One of my Facebook friends recently posted a video of Blackadder actor Tony Robinson in his series, The Worst Jobs in History. I somehow missed the TV series, but the videos are awesome. Anyway, the video I watched was about the makers of purple—the dye. Purple is often mentioned in the Bible. Exodus tells us …
Continue reading “#ThrowbackThursday | The Symbolism of the Colour Purple”
Have you ever been on a writer’s retreat? I’ve been on eight, so there must be something that keeps bringing me back. Is it the time to write? The networking? The input and mentoring? The fun and fellowship? The pool? Well, it’s all of those and more. What is a Writer’s Retreat? A writer’s retreat …
Today we have 5 new release this month. Congratulations. Check at the end to see if you were one of our winners for March Across the Shores by Angella K Crouch, Kelly J. Goshorn, Carolyn Miller, Cara Putman Publisher: Barbour (Date Released: 1 April 2023) Blurb: Sometimes love finds you where you are, and other …
Continue reading “New Releases | April New Releases and Giveaway Winners”
Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim. Dory, from Finding Nemo Lately, I’ve found it hard to write. I think about the novels I have in progress and struggle to actually get to my desk and work on them. There’s been a lot going on in our family–a …
A few weeks ago I was presented with the opportunity to take my daughter to the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, NSW. I might’ve grumbled at the time (my other daughter was returning from India that same day and I wanted to know All The Things!) but I went, because I realised this was …
Continue reading “Writer’s Inspiration | Exploring the Past”
Settings have always been one of the most important aspects of a story to me. I frequently—almost always, even—choose the films I watch or the books I read based on where they are set. I regularly shape my plots around places I want to go for research. Past Travels Come to Life For my current …
What does Anno Domini (AD), Virginia Woolf and modern society have in common? Read on to find out. Stereotyping; the bane of our existence By now, we all see the stark reality that only a portion of us is represented in literature. And from that portion, only a portion is represented authentically. As a teacher …
In the last few months, several people have asked me about self-publishing. Each time my mind goes “Eek!” because I’ve spent more than five years learning how to self-publish. It’s not something that can be taught in five minutes. However, the requests have prompted me to begin what is likely to be a continually expanding …
Does anything satisfy more than writing “The End”? In my case, it’s writing “Finis” for my Roman-era stories. It’s time for a celebratory cup of tea, a special dinner, a relaxing stroll…and planning the next story. How do we know what that next story should be? The characters, the setting, the plot, the theme…how do …
Continue reading “Writing the next story: how to choose the right characters”
The old year goes out with fanfare. Restaurants create elaborate menus for New Year’s Eve dinners. Shopkeepers dress their windows using party clothes to entice customers to buy their sparkly offerings. Friends and family ask, “What are you doing for New Year’s Eve?” In New York City, crowds stand for hours in Times Square waiting …
