NEWS
Hello, this is Thursday. I think?
Hello, This is the third of my combined newsletters. If you’ve missed the previous two, check your spam folder or check out my website blog. Normally I’d be writing about my books or related themes but at the moment, I […]
The British Portrait from Hogarth to Hockney – A Talk by Vivien Heffernan
Well today’s talk started with the AGM, a mercifully brief and efficient meeting and then we were off into the talk. With regards to the AGM it’s worth me noting how much I enjoy being part of this society and […]
Hello again, how’s it going?
Hello again, If you want to receive my newsletters directly in your inbox you can sign up here. How’s it all going? I’m going to be honest, I had a bit of a wobble yesterday. I am one of […]
The Elizabethan and Jacobean Country House – Dr David Bostwick.
A Throwback Post – The Arts Society Obviously there are no lectures at the moment so he’s one from a few years back. All of these houses added to the inspiration for Ariana’s ancestral home – Hiverton Manor. Finally arrived […]
Are you okay? Newsletter.
I know you don’t all see or get my newsletter so I try to remember to always post it on my website as well. If you do want to join my mailing list you are can sign up here. […]
Having greatness thrust upon you
The Unlikely Rise of Certain Young Women It may seem far fetched that Ariana, the heroine in my novel, suddenly becomes the Countess of Wiverton when she is just twenty-eight, but compared to some, she’s a bit long in the […]
Ariana Claims Her Inheritance
A New Life for Ariana Byrne is Launched And it’s a real page turner… I have read some of the reviews for A New Life for Ariana Byrne and I have to agree with them about what a joy it […]
Live like a Countess – Staying in a Landmark Trust property
Every winter Steve and I rent a Landmark Trust property and spend a mid-week break living like royalty. The Landmark Trust is a charity that saves remarkable buildings from destruction. They restore them and then they rent them out as […]
Fabulous Faberge – The Jewel of the Russian Downfall
These are my notes from a recent Art Society talk. Really loved this one but then who doesn’t love jewels and revolution? The Imperial Easter Eggs of Carl Fabergé by Toby Faber* “Between 1885 and 1916, Carl Fabergé made fifty […]
Patrons, Podcasts and a thousand thank yous to my guides
I’ve been tidying up my subscriptions. Those things that I paid for, monthly or annually, and no longer need or want and I looked at my savings (small as they were) and decided to re-invest them so to speak, in […]
Hatshepsut – The Portrait of a Female Pharoah BODFAS NADFAS
Hatshepsut c.1507–1458 BC I had gone to great lengths to make it to this NADFAS as I am on a mission to not miss any and despite the disappointing start to the year I was not going to let […]
Liz Hurley is signed up by Hera Books
Thrilled to announce I have signed a contract with the publisher Hera Books for a two book deal featuring the Wiverton Sisters. https://www.herabooks.com/news/hera-sign-two-womens-fiction-novels-debut-author-liz-hurley/ They have taken on the rights for Under Flint Skies which will be re-released in February […]
Under Flint Skies by Elizabeth Hurley
I am tickled pink to announce my first full length novel, Under Flint Skies. The silly thing is I launched it two months ago and it was bonkers at the time. I also launched one of my walking guides and […]
Russian Art after the Revolution
Russian Art after the Revolution – Theodora Clarke. An Arts Society Lecture. Excuse the brevity of this post. I kept forgetting to take notes! Much was lost after the Russian Revolution but I hadn’t realised that we had lost so […]
May was a rotten month – Newsletter
I love May, it is one of the finest months of the year, in fact it might even be my favourite. The days are warm, the nights are chilly, the countryside is lush, there are two bank holidays and everyone […]
Creative Writing – Penzance Literary Festival
Creative Writing at the Penzance Literary Festival As you know I’m branching out into fiction. And in fact my first book is almost ready to launch. Somewhat terrified but anyway. I saw details of a creative writing course being held […]
Persian delights. Iranian art and architecture
Behind the Veil: the Arts of Islamic Persia – John Osborne So my second BODFAS approached and I was determined not to make such a mess of it this time. However, the fates are cruel and things cropped up. The phone rang […]
Knickers, knockers and knee britches
The Foundations of Fashion – Kate Strasdin Well I’m just back from my first NADFAS talk. For a long time I’ve missed the lecture circuit and academic discussions, so it was nice to stumble across the National Association of Decorative & […]
Lost Lands – warnings from the past.
There is something very exciting about lost lands and histories. As a maritime nation, we have an uneasy relationship with the sea. It has protected us from invaders (sometimes), it has enabled us to travel and explore the world, it […]
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Same story, different date.
Today’s headlines sounded rather jolly, the ebook is declining, the print book is rising, ra ra ra. Here’s the BBC story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39718016 “Last year, one of the most eye-catching figures from our statistics was that physical book sales were increasing […]
How to take care of dogs in hot weather
In this current heat wave, it’s easy for life to become really difficult for our best friends. A few years ago we had our first experience of a dog experiencing heat stroke. Agatha is a ninety mile an hour sort […]
Slightly over-excited
This was me yesterday on Facebook: I WAS AMAZING!!!! No really, A-MAZ-ING. God I’m stoked, that was so much fun. My audience were the best people ever, they laughed at my rubbish jokes, they were engaged, they asked smart questions, […]
Getting your book onto the shelves of a bookshop
(I’ve borrowed this blog from my Hurley Books page as I’m talking about this at the Penzance Lit Fest) I speak as a bookshop owner. Someone who loves books. Most of us that run bookshops do, so please bear in […]
What’s in a name?
When I decided to start getting serious about writing I realised that I would need a website and an e-mail address. I don’t like self-publicity, it seems so needy and particularly unBritish but for heaven’s sake, I have decided to […]
Punctuation
Here’s a thing. I am not good at punctuation, never was, never have been. Doubt I ever will be. I remember after my first month of English A level, the new teacher took me to one side, and asked what my […]
Does this sound like hell?
This was a short piece of creative writing I had to do. The brief was to place your character in a heaven or hell scenario. Enjoy. Sheila sat at her table, the nylon upholstery of her chair prickled the backs of […]
Never, Ever Make Reading a Chore for Children
I was on St Austell Bay Radio on Tuesday and had great fun, much less scary than I thought it was going to be, but then I hadn’t anticipated DJs on pogo boots, school kids and chocolate rolls. I was […]
One Coat is Never Enough
I am now the proud owner of a new coat, much to the confusion of Steve, who thinks that I have more than enough coats already. But that’s daft, I don’t have a heavy weather coat and this is what […]
Harry the Rubbish Gun Dog and his Rubbisher Handler!
As some of you may know we have a springer spaniel going by the name of Harry. He’s three years old now, and I have always meant to get him trained properly, it is after all what he is bred […]
Melting your spell checker.
Oh me. I am a rotten speller, my use of punctuation is chaotic and my syntax is curious. I am an editor’s nightmare and a spell checker’s jackpot, so I thought I would upgrade from my built-in spell checker, which […]
Inspiration dries up
Nope. Nada. Nothing. Panicking a bit, so much to do that I am now paralysed by indecision.
NADFAS Russian Art of the the Early Twentieth Century – Theodora Clarke
Much was lost after the Russian Revolution but I hadn’t realised that we had lost so much stunning art. Not that the paintings were destroyed but the Russian artists fled and those that remained or emerged were forced to paint […]
Three Great Families and their Gardens
Three Great Families and their Gardens – Caroline Rayman – BODFAS First Bodfas of the year and I’m going to try to make everyone as they have all been so good. Arrived by the skin of my teeth again, I […]
Persian delights, Iranian art and architecture – BODFAS 2
Behind the Veil: the Arts of Islamic Persia – John Osborne So my second BODFAS approached and I was determined not to make such a mess of it this time. However, the fates are cruel and things cropped up. The phone […]
Knickers, knockers and knee britches – BODFAS 1
The Foundations of Fashion – Kate Strasdin Well I’m just back from my first NADFAS talk. For a long time I’ve missed the lecture circuit and academic discussions and so it was nice to stumble across the National Association of Decorative […]