example of racism given was a lady picking up her purse after catching someone approaching from the corner of her eye. I’ve done that before, movement in my Read more…
In describing the theme of the book Waterstones says: “One of our greatest living novelists resurrects the short life of Hamnet Shakespeare, in this lyrically written and emotionally devastating account of the Bard’s only son. Utterly immersive and convincing, Hamnet is a poignant period tale that not only shines a Read more…
Surprised I managed to finish it, what with juggling work and writing and some time for relaxation and mental health, but this month I read the above novel. And I am struck by the characterisation of The hippopotamus, and thus delved deeper into Stephen Fry’s writing psyche. But not Read more…