A Creative Spirit
Are you sitting comfortably? Do you take your coffee with or without sugar? Or maybe you would like something stronger? When we were in Annecy, France, a couple of weeks ago, I was heartened to see this street art in one of the back streets by a cafe. The artists were protesting about the use... Continue Reading →
Finally! After a long winter pounding away at our keyboards, we have finally released the long-awaited third and final book in The Promise Series on pre-order. Publication date 2nd April. This is not your cookie-cutter romance. This is an epic love story between two people from very different lifestyles. Will their love overcome their differences?... Continue Reading →
What a week!! I need something more substantial than coffee to celebrate! Before I take my first sip of Irish coffee, I apologize for not visiting/commenting on many of my favourite blogs this week. I've not been slacking, honestly! My collab partner, D.L. Keur, and I have been working through the final draft of The... Continue Reading →
Because I have such a wide range of hobbies and interests, I am the type of person who needs a 30-hour day! I'm meant to be retired, but I manage to fill EVERY minute. The phrase, 'I'm bored,' does not form part of my vocabulary. I've only listed my top five, so I will also... Continue Reading →
It's been a strange couple of weeks. I could say why, but it's probably better if I don't. *laughing*. But the experience taught me that more enjoyable doors can open as one door closes. Yep, sometimes we can't see the wood for the trees. I have experienced many smiles over the last week, which have... Continue Reading →
I've not posted any updates to my blog for a while. That's not because I've been slacking, nope. I've been working on a romance novel that has consumed all my spare time. Even my beloved garden has taken second place, as have my other creative hobbies such as creating mosaics and painting. Anyways, a chance... Continue Reading →
Mavis sighed, then summoned her husband. “Gerard, those damn hippies are back again in the woods next door!” Gerard groaned. Their local environmental group had only just finished clearing up all the soiled toilet paper, used condoms and rubbish from their last visit. “What do you expect me to do about it? ” “I don’t... Continue Reading →
It was our wedding anniversary on Tuesday. On Thursday we tried hydrotherapy pilates for the first time! AND Friday ... I am delighted to announce our online writing community (writingforums.com) published Halloween Tales: Short Stories of Supernatural Terror, and two of my stories were selected for publication. Happy dance in progress! Please take a look... Continue Reading →
Mavis stared unblinking at the television while the newsreader reported on the latest antics of politicians, protestors, the Police, Putin and nuclear war. The grim news of the latest price hikes on fuel and food presented with as much passion as reading a supermarket checkout receipt. Understaffed hospitals, a shortage of teachers, and babies dying... Continue Reading →
A Wanton Waste of Water Words: 296 Prompt: Sacrifice Throughout the summer months, Madge worried about the worsening drought situation in the Algarve. She fretted. Dams were little more than puddles ... as was the river in her local town. Newspapers and online groups continually warned that without significant rainfall there would be a severe... Continue Reading →
Writing Forums Friday Flash Fiction: This week's prompt was 'Broken'’ Max Words: 300 If it Ain't Broke Mavis lived by the wise old proverb: ‘if it ain’t broke don’t try and fix it’ ... or should we?Today her nine-year-old grandson came home from school and announced he could use any gender pronoun he chose, rather... Continue Reading →
This week's prompt of Gouache proved a tough one! I know nothing about Gouache so ... Mavis decided she needed a hobby; or rather her daughter, Julie, decided she did and persuaded her to enrol in either the painting or Yoga classes held at her local village hall. “Mum, it will be relaxing,” her daughter... Continue Reading →
I am sure many of us can relate to this! When Madge was little her Grandma frequently joked, “make the most of your youth, love. ‘Old age don’t come alone'.” The words puzzled Madge and she wondered who arrived with old age, but Grandma said one day she’d understand.She used to study her Grandma in... Continue Reading →
PROMPT: Wasted Works Words: 300 Jamie greeted his mum on return home from university with a hug, a kiss on each cheek, and a huge sack of dirty washing. Mavis smiled benevolently at her only son. She didn’t mind. She’d bragged to everyone Jamie got a ‘First’ at Cambridge. Although what it meant and how a... Continue Reading →
It never ceases to amaze me that writing poetry or fiction ties in so well with my other interests such as gardening, painting and mosaics. All are creative in different ways and one stimulates the other. We have started a new garden project which requires a significant amount of manual work. I am usually the... Continue Reading →
Our Literary website, 'Flashes', is organising an Ekphrastic challenge. Using the image above write a poem or story (max 1000 words) that you feel best interprets this picture. Our team will choose two winners, one for the best poem and the other for the best piece of flash fiction. Both winning entries will be published... Continue Reading →
Hi fellow writers. I am going to give a shoutout for Flashes. Flashes is a literary website where we publish short stories, non-fiction, flash fiction, poetry and author interviews. Our goal is to give talented writers a platform to showcase their creativity, with an emphasis on original voice, innovative style and challenging plots. If you... Continue Reading →
I have been on blogging hiatus for the last few years because I became involved in a writing forum and ended up running the place. I've now stepped away and returned to blogging only to discover 97% of my old blogging buddies have disappeared. When I started my blog back in May 2010 most of... Continue Reading →
It's day seven of the WordPress 'Ten Day Poetry' challenge. Today we were asked to write or should I say create a 'Found' poem. What is a Found poem? You may well ask, and I can tell you it is far harder than it looks! From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Found poetry is a type... Continue Reading →
It's day six of the WordPress ten day poetry challenge and my creative enthusiasm is beginning to ebb. Today's challenge is 'enjambment' which (as per the WordPress defintion is Enjambment is all about the arrangement of words on the screen (or page, as the case may be), and how that arrangement affects the pace of... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 