The recent UK election may presage a 'tipping point', a transformation of the British political landscape.  The next few years may witness the implosion of the Conservative Party as we know it; the election of Corbynesque Labour government, followed by a period of political unrest. The UK Conservative Party is one of the longest-lived political … Continue reading A Tipping Point?

Although novel writing is thought of as 'creative fiction', there is, or can be, a surprising amount of non-creative research involved. For 'Bunco', I had various references to contemporaneous cultural and sporting events - new shows opening on Broadway, 'date' movies on general release, important events at the end of the baseball season, facts about … Continue reading The Joy of Research

Yesterday I finished the final edits to my short story collection, 'A Cold Dish and Other Tales' as suggested by my editor, my daughter Marianne. I ordered ten copies of 'Bunco' which I'm going to try to sell at events in our village this summer. I also had a coffee with a former neighbour, and best-selling … Continue reading Starting again

When I wrote 'Bunco', my initial idea was to explore some of the differences between US and European lifestyles and cultures. When we lived in the US, we enjoyed a very particularly 'American' lifestyle. Initially, I had moved to Manhattan. I feel that New York City and London have more in common with each other … Continue reading Community Spirit

There is a reason why editors exist. I am still learning this the hard way. When I wrote 'Bunco', I had a small team of editors working with me. Development Editors. My development editors were my wife, Sheila, and my cousin, George, but especially my daughter, Marianne. These early readers gave me feedback on plot issues, … Continue reading What Did I Learn? Pt.2