Author Archives: tthurai

The Baker’s Missing Breeches

Posted on February 2, 2021 by tthurai

When a Folkestone baker fell foul of a confidence trickster it was not so much a case of the wrong trousers as the missing ones! But what really happened … and who was telling the truth? Fascinating, dangerous and dirty, … Continue reading →

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Desk Envy: Why Writers Get Jealous

Posted on July 13, 2020 by tthurai

Do you suffer from ‘desk envy’? I experienced it recently after reading a series of author interviews. In each article, the worthy scribe described their favourite writing venue. For instance: “I sit by my pool in the Algarve with a … Continue reading →

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Plague, Periwigs and Peccadilloes: the Diary of Samuel Pepys

Posted on December 9, 2019 by tthurai

Although diaries can be traced back to antiquity, the 17th century witnessed the real flowering of the diarist’s art. Following the Civil War and the Restoration of King Charles II, a new philosophical movement emerged: the Age of Enlightenment also … Continue reading →

Posted in 17th century, Diarists, History, John Evelyn, Lady Castlemaine, Plague, Raid on the Medway, Samuel Pepys, The Great Fire of London | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Diaries: a Treasure Trove

Posted on October 31, 2019 by tthurai

I recently gave a workshop during Canterbury Festival on diaries and how they can help writers as sources of both inspiration and research. If you are thinking of writing fiction in the first person, a diary could provide a convenient … Continue reading →

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10 Tips for Survival in the Swimming Pool

Posted on July 10, 2019 by tthurai

Anyone who has considered taking up swimming for purposes of relaxation should forget it. In my opinion, swimming in a communal pool carries a level of stress equivalent to that of a fighter-pilot in battle mode. Forget those banal signs … Continue reading →

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6 Top Tips: How to Stay Calm When Editing

Posted on April 29, 2019 by tthurai

Editing is a well-kept secret – or maybe the skeleton in the cupboard – depending on your view of it. Yet it plays a critical role in whether your book, article or thesis is outstanding or simply average. Having been … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Editing, Editing tips, Fiction, History, self-publishing, The Devil Dancers, women self-publishers, women writers, World War 2, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

For want of an egg … the birth of an un-domestic goddess

Posted on December 2, 2018 by tthurai

Arguments break out over the strangest things. I once heard a famous actress describing how a domestic row had been sparked off by a milk bottle. A milk bottle? Well, I can do better. My trigger was an egg. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 12 days of Christmas, bread pudding, Christmas, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, cookery, cooking, Food, Humour, mince pies, Nigella, Relationships, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Writer’s Stop! 10 tips for getting back in the saddle

Posted on September 10, 2018 by tthurai

We hear a lot about Writer’s Block but never about Writer’s Stop. In my view, you’re far more likely to experience a Stop than a Block to your literary endeavours. Just about anything can constitute a Stop. Illness, bereavement, looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Editing, Editing tips, Motivation, women self-publishers, women writers, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stop Press! 10 Top Tips for Writing Press Releases

Posted on April 20, 2018 by tthurai

Got news? If you want to announce something to the world – for example, a new product or an event – then you need to get your story out there. But how? Even in the age of social media, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Barley Bread and Cheese, The Devil Dancers, women writers, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Slobs vs Workaholics: 10 Resolutions for the New Year

Posted on January 1, 2018 by tthurai

It doesn’t matter which category you fall into. Somewhere out there is a resolution that you can keep. The problem for most of us is that many resolutions are of long duration and require a good deal of effort. For that … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018, Archaeology, Christmas, Courses, Crosswords, Culture, exercise, Festivals, Fiction, finances, Food, ghost stories, History, IT, Languages, Learning, MOOC, Movies, New Year, Painting, Pottery, Resolutions, Short stories, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment