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The Ka of Gifford Hillary and Dennis Wheatley: Stella arrives in Leighton Buzzard to steak and kidney pie, mash, and baked beans.

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I read The Ka of Gifford Hillary on the bus all the way to Leighton Buzzard. I'd spoken to Scott on the phone the night before and he was a chapter ahead of me, so I had some catching up to do. Just before I'd left the Leighton Buzzard house, a week ago, Scott and I had found two battered copies of the Dennis Wheatley book in one of the tall bookcases, and as neither of us had read it, we decided to make it a shared experience. Scott, apparently, was a massive Wheatley fan, and I'd never read any of his books before, so I was really looking forward to it.

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Donna Morfett interviewed me and we ended up having a great laugh…

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The delightful Donna Morfett recently interviewed me via Zoom. We had quite a giggle together as we chatted about my writing, favourite and influential authors, as well as my early life working in the Ministry of Defence in Germany, transferring later to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London; oh! and how I married a musician.
We chatted about my life in the international music business, working and living in SE Asia and America, and how my experiences have influenced my crime/mystery writing, women's fiction writing, and so much more.

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David Videcette: My Guest – former Counter Terrorist Detective turned Author: ‘I can’t tell you the truth, but I can tell you a story…’™

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Originally posted on Jane Risdon:
I am thrilled to welcome author David Videcette to my blog this week – Author – Media Commentator – Detective I think you are in for a treat as we discover more about his career in Counter Terrorism and his writing. You may well have seen him on TV and heard him on the Radio…

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St. Peter Port Guernsey, St. Helier, Jersey: The beginning of a Summer Adventure for Stella, or was it?

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The Sania stayed docked in St. Peter Port in Guernsey for hours, well, maybe just over an hour - but it was driving me insane with impatience. I leaned over the side and watched people coming and going. Oh, hurry up! How long did it take to get on and off a boat for heavens sake?!
Later:
I stood up, leaning over the rails, no longer feeling sick, just starring as Scott's island took shape. I could see rocks and flower-sprigged cliffs and little white sandy bays...and then , as The Sarnia slowed towards St. Helier, the imposing sight of Fort Regent high on its granite hill, towering into the sky. I practically jumped up and down with excited anticipation. I'd made it! I was in Jersey! Almost...

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Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Meet the Authors 2021 – #Memoir D.G. Kaye, #Thriller Iain Kelly, #Poetry Miriam Hurdle

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Originally posted on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine:
Over the summer I will be updating author’s details in the Cafe and Bookstore and also sharing their bios, books and recent reviews with you in this series… Meet D.G. Kaye Debby Gies is a Canadian nonfiction/memoir author who writes under the pen name of D.G. Kaye. She was born, raised, and resides in…

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Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 4th – 10th July 2021 – 1970s Music, Green Kitchen, Poetry, Short Stories, Book Reviews, Children’s Books, Health and Humour

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Originally posted on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine:
Welcome to the round up of posts you might have missed during the week. I hope you are all well.. as in the UK, Covid cases are on the increase here as expected, although they have been quite strict about non-essential travel. That all changes later in July and thousands of Irish families are…

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Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Meet the Authors 2021 – #Poetry Balroop Singh, #Shortstories #Crime Jane Risdon, #Thriller Gwen M. Plano

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Originally posted on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine:
Over the summer I will be updating author’s details in the Cafe and Bookstore and also sharing their bios, books and recent reviews with you in this series… Meet Balroop Singh Balroop Singh, an educator, a poet and an author always had a passion for writing. She would jot down her reflections on a…

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Spring and Summer photos with my phone camera.

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I spent a lovely day at The Vyne, which is a 16th century Tudor mansion which has been added to over the years by members of the Chute family. It is now owned by the National Trust and is situated in Sherbourne St John, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 9HL. It was built for Lord Sandys, Henry V111's Lord Chamberlain. Various owners of the house have been obliged to take the name Chute in order to benefit from various wills throughout the centuries. Photos on my blog. Jane Risdon

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