In many ways, it is more than a little bit cheeky to call this a Christmas story, when what I am really doing is extracting out two chapters of my unpublished novel, both of which happen to be set during Christmas. What is interesting for me as a writer, is that both of these chaptersContinue reading “A Christmas Story – Part 2”
Tag Archives: Books
A Christmas Story (in two parts)
Part One – but first some background… In the days before Christmas, I thought I would have a bit of festive fun, and return to my unpublished first novel that still sits in the metaphorical drawer that every author knows all too well – the file full of writing which is destined to languish inContinue reading “A Christmas Story (in two parts)”
Reflections on my Journey to Publication: Failure and Festivals
Since the moment I began reading, books have entranced me. Throughout my life, they have provided me with solace, companionship, laughter, and hope. I have been surrounded by books my whole life, from saving my pocket money to buy books when I was child, to spending my Saturdays in the library when I was teenager,Continue reading “Reflections on my Journey to Publication: Failure and Festivals”
My Thoughts on The Fall of Roe by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer
The Fall of Roe by Elizabeth Dias My rating: 5 of 5 stars I remember the day when Roe fell. I had sensed that Roe was under threat for years, my fears for Roe even being reflected in my novel, yet on the day that the Supreme Court of the United States overturned their decisionContinue reading “My Thoughts on The Fall of Roe by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer”
Reviewing My Sister’s Novel: Before You Say I Do.
Before You Say I Do by Sharon Ibbotson My rating: 5 of 5 stars There are two disclaimers I need to give before writing this review: 1. I am not usually a romance reader. While I do indulge in the odd romance novel, the genre is not one I usually reach for when searching forContinue reading “Reviewing My Sister’s Novel: Before You Say I Do.”
Writing Dickens – Week 3
I don’t know how Dickens did it. Right now, I am on week 3 of writing in instalments, exactly as Dickens did, 170 years ago. So far, I have written chapters 1 to 6, publishing them in the same increments as Dickens did: 1 April 1854 1–3 Book I 8 April 1854 4–5 15 AprilContinue reading “Writing Dickens – Week 3”
Writing Dickens
Today marks 170 years since Charles Dickens advertised what would become his latest novel to his public. That novel was Hard Times, one that he would serialise between April and August 1854 in his periodic journal Household Words. We are so used to reading Dickens’s novels as whole books that it is sometimes difficult toContinue reading “Writing Dickens”
A Quick Review of The Little Match Girl Strikes Back
LITTLE MATCH GIRL STRIKES BACK by Emma Carroll My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is an empowering re-telling of a Hans Christian Anderson story of an impoverished match-seller struggling to make a living selling matches on the freezing streets. Subverting the tragedy of Anderson’s tale, this transposes the story onto the streets of London,Continue reading “A Quick Review of The Little Match Girl Strikes Back”
The Kindness of Catherine Cookson
Those of you that follow my blog know that I have recently made quite an effort to read some of Catherine Cookson’s extensive catalogue of novels. Having recently moved back to the North East, I wanted to read books that evoke the heart and the spirit of the land that I now, once more, callContinue reading “The Kindness of Catherine Cookson”
My Thoughts on Home Going by Yaa Gyasi
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi My rating: 5 of 5 stars I came across this book after a recent episode of This is Us featured Rebecca and Randall discussing it. Both Randall and Rebecca confessed to sobbing at a key moment in the book. Deciding that I needed to get a hold of this book, IContinue reading “My Thoughts on Home Going by Yaa Gyasi”
Deborah Siddoway 