Visiting seaside Termoli in Italy’s Molise region
Molise is a tiny Italian region, well off the normal tourist path. The region is squeezed between Abruzzo to the north and Puglia to the south. The region is more well-known for its interior, mountainous region, but Molise also has a short coastline on the Adriatic Sea. On a trip to Vieste, Puglia, we visited…
Read MoreYour story architecture
Going through a complete apartment renovation means I probably have architecture on the mind. But I know I should probably take my story architecture as seriously as I do my home architecture. That’s why I was so happy to see this post on the wonderful Writers in the Storm blog : Figuring out your story’s turning…
Read MoreNature’s stunning beauty at Bryce Canyon National Park
I’ve already written an overview of our (fantastic) holiday to Southwestern America last summer. I’ve been to this part of the country a few times, but it was my first-ever visit to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. My family and I adored our time here, and I highly recommend it to anyone headed out to…
Read MoreSummer Holiday Reading
Since I adore travel and reading in equal measure, it’s not odd that I love to combine the two. When I visit a place, I always try to have a novel set in that destination tucked away in my suitcase. Some of my most vivid impressions I’ve experienced while reading books have been for books…
Read MoreEnjoying National Revival architecture in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
The town of Plovidov is located in southern Bulgaria, along the Maritza River, just a two-hour drive from the capital Sofia. When we were in Sofia this spring (see my earlier posts about the Boyana church and the Pod lipite restaurant), we were looking at various trips from the capital. What struck us most were…
Read MoreHappy retirement, Alice Munro!
I know that many admirers – like me – of Canadian short story writer Alice Munro were saddened to know that the talented author has announced her retirement from writing. I love Ms Munro’s stories, always based in the same Canadian regions and following the lives of every day men and women. Although the stories…
Read MoreA Rome day trip: The beach at Sabaudia
A little over an hour’s drive south of Rome, along the Tyrrhenian coast, is a lovely stretch of beach – Sabaudia. This is a popular destination during the summer months, since the sea is so much more beautiful than the water closer to Rome. I think it’s also a nice place to go without the…
Read MoreEven author JK Rowling is a victim of the slushpile
To all you authors querying your work and trying to bounce back after rejections – take heart! The slushpile is a place aspiring authors know all too well, but British author JK Rowling, of Harry Potter fame, hasn’t had to face rejection in a long time. Until now, that is. An article in The Telegraph…
Read MoreThe Gargano peninsula’s coastlines and beaches
You’ll want a car to explore the southern Italian region of the Gargano, in Puglia. The Gargano peninsula is the ‘spur’ in the heel of the Italian boot. The drives along its dramatic coasts are lovely. The road is high up and curving, but road conditions are pretty good. There are places to stop and…
Read MoreAuthor interview with Breaking the Rules’ Melinda Dozier
What a pleasure to have a return visit from talented – and prolific – romance author, Melinda Dozier. Full disclosure: Melinda just happens to be one of my fantastic critique partners, too. If you missed my author interview with Melinda on her first novel, Time Changes Everything, you can see it here. 2013 has been…
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