Thank you for dropping by my blog. I post about a variety of topics including book reviews, my author journey, the writing craft and more. All my blog posts are listed below, but if you fancy looking at a particular topic, you can check the drop down menu on 'blog' on my main site menu. New blog posts added weekly, Monday or Tuesday afternoons GMT. Hope you enjoy!
This week on the blog I review Empire’s Legacy, an alternative historical fiction by Marian L Thorpe. I originally wrote this blog post when I first read this wonderful series last year. It helped me fall back in love with reading and went a long way in getting me through the pandemic! So, I thought I’d pull this from the blog and update it a bit/republish. PS Thorpe has published fourth novel in this series, Empire’s Reckoning and also a novella,
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been mindful of my characters. Specifically – that it’s getting to be a pretty big cast. I’m writing what will hopefully be my 4th historical fiction novel (More info about my published books here!). It’s partly because I’m introducing a new narrator. My first 3 books in the series are 1st person from Daniel’s point of view, my new project is dual 1st POV – between Daniel and another character, Imogen. This has made
This week on the blog I’m reviewing The Marked Princess, a YA Fantasy by E.P. Stavs. This is a brilliant book that got me hooked from the first page! Here’s a flavour: The blurb Fighting for her life and with new friends along the way, Josselyn tries to take back her kingdom and her home. One minute Princess Josselyn is considering suitors ahead of her 18th birthday and practicising duelling with her friend Edmund. The next, she and her stoic bodyguard
This week on my blog I thought I’d talk about writing groups, the latest in my Writing Craft series. I recently joined one on Google Hangouts, most of whom I ‘knew’ virtually. It’s been great to connect with them and I’m sure my writing is improving already as a result. The other writers are based in the US so while it is mid morning their time, it’s mid- afternoon for me here in the UK. This has worked out really well
This week on the blog, I’m reviewing In Solitude’s Shadow, a dark fantasy by David Green. The Blurb Zanna Alpenwood, a powerful mage, stands atop Solitude’s walls staring down at an army bent on invasion. Two hundred aged and forgotten Sparkers are all that stand between the Banished and the nation of Haltveldt. With time running out, Zanna is forced to reach out to her estranged daughter, Calene, and set her on an impossible quest. In doing so Calene must decide
This week on the blog, I thought I’d talk a bit about tension. This topic isn’t entirely of a coincidence- it’s been a pretty dramatic twenty-four hours for me! Yesterday evening, I along with much of the rest of the world watched the football. England reached the final of a competition since 1966. Tension ran high as Italy and England battled it out neck-and-neck before Italy finally won on penalties. Then, my emotions ran much higher this morning when our dog
You might be surprised that there ere so many different kingdoms in England. Today, one united country with one king or queen. In fact, overseas England is often as a synonym for the whole of the UK, but that’s another story altogether! Last time in my ‘World and Setting’ series, I talked about the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia. One reader commented she had no idea that there used to be so many different kingdoms in Britain. So, this week on the
You might already know how much I enjoy NaNoWrimo events! June is nearly over so that means July Camp NaNoWriMo is starting on Thursday, 1st July. I’ve hit my goals for my 4th historical fiction novel and I’m ready to take part! So, this week on the blog, I thought I’d tell you a bit about my project. About NaNoWriMo If you’re not familiar with the term, NaNoWriMo stands for ‘National Novel Writing Month’ and it’s an online writing challenge. Participants
This wonderful book sweeps you back in time to Regency England in this charming Pride and Prejudice variation. Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet are guests at a house party thrown by mutual friends, the Kendalls. The Kendalls hope that both Elizabeth and Darcy will find suitable matches. In the true style of this beloved couple, it seems they are not suited at each other, at least at first. However, the two form a friendship over early morning walks. Could there
On the blog this week, I thought I’d talk about the Kingdom of Mercia. Mercia was one of the largest kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England. It made up much of what would today be the Midlands, but also extended into parts of Cheshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. In 600-700 AD, it would become one of the ‘big three’ kingdoms along with Northumbria and Wessex. Mercia in my Novels I’m currently writing my first draft of my 4th historical fiction novel. In it, both