The thoughts that shape my writing
Fragments of history, reflections on memory, and glimpses of the human thread that runs through it all.
When Characters Refuse to Let Go
When I retired from corporate life at seventy, I needed to fill the space it left behind.
I had dabbled in photography for decades and built up thousands of images from all over the world. I even produced a few coffee-table books. But in recent years it no longer held the same appeal. I felt bored by it, short of inspiration, reluctant to go out and make the images at all.
History Isn’t Objective — and Pretending It Is Is Dangerous
I’ve recently completed my second historical fiction novel, The Silence of the White Shadow, set in Victorian Britain. That means my desk — and my head — are cluttered with research: industrial towns, social reformers, courtroom dramas, even the odd ship’s manifest.
The History Behind Unseen Souls
Before industrialisation, Dowlais was a quiet, scattered upland community nestled in the Brecon Beacons. That’s quickly changed forever …
J.M.W. Turner: A Trailblazer in Art
Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 1775–19 December 1851), the English artist, is one of my favourite artists and a huge inspiration. His work was ground breaking and unique. He changed the ‘rules’ and painted light and colour rather than objects and scenes.