CODI Again I’m running behind with updating this blog. Deciding to draft a second novel in the year has proved challenging but an enjoyable one, so I’m not complaining. It has taken up a fair amount of time and with work being so manic, some things have slipped. I’ve some catching up to do before … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 72
Pollok House If you read this blog, you will know I spend time visiting places of historical interest and like to flag them up. I’m not going to give you a potted history of these locations as you can easily look up the background online if you are interested to find out more. I like … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 71
In denial It’s been a busy and at times challenging month. The new work in progress is going well. It still has a working title of Canongate 2, the plan and outline is complete and I’m more than halfway through. I had intended to finish the draft in October and that proved difficult. I tried … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 70
Jess Jess passed away this week at the grand age of sixteen. The death of a pet is difficult. We become so attached to them and treat them as one of the family. Right now I’m finding myself expecting to see her when I get up in the morning and then realising she won’t come … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 69
Bucket List I’ve never been one for having a bucket list. There are things I want to do and see, that’s only natural, but the writing of lists and ticking things off has never been my thing. I recall while having a coffee in the shadow of the Rialto Bridge and watching people stand in … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 68
Culross I took time out to visit Culross last month. I’ve been many times, but as I’m now a member of the National Trust, it meant I had free entry to the Palace, so I wanted to revisit before it closes for the winter. It is described a a unique example of a merchant house … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 67
Falkland Palace Another popular destination on the Outlanders Trail, fans of the show will recognise the town square from the opening episode of the series. This location is more unusual in so much as the palace is adjacent to the town of Falkland itself. It is right of the main street in as you go … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 66
Catch-up It’s been a busy few weeks. Work has been full-on and fitting writing around it has been challenging. I’ve left the structural edit of The Clockmaker Conspiracy alone for now while I am now in the swing of writing out the draft of a follow-up to The Canongate Containment. I’m effectively doing NaNoWriMo in … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 65
Poetry It struck me the other day that I haven’t blogged about poetry. Looking at my book shelves I have a number of individual collections and anthologies which I dip into on a regular basis. Being Scottish, I was brought up with Robert Burns and had to learn by heart a number of his poems. … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 64
Doune Castle I revisited Doune Castle at the beginning of September. Those who are fans of the Outlander series, will know this was used for the fictional Castle Leoch, where Colum MacKenzie and his clan lived. As always I took a great many photographs, despite having done so on previous occasions. If you have watched … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 63
The Fiction Factory 