I must confess that I started my blog because I felt I needed a) to make my website more active and b) to relate to visitors more as the real everyday me. But I’ve come to thoroughly enjoy writing it. It’s rather compulsive, actually. Getting feedback from readers has spurred me on and proved unexpectedly [...]
In my former life as a researcher at Edinburgh University, before I became a novelist, I spent a number of years with bereaved parents. Now, I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of anything much more harrowing than watching your child die. And yet I heard first hand from these grieving men and [...]
I hope you’ll forgive a one-off indulgence: an entirely personal post on a blog normally devoted to matters bookish and ethical. My much-loved mother passed away on Friday, and I want to pay a special tribute to her influence and support … although, I have to confess, she’d be horrified if she knew. (My first [...]
I’m starting this post at 2 o’clock on Monday morning. Why? do I hear you cry? Well, I made the fatal mistake yesterday afternoon of accepting a cup of caffeinated coffee. Now, I know caffeine is a no-no for me; I KNOW it is. My consultant has TOLD ME it is. So why …? Well, [...]
Phew! That’s the Book Festival over for another year. And I confess I’ll be quite glad to stop this gallivanting into town for performances and parties at all hours. But I’ve had some interesting experiences, and learned a thing or two about how to seduce an audience. (I come to these events with two agendas: [...]