News - Myfanwy Cook

Jonathan Vischer’s debut novel delves into the life of Elizabeth Sawyer, who was hanged for witch craft in 1621

The Wonderful Discovery of Elizabeth Sawyer set in London in the 17th century is Jonathan Vischer’s <www.jonathanvischer.com> debut novel. He is a PhD graduate, living in Ireland and Jonathan’s novel will be launched on October the 25th at Queen’s University Belfast <https://www.qub.ac.uk/events/whats-on/listing/launchthewonderfuldiscoveryofelizabethsawyerbyjonathanvischer.html>. Jonathan explains that, “The Wonderful Discovery of Elizabeth Sawyer, examines a case of… Read more »

Is it common bluebells or is it wild garlic? Do they inspire the writer or the chef?

In Devon it is the bluebell season. Gardens and woodlands are tightly packed with them. They are beautiful, but also notorious because they can spread like weeds. My favourite colour for bluebells is dark cobalt blue variety, but of course there are white, pink and lilac coloured ones as well. The cobalt blue-coloured ones seem… Read more »

Mayflower Chronicles: The Tale of Two Cultures, Kathryn Brewster Haueisen & the overshadowed 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower

2020 was the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower leaving Plymouth in the UK and its perilous journey across the Atlantic. In Plymouth a host of events had been organised to mark the anniversary. Sadly, the COVID lockdown in the UK prevented most of these taking place. Including events such as the celebration in print of… Read more »

The Not Quite Perfect Murderer and the City of Bath by Margaret Duffy

Earlier this year Margaret Duffy’s latest novel in her Patrick Gillard and Ingrid Langley mystery series was published by Severn House (severnhouse.com). It is the 14th novel in this popular collection, but can be read as a stand-alone novel. Her novels are set around the City of Bath < https://visitbath.co.uk/>, which most readers would associate… Read more »

How does an author pick a setting for their novels? – Rebecca Tope lets us into a secret

In libraries throughout the U.K. Rebecca Tope’s popular crime fiction novels are on display. She has two main series: one set in the Lake District and the other in the Cotswolds. Her latest novel Echoes in the Cotswolds has just been published (Allison & Busby Limited 2021). When asked why set she had set a… Read more »

Weird, Wonderful and Whacky – David Castleton writing about ‘Church Curiosities’

Lurking in corners of churches and cathedrals are hidden curiosities waiting to surprise the unsuspecting visitor. David Castleton in his Church Curiosities – Strange Objects and Bizarre Legends (Shirebooks, 2021 <www.shirebooks.co.uk> takes his reader on a guided tour of some of the most unusual, quirky and sometimes mystifying items that he has discovered. As… Read more »

Streets that breathe history – Mary Tod and Paris

Mary Tod’s latest novel Paris In Ruins will be published on March 30th 2021 (Heath Street Publishing). Set in Paris in 1870 Mary explains that her, “latest novel, Paris In Ruins, was sparked by the idea of taking a character from Lies Told In Silence back to a time when she was roughly twenty years… Read more »

Mountain Climbers – Children Getting Active – Exeter Medical student creates an interactive physical fitness and well-being board game

What have the 1974 Revolution in Portugal and civil unrest in Zagreb in 1991 got to do with ‘Passion, Tragedy, and Revolution in the Age of Enlightenment’?

The answer is the author Julieta Almeida Rodrigues and her debut novel Eleonora and Joseph. Her career and life have meant that she has lived, “through unique world events beginning with the ‘hot summer’ that followed the April 25, 1974 revolution in Portugal, when the country seemed ready to become the European Cuba…. Read more »

Downloadable Resource for Historical Fiction Writing – A practical guide and tool-kit, by Myfanwy Cook

The PDF for Historical Fiction Writing – A practical guide and tool-kit by Myfanwy Cook (Published in 2011 by Active Sprite Press) is available on the web page highlighted below. Apologies to anyone who has had difficult accessing this resource. Historical Fiction Writing – A practical guide and tool-kit – Downloadable Resource