Author Archives: susan

I’ve been doing some research into London in the mid-1950’s; this is where my stash of old books, maps, catalogues, guides and magazines comes in handy. The more down-market women’s mags – Woman’s Own, Woman’s Realm, Woman’s Mirror, Woman’s Day … Continue reading →

I have come to think of the crime novel as the perfect form of the novel: a distillation of decades, of centuries of literary entertainment and enlightenment. That distillation, that dynamism continues naturally and vitally. It’s for you as a … Continue reading →

I’ve just been on a 3-day writer’s retreat with Meg Dunley – writer, editor, creativity coach and all-round amazing woman – in beautiful, green, cool Kinglake. A workshop each day, a one-on-one coaching session, readings and group chats every night. … Continue reading →

This was a very random pick from the library shelves; I was intrigued by the idea of a series of letters between two different parts of the one self. Peter Quarry is an Australian psychologist, entrepreneur, designer, TV personality, portrait … Continue reading →

Looking around the hall at choir this week, I saw over 40 people singing with joy and energy and purpose, preparing for a performance at the Castlemaine State Festival later in March. I’m a new member – it was only … Continue reading →

Another Allingham, Dancers in Mourning. Singers and dancers are rehearsing a new show at the country house of the star, his wife and their little daughter. Larger-than-life personalities and egos, tangled relationships and jealousies, lead to pranks that turn to … Continue reading →

I am on a roll with these British ladies of crime. My latest discovery is Gladys Mitchell (1901-1983). From 1921 to 1961 she worked full-time as a teacher…and also wrote over 66 Mrs Bradley mysteries. Even more than Agatha Christie! … Continue reading →

More Allingham, more hot-weather reading pleasure. Mystery Mile (1930) is the second book featuring Albert Campion. In it we see an American judge arrive in England to escape repeated attempts on his life. Campion finds a safe haven for him … Continue reading →

Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight. Red sky at morning, shepherd’s warning… The camera in my phone can’t quite capture what the sky looked like at dawn on Wednesday last. It was really red, and quite ominous; the day was … Continue reading →

After a brief visit with two of the lesser-known (lesser-known today, I mean; they were famous in their time) female authors of the so-called Golden Age of Detective Fiction, I am back to familiar territory with the so-called Queens of … Continue reading →