WHAT’S IN A NAME? I recently expressed some disquiet over a book title chosen by a fellow member of a writers’ group. He was actually seeking advice on whether to include a blurb on the back cover of his memoir. Perhaps rightly, he was not impressed when
Read more →Some people might say that the best part of writing a book is typing the words THE END. Or that the most satisfying part is setting out on the journey and writing that first sentence. But for me, there is one stand out moment of pure joy
Read more →Misconception! ‘A stout Victorian matron in black bombazine, her huge upper arms developed by years of beating outrageous quantities of eggs into churn-loads of butter’. This description fits a widely held view of Mrs Beeton, author of the culinary bible Household Management, but it could not be
Read more →For many years my partner Rob and I travelled around the UK staying in Bed & Breakfasts. Some were absolutely charming, with equally charming hosts. Others were….well pretty awful (read ‘Unravelling With My Aunt’ on this website and you will get the picture). But as we both
Read more →Dr James Colthurst is perhaps best known for having been a close friend of the late Princess Diana. He was trusted implicitly by Diana , and acted as a go-between during one of the most difficult periods of her life. It was Colthurst who conveyed the secret tapes she
Read more →A BIG DAY OUT …..by EDITOR DES Well when we were in England last time, Dr Bob decided we would go to the cricket in LONDON. It was supposed to be a bonding session, as me and Pauline have had a few ‘issues’ lately (her fault, not
Read more →It’s an extraordinary thing having two very different books published in one year, and it would be quite impossible for me to choose my favourite. My first, The Water Doctor’s Daughters, has a special place in my heart due to its content. I became so emotionally involved
Read more →In 2014, I was in the UK following the launch of my book on the Thames Path, held at Marlow Library. Everyone was so kind and generous, especially as I was an Aussie with a rather cheeky approach to English history. 😎 Next day I received a
Read more →ALL ALONG THE RIVER: TALES FROM THE THAMES was released on July 31 by London publisher Robert Hale. Rob and I celebrated with lunch at the Show Boat, moored by the river at the Harleyford estate just outside Marlow. It was owning a lodge in this glorious
Read more →One of the difficulties I found in writing a book about the river Thames was making those really hard decisions about what should go in! So much history…..so much intrigue and scandal. Naturally I was tempted to include far too much about my beloved Harleyford Estate at
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