My thoughts about books, writing, life and so many other things….Judy Leigh/ Elena Collins.
As writers, we are often told that we should write about what we know. That much is true – we write about people, places, relationships and the vagaries of the human condition. So much of what we write is based on what we know already. But sometimes our writing ventures into places and areas we …
Continue reading The joys of research for a writer- and the scrapes…
Today is world book day and I'd like to bring up the topic of audiobooks. Life is a learning journey and it is good to have the opportunity to reconsider and sometimes even change our views. I’ve always loved reading - I'm usually stuck to the pages of a book, often multi-tasking, reading while I …
As a writer, I try to learn about the craft of writing a novel from every source I can. The obvious source is reading and I try to read all the time. Each day I’m perched on my exercise bike for an hour, devouring anything I can get my hands on, and even if I …
Continue reading What I learned about writing a novel from the TV detective series Luther
I read Damian Le Bas' book The Stopping Places in two days. It's the sort of book that should be available everywhere, on all shop bookshelves, in libraries, schools and universities, and widely read. It offers a first-hand account about the Romani people, the culture and their experiences in society, in history and in the …
January isn't most people's favourite month. I've heard a lot of people complaining about it. It's cold. Christmas has gone and won't be back for a long time so it seems like there's nothing to celebrate. It hasn't snowed. It probably won't. A holiday to somewhere warm would be nice but.... So, with a brief …
Continue reading My top ten to bring us in from the January cold
There are some things which are improved by time.We don't have to sideline everything old in favour of something new. When they are left to develop, whether it is an idea, a favourite jumper or a bottle of brandy, some things just keep on improving. The same can be said of a book. Holding a …
'... we will draw the curtain and show you the picture.' I loved Shakespeare when I was at school, despite my English teachers. They were not the enthusiastic pedagogues of today, striving to make the bard accessible because every child mattered. My teachers were dry pecking birds who wanted to perpetuate a class system in …
Continue reading Sublime Shakespeare: ‘Tis Beauty Truly Blent
Today marks the first day of Spring and it’s also World Poetry Day. It is a time for rebirthing and creativity. All around the country, countless kids will be going to school and reading a poem, maybe some Edward Lear or Ogden Nash or a wonderful bit of Benjamin Zephaniah? Maybe the old favourite, Blake’s Tyger, …
On Mother's Day, we remember our Mums with love and we give thanks for all they have done for us. Many of us don't have our Mums any more and feel quite sad that maybe we did not say thank you enough at the time and it's a bit late now. I often think about how great …
I have just read David Mitchell's 'Slade House'. It took me a day and I didn't put it down. What a clever book! Again, no spoilers from me for anyone who hasn't read it yet, but there is a scarily weird place, Slade House, where things happen and have happened in the past, which the reader …
Continue reading Slade House – David Mitchell. Come in and feel the noise!
That quintessence of dust 