You're walking down the street. It's a warm, sunny day. It's quiet. There aren't many people around so you're relaxed and everything feels bright, breezy, carefree. You're searching for somewhere good to eat lunch, so you keep walking, looking around. You inhale a long, deep breath, smiling at a group of people walking by. They [...]
This is number Two in my accidental "All for the Love of..." series which sees me exploring the deep fried delights and golden, batter-coated scrumptiousness of a traditional British meal - Fish 'n Chips. Invented over 155 years ago, the UK's foodie stalwart of crunchy, battered cod (or Haddock, if you prefer) accompanied by a [...]
Making space in your life - and inside your mind - to do what you really want can be difficult sometimes. There are bills to pay, people to see, chores, food to be made, cake to eat, work that's not your "real" work to be done, and a million other things waiting to distract you. [...]
You know, I was thinking that - as 2013 comes to a close - it would be a good idea for me, you, us to look forward to what we want to achieve in the next 12 months. To think about our dream and go get it in 2014 (and not just because that rhymes). [...]
In the exciting week that I've been accepted on the Golden Egg Academy's latest writer's course (Golden Egg is run by children's publisher Chicken House...the company run by Mr Barry Cunningham, the man who discovered JK Rowling), I'm faced with a bit of a writerly quandry. (Apologies to those of you who read this blog [...]
I'm addicted, in love with and am obsessed by flapjacks. Yes, I hold my syrup-sticky hands up in unadulterated confession to the oaty, sweet, buttery goodness that is The Flapjack. Lick your lips in sugary joy ladies and gentleman, because this here blog post is my Ode to The Flapjack. Now, they come in all [...]
I've just finished writing my latest novel called "The Shrine" and, for the past few years, I've had an idea for another one swimming around inside my head. This idea started to grow momentum, and more of a genuine concept as well as a "what if?" question, around halfway through writing "The Shrine". This happens [...]
Exactly a year ago today, I was breaking the speed limit in the UK as I drove - from the city of Bath to my seaside home town of Weymouth - to be my mum's side as she took her last breaths. As I was driving, I had no idea she was actually about to [...]
So, lots of exciting things relating to my writing and other work have happened in the past week. But, before I go in to what they are I must warn you that some of these exciting things I'm only allowed to talk about in vague terms (sorry about that but Very Important Legal Documents such [...]
Every writer comes up with their ideas in different ways and takes a different approach to planning their next book, script, poem or article. But what are those ways? How can you ensure that the spark of the idea you've had can be transformed into a fully-fledged piece of writerly work? Well, you may be [...]
