Features

The Truth is in There
Creativity takes a lot out of us. A lot of what? I think Neil Gaiman says this best. Everything we encounter, every random thought, snatch of conversation, idea provoked by news story or strange juxtaposition of scent and colour goes onto the compost heap. None of these are fully formed stories, but ferment and cohere until that rich soil is ready to sprout something new.

The (Not So) Little Things
As we start the second month of social distancing, I’m paying a lot more attention than usual to mental hygiene. I’m trying break the loop of uncertainty and worry about the future, so daily exercise means more than yoga and dog-walking.

Top Tips for Crime Lovers #1
Crime writing is a broad church, with something for everyone. In my writing career, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some exceptional authors who have entertained, supported and helped me improve in the genre.

The City of Wine
Now I want to introduce you to La Cité du Vin (The City of Wine), one of the most intriguing sights/sites in the region of Bordeaux.

8 Things about Bordeaux
Bordeaux is so strongly associated with wine that we sometimes forget it is an exciting multicultural city as well as a wine region.

Going Underground: What Humans Learned From Moles
Tunnels, burrows, caves, bunkers and warrens hold a nervy sort of fascination for us overground animals. On one hand, darkness, dead-ends, small spaces and danger. On the other, safe places,

Don’t Pass the Salt! – How to Avoid Seven Years Bad Sex in Europe
Most people know Europe has certain cultural features in common. We have the metric system, write dates DD/MM/YY, pay with the Euro (mostly) and use the 24-hour clock. That’s just