Shakespeare – the real man?

Am loving the recent TV programmes to celebrate Shakespeare and his life and works. However, there is a huge debate about whether he actually wrote the plays himself. Having seen all the evidence, Marlowe has to be hot favourite although it would be such a shame if it was ever proved. There’s something rather nice about a glove maker from Stratford upon Avon becoming the leading Elizabethan playwright. Already have my tickets to watch ‘King John’ and ‘Julius Ceasar’ later on in the year. Can’t wait.

Number 74!!

Wow! I have just spotted that the second book in the Mike Malone series, ‘Happy Deathday to You’ is number 74 in the top 100 British Detective list on Amazon. Two of Ruth Rendell’s books are behind mine. I am so excited.

Next Mike Malone (Woolly Murders) Book for Summer!

My next book in the Mike Malone series should be out around August. Increasingly I am finding the characters are taking on a life of their own, and in a very real sense, they do know naturally what to do!
I also intend to write another book later this year about Jack Sallt, the hard nosed Norfolk detective who has his own inner demons to fight, as well as criminals, and sometimes even his colleagues.
I think I’m going to be busy!

*Remember you can buy my books on amazon, why not take a look?

Exciting times ahead

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17839185

It looks as if exciting times are ahead judging by all of the events being lined up. What a pity that we have to wait for an event such as the Olympics to get such a cultural treat. Don’t we deserve a bit of culture every year?

Roman childhood

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17701080

Isn’t nice to see that Roman parents had the same problems as us? Although, I would hate it if anyone ever described me as pushy.

Don’t you ever wonder which children had/have the best childhood. Is it the Roman child who did not have the ‘luxury’ of an x-box but was taught literature, taught to question and discuss or is it the child of today who has freedom but prefers the quick fix of a video game to a good book?

However, I did find it funny – and sad – to read of the Roman difficulties when it came to contraception.

Reading Monkeys

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17676129

Does this mean that we now have to make sure that our books are suitable for primates? Maybe my next detective could be a chimpanzee. Interesting ideas and my imagination is running away with me.

The New J K Rowling

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17693206

I will be very interested to see how JK Rowling makes the transition from young adult to adult. I enjoyed reading the whole Harry Potter series and am curious to meet the new characters to see if there are any vestiges of Harry, Hermoine or Ron to be found.