Blog
Introduction
Welcome to my exciting new Blog. Please come back for more soon…
Magic in the Air – Cascais and New Beginnings
When I wrote my debut novel, The House That Alice Built, I had no intention of embarking on a sequel. That was until I finally sent the book of to my publishers, with all of the edits done, and realised that I didn't want to say goodbye to Alice just yet. So, I had to...
read moreEvonne Wareham – A Wedding on the Riviera
I love reading novels that make their settings come alive, so I'm really looking forward to Evonne Wareham's new book, A Wedding on the Riviera published on March 22nd. Here she gives as a bit of an insight into what to expect... Thank you for inviting me onto your...
read moreClaire Sheldon’s debut book – Perfect Lie
Claire Sheldon's debut novel, Perfect Lie, is published by Ruby Fiction on e-book on 16th June, so I thought it would be nice to catch up with her so she could tell us about her road to publication and what she has coming up next. Tell us about the book...
read moreChoc Lit Virtual Festival round up
As part of the Choc Lit Virtual Book Festival recently, I recorded a chat with my BBC Essex friend and colleague, Tony Fisher about books, writing, and about finally getting published. You can hear it here:https://soundcloud.com/you/tracks I also asked...
read moreThe House That Alice Built photo tour
The House That Alice Built is set in Cascais in Portugal, where I lived many years ago. It made a huge impression on me and some of the locations I use in the book are real, whereas others are a mixture of reality and imagination based on other beautiful places in...
read moreAudrey Bowling – an artist inspired by the landscape
The House That Alice Built is set in Cascais in Portugal, and its pretty streets, gorgeous beaches and beautiful setting inspired me to write the novel. Alice herself rediscovers her creative side when she's there, and finds what she sees and feels enables her...
read moreA Weekend in Marrakech 2011 – last bit. How I ended up on the back of that motorbike
Hammam having been ticked off our list, we wended our way to Djemma El Fna one last time. On our way, a man tried to persuade us into another hammam thus, “Would you like to try a..? oh, you’ve already had one…” That was after he saw our hair.. But we didn’t care....
read moreA Weekend in Marrakech in 2011 – part 5
To Djema El Fna we went, full of tagine and humous and these delicious cheesy things in pastry. To Djema El Fna which is the square of all squares..the place where all the city life gathers and which has myriad different lives; bustling morning, buzzy afternoon, and...
read moreA Weekend In Marrakech in 2011 – part 5 – Djema El Fna
To Djema El Fna we went, full of tagine and humous and these delicious cheesy things in pastry. To Djema El Fna which is the square of all squares..the place where all the city life gathers and which has myriad different lives; bustling morning, buzzy afternoon, and...
read moreA Weekend in Marrakech in 2011 – Part 4
Into the multi-coloured maze of the souk. Tiny, narrow shops overflowing with gold shoes, blue scarves, silver teapots, amber mirrors, leather bags. Carvings and jewels and lanterns, fabrics of silk, dresses of cotton, jasmine and honey and rosemary and thyme...
read moreA Weekend in Marrakech in 2011 – part 3
When I close my eyes and try to remember, all I can see is pink, gold and amber. Deep red rose petals. Cool marble tiles. Hidden spiral staircases. Secret alcoves strewn with luscious bright cushions. Palm trees in the courtyards. Cool blue pools. Tranquilty. ...
read moreA Weekend in Marrakech in 2011 part 2
So, Marrakech… So, I’m on the back of this motorbike, enjoying my Audrey Hepburn/Gregory Peck experience but in entirely the wrong city. But it couldn’t have happened anywhere other than Marrakech, when you think about it. Because there’s something about it..something...
read moreA weekend in Marrakech in 2011
What Christine Did Next…In Marrakech… Posted on January 15, 2012 by chrispenhall I suppose in retrospect I could have got arrested. But actually, all I could think about as I sped through the medina in Marrakech on the back of that motorbike was that I had finally...
read moreKojo Boutique – A Portuguese Adventure
In The House That Alice Built, Alice visits Portugal and falls in love with it. She meets many people who have made their lives there and it changes the way she thinks about everything. Rosemund and Patrick Bennett took a leap of faith and decided to move to the...
read moreAuthor Snapchat – Morton S Gray
I am inspired by places that I’ve been to and memories I bring back with me when I write, so I’ve asked some of my fellow Choc-Lit and Ruby Fiction Authors to tell us about their memorable places. This time it’s Morton S Gray, author of The Girl on the Beach, The...
read moreRay Clark – The True Story of the Boat That Rocked
The House That Alice Built is fiction, but some authors are talented at writing about their own experiences and what they are passionate about. Ray Clark is a Sony Award-winning broadcaster who started his radio career as a pirate... I’ve been lucky enough to...
read moreRos Green – The Essex Book Festival – Standing Out From the Crowd
Book Festivals are a fantastic way to celebrate books and all they bring with them, and I'm lucky to have one right on my doorstep. The Essex Book Festival returns for its 21st year in March 2020 and I asked Festival Director, Ros Green what makes it special. Standing...
read moreCarol Thomas – Author Snapchat
I am inspired by places that I've been to and memories I bring back with me when I write, so I've asked some of my fellow Choc-Lit and Ruby Fiction Authors to tell us about their memorable places. This time it is Carol Thomas, author of Maybe Baby and The...
read moreVicky Carter and her travels
My novel, The House That Alice Built is set in Cascais in Portugal. Just being there set's Alice's mind free, allowing her to experience another way of life and see thing from a different perspective. Some of us have travel in our blood and my friend and BBC Essex...
read moreAuthor Snapchat – Jackie Ladbury
My novel, The House That Alice Built is set in Cascais in Portugal, and it is one of the stars of the book. Images of it and other places I visit pop into my head and I often use them in my writing - it's like I've filed them away for future use and they reappear when...
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