New Stuff
I appreciate those regular visitors who come back time and again to read my writing. Rather than have to trawl through looking for new stories, poems etc. use this page to view new material.
For example this short story: Reckless.
My latest offering: ‘Out of the mouths’
Feb 2010. Ringing the changes for my regular readers. In place of ‘Aiming for the Heart’ I have uploaded, ‘The sweet smell of revenge.’
Jan 2010. I’ve been meaning to add this for some time: A poem entitled ‘The Rosebud explodes.’ It’s on the poetry page or if you like pictures, click on this one for a full size picture.
11/3/2010 in time for Mother’s Day. Check out a poem on the poetry page
14/4/2010 Another Professional opinion on a short story- ‘Aiming for the Heart’ on the reviews page.
May 2010. Check out the new poem on the poetry page. “Evergreen”
Also this month, a new play. ‘The city of refuge’ or see ‘Christian Resources’ page.
June 2010: Past; Tense uploaded to Freado.com. You can read two short stories for nothing. Then if you like them you could buy the complete collection…
July 2010. Take a look at the first Amazon reader review. (On Past; Tense page or Amazon website.)
Jan 2011. A retelling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son as a Sunday School play. Click here to read it.
Jan 2011. ADVANCE NOTICE! This is for those of you who return to my site looking for new material. Firstly thanks for your loyalty. (If you are a mindless Googlebot please go away. I have no need of scrambled messages trying to sell me Viagra. )
Things have been quiet, I grant. One reason, I’ve been busy. There are several projects in the pipeline and I’ll dangle the bait now. This will help me commit to getting them completed.
First project: The Commission: A play about William Tyndale. Nearly finished, and hopefully to be performed in Bristol during this Summer. If you are in the area, please come along. More details to follow but in the meantime try this link.
Second project: The Swordsman of Calais. My second novel. Nowhere near complete yet, which is a pity as I would like it out in time for the 400th anniversary of the King James’ Bible this summer.
Essentially it tells of the executioner of Anne Boleyn. Historical fact gives way to creative fiction to weave a story of intrigue, lost love and cruel circumstance. I’m not saying more, except to say that it interweaves the themes of reformation and Bible smuggling.
Third Project: New short story collection. Plenty of abstract material out there needs refining, rewriting and publishing. I’ll keep you informed.
And finally: I have received many requests for Timescope 2. Suffice it to say I am listening and somewhere in the back of the creative mayhem I call a brain ideas are congealing…
Thanks for reading!
Feb 2011. Actually on time for once, a new poem, ‘Snowdrops on the grave.’
See the poetry page. Hope you like it.
March 2011 Professional review of Past; Tense! And good as well. Follow this link.
April 2011 Past; Tense and Timescope both available in Kindle format.
Click on these links: Past; Tense Timescope
Feb 2012 Where did that year go? Well, creatively speaking, into two projects: the Commission (See Jan 2011 above) and the Swordsman of Calais. (also above)
The Commission play was performed at Bristol Council Chamber which is adjacent College Green where William Tyndale was in the habit of preaching on his holidays from living at Old Sodbury Manor near Chipping Sodbury. Hence it was a perfect place for staging a play about this remarkable man.
The play takes a modern viewpoint of snapshots of Tyndale’s life, beginning with his execution at Vilvoorde and reaching back into his life story to piece together the reasons why this was about to happen. The running time was about an hour and a half, and it was well-received by all who filled the large room to view it. The only drawback for the performers was the weighty costumes combined with the August heat.
In a while I will post a link to the script.
The Swordsman of Calais 300+ pages and counting. Historical fiction with the emphasis on fiction. Anne Boleyn was slain by a single stroke of a sword wielded by Jean Rombaud, an executioner especially brought in from Calais. That much we know. Other rumours that she was practising witchcraft fuel, for me, the notion that Anne was executed for very different reasons than those which are normally cited – e.g. adultery and incest. Her trial was a frame-up organised by those who would destroy her for the danger she presented to the Established Church. This forms the backdrop to the novel.
Those who have read it to date have been very complimentary of the strong storyline and authentic feel. Please be patient and keep coming back to this site and I will post more information about the book, particularly when the closing chapters are in sight. I promise you it will be worth the wait.
That’s all for now.