My father, James Bond, and Princess Anne
It may seem an ambitious task to connect my father, James Bond, and Princess Anne, but bear with me. My father served in the Rifle Brigade in World War II. They were attached to 7th Armoured Division, the Desert Rats. I carry his shoulder flash in my wallet. One day I...
Royal Horse Artillery
As we watched Queen Elizabeth II being taken on a gun carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace for the lying in state in Westminster Hall, I was reminded of another ancestor, Elias Standen my 3rd great-grandfather. Elias served as a sergeant...
The Spirit of Queen Elizabeth the Second
Whether you believe in an immortal soul, what Gilbert Ryle called the ghost in the machine, or not, the spirit of Queen Elizabeth II lives on. It lives on through King Charles, Prince William and Prince George. I’m not thinking of genetics, or line of succession,...
Waiting Update
I recently posted about waiting. I’m still waiting for the editorial reviews of Called to Account. But there has been some progress in other areas. Simon has finished the audio files for the audiobook of The Spy who Sank the Armada. I’ve been listening to them, and...
The Inciting Moment
Every book needs an inciting moment. It’s a change that leads to conflict, or a conflict that leads to change. It’s what gets the story started. They say everyone has a book in them. I have five now, and a short story in an anthology. The journey has been interesting....
Overcoming the Monster
In this case the monster was a tangled mat of roots filling our garden pond. Claire declared that the whole thing had to come out. She donned her waders, got into the pond, and we set to work. You may have read my review of The Seven Basic Plots in Readers Club....
Waiting
Waiting, so much waiting. Between books writing can be something of a waiting game. I’m expecting editorial reviews of the fourth book Called to Account. The Kirkus review is due on 3rd October, and reviews from LoveReading and The Historical Fiction Company are due...
Prime Minister Liz Truss
Today Liz Truss takes over as prime minister from Boris Johnson. I know that William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was chief advisor to Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign. He was twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer. Francis Walsingham was her spymaster,...
Hearts of Oak
We’ve been working with oak today, English oak from our local sawmill, Vastern Timber. We’re replacing the rotten pieces of our garden swing. The original wood isn’t oak, so it may look a little odd, but hopefully it will be more durable. Of course English oak gets me...
My father, James Bond, and Princess Anne
It may seem an ambitious task to connect my father, James Bond, and Princess Anne, but bear with me. My father served in the Rifle Brigade in World War II. They were attached to 7th Armoured Division, the Desert Rats. I carry his shoulder flash in my wallet. One day I...
Royal Horse Artillery
As we watched Queen Elizabeth II being taken on a gun carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace for the lying in state in Westminster Hall, I was reminded of another ancestor, Elias Standen my 3rd great-grandfather. Elias served as a sergeant...
The Spirit of Queen Elizabeth the Second
Whether you believe in an immortal soul, what Gilbert Ryle called the ghost in the machine, or not, the spirit of Queen Elizabeth II lives on. It lives on through King Charles, Prince William and Prince George. I’m not thinking of genetics, or line of succession,...
Waiting Update
I recently posted about waiting. I’m still waiting for the editorial reviews of Called to Account. But there has been some progress in other areas. Simon has finished the audio files for the audiobook of The Spy who Sank the Armada. I’ve been listening to them, and...
The Inciting Moment
Every book needs an inciting moment. It’s a change that leads to conflict, or a conflict that leads to change. It’s what gets the story started. They say everyone has a book in them. I have five now, and a short story in an anthology. The journey has been interesting....
Overcoming the Monster
In this case the monster was a tangled mat of roots filling our garden pond. Claire declared that the whole thing had to come out. She donned her waders, got into the pond, and we set to work. You may have read my review of The Seven Basic Plots in Readers Club....
Waiting
Waiting, so much waiting. Between books writing can be something of a waiting game. I’m expecting editorial reviews of the fourth book Called to Account. The Kirkus review is due on 3rd October, and reviews from LoveReading and The Historical Fiction Company are due...
Prime Minister Liz Truss
Today Liz Truss takes over as prime minister from Boris Johnson. I know that William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley was chief advisor to Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign. He was twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer. Francis Walsingham was her spymaster,...
Hearts of Oak
We’ve been working with oak today, English oak from our local sawmill, Vastern Timber. We’re replacing the rotten pieces of our garden swing. The original wood isn’t oak, so it may look a little odd, but hopefully it will be more durable. Of course English oak gets me...