Welcome to the climax of, the writing of Blood and Bandages. I hope the story, warts and all, has inspired potential writers and interested the book’s many fans. I have little to say other than that because the launch marks the moment a book leaves the creative creche and enters the outside world to stand or… Continue reading…
This blog first appeared in 2017. I’m re-posting it for the book’s many admirers and to give an insight into the writing process warts and all. As I discovered, there’s no magic formula and passion, resilience and determination are essential in order to reach the finish line. ——————————————————————- So there I was, paralysed… Continue reading…
Over the last few months, I’ve been re-publishing the blogs I wrote in 2017 about my journey from initial idea to publication of Blood and Bandages. It’s a chance for me to share the process, highs and lows and tenacity required to bring a project to a conclusion. Obviously now it’s tinged with sadness because… Continue reading…
Instead of re-posting the fifth part of, ‘the writing of Blood and Bandages’, today I pay tribute to my dear friend and co-author, Bill Earl, who passed away peacefully on 11th March 2022. He was two months shy of his 107th birthday. Our friendship began when William was 94. By then, he had already lived… Continue reading…
This blog was first published in March 2017, in the lead up to the launch of Blood and Bandages. I’m republishing it now for the books many fans and to inspire other writers to carry on, come what may. They say writing is a marathon not a sprint. I agree. I started my marathon without… Continue reading…
Welcome to part three of the story of writing Blood and Bandages, my first ever book. I’m sharing this journey with the book’s many fans, and to inspire other writers to have faith in their projects and carry on regardless. As this part reveals, some problems are foreseeable, others can pounce on you from nowhere.… Continue reading…
This blog first appeared in 2017, and is the second of six blogs on how I wrote Blood and Bandages. Part one is here. I’m sharing my journey with the book’s many fans and to encourage new writers who may be faltering with their projects. Writing isn’t easy and the route is littered with pot-holes.… Continue reading…
This blog first appeared in 2017 and forms one of six parts on how I wrote Blood and Bandages. It’s designed to tell the inside story of the book to its many fans and to inspire new writers to have faith in their stories, keep going despite setbacks and follow their passion. I’m not special.… Continue reading…
This blog is devoted to my old friend and co-author, William Earl, who celebrated his 105th birthday on 12th May. William and I have been friends since February 2009, when we started working on his WW2 memoir, Blood and Bandages – fighting for life in the RAMC Field Ambulance 1940-1946. He’s seen Tom grow up.… Continue reading…
Hello and welcome to this post. I was delighted to learn that book clubs are reading Blood and Bandages, so I thought I’d suggest some questions. Book club questions What do you think happened to Mary and why? 2. With which character did you most identify and why? 3. Would you have understood William’s story without,… Continue reading…