My thoughts about books, writing, life and so many other things….Judy Leigh/ Elena Collins.
The winter is always great fun. First you get Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night, and the dark sky is our best friend, a backdrop of stars while we’re out trick-and-treating, or filled with billowing smoke and fizzing rockets in all colours. The smell of baking potatoes hangs on the air, fried onions, spicy parkin – whatever …
Continue reading You know it’s spring when…(A UK perspective.)
I belong to a wonderful writing group, in which writers' work of all genres is celebrated each month. The standard of writing is astonishingly high and I always come away feeling supported by others and in awe of their work. This is something I wrote for our last meeting. I don't have much time as …
Have you ever had a period of time – a day, a week – where you feel absolutely rubbish? There’s no logic to it – the sun may be shining, you may have just been told something nice and positive (but you don’t believe it…), you may have something fun planned, yet you somehow can't …
Continue reading What do you do when you get that sinking feeling?
Here's a story I wrote for Solitary Writers, the group I belong to. It might form the basis for somethng else one day. I hope you enjoy it. A Railway Station... A railway station late at night is a desolate place. This one’s no different, with its high metal structure arcing above, solitary pigeons rising …
I’ve been writing and editing pretty much non-stop since the new year, and the index finger still hasn’t healed properly. Not that I’m complaining – being an author is just the best thing. But balance is important and I’ve made sure that I’ve taken time out to rest a bit. (The football has been impressive!) …
This story is one that is still told in the West Country, while families and friends sit around log fires, staring into the flames. It is a tale of the old ways and the old folk that were our ancestors, many years ago. It began with a hunter, a young man, tall and broad, with …
The title of this blog tells you everything you need to know. I’m going to fill in the details. Imagine - I’m washing up. The grater is in soapy water, with lots of food stuff stuck in the holes. Without thinking, I try to get it out with my fingers, pushing it round the horizontal …
Continue reading How My Writing Career Almost Ended In The Sink With A Cheese Grater…
I am always learning, and this is a new year,so there is more to learn. So far this January, I’ve read about a lot of people’s resolutions in their blogs and they are invariably wise ones, mostly dealing with self-care, self-awareness and improving the quality of their lives. That is as it should be. So …
Continue reading My Resolution for 2024? I Will Be Both Sweet And Tough…
Happy New Year to you all. Kissy? I just made that up. But whenever I edit my novels, I always do my best to make them as good as I can for the reader. I hear and read lots of great writing by friends and there are a couple of universal mistakes that keep cropping …
Continue reading The “KISSY” guide to writing better novels.
Dear readers, reviewers, authors – friends, family! May I thank you for all your support this year, for reading my books, my blog, and for generally being lovely. It has been an incredible year. 2023 has been about the joy of feeling safe and happy among special and valued people whom I respect and love. …
That quintessence of dust 