I'm reviewing The Corisco Conspiracy ...

... by Raphael Sone on the blog today.  Read on to find out what I made of this fascinating memoir...

This book is a memoir, and as such, some may consider it to be a truth told from one individual’s point of view.  Because that is what a memoir is, right?  Erm… not in this case.  The central character is William Shakespeare, referred to as Musketman Shakespeare, who, it turns out, was a spy!

The opening of the story lets you know that Shakespeare arrives in Rome to meet a fellow playwright with whom he plans to work.  However, his friend had left the city several weeks before William’s arrival and had gone to Spain.  Before making a decision about what to do next, Shakespeare is visited by one Guy Fawkes – yes, it is he of the bonfire fame – and William is diverted to the Island city of Corisco. It is there that Shakespeare contrives ‘the most diabolical assassination plot in British history.’

With a set-up like that, and my lifelong association with the real William Shakespeare through his plays and poetry, I just could not ignore this book.

The memoir opens in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1616 with the writer looking back on his life, his family and his work, which all seems quite tame. However, the tension gradually ramps up until you find yourself reading a romp of an adventure story.  The twists and turns in the plot kept me turning the page, and I finished it in two reading stints across one weekend.  I could not put this book down.

The narrative voice is companionable and flows very easily across the page, and perfectly suits the content of the memoir.  I liked the use of quotes from the real William's plays for each of the chapter headings.  I recognised most of the quotes taken from thirteen of the plays, but there were a small number that were a little more obscure.  However, I really enjoyed looking those up and re-reading some of the original verse or prose, including the quote.

All in all, this was a great read.  I hope Mr Sóne is working on something else to entertain us.

You can get the book Here

You can find out more about the author Here

I'm Off My Beaten Track in ...

... Cadiz.  I’ve been going through my travel journals and discovered some notes about a short stay in Cadiz. Come and join me as I meander the streets of this ancient Spanish port.  Read on …

SPANISH SCRIBBLINGS

‘… after three days at sea, I’m really glad that we are finally berthed and have stopped moving.  I just can’t wait to get onto dry land again.  The boat is parked right next to the town, just as though a car has slotted into a standard parking spot!  It’s the relative sizes of everything that kind of blows my mind as I walk into the city centre…’

Cadiz, with a population of around 120,000, was founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BC. The Phoenicians were renowned for their expertise as seafarers, navigators, and traders.  That wealth is eminently demonstrated here in the city of Cadiz, along with the marvellous architecture from various historical periods across four millennia.

‘It’s Sunday today, and as I meander through the streets, there are few people around.  I want to visit the cathedral, but there is a service going on, so I’ll have to wait.  But then, there are other churches if the number of spires and domes I saw from the restaurant where I was having breakfast, are anything to go by…’

‘The streets are mostly pedestrianised and the narrowness and height of the buildings keep the sun at bay in the hottest part of the day.  The artistry in the masonry surrounding very ordinary doors is a treat to see…’

‘Above, the narrow streets are decorated with theatrical masks from the Commedia dell’Arte - Harlequin, Il Dottore, Pantalone, Pulcinella, Innamorati and others whose names I can’t recall.

No matter where I walk, these theatricals look down on me, but I can’t find anything to explain why this and why here and now in February.  I decide to check this out once I get back to the boat.  But then I turn a corner.  A large square opens out in front of me, and at one side is the Gran Teatro Falla.  A stunning red and white brick building in Moorish style.  Suddenly everything becomes clear – the city is preparing for the Carnaval de Cádiz, which, according to the banner, will take place from February 27th until March 9th.  I want to stay here.  I would love to be here for that…’

'As I make my way back to the boat, I notice that the first square I came to as I started my stroll is suddenly full of people at the pavement cafes.  There are stalls with paintings, sketches, and handmade jewellery.  So I browse to the lilt of music from somewhere.  As I explore the stalls, I discover a musician playing an accordion ably supported by a group of automaton musicians playing various instruments.  Along with a crowd of others, I stop and listen for a while...'

 

Alas, I wasn’t able to stay; my time in Cadiz was fixed, but there is always the opportunity to come back another year.  I’ll let you know if I achieve that…

I am very pleased to announce ...

 ... that I will be one of the many authors appearing at the Death in the Dales Festival of Crime in October.  Read on for more info ...

The festival will take place in Sedbergh, a fabulous old farming community that has been in existence since the early Middle Ages, and will run over three days, from October 17th to 19th.  There will be a mixture of author panels, discussions and performance - a real murder mystery for you, the attendees, to solve!  There will be plenty of opportunities to buy books, too, if murder mystery is your bag.

The program has been finalised, and I can now let you know that I will be part of a panel discussion alongside David Beckler (author of the Mason and Sterling thrillers) and Lea O'Harra (author of the Inspector Inoue thrillers).  We will be talking about setting our books in foreign locations and all the joy, tribulations and research that using an 'over the hill and faraway' setting can bring to a writer's work and life.  Personally, I find my trips to France are essential for getting some of the details right.  But do join us to hear what David and Lea also have to say.  It will be, friend and author, Marsali Taylor who will be putting each of us under the spotlight.  Marsali has appeared on the blog and if you want to catch up with that post you can read it Here

The full programme of events is available on the Sedbergh website, along with full details of how to purchase tickets. I really hope you can make this fabulous event, which was a runaway success in October last year.  I am really looking forward to catching up with old friends and taking part in the whole weekend of bookishness!

  

Look out for my social media posts over the next few months.  The Sedbergh website is Here  and you can book your tickets Here

Rivers of France ...

… I’m picking up my route from where I left you on my last post - Orléans. Read on... 

I brought you into the city of Orléans on the D2152, and we will leave using the same road, heading west. I chose this thoroughfare because it skirts the river on the left through Meung, Beaugency, Mer and finally brings you into the heart of the city of Blois.

Blois, with a population of over 47,000 inhabitants, is a substantial city with an even greater history. Archaeological excavations of recent decades have revealed a substantial collection of hunter-gatherer camps in the area dating back to approximately 8,000 years ago. There are also Gallic traces that suggest Blois, as we now know it, was an important location on the ancient road linking Chartres and Bourges. The river has always been a major route.

Despite these ancient origins, the city of Blois has been a major source of power since the 9th century. The House of Blois has been in existence since then until it was ceded to the crown in 1397. With the power and wealth of the French Crown behind the city, you won’t be surprised to learn that a château was built here in the 13th century and later inhabited by Duc Charles d’Orléans. In 1462, his son Duc Louis was born in the château, and he would become King Louis 12. I have an earlier post about the magnificent château – it really is worth a visit - which you can read Here

But today I want to take you and show you something much smaller that is often forgotten. The city is built on high ground, so we will leave the river and climb the steep path up towards the cathedral – another magnificent building that has to be seen.

At the top of the path in place Saint Louis is a three-storey house referred to as La Maison des Acrobates. Everyone is so intent on seeing the Gothic architecture of the church that they often fail to notice this little gem among the other buildings opposite.

Built in the 1470s, it was originally referred to as La Bourse des Escholiers de Bourmoyen. The word bourse in a scholastic context means grant, so the house was for the use of the scholars who qualified for the support. It is timber-framed and the decoration on the exterior is worth the effort of the steep climb. It is the external decoration that gives the house its current name. If you look carefully at the wooden pillars, you will see that they are covered in carvings of acrobats in various poses. If you are familiar with medieval clothing, you will also notice that the acrobats' shoes are poulaines. These soft, flexible, and completely flat unisex shoes, with their long, pointed toes, were used throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. They were slip-ons and sometimes were secured with a short drawstring at one side or a pull-over toggle that slipped into a small loop.

These shoes were so comfortable and flexible that they were used by professional dancers and acrobats, as demonstrated in the carvings, to perform the moresque, a very lively and popular dance from the Middle Ages.

The rest of the house's history is shrouded in mystery. At some point in the 17th century, the house was occupied, but historians have been unable to identify who the occupant/s might have been. All the more reason to visit in my view!

Unfortunately, the house is now in private ownership, so visitors can only admire the exterior.

If you want to catch up on any posts you may have missed, click the following links: Rivers of France  La Loire  Digoin  Nevers  Orleans

The Seasonal Collective ...

... has been hard at work since our last publication.  If you like short stories, read on ... 

For the last four years, I've been working with a group of authors from the other side of the pond that we refer to as the Atlantic Ocean.  Over that time, we've produced four multi-genre collections of short stories, the first, Autumn Paths, being published in September 2021.  From the very first germ of an idea in January 2021, we took almost nine months to create the content and publish the book in both e- and print format.  We have continued to deliver three more miscellanies of stories since then, thereby forming the entire seasonal paths series.

If you haven't read any of them yet, perhaps some comments from a reviewer about the first book (see below) might encourage you.

'This enticing collection of short stories are [sic] sure to uplift, inspire, and satisfy hungry readers. With tales spanning multiple genres, including adventure, mystery, sci-fi, and more, you'll find something for everyone. I very much enjoyed the variety and impressive quality of the storytelling. Every story was developed and executed well, and each author brought a unique perspective and writing style to the collection. Autumn is the underlying theme, but these stories are perfect to read any time of the year. I look forward to reading more stories by these talented authors.'   Reviewer in Canada

Even though we have completed the 'Paths' series, we haven't been idle.  We've decided to create another series of related anthologies.  Thus far this year, we have created more stories, compiled them, designed a cover, and are now about to move to the proofreading stage.

For this new series, the writing team has changed and we've increased our number to ten.  The constitution of the Seasonal Collective may have evolved since we first started out in 2021, but the enjoyment, camaraderie, and support across the team are still very much alive.  I'm really looking forward to seeing our new anthology in its final form.

So, watch this space for some exciting news coming soon ...

If you want to try the first series of books then you can get them using the links below 

Autumn Paths   Winter Paths   Spring Paths   and   Summer Paths

June 24th - I'm reviewing The Paris Express ...

 ... by Emma Donoghue.  This is a fiction woven around an actual event.  Read on ...

I came across this book whilst I was browsing in my local branch of Waterstones.  The cover captivated my attention.  When I opened it at a random page and began reading - I never read blurbs - I was instantly intrigued.

In October 1895, the Paris Express left the Norman seaside town of Granville - then considered to be the casino town of the north - for Paris.  It was a regular route, and if you check the map, you will see that the rail line is still there.  Back then, the steam train took seven and a quarter hours to complete its journey, arriving at Paris Montparnasse at four in the afternoon.  Today, the same journey is about three and a half hours.  What makes the journey on October 22nd, 1895, so unique is what happened once the train reached Paris.  The engine entered the station at too fast a speed and derailed.  There is a photograph of the tragic accident, taken a few moments after the derailment occurred.  That photograph was reproduced in numerous newspapers across the world  - to use an anachronism, it went snail-mail viral - because the derailment was iconic.  If you've ever come across an old picture of a steam train hanging out of the first-floor windows of a large station building with steam still issuing from the boiler and its nose resting on the pavement amongst a load of rubble, then you've seen the express of the title.  If not, you can view it Here

In the notes at the back of the book, the author gives an insight into the amount of research she undertook to create her story.  So you discover which of the characters within her story were real and which were wholly or partially fictional.  She also gives a little more detail about what happened after the crash.

The story is told from multiple points of view: some passengers, some train staff, and some station staff.  But whichever character is speaking within the narrative, their voice is as individual as they are.  Throughout the book, there is a steadily growing sense of foreboding with the tension ramping up as the train speeds towards its destination.  In many respects, this story is as gripping as any crime or mystery thriller.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and having read the book, I will be taking it with me to France.  I will have to follow the train route, but rather than stop at each destination along the way for a few moments as the train did, I will explore each new place along the route.  Granville, Argentan, and Paris are already well known to me, but that doesn't mean I won't be making another visit!

You might also be interested in my reviews of Metropolitain or Clouds over Paris or Paris Echo

Summer's here and so is the ...

... Live at the Libraries Festival in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Bilton, and Ripon.  Read on for more details ...

The Live at the Libraries Festival runs from August 13th to the 15th, and the full programme is being finalised as you read this post!  But, this is an event that I will be involved in, and I can tell you a little more about it even though I can't yet release the full details.

The festival runs across three days, and there are events planned for all four sites - Harrogate, Knaresborough, Bilton, and Ripon.  We have panels and workshops, and we are covering more than just crime, as we did last July.  This time around, we have events for poets, writing for children, and my favourite genre of crime.  So please do keep checking with your library to see what's coming up, meanwhile, here's some advance information about the content of the crime events.

Wednesday, August 13th

What I can tell you today is that we have a Just A Minute event for the audience to ask the panel of authors questions, but each writer only has one minute to give a reply.

I will be hosting an event about Creating A Villain.  No matter what the crime there is always a baddie in the story somewhere, and some of those villains come back again and again - just like Flambeau of the Father Brown books or Moriarty of the Holmes stories. Speaking as a writer myself, I can also tell you that creating a villain can be fun. Afterall, the likes of Moriarty and Flambeau are just the kind of characters that everyone loves to hate.  There will also be three other authors helping out with what I think will be a really fun and interactive session.  Full details will be released soon.

Ever wondered how authors put their crime novels together?  Ever thought about plotting your own crime story?  Well, Live at the Libraries will be your opportunity to put those vague ideas into some sort of order.  With a panel of authors you'll be able to create a crime from the scene of a murder, plan red herrings and misdirections, and gather evidence. Plotting A Crime could be just the event you might need.

Thursday, August 14th

As well as audience questions participation, there will be workshops running during the festival.  I will be hosting a workshop on how to Create A Character for a Crime Novel.  By the end of the session participants will have a character sketched out, will have been taken through a methodology for creating that character and will have some additional information/references to enable them to take their character and research further

Through an audience participation event we be will asking Who Do You Want To Murder? and How Do You Plan To Get Away with It?

Some of the above events will take place at more than one venue and until the programme is finalised, I can't be more precise.  But as soon as I get the final details, I will post the full information here on the blog and across all my social media.

Keep watching this space, and I hope you will join me and other Yorkshire authors at Live at the Libraries in August.