Good morning Blue Sky

Evening swim. The shadows are starting to lengthen now by 5pm. Water temp 62F. #Dorset #dorsetUK #wildswimming #EnglishChannel ##jurassiccoast

I'm so sick of him. And him. And the other one.

What a soul we have lost. God bless her

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 235: Stop equating wealth and fame with your value as a writer. Some of the writers we now admire were unknown in their lifetimes; just as many once-bestselling writers are now forgotten and unread. Making good art is not the same as making good money.

It’s time to post this quote again… “The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.” ― James Baldwin

Everyone likes a bubble bath #caturday

Next year marks my 40th as a published author. Where did the years go? I wrote through the breakdown of two marriages, the deaths of my parents and brother, the growing-up years of my daughter, the birth of my granddaughter, several health scares and 8 house moves. A time map of change, in 20 books.

Dahlias rescued from #StormAmy

My Dad and my daughter, 36 years ago. I wish I could see him again just for an hour. I have so much to ask him. #father #grief

The delicate magic of an ox-eye daisy

A tad breezy on the Dorset coast today.

“It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.” Jane Goodall

Please PLEASE if you love a book, leave a review or just a nice star rating. If you hated a book, pass gently on by and resist the urge to crush the poor bloody soul who poured their best, their hopes, their dreams and themselves into it for months, if not years . Thank you. #bookreviews #books

Fantastic sunrise today

I try to focus this account so it's for my readers, but hey writers: NEVER sign a contract where the publisher keeps your rights indefinitely. For short stories, there should be a point when you can sell reprints. and NEVER sign your movie/TV/etc adaptation rights to a publisher. Those are yours.

When you sell a man a book you don't sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book. -Christopher Morley

'Nana swimming in the sea'.

René Magritte at work in his living room in 1964

#cerneabbas #dorsetUK

One of the narrow roads in the tiny hilltop village of Saint Paul de Vence in France. #Photography #BlueSkyArtShow #TheRoad #EastCoastKin

At the southern edge of Dorchester (DVRNOVARIA) in #Dorset lies Maumbury Rings, a #Roman amphitheatre, constructed from the remains of a late #Neolithic henge Built around 2400 BC, the henge was older to the Romans than the Romans are to us 🤯 📷 Sept 2025 #RomanSiteSaturday (also #HengeWednesday)

William Faulkner - born 128yrs ago today.

I've no idea why blue-sky has suddenly decided I need to see men doing gym routines, or random profiles asking if I like petite ladies -but just to be clear, I don't.

'Don't tell me she's done a good job, Sheila. Just don't.'

This is a significant spot to me. A couple of remembered moments here that summed up a miserable few years. I sat here today thinking, 'I survived it all.' So to all women stuck in abusive relationships right now - it IS possible. It IS. My hand in your hand. You can do it.

I'm so sick of him. And him. And the other one.

Afternoon light ##ThorncombeWoods ##dorsetUK

I keep thinking of the #chefs at the top of their profession who toiled to feed 150 people at the #statebanquet (at huge expense to the British taxpayer)only to have their work dismissed as 'whatever the hell that was'.

Walking out from shadows into the low blaze of sunset along the street, I see a car at the top of the hill. A white e type Jag. The driver slows, smiles and waves before driving off. I'm standing on the road, shading my eyes and wondering if I just saw a dream of the past.

A bit of James Baldwin today: "I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain"

“Fred Brown is a sand artist. He's recreated the latest piece of Banksy's art on the beach at Scarborough.”

Two hedgehogs in the garden. Boy can they scoot along when they want to ! I think maybe all the digging I did today has attracted them - freshly turned soil must smell tantalising! #hedgehogs #garden #gardening

“What is needed is the right to print what one believes to be true, without having to fear bullying or blackmail from any side” and “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear” George Orwell

He's coming for you. 2 months and counting #thetigerstripedboybyElizabethCooke

"In a forest of a hundred thousand trees, no two leaves are alike. And no two journeys along the same path are alike." -Paulo Coelho

Large spider in bedroom. I mean LARGE Went down to get the spider catcher and now the THING has disappeared. Looked everywhere. I know he's under the bed. Only explanation. Sleepless night ahead........

He's coming for you. 2 months and counting #thetigerstripedboybyElizabethCooke

First flight #aircraft #holiday

Since many of us are cancelling streaming services, now might also be a good time to support writers and artists. Times are extremely tough for creatives, so why not buy a book, commission an art piece, sign up for a Patreon, tip your favorite creators. Everything helps.

Dawn swim. Glorious. #weymouth ##dorsetUK #beachlife #englishchannel #wildwaterswimming

Just occasionally someone gives you a helping hand. Two kind people came to my (technology panic) rescue today. Thank you, angels. Kindness matters. It makes a difference. #lendahand #helpinghand #kindnessmatters

In London, hate will never win.

I signed up for a musical theatre dance class today

“You are not too old and it is not too late to dive into your increasing depths where life calmly gives out its own secret.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke ❤️

Sunrise today

Over 2 BILLION copies of her books have been sold around the world making her the best-selling fiction writer of all time. Remembering extraordinary, the pioneering AGATHA CHRISTIE - born 135yrs ago today.