The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Today on The Writers Hub I would like to share a review of my favourite novel of this summer. I had the privilege of visiting Ann’s Bookshop in Nashville in June. Of course I was tempted and returned to Oxford with a few books by this author whom I had not read before. The cover is beautiful but the story … Read More

Summer 2019

I hope you have all been enjoying summer. It has been a time for the garden. Beautiful weather for the most part. I have been exceptionally busy since March. Here is a very brief summary mostly in pictures. During March and April I participated in two writing valuable retreats. The first was at Mill House, Devon where I began writing … Read More

Medieval English Gardens- The Paradise or Love Garden

Gardens and medieval estates are significant in my current work in progress. The Damask Rose is set during the later part of the magnificent thirteenth century.  From the thirteenth century on, the medieval royal court was exceptionally interested in experimental gardening. The Tower of London and the Palace of Westminster possessed extensive gardens, orchards and vineyards. London was full of … Read More

Meet Author Fiona Valpy and The Bee Keeper’s Promise

I met Fiona at this year’s RNA Awards Ceremony. She was shortlisted for The Historical Novel of the Year Award with her fabulous novel The Beekeeper’s Promise. It was my personal joint favourite in tandem with Charlotte Betts who wrote The Palace of Lost Dreams, a novel I had beta read before its publication. Read both! Today Fiona visits The … Read More

Meet Karen King-Six Things I Have Learned About Writing Popular Women’s Fiction

Meet Karen King who is a very successful author of Women’s Romantic Fiction. Today she lets us into a few of her writing secrets with  ‘Six things I have learnt about writing popular women’s fiction’. Her advice is excellent. Welcome, Karen, to The Writer’s Hub. Thank you for sharing this with us. Characters are King and should be relatable When … Read More

Winter 2019 News Update

I have been very busy this winter and as a consequence terrible at keeping my news updated. We visited India again after Christmas which is always inspiring. This visit we spent four amazing days in Varanasi as well as several weeks in Goa and a few days in the famous Taj Hotel at The Gateway to India in Mumbai. This … Read More

Seven Interesting Discoveries about writing 11th century non-fiction

Today I welcome Sharon Bennett Connolly to The Writer’s Hub. Sharon writes Historical non-fiction. Please read about her below and then enjoy her seven interesting discoveries about writing eleventh century non-fiction. I have often been tempted to write about eleventh century women in non-fiction myself, having researched many women from the period but I am too busy writing novels. I … Read More

Writing Stories About The English Civil War

Today, I welcome author, Cryssa Bazos to The Writer’s Hub. Cryssa’s book Traitor’s Knot is one of my favourite books set in this period. It is a page-turning novel and I highly recommend it. Here she shares a few very good reasons for writing and reading books set during a time of great upheaval. The English Civil War: A Fresh … Read More

Seven Tips for Writing Historical Fiction by Deborah Swift

I welcome author, Deborah Swift, above, to the Writer’s Hub. She has just published the second novel in a series set in Restoration London. It is A Plague on Mr Pepys. I think she is a superb writer and highly recommend all her novels which can be found in bookshops or ordered from Amazon.  Do enjoy reading her advice concerning … Read More