Research: Building a Fantasy/Alternative World

My current work in progress is a speculative fiction novel about a twinned Earth, which took an alternative religious path to our own. What are the essential ingredients that made up the best fantasy world? Asking this question on several platforms and will blog my findings at a later date. Thanks everyone!

Writer’s Block and the Post Office

A friend gave me details for a competition. It was for new writers published in 2019. The winner's book is purchased in bulk by certain UK public libraries. That sounded perfect for me because my first novel was published in paperback this year. The submission date was the following day, so a fast turnaround was … Continue reading Writer’s Block and the Post Office

How Dare They!

Be warned: your characters will start making their own relationships with your friends and family. When I published my book: The Seed of the Violet Tree: A Science Fiction Mystery, I expected, of course, that readers would bring their own perspectives to it. They would utilise their personal histories, experiences and insights to reach unique … Continue reading How Dare They!

Collective Consciousness: Fact or Fiction?

  I'm blogging about how I'm reinventing myself, from a retired nurse into a contemporary sci-fi writer. More about me here. Today's blog is the fourth and last in the series. There are two parts. PART ONE follows my progress through the literary world. PART TWO discusses the concept of collective consciousness, one of the … Continue reading Collective Consciousness: Fact or Fiction?

A Novelist’s View on the Ethics and Governance Surrounding Artificial Superintelligence

I'm blogging about how and why I'm reinventing myself, from a retired nurse, into a contemporary sci-fi writer. More about me here. Today's blog is the third in the series and is in two parts. PART ONE provides an update on my progress through the literary world. PART TWO discusses the ethics surrounding the development … Continue reading A Novelist’s View on the Ethics and Governance Surrounding Artificial Superintelligence

The Tipping Point and a Sinister Turn of Events

The second of a series of blogs, in which I discuss Why I Felt Compelled to Write My Novel, The Seed of the Violet Tree: A Science Fiction Mystery [Amazon UK  Amazon.com. Amazon AU ]. The introduction to this series of blogs can be found here Whilst conducting background research for my novel I revisited a … Continue reading The Tipping Point and a Sinister Turn of Events

Why I Felt Compelled to Write My Novel: ‘The Seed of the Violet Tree: A Science Fiction Mystery’

Introduction This is the first of a series of blogs, exploring the emerging debate on Artificial Superintelligence (ASI).  Whilst researching my novel, 'The Seed of the Violet Tree', [Amazon UK Amazon.com Amazon AU], I had time to read, explore and contemplate the possibilities and risks superintelligence presents to humanity.  My interest began after reading Nick Bostrom’s, … Continue reading Why I Felt Compelled to Write My Novel: ‘The Seed of the Violet Tree: A Science Fiction Mystery’