Throughout the extensive process of writing, some writers may question the need for an editor. They may wonder if they can edit their manuscript themselves and ask, ‘What can a book editor do for me?’ While it’s certainly prudent to redraft a manuscript several times and self-edit before considering the next step, it’s worthwhile pointing […]
The Orphan Sky
28th August 2019 by Leave a Comment
A Book Review The Orphan Sky, by Ella Leya Leila Badalbeili is a fifteen-year-old classical pianist, a child prodigy and the darling of Soviet society in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, in 1979. Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, a country bounded by the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, is at this time in the grip of Soviet […]
THE LONELY WRITER
22nd August 2019 by Leave a Comment
WRITERS CONNECT! Welcome to the very first newsletter for The Lonely Writer. Writing is a lonely job. Or pastime. The Lonely Writer aims to connect with you, the lonely writer among other lonely writers, in this monthly newsletter. We understand you’re busy. So the newsletter generally has just four or five main items of content. […]
‘A Penny for Your Thoughts’ and Other Idioms
15th August 2019 by Leave a Comment
Have you ever wondered about the meaning of ‘A penny for your thoughts’ and other idioms that populate the English language? Do You Know What You’re Saying? Idioms Explained Wait. What’s an idiom? Idioms are expressions peculiar to a specific language with meanings that are different from their literal interpretations. The word ‘idiom’ was coined […]
Time to Say Goodbye to Spain
9th August 2019 by Leave a Comment
Almost four weeks after completing the two-week writers’ retreat in southern Spain in June, it was time to say goodbye to Spain, adios España. I rather hoped it would be hasta luego, España – until we meet again – than goodbye. Spain Series V: León Meantime, I’d spent my last 10 days in León at my friend’s […]
A Visit to the Hanging Houses of Cuenca
1st August 2019 by Leave a Comment
After spending the week in Madrid working, which came after the writers’ retreat in southern Spain in the first two weeks of June this year, I met up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in 15 years. We’d decided to meet up in Madrid and then travel by bus to make a visit to […]
Writing Groups in Madrid
25th July 2019 by Leave a Comment
Spain Series: III Come join me while I fill you in on the three different writing groups in Madrid I participated in during my week-long stay there after the fortnight’s writers’ retreat in southern Spain. I spent the week doing clients’ work, and attending three different writers’ groups. Writing Groups in Madrid. Group 1: Write […]
A Day in the Life of a Writer in Spain
17th July 2019 by Leave a Comment
Spain Series: II I figure after a two-week writers’ retreat in southern Spain, I can talk about a day in the life of a writer in Spain! After the fortnight in the Alpujarra region, I spent a week in Madrid to catch up on work and attend some writers’ groups (watch out for this in […]
Writers Retreat in Spain
6th July 2019 by Leave a Comment
Spain Series: I Up until 2019, I’d been to a spiritual retreat in England long, long ago, a meditation retreat in the hinterland of the Gold Coast in Queensland a few years back and a yoga retreat in Bali in 2015. Considering writing has been an important part of my life for much of it, […]
The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami: A Personal Perspective
5th May 2019 by Leave a Comment
Gold Coast Author Sandra Sweeney tells her story of loss, resilience and survival Book Review The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami took the lives of more than a quarter of a million people within a matter of hours. Peter Beattie, who wrote the Foreword to Sandra Sweeney’s book ‘Ripples from the Wave: After the 2004 Tsunami’ […]