Sorting the Good from the Bad

I once read that the real problem that the allies had during the second Gulf War was information overload. They had satellites, men on the ground, aircraft, communications intelligence – so much data was coming in, that they couldn’t focus. Yes, the weaponry was superior, but they kept hitting the wrong targets because analysis was … Continue reading

Character names – decisions, decisions!

Holiday Blues

Writing is hard enough without the interruptions. I have, this week, to write a significant chunk of one novel, complete a short story, write the synopsis and outline for another, and gather ideas for a third. I have to also read a book, with another to read next week, and write up reviews. I have … Continue reading

The Devil’s Acolyte by Michael Jecks

Originally posted on In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel:
Once upon a time, a monk from Tavistock saw fit to steal his Abbot’s wine. As punishment for his crime, he was lured onto the Devonshire moors by the devil himself and murdered. The story has been told throughout the ages in the region but…

Roger Paul

It was ten years ago that Tinners’ Morris was founded. A motley crew of older men met up at South Zeal’s Victory Hall to experience Morris and see if Mike Palmer’s patience was sufficient. Since then, we’ve had new members join and some leave. This year we’ve lost one of our founding members. I remember … Continue reading

WINTER SIEGE by Ariana Franklin and Samantha Norman

WINTER SIEGE Published by Transworld Books, ISBN 978 0 857 50147 9 It is not often that I have time to try out a new writer. I don’t have enough time to read, apart from anything else. I’m still trying to catch up with Karen Maitland’s books, with Susanna Gregory’s, with the latest Paul Doherty’s … Continue reading

Morris – an Introduction

There are some elements of any culture that cause embarrassment or difficulties when trying to translate them to people from other countries. I daresay some Scots find explaining why men wear kilts (and do or don’t wear anything beneath) as tricky, let alone the attraction of the noise of a series of pipes fed by a bladder … Continue reading

A New Week

It was just as I finished my last video, which was all about Conway Stewart’s demise, that I had a contact from a wonderful couple of guys who have set up a new company. This firm, called Bespoke British Pens, has been dealing with Onoto and other pens for some time, and now they have bought up … Continue reading