Venice. A delight for individual shops. Here's Shanti Daan down a narrow Calle. Hand made Italian designs & clothing (among other things). Stefano & his cat Ravi. (Stefano studied sitar with Ravi Shankar) When in Venice & your wife's birthday looms make sure your credit card is fully loaded.

I'm researching my next book in Italy and I see there's a fuss at home about the English flag. In Verona's Castlevecchio art gallery is the Resurrection of Christ, Jacapo da Valenza 1478-1509. Now, I know it's said 'God is an Englishman' but this suggests it might run in the family. Just saying.

In Venice for 2 weeks researching novel due next year (The Knife Maker of Venice). Always fun to find something new (to me at least). Saturday market in Campo S. Maurizio is wonderful. And in Museo Carrer good to see Venetian resident & author @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social propped up nicely.

It's not long now...here's @davidhewson.com to tell you all about this year's Venice Noir!

The full paperback cover of The Four Deadly Seasons. Many thanks to @philipgwynnejones for the smashing quote.

Had a fab time chatting with the wild guys at Rock Paper Swords. Still trying to get the hang of how BlueSky works!

Something to make you think - from Robert Heinlein.

My next book 'in waiting' after the 9th Master of War - Rage of Swords - published this November, starts in Totnes and Dartmouth on the wonderful River Dart. And the Dartmouth Castle & its gun tower feature. What better way to approach a day's research than by boat.

Just doing some gardening and came across this beutiful insect. I think it's a Privat Hawk Moth - never seen one here before.

The glorious month of May. The sun is shining and the rhododendron blooms in the garden.

Always a pleasure to visit Coleton Fishacre, (South Devon) the home of the D'Oyly Carte family. Arts & Crafts house and stunning gardens down to the sea. Mewstone Rock in the distance. Spring is well and truly here.

Amazon UK have 'Defiant Unto Death' the second book in my Master of War series, on a Kindle deal for the month of May. www.amazon.co.uk/Defiant-Unto...

COVER REVEAL: RAGE OF SWORDS is the newest thrilling book in @davidgilman.bsky.social’s bestselling #MasterOfWar series.⚔️ Sir Thomas Blackstone must travel into enemy lands with a price on his head… Out 6th November from @headofzeus.bsky.social: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/rage...

Here's the cover for the next Master of War novel, the 9th in the series. Final edits being completed in May, so that always gives me a chance to nip and tuck. @headofzeus.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @blakefriedmann.bsky.social

When cars had a certain look. Here's a 1937 Mercedes Model 540K. 8 cylinder, 180hp, elegance and technology. The Nazi Party loved them.

Maidens’ Courtyard: King Pedro 1 palace, Seville. His use of Arab water garden elements into the Alcázar reflected an understanding for the way water could shape space and evoke emotions. A Christian King in the 14c embracing design that connected with centuries of Arab architectural traditon.

Something to lighten the mood. When cars had a certain panache. Allard 1949: M Drophead. 8cylinder 3,600cc.

Amazon, bless them, are keen for me to read a series called 'Master of War.' Here's a series I might like. They suggest I start with the first book in the series. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

Two years ago we bought a stump of a plant. It was meant to fill a ‘small’ space in front of the other bushes. The Broom has taken over. Nobody told me I was planting a monster. And it’s only supposed to flower in May. This was full on beginning of April.

Watching the chaos that's sweeping across the world make me feel as though I'm watching a blood sport. Like bullfighting. All that pain and suffering so that the bull market can be brought to its knees.

Just had a text message from Amazon asking if I was interested in reading adventure stories. They sent images and titles of all my books. That was thoughtful of them.

An early start to the day. I share breakfast time with a gathering of feathered friends. A collection of among others, Blackbirds, Long Tail Tits,Green and Goldfinches. Sprogs, Robins, Dunnock. Joy into my world.

This, in the domed ceiling of Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Malaga. (Iglesia del Sagredo Corazon de Jesus). There's always something to catch the eye in this lovely city.

Two weeks in Malaga and impressed with how well run the city is. Returned home to find residents in Plymouth were fighting to save the trees in their street. Why is it so many places seem to be better organized than here? In Japan, when a road goes through. They move the tree.

There's monthly UK Kindle deal on for April for my first book in the #MasterofWar series, named, appropriately, Master of War. www.amazon.co.uk/Master-War-B... @HoZ_Books @BlakeFriedmann

Here we come. Please watch venicenoir.com for more info... And thanks so much to our pals at Theakstons Harrogate Crime for their support! November 14 to 16 in Venice. Much more to come.

I hope it does some good. Thirty years ago while working in SAfrica I wrote a 4 part mini series 'Death in the Family' about the prevalence of family murders and the reasons behind them. It too was shown in all the schools. Sadly, I doubt it made any difference.

French newspaper Le Monde accuses Rome of giving in to mass tourism amid a "Disneyfication" of the historic centre.

And were also well represented throughout Europe. In France a woman could hold land Suo Jure - 'in one's own right.'

@davidhewson.bsky.social joins us this week to talk about moving from journalism into fiction, and how he knew he was ready to make the step across. Plus, we discuss writing adaptations, and why changes are needed as the format changes. Listen now: linktr.ee/ukpageone #Booksky #podcast #writing

High-speed train services between Milan and Paris will resume next week after a year and a half hiatus caused by a massive landslide.

Good Morning from a cheerful Devon. Slowly but surely the garden edges into the sunshine.

That's me out the picture then. My great grandparents came from Lake Como area and I had a fancy to retire next to the Clooneys as soon as that missing cheque is found.

From Malaga to Seville and back on a research trip. Malaga 25th Film Festival. This city is so well organized. (And clean!) @AlvaroMorte #ElProfesor among many others was in town. Remember Money Heist? Brilliant show.

From Malaga to Seville and back on a research trip. Malaga 25th Film Festival. This city is so well organized. (And clean!) @AlvaroMorte #ElProfesor among many others was in town. Remember Money Heist? Brilliant show.

I found this 1900 edition of Thomas Carlyle's book 'On Heroes &The Heroic in History.' in the local Oxfam charity shop. Very small print on the page so I'll need my extra strong reading glasses. Looks interesting.

A small taste of the Caravaggio blockbuster, hailed as one of the most important, ambitious exhibitions ever dedicated to the Baroque master, opening at Palazzo Barberini in Rome on Friday.

To Donald Trump, pleasing Vladimir Putin looks like it solves major geopolitical problems. But past experience shows that those who try, live to regret it.

Carpe Diem.

Ukraine's betrayal is now inevitable. What a sickening moment in our time. #slavaUkraini

US President Donald Trump's offer to rehouse white South Africans as refugees fleeing persecution may not spur quite the rush he anticipates, as even right-wing white lobby groups want to 'tackle the injustices' of Black majority rule on home soil reut.rs/4jUdjiz

Absolutely

Bit of a breeze this morning. And easterly at about 35 knots. Bitterly cold. But it makes some people happy. Good morning from South Devon coast.

We who depend on the quality of a good translator must support them. I urged my own publishers not to dilute their wonderful work by using AI. To paraphrase: "First they came for the translators, and I did not speak out because I was not a translator...then they came for..." You get the picture.

Heavy weather here today. Even the Padre and his pal crept in for shelter.