My thoughts about books, writing, life and so many other things….Judy Leigh/ Elena Collins.
I was sitting with friends, discussing that old favourite topic, what the world was like when we were kids. It was the usual smug stuff about how we made our own fun and life was tough but we were happy, we had no central heating and there was ice inside the windows in January, blah, …
Continue reading Remember the games we played in the old school yard?
Back at the end of February, I went to Poole for the LLPP launch event in Poole, Dorset. It’s a project promoting the sale and use and availability of large print books, making reading accessible to everyone. I’m a great lover of libraries. I visit them all the time. I’m so lucky to be the …
You remember a few weeks ago when I was deliberating the question of which famous personality I’d choose to go on a Valentine’s date with, and I couldn’t think of anyone at all? I ended up spending my hypothetical romantic evening with Pikachu, or someone completely inappropriate, because I couldn’t think of a suitable partner. …
Continue reading Remember the search for a Valentine’s Date? I’ve Changed my Mind.
I was seventeen, and a woman in our little Oxfordshire village, Sue Monks, (*) asked me to babysit her two children one Saturday night while she and her husband went out. She promised me a few pounds for it. So naturally I said yes. Her two brown haired kids were called Lucy and Sarah. They …
Continue reading A True Story. Not for those who have bad dreams…
I don’t really care about Valentine’s Day. I’m not bothered about the commercial aspect of any of those occasions, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a total party girl. I love to celebrate. Big G just got a new job. I just sold a million books. Celebration time, come on! But …
Continue reading The Big Valentine’s Dinner Date. If you could choose anyone, who would you invite?
Now Valentine's Day has gone for another year, here's a short story I wrote in a few minutes for our local writing' group a week ago. The story's not really going anywhere yet. It's just a bit of fun. The Valentine Card February the fourteenth was just another day. David did what he always did …
Just a short blog from me today, as I’m currently up to my ears in edits and new novels. Even though I’m writing ahead of deadlines, I have a new story on the go and I’m editing The Cornish Witch and The Silver Ladies Seize the Day. Check out the blurb on Amazon. I think …
I’ve never told anyone this story. It’s not the most pleasant or impressive story in which I feature, and I’m not proud of myself. I was young – that’s my only excuse. It begins with my dad in his arm chair shouting: ‘There’s a bloke at the front door for you. He looks like a …
Do you get lots of books as presents for Christmas? I’m lucky – I got a bumper bundle this year and it’ll last me a couple of months. I read all sorts of books, for pleasure, for research, to extend my own skills. And this past week, I’ve read two absolutely brilliant books I’d love …
Today’s blog post is about the cold. This month has been freezing. Baltic. Icy. I mean electric blanket at night sort of freezing. Scarf and gloves and extra socks during the day freezing. I don’t care how silly I look in that bobbly tassel hat with Amsterdam knitted on it as long as it keeps …
That quintessence of dust 