Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: A Few Happy Memories from My Life Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. It's Wednesday, which means it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you want to join in the challenge, you can find the topics for 2026 here, and if you'd like to read other people's responses to this week's topic, you can find them here. A Few Happy Memories from My Life At the ancient old age of 39 (40 in July!) I’ve had quite the turbulent life, pockmarked by trauma, grief and mental illness and for a long time, I believed I would never be happy.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: A Few Happy Memories from My Life
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The Role of Dreams in Writing Fiction Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m examining the role that dreaming can play in our stories. The Role of Dreams in Writing Fiction Ever woken up after a vivid dream and thought, “That would make an amazing story”? I know I have. Dreams are strange and wonderful things. They are fragments of our imagination, stitched together seemingly at random—yet sometimes they feel so profound they leave you questioning reality. For writers, dreams can be a treasure trove of inspiration, offering glimpses into worlds we couldn’t consciously create.

The Role of Dreams in Writing Fiction
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Book Review: Liebestrasse by Greg Lockard, Tim Fish and Héctor Barros Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. This week, I am reviewing the graphic novel Liebestrasse by Greg Lockard, Tim Fish, and Héctor Barros. Click the image to find the book Liebestrasse was published in 2019 by Comixology (online) and Dark Horse (paperback) and is 98 pages long. The PlotSet in two timelines, 1932 and 1952 Berlin, the novel begins with Sam Wells, an American banker, who returns to Germany in search of love and closure. Flashing back to his first trip, we meet a young, ambitious Sam navigating Weimar, Berlin’s vibrant gay scene, where he meets Philip Adler, a charismatic German art critic.

Book Review: Liebestrasse by Greg Lockard, Tim Fish and Hector Barros
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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: My Unusual Hobbies/Interests Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for the next post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge, you can find the topics for 2025 here, and if you'd like to read other people's responses to this week's topic, you can find them here. My Unusual Hobbies/Interests Reading About The TitanicOne of my favourite hobbies is reading about and/or watching documentaries about the sinking of the RMS Titanic…

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: My Unusual Hobbies/Interests
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Dreamkeepers Hi everyone! I hope you're all well.  I'm sharing another poem with you today, and I hope you enjoy it! Dreamkeepers Itty bitty firefliesDancing through the night,Lighting paths through shadowed woodsWith greenish-yellow light. As whispers drift on midnight air,Powered by silver moonbeams,Each tiny glowing fireflyCarries our quiet dreams. Drifting soft on summer winds,As the wistful-hearted roam,You flicker gently through the trees—To guide the dreamers home. Thank you, as ever, for reading my words! Until next time, George © 2026 GLT

Dreamkeepers - A Poem
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Book Review: The Haunted: One Family’s Nightmare by Robert Curran Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it's time for another review. Today I'm sharing my review of Robert Curran’s The Haunted One Family’s Nightmare. Click the image to find the book The Haunted: One Family’s Nightmare was published in 1988 by St. Martin’s Press and is 275 pages long. What It’s AboutThe book recounts the alleged 'true' account of one of the more infamous hauntings in the United States, taking place in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, in a 92-year-old duplex inhabited by the Smurl family.

Book Review: The Haunted: One Family’s Nightmare by Robert Curran
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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: What Were You Like as a Child? Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge, you can find the topics for 2026 here. If you'd like to read other people's responses to this week's topic, you can find them here. What Were You Like as a Child? As a child, I’m pretty sure that, as far as the adults were concerned, I was annoying. I was very precocious.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: What Were You Like as a Child?
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Using Time Jumps in Fiction: Part 2 Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m continuing and concluding my exploration of time jumps, which I began last week. In today's post, I’m focusing on how you can write time jumps effectively. So let’s jump in! Using Time Jumps in Fiction: Part 2 As I discussed in the previous post, time jumps are one of the juiciest storytelling tools in a writer’s arsenal. However, as tempting as they are, using them effectively is a craft that takes careful thought. Have you ever found yourself flipping through the pages of a book, only to be catapulted years ahead without a moment to process?

Using Time Jumps in Fiction: Part 2
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Book Review: The Boys: Deeper and Deeper by Matt Berns Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. This week, I’m reviewing The Boys: Deeper and Deeper by Matt Berns, which is another audiobook... thing. Click the image to find the audiobook The Boys: Deeper and Deeper is an original released by Audible in 2022 and is 1 hour and 10 minutes long. The PlotDeeper and Deeper is presented as a podcast hosted by Hailey Miller and featuring Kevin “The Deep” Moskowitz, as he promotes his memoir Deeper. In this satirical interview format, The Deep discusses his traumatic childhood growing up with gills, his rise (and fall) in The Seven, and the fallout of joining and escaping the cultish Church of the Collective with his wife Cassandra.

Book Review: The Boys: Deeper and Deeper by Matt Berns
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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Favourite Book Blogs and/or Book Bloggers Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for the next post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you want to join in the challenge, you can find the topics for 2026 here, and if you'd like to read other people's responses to this week's topic, you can find them here. Favourite Book Blogs and/or Book Bloggers A Life in BooksA Life In Books is a wonderful website that offers brilliant reviews. The site is run by Susan, who has spent most of her working life in the “book world”, having written for magazines and been a bookseller.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Favourite Book Blogs and/or Book Bloggers
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Using Time Jumps in Fiction: Part 1 Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m exploring time jumps in fiction. Like the previous post about flashbacks, I’ll look at what time jumps are, and why we use them, and then in part 2, next week, I’ll share some tips on how to write them effectively, as well as a few examples of books in which time jumps have been handled brilliantly. So without further preamble from me, here is: Using Time Jumps in Fiction Time jumps, when used skillfully, can breathe life into storytelling, offering unique perspectives and helping narratives progress quicker, and even injecting an element of intrigue that keeps readers…

Using Time Jumps in Fiction: Part 1
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Book Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8: Volume 1: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon, Georges Jeanty, Andy Owens and Dave Stewart Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it's time for another review. This week, I am sharing my review of the first volume of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, the continuation of the TV series. Click the image to find the book Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight: Volume One was published in October 2007 by Dark Horse Comics and is 136 pages long. The PlotThe story picks up a little while after the end of the final episode of the television show, with…

Book Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8: Volume 1: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon, Georges Jeanty, Andy Owens and Dave Stewart
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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: A Genre I Want to Read More of This Year Hi everyone! I hope you're all well! It's time for post number 12 in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you want to join in the challenge, you can find this year's list of topics here, and if you'd like to read other people's responses to this week's topic, you can do that here. A Genre I Want to Read More of This Year I read in a wide variety of genres, and sometimes, I’ll get stuck on one genre for a while, then spend a lot of time reading another.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: A Genre I Want to Read More of This Year
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Using Flashbacks in Fiction Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today I’m exploring flashbacks: what they are, why they are used and how you can use them in your stories. Using Flashbacks in Fiction Flashbacks have long been a storytelling device that adds depth, complexity, and surprising insight into characters and plots. From classic literature to binge-worthy TV dramas, flashbacks are everywhere. But along with being narratively compelling, flashbacks can sometimes come with challenges. So how do you craft flashbacks that enhance your story rather than derail it? Let’s explore! What Are Flashbacks…

Using Flashbacks in Fiction
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Book Review: A Short History of the World in 50 Lies by Natasha Tidd Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of A Short History of the World in 50 Lies by Natasha Tidd. Click the image to find the book A Short History of the World in 50 Lies was initially published in 2023 by Michael O'Mara Books and is 288 pages long. What its AboutA Short History of the World in 50 Lies is a concise yet powerful nonfiction exploration of how falsehoods—whether propaganda, forgeries, cover-ups, or personal deceptions—have shaped world history.

Book Review: A Short History of the World in 50 Lies by Natasha Tidd
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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Audiobooks I’ve Enjoyed Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, so it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you want to join in the challenge, you can find the list of Weekly topics here, and if you'd like to read other people's responses to this week's topic, you can do that here. Audiobooks I've Enjoyed This Much is True by Miriam MargolyesIf you’ve never heard of Miriam Margolyes, then you have been missing out. She’s an actress, writer and voiceover artist known for her many roles in radio, film, TV, and on stage—although most will probably know her for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Audiobooks I've Enjoyed
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5 More Common Types of Character Endings Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. This week, I’m continuing my exploration of character endings. As I talked about last week, stories are ultimately about people—real or imagined—facing challenges, making choices, and changing along the way. But just as our stories need endings, so do the characters who inhabit them. The way a character’s journey concludes can shape how readers remember your entire narrative, and that’s what we want! So, let’s jump back in with: 5 More Common Types of Character Endings 1 The Redemptive EndingA redemptive ending sees a character who has made mistakes or caused harm find forgiveness, atonement, or inner peace—sometimes even in the face of loss or tragedy.

5 More Common Types of Character Endings
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Book Review: You Know I’m Here by Jon Raider Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, which means it’s time for another review. This week, I’m sharing my review of Jon Raider’s sweet picture book, You Know I'm Here. Click the image to find the book You Know I'm Here was initially published by Garden Wolf Publishing House on May 17, 2025, and is 47 pages long. The PlotYou Know I’m Here presents a poignant poem written from the perspective of a mother who has passed away. It gently reassures a grieving child that their loved one is still near, present in their thoughts, memories, and heart, as they move forward in their lives.

Book Review: You Know I'm Here by Jon Raider
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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Books About My Favourite Topic Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. It's Wednesday, and time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to take part in the challenge yourself, you can find this year's list of weekly topics here, and if you'd like to read what others have written about today's topic, you can do that here! Books About My Favourite Topic My favourite topic to read about lately is writing, and I have so many favourite books about writing that I’d be here for days listing them.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Books About My Favourite Topic
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5 Common Types of Character Endings Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m delving a little deeper into the subject of endings and, in particular, character endings. When we speak about story endings, we often focus on the plot—who won, what was resolved, and what questions were answered. But just as crucial (if not more so) is how a character’s journey ends. A powerful character ending can make a story unforgettable, showing how a person has grown, changed, failed, or triumphed. Whether you’re writing fiction or analysing it, understanding the different types of character endings can help you create or recognise endings that resonate.

5 Common Types of Character Endings
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Book Review: George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of Roald Dahl’s classic children's novel, George’s Marvellous Medicine. Click the image to find the book George’s Marvellous Medicine was published in 1981 by Puffin Books and is 96 pages long. The PlotGeorge, tired of his grandma’s constant nagging, grumpy mood and mean-spirited comments, decides to make his own medicine to replace the one she takes regularly. His concoction, made from an outrageous blend of household items that range from shampoo to animal pills, sets off a series of fantastical events, transforming Grandma in unexpected and hilarious ways.

Book Review: George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl
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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Fictional Things I’m Glad are NOT Real Hi everyone, I hope you're all well! It's time for post 9 in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you're interested in participating in the challenge yourself, you can find this year's list of topics here. If you'd like to read what others have written on today's topic, you can do so here. Fictional Things I'm Glad are NOT Real Oh wow, where do I begin with this one… Death RaysWell, this one is a no-brainer. Who wants to be shot by one of these?

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Fictional Things I'm Glad are NOT Real
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One More Glass of Wine Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. I’m sharing another poem today. I hope you enjoy it. One More Glass of Wine One more glass of wine should do it—Erase the whole day away.I have nothing left to offer;I've nothing more to say. The ruby liquid soothes the soul,Deleting memories stored,Of all the glasses I’ve consumed—All the bottles poured. When sober thoughts come crashing in,To remind me of my need—I pour a drink to numb the stingAnd sip until I’m freed. Thank you, as ever, for reading my words. Until next time, George © 2026 GLT

One More Glass of Wine - A Poem
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Book Review: Darkness Walks: The Shadow People Among Us by Jason Offutt Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. This week, I’m sharing my review of Jason Offutt’s non-fiction book Darkness Walks: The Shadow People Among Us. Click the image to find the book Darkness Walks: The Shadow People Among Us was published in 2010 by Anomalist Books and is 200 pages long. What’s it AboutDarkness Walks explores the eerie and enigmatic phenomenon of "Shadow People" — dark, humanoid silhouettes that reportedly appear in peripheral vision, in the corners of rooms, or during…

Book Review: Darkness Walks: The Shadow People Among Us by Jason Offutt
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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Fictional Things I Wish Were Real Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you want to join in, you can find the topics for 2026 here. If you'd like to know what others have had to say about today's topic, click here. Fictional Things I Wish Were Real The Tardis From Doctor WhoThe Tardis from the science fiction TV series Doctor Who is a time and space machine that can travel to any place and any time.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Fictional Things I Wish Were Real
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Subplots Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m exploring the topic of subplots, specifically, what they are and how they can help you write an entertaining and compelling story that will grip your readers. Subplots When you write a story, the primary plot naturally receives the majority of the attention. But subplots are the secret spice that can turn a solid narrative into something layered and unforgettable. Done correctly, a subplot adds contrast and texture to your story world. But what exactly is a subplot, and what kinds are there?

Subplots
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Book Review: Birdie’s Picnic Party: A Tasty Take on Food Safety by Jessica McAnelly Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it's time for another review. This week, I’m sharing my review of Jessica McAnelly’s Birdie’s Picnic Party: A Tasty Take on Food Safety. Click the image to find the book Birdie’s Picnic Party was independently published in August 2025 and is 24 pages long. The PlotThe book follows Birdie, a cheerful bluebird, who plans a picnic with her forest friends. CharactersBirdie the bluebirdBirdie is a bluebird and is the warm, friendly leader of the group. She isn’t just hosting a picnic here; she's teaching safe habits and encouraging her friends with gentle humour and enthusiasm.

Book Review: Birdie’s Picnic Party: A Tasty Take on Food Safety by Jessica McAnelly
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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Song Lyrics that Made me Cringe Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well! Today is post number seven in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to take part in the challenge, you can find the list of topics for 2026 here. If you want to read about how others have responded to today's topic, you can do so here. Song Lyrics that Made me Cringe Firework by Katy PerryI actually like this song, but there's one line that always makes me cringe:"Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?”

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Song Lyrics that Made me Cringe
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Critic Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. I’m sharing another poem with you today. I hope you enjoy it! Critic Why do you not like me?Why are you always mean?Why do you nitpick and criticise?Why’s it always this routine? Why do you say such awful things?Why can't you let me be?Why can’t you let me sleep at night?Why do you nag at me? Why do not you let me heal?Why can’t I breathe without your blame?Why do you plague my quiet times?

Critic - A Poem
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Book Review: The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m reviewing Eva Ibbotson'snovel The Secret of Platform 13. Click the image to find the book The book was initially published in 1994. It is 162 pages long (at least that's how many my ebook copy has). The PlotThe plot centres on a disused platform at King’s Cross in London. Every nine years, a secret doorway, known as “the gump,” opens for nine days, connecting the mundane world to a magical island inhabited by mermaids, ogres, wizards, and other fantastical creatures.

Book Review: The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson
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