Hello, and thank you for visiting my site. I hope that you'll return often and always find something of interest about my world and what inspires me to pick up a pen. (This is a figure of speech, unfortunately. My handwriting is terrible!) Here's what I've been up to recently...
Workhouse Orphan on Zoom
Look what I just found in the archives! During the dismal lockdown year of 2020, when unmasked contact with other humans was restricted to a tiny bubble, I delivered my first (and so far only) author talk on Zoom. Hosted by Canadian author and publisher Edwin Rydberg, it took place on 16th September. Edwin knew exactly which questions to ask to get me talking and the discussion was to form part of his Indie Book Showcase.
18 May, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
Judging a book by its cover!
Following discussions with several fellow writers and readers, I decided to give the omnibus edition of my short stories a new cover. (For comparison purposes, you can see the previous one by scrolling down to the photo of me selling my books last Sunday.)
The front is from my best selling collection, a mixture of grim and not quite so grim tales. They include Too Much Blood on the Axminster, which was awarded first place by the late M C Beaton (Hamish Macbeth, Agatha Raisin) in a competition connected with the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. My prize was a whole weekend pass to the event at the Old Swan in Harrogate, where I met some of my idols in the crime writing world.
The back features my two other collections, which are very different in nature. Had We But World Enough spans very different themes, from sex trafficking and illegal immigration to an aspiring novelist fulfilling her dream of settling in Key West and a young English couple experiencing their first Christmas in Australia.
The ‘twist in the tale’ stories in Swings & Roundabouts cover the widest range of topics, including a new slant on the Loch Ness Monster myth, an Asian shopkeeper’s cat foiling a racist attack and the unvarnished opinion of Johannes Vermeer’s wife and daughter about the setups for his paintings.
16 May, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
Promoting Yorkshire Authors arrives in Ripon
At my suggestion, PYA made enquiries at the Claro Lounge and got the go ahead for a book fair on Sunday, 11th May. It was a warm, sunny day, perfect for the V E Day commemorations and the installation of Ripon’s new mayor. Situated next to the Town Hall, the Lounge offered a good view of the proceedings taking place outside, so we didn’t miss out.
With seven titles to display, I was allocated half a table and very much enjoyed talking to everyone who came by.
A free copy of its prequel ‘Foreshadowing’ was on offer to anyone who bought ‘Shadows of the Past’. One purchaser was a young soldier from the Royal Engineers who had just taken part in the parade from the Market Place to the Cathedral. He told me that he was particularly interested in the history of WW2, so I hope he will enjoy it.
PYA has booked another event at the Claro Lounge for Sunday, 30th November.
12 May, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
A successful launch
The open mic night at the Claro Lounge to launch ‘This Hear This Now’, an Anthology of Ripon Poets, was very well attended.
It includes two of my poems and I chose to read ‘Elegy Written in Ripon Market Place’ (with apologies to Thomas Gray). Much as I love our little cathedral city, not everyone respects its ‘ancient charms’ and this is my reproach to litter louts.
By the way, the lighting affected the shot and seems to have added something odd to the hand holding the book. It isn’t really like that!
25 April, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
Anthology Launch
This labour of love is a great showcase for local writers, myself included, and we’re hoping for a good turnout.
10 April, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
A chance to show off my new hair do!
Networking is definitely the name of the game for writers and I was able to persuade fellow Swanwicker Phil Collins to join us at Ripon Writers’ Group last night. Phil gave a very entertaining illustrated talk on comedy writing, of which he is a master, having written (and often performed in) numerous sketches, short plays and a couple of pantomimes.
Phil, Cathy and I meet in Swanwick, Derbyshire each year at the Writers’ Summer School and are looking forward to August already. Places are still available, so why not join us? https://www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk/
20 March, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
Sights & Sounds of Ripon 2025
The annual showcase of all Ripon has to offer included local writers’ groups this year and here I am in the Cathedral with Leah Fletcher from the Hornblower Press. During my ‘shift’, I was happy to answer enquiries about Ripon Writers’ Group and Write-On, Ripon!, both of which are open to new members.
There was a lot else going on in our little city, with performances from local choirs and dancers as well as various exhibitions and free entry to all three museums.
The sun shone brightly on the proceedings and everyone had the feeling that spring was just around the corner.
9 March, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
All Write on the Night!
I’m always happy to run a workshop for other writers and this week saw me doing so ‘in house’ at Ripon Writers’ Group.
The subject was ‘keys’. I encouraged everyone to explore the different meanings of the word, delve into a box of actual keys for inspiration and then pick up their pens. The first task was to write a few lines about a key selected from the box; the second to write a piece of flash fiction beginning with the words, ‘I turned the key in the lock and was amazed when…”
During the refreshment break, we celebrated Joe’s birthday with cake and (optional) wine. Tea and coffee were on offer as usual. Joe, whose late wife Daphne founded RWG over forty years ago, is our longest standing member and President for life.
The final task of the evening was to begin work on a longer piece of writing with the focus on a key or keys (in any sense of the word) of particular significance in one’s own life. This could be polished up to submit for publication and/or presented at our next open manuscripts evening.
7 March, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
Sheer escapism!
Every now and then it’s enjoyable to relax and watch something just for the sheer pleasure of it. Such was the case last night at the Grand Theatre in Leeds. The actors who took over the roles so familiar to fans of the TV series were spot on and the stagecraft left absolutely nothing to be desired. No wonder then that the packed theatre rang to the sound of very well deserved applause.
27 February, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
From Austria with love!
Write-On! Ripon was in the middle of our usual Tuesday afternoon meeting this week when a surprise contribution arrived from a member currently enjoying a winter sports holiday in Austria. She’s having a great time and, of course, we had to send a photo straight back to her.
20 February, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
Check Out My eBooks
