10 Signs You Should Invest In A Witch

10 Signs You Should Invest In A Witch

10 Signs You Should Invest In A Witch This advice will only apply to you if you no longer inhabit the world of the living. In other words, 10 signs that you are possibly deceased, according to the ground rules of Anaïs Blue series. In Thistle Witch I use the premise...
Celebrating Becoming An Artist In Residence

Celebrating Becoming An Artist In Residence

I’m not entirely certain becoming is the right word. In the case of the artist part, I am already one. I reside in a world of creativity. There you go. A statement I never thought I’d proclaim. I reside in artistry. A World on its End I have had a tumultuous time over...
A Change Is Better Than A Holiday

A Change Is Better Than A Holiday

I’ve had a mammoth week of change. I moved house three times, went to a writers’ conference in Dublin and started a new life as an artist in residence. I’m exhausted, but happy. Some weeks are much better than others. Change beats holidays hands down. Ireland It was...
Pantsing Your Way To A Plot

Pantsing Your Way To A Plot

To pants or to plot? That is the question. It does not really matter now. The main thing is I made it to the end of my third novel. I don’t know what it was, but getting to the end seemed like climbing Everest. Not that I have climbed Everest, but writing the novel...
Mr. Lee And Tuk-tuk Number 3

Mr. Lee And Tuk-tuk Number 3

Angkor Wat is one of many temples around Siem Reap—one of very many temples. We were tourists for a day. Mr. Lee was our tuk-tuk driver. He said he lived 10kms out of town and was trying constantly to get us to book him for more trips. I understand completely, it is...
The Importance of Reader Opinion

The Importance of Reader Opinion

As an independent author, where the online realm is my bread and butter, a reader’s opinion is crucial. Reviews on online stores are extremely important. They give other consumers a better impression of the books they are interested in. It’s called social proof. The...
Attempting to Dissect a Bad Review

Attempting to Dissect a Bad Review

I recently received a rather confronting review on Amazon about my novel Loreless. Some of it was positive, some bordering on an insult and, in part, outright scathing. At least that was how I read it and I feel compelled to react. As an author, I have been advised...
Don’t Look Back In Anger

Don’t Look Back In Anger

One of the finest songs Noel Gallagher ever wrote was “Don’t Look Back in Anger”. I rediscovered it yesterday and it is stuck in my head and won’t leave me alone. I was a fan of Oasis in their early days. Then they lost it and they lost me. I was only interested in...
And Then What Happened to Billy?

And Then What Happened to Billy?

Many of the readers of Loreless want more. They expect a sequel. They want to know what happens to Billy. My intention with the book was to encourage people to find out more about indigenous culture. However, readers seem to be more interested in the characters and...
The Self-Help Guide to Self-Help Gurus

The Self-Help Guide to Self-Help Gurus

Learning the ropes as an author and independent publisher involves gleaning information from all kinds of sources. Inevitably you are drawn into what the internet has to offer. There are thousands of experts and gurus out there who are more than willing to share their...
Perseverance Is Everything

Perseverance Is Everything

I have been struggling. Perseverance is getting me down. Writing itself and being a dedicated author is not a problem. It’s more about coming to terms with finding an audience. Creating a novel is only part of my job as an author. I have to make sure others can...
Kakadu: Boating With Sharks, Crocodiles and Wisdom

Kakadu: Boating With Sharks, Crocodiles and Wisdom

Going on a river cruise in Australia’s Kakadu National Park is quite unlike any other cruise you are likely to undertake. You won’t come across many places in the world where you find yourself sitting in a boot which is floating on waters teeming with crocodiles...
A Publishing Aftermath and a New Beginning

A Publishing Aftermath and a New Beginning

A couple of weeks ago I published my first book. I sent Loreless out into the world. To use a well-worn cliche, it was a baptism of fire. Now in the aftermath I realise I am at the beginning once again. For months and months I had no fear. I was convinced of what I...
Adventures Of A Writer In The Wild

Adventures Of A Writer In The Wild

I’m sitting here alone. A writer in the wild. On a Wednesday morning I share a big wooden table with a group of writers. It is located in a yoga centre in a small side street in the old part of Amsterdam. Usually there are several of us scribbling on block pads or...
Never Lose Sight Of The Big Picture

Never Lose Sight Of The Big Picture

I just discovered this stream of consciousness. I wrote it a few months ago. Sometimes, its good to have this kind of thing to put it all into perspective. Lack of a view of the big picture happens to be one of the biggest battles with writing professionally. The...
What Is Synchronised Drowning?

What Is Synchronised Drowning?

It’s the weekly swimming lesson and I am sitting on a balcony above the pool. I have a birds-eye view of everything. I am watching my daughter flailing through the water and trying to remember what that was like. She looks so uncoordinated. It looks like synchronised...
Trapped

Trapped

I'm stuck, trapped. I thought I knew where I was going but I’m not so sure anymore. The future is dark. I can’t see it. A heavy curtain has fallen in my path. I try to push it aside but it has so many folds I can’t seem to find the opening and draw...

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