Come and join me and ...

... Gianetta Murray, in the fabulous and historic Abbey in Selby on November 22nd.  More details below ...

Authors in the Abbey is the next event for your diary.  There will be numerous authors from in and around Yorkshire.  You can expect a plethora of genres to choose from, and if you wish, you will be able to take home signed copies, too.

The event runs from 10am to 4pm, and both Gianetta and I will be there all day.  

I will have all six of my Jacques Forêt Mysteries with me.  So, if you would like to chat about France, the Cévennes, the stories, or even Jacques himself, please drop by and say hello.  I will also be able to give you the latest info on the next book in the series.

I will be bringing the three fabulous Miss Moonshine anthologies as well.  If you are in need of a feel-good, heart-warming read for the cold winter nights, then these collections of gentle stories will see you through.  They are also ideal for those few moments when the kids are busy, and all you need is a cuppa and a bit of me-time.

Gianetta Murray, (author of A Supernatural Shindig, an anthology and  Moved to Murder, the first in her cosy crime series) will also be at the fair with her books.  I’m sure Gianetta will be only too pleased to chat about how the work on book 2 is shaping up.

In addition, we will have the multi-genre miscellanies of tales from the Seasonal Paths Collection. All four are now available in print and E-format.  We will also have Earth, the first in a new series of anthologies with the elements as a theme.

Once you've filled your bags with books for yourself or gathered stories to use as Christmas presents, please take a moment to appreciate the abbey itself.  This magnificent building has stood in the heart of Selby since 1069.  The building began life as a monastery.  Over the centuries, it has weathered fires, dissolution, decay, rebuilding and changes in structure.  The architecture is primarily Gothic and Romanesque and contains one of the finest examples of medieval stained glass in the whole country, which dates from 1340.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for the sun to be in the right aspect, as I want to get a photo of the Jesse Window when I'm there.

Please join me and Gianetta on November 22nd from 10.00 am at Selby Abbey, The Crescent, YO8 4PU.  It'll be great to see you there... 

 

Come and join me ...

  ... at the Craft Fair in the beautiful village of Kirk Smeaton (WF8 3LB) on October 11th...

This super event will run from 11.00am until 3.00pm and is being held in Saint Peter's church.  It may be a small building, but it dates from the 12th century and has an interesting history.  Have a look at the chancel arch, which is thought to have been constructed around 1160.  There is also a large stone font that is thought to be a little earlier.

The village is listed in the Domesday Book - Domesday being the Middle English spelling of our modern-day title, Doomsday.  Dating from 1086, this incredible piece of ancient documentation can now be accessed online.  Check it out Here.  The book records who owned the land, both before William's invasion and afterwards, and the church is briefly mentioned.

One other little bit of information that might interest you is that the current name of the village originates from Smedetone, which is a composite of two words from Old English.  The first meaning 'smith' and the second meaning 'estate' or 'farm'.  The Kirk, derived from the Old Norse word for church, was added later and is first documented in the 14th century.

And if the history doesn't encourage you to visit on Saturday, then maybe the details of the fair will.

There will be all sorts of stalls. Come and explore the stunning bags and scarves that have been created, or take a look at the table with various knitted goods.  Perhaps you are looking for some early Christmas presents or decorations for the house - check out the relevant stall.  

I will also be there with my books, and perhaps something to read might be the answer to that nagging question about what to get Auntie so-and-so for Christmas this year.

In addition, there will be refreshments available throughout the day, and you can try your luck in the raffle, too.

I can guarantee you a lovely day out in stunning, historic surroundings.  So please drop by and say hello.  Entry to the fair is absolutely free.

October 11th, St Peter's Church, Main Street, Kirk Smeaton, WF8 3LB

Entry to the Fair is FREE

I'm reviewing The Paris Muse ...

... by Louisa Treger.  Read on to find out what I thought ...

Henriette Theodora Markovitch was born on November 22^nd, 1907, in the city of Paris.  She grew up to become Dora Maar,  the photographer, pioneering Surrealist artist, antifascist and muse of Pablo Picasso.  The Paris Muse is an exploration of Maar’s relationship with Picasso.
In many respects, this book could be seen as a romance, but there’s a lot of discord in the relationship, a lot of distrust, and yet a common bond persists that keeps these two together, even after long periods of separation.
In one other respect, the book is an enigma.  Despite the central characters being real people who have both left a body of artistic work behind, along with numerous well-researched books about each of their lives, it is described as a novel.
I’ve seen some of Maar’s works.  I’ve seen some of Picasso’s work, too.  When I visit exhibitions, I like to figure out what the artist is telling me with each piece I view.  Sometimes, the real message may in a tiny detail somewhere on the canvas or in the photo.  That time spent looking and deciphering is my treat to myself and always the reason for my trip to whichever exhibition it is.  It also means that I have reached certain conclusions about the artist's mind.  So, picking up a book about people that I know something about, and to read on the cover the words ’A novel’ was a bit perplexing.  However, the author does state in the notes at the back that she has based her fiction ‘on the biographical facts’ of Dora Maar’s life.  She then goes on to say that she applied artistic license to ‘facts, characterisations, … and chronologies.’  The middle aspect I get.  The other two not so much.
I started reading with a feeling of trepidation.  But, I soon realised, that the story was every bit as gripping as any drama that invites the reader to examine the dynamics between the characters.  The story is thought-provoking, tense with emotion and passion and countered by the various periods of distress supposedly experienced by Maar.  The narrative voice is easy and carries you through every page and all the highs and lows of this imagined relationship.  It was a thoroughly good read.
 To turn back to reality.  Maar had an eight-year relationship with Picasso, both on a personal and a professional level.  They both influenced each other and Maar was the model for Picasso’s piece Monument à Apollinaire and featured in other works namely Weeping Woman.  Maar continued her own work and died on July 16^th, 1997, in the city where she had spent the majority of her life.

Come and meet...

... friend and author, David Beckler.  I first came across David at a CWA lunch where we authors could debate the trials and tribulations of the world of writing and publishing.  Since then, I've had the great pleasure to catch up with David at other similar events at various locations across the north of England.  And now, David is here on my blog.  Come and meet this fascinating writer...

I write fast-paced action thrillers populated with well-rounded characters.  Born in Addis Ababa, I spent my first eight years living on an agricultural college in rural Ethiopia, where my love of reading developed.  After dropping out of university, I became a firefighter and served 19 years before leaving to start my own business.  I began writing in 2010 and use my work experiences to add realism to my fiction.  The Mason and Sterling series centres on two ex-Royal Marines, Byron, who now runs a security company and Adam, who is a firefighter.  A strong cast of characters support my protagonists.  Brotherhood, is the first in the series with The Profit Motive, the second which is set in Manchester and Wenzhou, China.

I live in Manchester, my adopted home since 1984.  In my spare time, I try to keep fit—an increasingly difficult undertaking—listen to music, socialise and feed my voracious book habit.

about the book … When firefighter Adam Sterling rescues glamorous businesswoman Kate Hetherington from a road smash, he has no idea of the impact it will have on his life. 

Kate’s father, James, is badly injured in a car crash in Wenzhou, China. Senior Inspector Jie Gang is convinced it was an attempt on the man’s life, but he’s not allowed to say so.

Kate asks half-Chinese Adam to help her find out what’s going on. When James disappears, Adam recruits fellow ex-Royal Marine and best friend, Byron Mason, to assist him in the search.

They arrive in China to find Jie struggling. Not only is he facing an implacable assassin Zhang, but opposition from powerful interests who want him off the case.

Then Kate disappears, but who has taken her? The police seem reluctant to search for her, but unable to speak the language, unfamiliar with the city, and without any allies, Adam and Byron are up against it. When they seem to be getting somewhere, a rescue operation goes wrong, and Zhang turns his attention on the two men.

As they frantically search for Kate and James, they have to keep out of Zhang’s clutches, and avoid the authorities.

Will they find them in time and discover who is behind the attacks?

You can get the book Here

You can follow David on his website  on Facebook and on Twitter

If you are coming to the Death in the Dales Festival of Crime in October, David will be joining Wendy and me in a panel discussion about using foreign locations in our books.  You can read more about the Festival of Crime Here

I am very pleased to announce...

From top left : PC Arseneault, A Cormier, C Sweet, S Bunting
S Casey, A Hudson, SC Eston, Yours truly, E Monroe, G Murray
 

...that a new series of linked anthologies from the Seasonal Collective has been devised. Read on to find out more ...

Having completed the four Seasonal Paths anthologies - you can read about those Here - we have gone on to start a new project.  The group is still working cross-Atlantic as before, but we have some new faces in the team as well.

The first in a new series of anthologies linked by the elements—earth, air, fire, and water—is now available.

For this book, we have ten stories in various genres, from some writers you will recognise, and some new ones that you may not have come across before.  The stories have been fascinating to read as each one has become available to us.

All in all, they will transport you to different worlds, through various times, and on compelling emotional journeys as you progress through the book.

...about the book  Earth, An Anthology, is the first in a compelling four-part series that celebrates our planet in a smorgasbord of unforgettable short stories.

Ten best-selling and award-winning authors who call the North Atlantic home, share their vivid imaginations in these tales of intrigue and adventure. From potato farm mayhem; investigating mysterious jagged trenches; a voice from the past, a grim discovery, and a quest for a lost sword, to life lessons; seductive sparkle and fire; questioning the balance between good and bad; and someone – or something – that threatens the existence of Warden McCabe — Earth, An Anthology, is a treasure trove of pure entertainment.

So tuck into your favourite armchair and experience our world as never before. 

I hope you will enjoy our new set of offerings, and you can get the book on Amazon

Please welcome friend and author ...

... Michele Pariza Wacek to my blog this week.  Thanks so much for being here today.  Tell me, Michele, what is your current release?

MPW The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost.

AW   Hmm, that sounds interesting.  What first got you into writing and why?

MPW When I was three years old, I taught myself to read because I wanted to write stories so badly.  Once I learned how to write, I then spent most of my life focusing on mastering it.  (For example, along with writing fiction, I also owned a company that wrote sales copy for businesses.)

AW  You write mysteries from Cosy Crime right through to psychological thrillers.  Is it all imagination, or do you do research?

MPW It’s mostly my imagination but I will do some research.  As much as I can, I like to make sure the facts are right and the events are (mostly) realistic.

AW  Have you tried/dabbled with other genres or writing for other forms of media?

MPW I’ve done lots of different writing.  Along with writing sales copy (which I did for over twenty years), I’ve written articles and nonfiction books, and I also write psychological thrillers.

AW  Famous authors such as Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas had a special space for writing.  Do you have a writing shed of your own?

MPW I will very soon.  Right now I’m writing on my dining room table, but eventually I’m going to set up my office in the loft.  I haven’t yet because my old dog can no longer climb stairs, and she likes to be with me while I work.

AW   And finally, what would your eight-year-old self think, and say about you and your achievements today?

MPW I think my eight-year-old self would be both happy and sad.  Happy that I’m finally doing what my eight-year-old self wanted to be doing (aka writing and publishing books), but also sad that it took me years before I finally got here.  (While building my copywriting company, I mostly put my fiction writing dreams on hold, and I do regret doing that.)  I also think my eight-year-old self would be a little confused by the whole idea of self publishing and would have wanted to know why I don’t have an agent or a “real” publisher, lol.

about the author … A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly.  It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories.  Mystery stories, to be exact.  They're clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook.  (Spoiler alert, she's not.  Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)

about the book … Emily Hildebrandt is learning to settle into some of the very strange cases that come through The Redemption Detective Agency’s door.

Like Aunt Tilde’s friend Ruth who claims she’s lost a ghost.

How does one lose a ghost?  Apparently when the ghost decides to walk out the door.

But, to make matters more complicated, it’s not just any ghost but the ghost of Ruth’s dead husband.  Who was murdered decades ago under very suspicious circumstances.

Emily has no choice but to go back in time and figure out what really happened to Ruth’s husband, in order for everyone to rest in peace.

You can get the book  Here

You can follow Michele on her Amazon Author Page her Website or on Goodreads  Facebook  Instagram and on Youtube 

A tribute to an old friend ...

I’m not running with my planned post for today.  Apologies if you were hoping to read more about my journey along La Loire.  That post will now run on October 7th.

Today, I want to pay tribute to an old friend who has, very sadly, died.  You have met him once before on this blog, although I was appropriately respectful in making my mention.  You can read that earlier post Here

Jan Kleiboer was husband to Nieske, father, grandfather and a great interlocutor and camper.  Jan and his wife came to one of my favourite campsites in the Marne Valley.  They spent many summers there and over twenty years, and more, I had the great privilege to get to know them as my tours across France sometimes coincided with theirs.  There were many times when I was able to listen to Jan discussing this or that, the EU often, and many other subjects that he felt passionate about.  

So, it is with great sadness that I say rest in peace old friend.  Thoughts are with Nieske and the rest of your family.  

For me, returning to the campsite in the Marne valley will always be tinged with a sense of loss.

I'm reviewing ...

 ... Fox Evil by Minette Walters.  I've always liked Walter's stories, and some I've read more than once.  Although this story has been around for quite a while, it was new to me, and I think it might be staying on my bookshelves.  Read on ...

An absolutely riveting read.  Ailsa Lockyer-Fox dies in suspicious circumstances.   Her husband Colonel James Lockyer-Fox is the prime suspect but the coroner and exonerates him.

But there are unseen tensions within the little Dorset village.  There are a group of gypsies encamped in a copse adjoining the Lockyer-Foxes' small estate.  The gypsies are attempting to lay claim to the land as their own, but in the village of Shenston, there are too few to resist or refute the claim – not that these people would want to be seen working together – there are too many old rivalries between the permanent residents of this sleepy little place.

Then James begins to get threatening phone calls and nuisance calls, and refuses to challenge them or deal with them, and instead focuses on his search for his illegitimate grandchild.  James becomes more and more reclusive until Mark Ankertone, his solicitor, comes down from London to see him and uncovers the mental torture to which his client has been subjected.  It is at this point that we also meet Captain Nancy Smith of the Royal Engineers – the long-lost granddaughter, and the opportunity for romance between these two is not lost.  But this is a crime novel, and I just could not stop myself wanting and hoping for Mark and Nancy to hit it off – Walters kept me waiting right to the very end.

The story is very well told with scenes from one aspect of the story interspliced with scenes from another theme.  As you get closer to the end, the scene interchanges happen more frequently, and at the end of each one, there is always a cliffhanger.  It’s definitely a page-turner.

Please welcome, friend and author...

... Kimberly Webb to the blog this week.  Thanks very much for making time in your busy schedule to be here today. So tell me, what is your current release?

KW  Jillian’s Island – a novel with love, laughter, a shipwreck, and seven castaways on a deserted island.  What could go wrong … that hasn’t already?

AW   What first got you into writing and why?

KW  I loved to read as a young teenager – I read and reread Harry Pottery, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Ella Enchanted so often the covers fell off.  I realized that I could make the stories last longer if I started writing my own, so when I was in high school I worked for years on my first novel, and I’ve never been able to stop writing ever since. 

AW   You write Romantic Comedy Mysteries.  Is it all imagination or do you do research?

KW  While all the characters and places are fictional, I do have to research to stay grounded in reality.  If I want my story and characters to be believable, I have to make sure that I get things right.  So, while I’m not having to learn a country’s entire history, I do need to know the current standards for a lifeboat, what exactly is a nautical mile, and how do you work a HAM radio?

AW  Have you tried/dabbled with other genres or writing for other forms of media?

KW  I have!  Right now, I’m writing romcoms, but I began with fantasy/fairytale, and I’ve explored a story in Historical Fiction.  I hope to write that one someday, but for now I’m trying to focus on one genre to get really good at that!

AW  Famous authors such as Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas had a special space for writing.  Do you have a writing shed of your own?

KW  I’m lucky enough to have a spare room downstairs that my husband graciously agreed to let me turn into my office.  I do about half of my work there and the other half in my recliner with a laptop, simultaneously trying to concentrate and looking after my two rambunctious little kids!  The work in the office is probably better quality, but the armchair work is more fun!

AW   And finally, you find yourself alone on a dessert island with just enough battery power to make one call.  Who would you call and why?

KW  A perfect question (since this is a topic in my book!).  I assume you don’t want the boring answer of “Call the coast guard!” so I would call my husband to let him know I’m okay and could he please use his MacGyver skills to rig up whatever he needs to do to come rescue me!  I know he’d do it, too!

about the author… Kimberly has loved books and writing stories since she was 14, falling in love again and again with fictional heroes.  She earned an English degree from BYU-Idaho, but her true education came from the countless books that swept her away on grand adventures. 

When she’s not writing, Kimberly can be found jogging, getting lost in a good book, or chasing a bit of everyday magic with her husband and three children.  She still believes in the wonder of Disneyland, the thrill of a well-told tale, and the idea that the best adventures often begin with a single, unexpected detour.

about the book…Tagline: Stranded in paradise. Seven strangers. One unforgettable adventure.

Jillian knows how to keep her cool.  She’s spent years smoothing over chaos as a yacht stewardess, but nothing could prepare her for the real storm: when her grandfather’s yacht is shipwrecked on a remote Bahamian island.

With Grandpa Skippy and five other castaways stranded alongside her, Jillian must navigate more than just survival.  Mysterious ruins, unexpected dangers, and the island’s secrets test their limits.  And then there’s Dr. Carter Buckley, a marine biology professor who’s far too distracting for this deserted-island scenario.

As friendships form and romance stirs under swaying palms, Jillian realizes getting off the island might not be the only adventure fate has in store.

You can get the book on Amazon

You can follow Kimberely on her  Amazon Author Page  her Website and on Facebook

 and Instagram

Come and meet ...

... friend and author Wendy Nakanishi. I first came across Wendy at a conference where she was talking about living in Japan.  My second encounter was over dinner in an Italian restaurant in Brighton. Like Wendy, I was in the city for a conference.  And now, Wendy is here on my blog.  Come and meet this fascinating writer...

I am Wendy Jones Nakanishi, an American, a long-term resident of Japan: my husband is an orange grower on Shikoku island.  I adopted the pen name of Lea O’Harra to write crime fiction, wanting to try my hand at a literary genre I’ve researched in a number of published articles as a Japanese university professor.  That Ian Rankin was a fellow postgrad at Edinburgh in the early eighties also played a part in my decision.  I wrote the Inspector Inoue thriller series first: Imperfect Strangers (2015), Progeny (2016), and Lady First (2017).  My fourth book, Dead Reckoning (2022), is a standalone murder mystery set in the American Midwest in a rural community not dissimilar to my hometown of Rolling Prairie, Indiana, population 500.  My fifth, Sayonara, My Sweet ((2025) is a standalone in small-town Japan. My books have been nominated/finalists in a number of literary competitions.

about her latest book ... In the summer of 1988, beautiful young Kaori Hirakata from a wealthy family resident in a town in Kyushu falls in love with Hiroki Sato – a local boy from the wrong side of the tracks – and decides to run away with him.

Is it a case of love is blind?  Kaori is horrified when Hiroki admits he once belonged to a yakuza gang in Tokyo.  She toys with breaking up with him but changes her mind after he apologizes and brings her a box of chocolates.

Her younger brother Aki is eavesdropping on the couple when he hears the sister he adores begin to cough.  An ambulance is summoned but too late: she dies, and it turns out some of the chocolates were poisoned.  Hiroki disappears.  Unable to find the main suspect, the police cannot solve the case, and Kaori’s family moves away.

Ten years later, Aki returns, determined to find out who killed his sister.

You can get the book Here

You can follow Wendy on her author Website and on her Amazon Author Page

If you are coming to the Death in the Dales Festival of Crime in October, Wendy and I will be taking part in a panel discussion about using foreign locations in our books.  You can read more about the Festival of Crime Here

Look out for a post about the third panel member - David Beckler - in September ...

 

Come and join me...

 ... and lots of other Yorkshire authors at the Live at the Libraries event next week.   Read on for more details ...

The Live at the Libraries Festival runs from August 13th to 15th.  You may recall that I blogged about this event in June, and you can read that earlier post Here  Live at the Libraries Festival will take place in Harrogate, Knaresborough, and Bilton

We have panels and workshops, and we are covering more than just crime, as we did last July.  This time around, we have events for poets, writing for children, and my favourite genre of crime.  So please do keep checking with your library to see what's coming up, meanwhile, here's some advance information about the content of the crime events.

Wednesday, August 13th

We will be at Harrogate Library and we will be Creating a Villain 13:00 - 14:30

I will be hosting this event and chatting with Gianetta Murray, Dawn Treacher, and Tom Sibson.  Just because there will be a panel of authors, it doesn't mean that the audience is just expected to listen and ask a few questions at the end. No, there will be audience participation, and I hope you will let us know your thoughts as we go through the session.

We're bringing back last year's Just a Minute. 15:00 - 16:30

Sue and Ged Williams will be hosting, and Pat Sutcliffe, Ian Walker, and I will be providing answers. Again, there will be audience participation, so please bring your questions along with you 

Ever wanted to write a mystery? Then join us for  Plotting a Crime 17:00 - 18:30

Gianetta Murray will host this event along with writers Roshan Pitteea, LK Pang, and Anne Wedgwood.  Bring your ideas with you and join in.

Thursday, August 14th

I will be at Knaresborough Library, Creating Criminal Characters - 10:00-12:00

This will be a workshop, so numbers are limited to 12. The aim is to make sure attendees leave armed with tips, strategies and references to enable them to create a Criminal Character for their own story. Please contact the library if you wish to attend

Who would you Murder and How would you do it? - 19:00 - 20:30

This workshop will be hosted by Sue Williams, and she will be ably supported by Roshan Pitteea and Tom Sibson.  Again, this is limited to 12, so please contact the library if you wish to attend.

Friday, August 15th

We will be at Bilston Library and Creating a Villain - 14:00 - 15:30

Sue Williams will be hosting on this occasion, and Roshan Pitteea and Tom Sibson will be taking the audience through the numerous considerations required to make your characters walk on the page.

Be great to see you there if you can make it.

I'm reviewing The Corisco Conspiracy ...

... by Raphael Sone on the blog today.  Read on to find out what I made of this fascinating memoir...

This book is a memoir, and as such, some may consider it to be a truth told from one individual’s point of view.  Because that is what a memoir is, right?  Erm… not in this case.  The central character is William Shakespeare, referred to as Musketman Shakespeare, who, it turns out, was a spy!

The opening of the story lets you know that Shakespeare arrives in Rome to meet a fellow playwright with whom he plans to work.  However, his friend had left the city several weeks before William’s arrival and had gone to Spain.  Before making a decision about what to do next, Shakespeare is visited by one Guy Fawkes – yes, it is he of the bonfire fame – and William is diverted to the Island city of Corisco. It is there that Shakespeare contrives ‘the most diabolical assassination plot in British history.’

With a set-up like that, and my lifelong association with the real William Shakespeare through his plays and poetry, I just could not ignore this book.

The memoir opens in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1616 with the writer looking back on his life, his family and his work, which all seems quite tame. However, the tension gradually ramps up until you find yourself reading a romp of an adventure story.  The twists and turns in the plot kept me turning the page, and I finished it in two reading stints across one weekend.  I could not put this book down.

The narrative voice is companionable and flows very easily across the page, and perfectly suits the content of the memoir.  I liked the use of quotes from the real William's plays for each of the chapter headings.  I recognised most of the quotes taken from thirteen of the plays, but there were a small number that were a little more obscure.  However, I really enjoyed looking those up and re-reading some of the original verse or prose, including the quote.

All in all, this was a great read.  I hope Mr Sóne is working on something else to entertain us.

You can get the book Here

You can find out more about the author Here

I'm Off My Beaten Track in ...

... Cadiz.  I’ve been going through my travel journals and discovered some notes about a short stay in Cadiz. Come and join me as I meander the streets of this ancient Spanish port.  Read on …

SPANISH SCRIBBLINGS

‘… after three days at sea, I’m really glad that we are finally berthed and have stopped moving.  I just can’t wait to get onto dry land again.  The boat is parked right next to the town, just as though a car has slotted into a standard parking spot!  It’s the relative sizes of everything that kind of blows my mind as I walk into the city centre…’

Cadiz, with a population of around 120,000, was founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BC. The Phoenicians were renowned for their expertise as seafarers, navigators, and traders.  That wealth is eminently demonstrated here in the city of Cadiz, along with the marvellous architecture from various historical periods across four millennia.

‘It’s Sunday today, and as I meander through the streets, there are few people around.  I want to visit the cathedral, but there is a service going on, so I’ll have to wait.  But then, there are other churches if the number of spires and domes I saw from the restaurant where I was having breakfast, are anything to go by…’

‘The streets are mostly pedestrianised and the narrowness and height of the buildings keep the sun at bay in the hottest part of the day.  The artistry in the masonry surrounding very ordinary doors is a treat to see…’

‘Above, the narrow streets are decorated with theatrical masks from the Commedia dell’Arte - Harlequin, Il Dottore, Pantalone, Pulcinella, Innamorati and others whose names I can’t recall.

No matter where I walk, these theatricals look down on me, but I can’t find anything to explain why this and why here and now in February.  I decide to check this out once I get back to the boat.  But then I turn a corner.  A large square opens out in front of me, and at one side is the Gran Teatro Falla.  A stunning red and white brick building in Moorish style.  Suddenly everything becomes clear – the city is preparing for the Carnaval de Cádiz, which, according to the banner, will take place from February 27th until March 9th.  I want to stay here.  I would love to be here for that…’

'As I make my way back to the boat, I notice that the first square I came to as I started my stroll is suddenly full of people at the pavement cafes.  There are stalls with paintings, sketches, and handmade jewellery.  So I browse to the lilt of music from somewhere.  As I explore the stalls, I discover a musician playing an accordion ably supported by a group of automaton musicians playing various instruments.  Along with a crowd of others, I stop and listen for a while...'

 

Alas, I wasn’t able to stay; my time in Cadiz was fixed, but there is always the opportunity to come back another year.  I’ll let you know if I achieve that…

I am very pleased to announce ...

 .... that I will be one of the many authors appearing at the Death in the Dales Festival of Crime in October.  Read on for more info ...

The festival will take place in Sedbergh, a fabulous old farming community that has been in existence since the early Middle Ages, and will run over three days, from October 17th to 19th.  There will be a mixture of author panels, discussions and performance - a real murder mystery for you, the attendees, to solve!  There will be plenty of opportunities to buy books, too, if murder mystery is your bag.

The program has been finalised, and I can now let you know that I will be part of a panel discussion alongside David Beckler (author of the Mason and Sterling thrillers) and Lea O'Harra (author of the Inspector Inoue thrillers).  We will be talking about setting our books in foreign locations and all the joy, tribulations and research that using an 'over the hill and faraway' setting can bring to a writer's work and life.  Personally, I find my trips to France are essential for getting some of the details right.  But do join us to hear what David and Lea also have to say.  It will be, friend and author, Marsali Taylor who will be putting each of us under the spotlight.  Marsali has appeared on the blog and if you want to catch up with that post you can read it Here

The full programme of events is set out on the left.  It is also available on the Sedbergh website, along with full details of how to purchase tickets.

The Sedbergh website is Here 

You can book your tickets Here  

I really hope you can make this fabulous event, which was a runaway success in October last year.  I am really looking forward to catching up with old friends and taking part in the whole weekend of bookishness!

  

Look out for my social media posts over the next few months.  

My fellow panellist, Lea O'Harra, is visiting the blog, and you can read her post Here

Rivers of France ...

… I’m picking up my route from where I left you on my last post - Orléans. Read on... 

I brought you into the city of Orléans on the D2152, and we will leave using the same road, heading west. I chose this thoroughfare because it skirts the river on the left through Meung, Beaugency, Mer and finally brings you into the heart of the city of Blois.

Blois, with a population of over 47,000 inhabitants, is a substantial city with an even greater history. Archaeological excavations of recent decades have revealed a substantial collection of hunter-gatherer camps in the area dating back to approximately 8,000 years ago. There are also Gallic traces that suggest Blois, as we now know it, was an important location on the ancient road linking Chartres and Bourges. The river has always been a major route.

Despite these ancient origins, the city of Blois has been a major source of power since the 9th century. The House of Blois has been in existence since then until it was ceded to the crown in 1397. With the power and wealth of the French Crown behind the city, you won’t be surprised to learn that a château was built here in the 13th century and later inhabited by Duc Charles d’Orléans. In 1462, his son Duc Louis was born in the château, and he would become King Louis 12. I have an earlier post about the magnificent château – it really is worth a visit - which you can read Here

But today I want to take you and show you something much smaller that is often forgotten. The city is built on high ground, so we will leave the river and climb the steep path up towards the cathedral – another magnificent building that has to be seen.

At the top of the path in place Saint Louis is a three-storey house referred to as La Maison des Acrobates. Everyone is so intent on seeing the Gothic architecture of the church that they often fail to notice this little gem among the other buildings opposite.

Built in the 1470s, it was originally referred to as La Bourse des Escholiers de Bourmoyen. The word bourse in a scholastic context means grant, so the house was for the use of the scholars who qualified for the support. It is timber-framed and the decoration on the exterior is worth the effort of the steep climb. It is the external decoration that gives the house its current name. If you look carefully at the wooden pillars, you will see that they are covered in carvings of acrobats in various poses. If you are familiar with medieval clothing, you will also notice that the acrobats' shoes are poulaines. These soft, flexible, and completely flat unisex shoes, with their long, pointed toes, were used throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. They were slip-ons and sometimes were secured with a short drawstring at one side or a pull-over toggle that slipped into a small loop.

These shoes were so comfortable and flexible that they were used by professional dancers and acrobats, as demonstrated in the carvings, to perform the moresque, a very lively and popular dance from the Middle Ages.

The rest of the house's history is shrouded in mystery. At some point in the 17th century, the house was occupied, but historians have been unable to identify who the occupant/s might have been. All the more reason to visit in my view!

Unfortunately, the house is now in private ownership, so visitors can only admire the exterior.

If you want to catch up on any posts you may have missed, click the following links: Rivers of France  La Loire  Digoin  Nevers  Orleans

The Seasonal Collective ...

... has been hard at work since our last publication.  If you like short stories, read on ... 

For the last four years, I've been working with a group of authors from the other side of the pond that we refer to as the Atlantic Ocean.  Over that time, we've produced four multi-genre collections of short stories, the first, Autumn Paths, being published in September 2021.  From the very first germ of an idea in January 2021, we took almost nine months to create the content and publish the book in both e- and print format.  We have continued to deliver three more miscellanies of stories since then, thereby forming the entire seasonal paths series.

If you haven't read any of them yet, perhaps some comments from a reviewer about the first book (see below) might encourage you.

'This enticing collection of short stories are [sic] sure to uplift, inspire, and satisfy hungry readers. With tales spanning multiple genres, including adventure, mystery, sci-fi, and more, you'll find something for everyone. I very much enjoyed the variety and impressive quality of the storytelling. Every story was developed and executed well, and each author brought a unique perspective and writing style to the collection. Autumn is the underlying theme, but these stories are perfect to read any time of the year. I look forward to reading more stories by these talented authors.'   Reviewer in Canada

Even though we have completed the 'Paths' series, we haven't been idle.  We've decided to create another series of related anthologies.  Thus far this year, we have created more stories, compiled them, designed a cover, and are now about to move to the proofreading stage.

For this new series, the writing team has changed and we've increased our number to ten.  The constitution of the Seasonal Collective may have evolved since we first started out in 2021, but the enjoyment, camaraderie, and support across the team are still very much alive.  I'm really looking forward to seeing our new anthology in its final form.

So, watch this space for some exciting news coming soon ...

If you want to try the first series of books then you can get them using the links below 

Autumn Paths   Winter Paths   Spring Paths   and   Summer Paths

June 24th - I'm reviewing The Paris Express ...

 ... by Emma Donoghue.  This is a fiction woven around an actual event.  Read on ...

I came across this book whilst I was browsing in my local branch of Waterstones.  The cover captivated my attention.  When I opened it at a random page and began reading - I never read blurbs - I was instantly intrigued.

In October 1895, the Paris Express left the Norman seaside town of Granville - then considered to be the casino town of the north - for Paris.  It was a regular route, and if you check the map, you will see that the rail line is still there.  Back then, the steam train took seven and a quarter hours to complete its journey, arriving at Paris Montparnasse at four in the afternoon.  Today, the same journey is about three and a half hours.  What makes the journey on October 22nd, 1895, so unique is what happened once the train reached Paris.  The engine entered the station at too fast a speed and derailed.  There is a photograph of the tragic accident, taken a few moments after the derailment occurred.  That photograph was reproduced in numerous newspapers across the world  - to use an anachronism, it went snail-mail viral - because the derailment was iconic.  If you've ever come across an old picture of a steam train hanging out of the first-floor windows of a large station building with steam still issuing from the boiler and its nose resting on the pavement amongst a load of rubble, then you've seen the express of the title.  If not, you can view it Here

In the notes at the back of the book, the author gives an insight into the amount of research she undertook to create her story.  So you discover which of the characters within her story were real and which were wholly or partially fictional.  She also gives a little more detail about what happened after the crash.

The story is told from multiple points of view: some passengers, some train staff, and some station staff.  But whichever character is speaking within the narrative, their voice is as individual as they are.  Throughout the book, there is a steadily growing sense of foreboding with the tension ramping up as the train speeds towards its destination.  In many respects, this story is as gripping as any crime or mystery thriller.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and having read the book, I will be taking it with me to France.  I will have to follow the train route, but rather than stop at each destination along the way for a few moments as the train did, I will explore each new place along the route.  Granville, Argentan, and Paris are already well known to me, but that doesn't mean I won't be making another visit!

You might also be interested in my reviews of Metropolitain or Clouds over Paris or Paris Echo