Progress with Baby Steps
When I got out of bed yesterday, my back went. It’s my own fault, I haven’t been doing my exercises as religiously as I should. I had severe back pain, probably around ten years ago. The timing was terrible, we were on a short break in Salamanca. It’s a wonderful...
Weald, Words, Scullery, and Buttery
Words are now the tools of my trade, so they interest me. Claire and I visited the Weald and Downland Living Museum on Sunday, with our friends Angie and Frank. The museum was fabulous. It was wonderful seeing how people lived in Tudor times. I undertake a lot of...
Can Britain Be Great Again?
Great Britain is the name for the island that comprises England, Wales, and Scotland. That’s why we used to compete in the Ryder Cup as Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It includes smaller islands such as the Isle of Wight, but not the Channel Islands. Having...
Russia and the False Dmitry
Huge numbers of Boyars and commoners stormed the Kremlin on the morning of 17th May 1606. Boyars were old Russian aristocracy, one rank below a prince. Dmitry tried to flee by jumping out of a window. Unfortunately he broke his leg and staggered to a bathhouse where...
The Spanish Armada
Family crests on a facade in Dartmouth inspired today’s post. Although I have written about Sir Anthony Standen, The Spy who Sank the Armada, I have not posted very much about the armada. Of course there were three Spanish Armadas, 1588, 1596, and 1597. The armada of...
P English Literature Interview
The poet and book blogger, Peter Okonkwo, interviewed me for his YouTube channel. In the interview we talked about each of my books, the challenges I faced, and how to deal with criticism. We also covered the processes of publishing and marketing. When you’re finished...
Three men named Henry, and the Flying Squadron
On 9th May 1588 Henry Duke of Guise entered Paris, in defiance of King Henry III. He had founded the Catholic League twelve years earlier, and was one of the Henrys in the War of the Three Henrys. This war began when Henry III’s brother, and heir presumptive, Francis...
Newts in Space
Today I shall write about newts. In a recent post I mentioned that both Claire and I had seen a newt in our garden pond. I can report great news: Claire has seen two together. She managed to photograph one. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they are a breeding pair...
Dalgleish, Research, and Cabs
I think authors should should do their research and avoid as many errors as possible. My wife Claire is a retired barrister. We both enjoy crime fiction and TV crime dramas. However sometimes the errors are simply too abundant. We’ve become used to the pathologist who...
Progress with Baby Steps
When I got out of bed yesterday, my back went. It’s my own fault, I haven’t been doing my exercises as religiously as I should. I had severe back pain, probably around ten years ago. The timing was terrible, we were on a short break in Salamanca. It’s a wonderful...
Weald, Words, Scullery, and Buttery
Words are now the tools of my trade, so they interest me. Claire and I visited the Weald and Downland Living Museum on Sunday, with our friends Angie and Frank. The museum was fabulous. It was wonderful seeing how people lived in Tudor times. I undertake a lot of...
Can Britain Be Great Again?
Great Britain is the name for the island that comprises England, Wales, and Scotland. That’s why we used to compete in the Ryder Cup as Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It includes smaller islands such as the Isle of Wight, but not the Channel Islands. Having...
Russia and the False Dmitry
Huge numbers of Boyars and commoners stormed the Kremlin on the morning of 17th May 1606. Boyars were old Russian aristocracy, one rank below a prince. Dmitry tried to flee by jumping out of a window. Unfortunately he broke his leg and staggered to a bathhouse where...
The Spanish Armada
Family crests on a facade in Dartmouth inspired today’s post. Although I have written about Sir Anthony Standen, The Spy who Sank the Armada, I have not posted very much about the armada. Of course there were three Spanish Armadas, 1588, 1596, and 1597. The armada of...
P English Literature Interview
The poet and book blogger, Peter Okonkwo, interviewed me for his YouTube channel. In the interview we talked about each of my books, the challenges I faced, and how to deal with criticism. We also covered the processes of publishing and marketing. When you’re finished...
Three men named Henry, and the Flying Squadron
On 9th May 1588 Henry Duke of Guise entered Paris, in defiance of King Henry III. He had founded the Catholic League twelve years earlier, and was one of the Henrys in the War of the Three Henrys. This war began when Henry III’s brother, and heir presumptive, Francis...
Newts in Space
Today I shall write about newts. In a recent post I mentioned that both Claire and I had seen a newt in our garden pond. I can report great news: Claire has seen two together. She managed to photograph one. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they are a breeding pair...
Dalgleish, Research, and Cabs
I think authors should should do their research and avoid as many errors as possible. My wife Claire is a retired barrister. We both enjoy crime fiction and TV crime dramas. However sometimes the errors are simply too abundant. We’ve become used to the pathologist who...