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...
My latest release!
‘From counseling in the Catskills to bagels for breakfast in the Bronx’, not to mention innocently trying to book a room in a brothel on the Mexican border! This is the book that I’ll be launching at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School in Derbyshire next month and thereafter locally. Ripon launch (or launches) not yet sorted out, so please watch this space.
For anyone further afield, copies are already available worldwide on Amazon and I’d be very grateful for some reviews. It’s been a real labour of love.
20 July, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
A Milestone for Ripon Writers’ Group
Having joined RWG over 20 years ago, I was very pleased to attend the 1000th meeting last night.
Founded in 1982 by the late Daphne Peters, whose husband Joe cut the celebration cake, a great many writers have come and gone from the Group. Unfortunately, health issues or other commitments kept some of the current members from joining us, but those of us who made it enjoyed reminiscing about past events and reading extracts from RWG publications put together over the years.
10 July, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
Poetry Galore
The last few weeks have been all about sharing poems included in the recent anthology of Ripon Poets. St John’s Sharow had a wonderful afternoon of Piano, Pimms & Poetry (at which I read from the pulpit!) with afternoon tea and then it was time for this year’s Ripon Theatre Festival.
Poetry was included for the first time and I took part in events at the wonderfully named Portly Pig on Kirkgate and then at the Little Ripon Bookshop. Each attracted a good audience on what was an idyllic summer’s day.
9 July, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
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
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
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
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