• Historical Fiction Cover Winner March 2017

    Do you love historical fiction? What makes you choose one book over another? For most of us, the cover is the first thing that attracts our attention. For me, the cover has to look professional and must convey genre and a hint of what the story is about. Each month I will be taking a look…

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  • Many writers draw on their family history, or indeed history in general, when putting pen to paper. For anyone involved in researching their family tree, it can be quite frustrating trying to pin together their ancestors’ lives. For many years, I dug around in Irish and UK records, trying to hunt down and piece together…

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  • Historical Fiction Cover Winner February 2017

    Do you love historical fiction? What makes you choose one book over another? For most of us, the cover is the first thing that attracts our attention. For me, the cover has to look professional and must convey genre and a hint of what the story is about. Each month I will be taking a look…

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  • Today I am delighted to have Juliet Greenwood in the library for a chat. Juliet’s beautiful cover for The White Camellia was my very first monthly historical fiction cover winner. (See: Historical Fiction Cover Competition January 2017) You are very welcome, Juliet, please introduce yourself: After living in London and near Birmingham, I now live in a small traditional…

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  • A Conversation with Author Norah Bennett

    Today in the Library we have Norah Bennett, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author. Norah lives a double life. By day she is a suit-wearing, prim and proper, professor, administrator, researcher, and lecturer. By night she is a PJ wearing dreamer and writer of…

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  • My Victorian Valentine

    My Victorian Valentine

    The Victorians were very good at taking an idea and running with it. The present day commercialisation of Valentine’s Day can be laid at their feet. And the man to thank (or blame) is Sir Rowland Hill and the Penny Black stamp. More anon. The origins of Valentine’s Day are buried in the mists of time.…

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  •   Today in the Library I am delighted to host fellow Irish author, ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Amanda J Evans, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author. You are very welcome, Amanda, please introduce yourself: I am an author, freelance writer, and poet. I live in Co. Meath,…

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  • Historical Fiction Cover Winner January 2017

    Do you love historical fiction? What makes you choose one book over another? For most of us, the cover is the first thing that attracts our attention. For me, the cover has to look professional and must convey genre and a hint of what the story is about. Each month I will be taking a look…

    Read more →

  • London born Henry Edgar, had the dubious honour of earning the nickname, in police circles, of ‘Edgar the Escaper’. Unfortunately, no photograph exists, but he was described by the police as five feet seven, of fair complexion with large features, brown hair and a gentlemanly appearance. Not being a particularly successful thief, he did become famous…

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