Book review: Spare Brides by Adele Parks
From the blurb: Damaged and beautiful, they were the generation who lost so much and became ‘spare brides’. The richly compelling and emotional new novel
From the blurb: Damaged and beautiful, they were the generation who lost so much and became ‘spare brides’. The richly compelling and emotional new novel
‘Life,’ said Italian director Federico Fellini, ‘is a combination of magic and pasta.’ To all the countries Italians have emigrated, they have brought with them
Researching my novel The Echoes of Love wasn’t remotely a chore for me, it was a pleasure, especially when it came to reading up on
Venice is a city of waterways and, consequently, a city of bridges. Did you know that there are more than 400 bridges in the city,
I came across a mention of this book in the latest edition of Mslexia magazine, and was intrigued. Literary cocktails? Marrying the joy of literature
Picture the scene: You’re wandering through the Dorsoduro district of Venice on a spring evening, hand in hand with a loved one. You come to
In the course of my research for my novel The Echoes of Love I researched Venetian history in detail. I was especially interested in the
As the O’Jays eloquently put it in their 1970s disco song: ‘I love music.’ And though I’m not sure I can stretch so far as
A must-read for anyone who loves The Phantom of the Opera… Having been a keen ballerina in my youth, and ever since a regular visitor
Authors are often, by nature, solitary sorts. We have to be in order to carry out the work of writing – many hours alone in
Music is a great source of inspiration to me, whether classical or modern, and in any language. I have a huge repertoire of songs from
Here are the answers to the coffee quiz. How did you do? 1. What is the origin of the word ‘mocha’? c) A seaport in
Italians love coffee: fact. Most drink it as if it were water, and to be an Italian who does not partake is to be something
Back when I published my first novel, Burning Embers, I wrote a post in which I analysed how the manuscript broke down in terms of
I’m delighted to share a clipping from today’s Sun newspaper, in which The Echoes of Love is featured alongside some great romantic reads as a
No doubt you’ve come across biscotti in your local coffee house – crunchy, dry almond Italian biscuits that are ideal for dunking into a cappuccino.
The perfect film for me because it includes: a) Beautiful scenery – this is the kind of film you’ll watch over and over for the
When I first visited Tuscany I fell in love. So much so that when I was writing The Echoes of Love, whose action opens in
From the blurb: A wedding guest from her past… After a rocky year, Casey Caravetta pulls herself together and puts on a smile for her
When I say ‘a writer writing’ to you, what image flits into your mind? You may see a person bashing away at a typewriter, or
John Ruskin (1819–1900) was a man of many passions: an art critic, a patron, a draughtsman, a painter, a philanthropist and a reformer. And he
Here’s a wonderful book for anyone who, like me, is fascinated by Venice’s rich literary history. I especially loved the walking tours outlined in the
Coffee is wonderfully complementary to the pursuits of reading and writing for the energy and comfort and socialisation it affords. So it’s little surprise that
This week I am dedicating my blog posts to the theme of ‘Literary Venice’. Recently I blogged about Lady Caroline Blanche Lindsay, ‘the epitome of
Venice is a city composed of no less than 118 small islands, and most have their own unique history and feel. Such an abundance of
Regular readers of my blog will have spotted a common theme in the sources of my inspiration: Colour! And that is, for me, a key
From the blurb: The Whispering Wind is a moving story of two lovers, set on the beautiful island of Sardinia, where Elise goes on holiday
It’s here again, the best day of the year for any romantic like me: Valentine’s Day! A day for casting off all vestiges of the
Lest we modern writers forget, there was a time when female writers faced a good deal of prejudice when it came to being taken seriously
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