Octavian and Bismarck – Visionaries of Empire

Today’s cracking guest post comes from Antoine Vanner – a regular guest here. His own adventurous life, his knowledge of human nature, his passion for nineteenth-century history and his understanding of what was the cutting-edge technology of that time, make him the ideal chronicler of the life of Nicholas Dawlish R.N.in eight volumes so far. […]

December 12th, 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Books, Guests, Research, Romans | Leave a comment

Can a song inspire a story?

Can music inspire a story? It seems so!

I’m taking part in the December StorySong short story fest organised by Discovering Diamonds Reviews’ organiser Helen Hollick.

Each day, there’ll be a new story and a chance to guess the song/music that inspired it. there have been some crackers so far!

Mine comes on 17 December, […]

December 8th, 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Authors, Books, Other people's websites/blogs, Promotion, Short stories | Leave a comment

Discovering gold - a critique writing partner and how to find one

I enjoy a ‘writerly’ Skype with another novel writer, Denise Barnes – my critique Writing Partner (CWP). We swap hints and tips, recommend and exchange books, encourage each other about courses and competitions. But the best thing is that we read each other’s work and critique it. Now you have to get on well to […]

November 5th, 2019 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Authors, Books, Getting published, Writing life, Writing skills | Leave a comment

A writer's progress, or 'Do not despair'

2012 PR shot

It’s ten years since I started thrusting books on the world and I’d like to I share some expurgated diary extracts and experiences with you.

But first, a word of motivation… You know how they say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something? If you take a […]

October 21st, 2019 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: Authors, Books, Getting published, Insights, Personal, Writing life, Writing skills | 8 comments

Tony Riches, historic fiction writer of power and dynasties

No, not Julio-Claudians or other Romans, but that powerful and intermarried ruling family, the Tudors and their connections.

This Thursday’s guest is Tony Riches, a full-time UK author of best-selling historical fiction. He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the history of the Wars of the Roses and the lives […]

October 3rd, 2019 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Authors, Books, Guests, Women's history | Leave a comment
Older Entries »