Author Archives: tthurai

Self-Publishing: what I learned from the gurus

Posted on May 26, 2016 by tthurai

Self-publishing has come of age. According to one respected academic, it is now just another arm of the publishing industry. This is one of the inspiring messages that I brought away from the recent Matador self-publishing conference. In this third blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, conferences, publishing, self-publishing, women self-publishers, women writers, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Self-Publishing: 7 ways to get the most from a conference

Posted on May 19, 2016 by tthurai

Having recently attended Matador’s conference on self-publishing, I thought it would be useful to jot down a list of essentials to help you to get the most from a conference whatever the topic. Prep your questions in advance. Why are … Continue reading →

Posted in book festivals, Books, Ceylon, conferences, Copyright, Fiction, History, publishing, self-publishing, The Devil Dancers, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Self-publishing? Take a tip from Leicester

Posted on May 12, 2016 by tthurai

On the same day that Leicester celebrated its Premier League win, the city also hosted Matador’s annual self-publishing conference. A tenuous connection? Perhaps. But there are similarities between the trials of the football team and the tribulations of the self-publisher. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, publishing, self-publishing, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Canterbury Tale: sudden death and a hint of poison

Posted on March 19, 2016 by tthurai

At the east end of Canterbury Cathedral is a mysterious tomb. Placed awkwardly between two pillars, it lies in one of the Cathedral’s most prestigious burial sites, the Trinity Chapel, formerly the location of Becket’s shrine. This unadorned tomb is … Continue reading →

Posted in Canterbury, Cathedrals, Exiles, History, Huguenots, Odet de Coligny | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Devil’s Advocate? Witches vs The Law

Posted on October 28, 2015 by tthurai

What images are conjured up by the word ‘witch’? Hags silhouetted against the night-sky performing aerial acrobatics on broomsticks or brewing strange potions in a cauldron? Strange old ladies accompanied by black cats? Or children with black pointed hats and … Continue reading →

Posted in Canterbury, Cathedrals, History, Law, Myth, Witches | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Procrastination? 10 Ways to Spot the Signs

Posted on March 3, 2015 by tthurai

I confess. I’ve been avoiding it. Returning to the section of my novel which I put aside a couple of years ago and to which I must return if I am going to finish the book. Why has this taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing Advice, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Venice’s Palazzi: Jewels of the Grand Canal

Posted on February 23, 2015 by tthurai

Beyond the Bridge of Sighs! The Ponte della Paglia is often crowded At Carnival and in summer, Venice is submerged. But not by the green waters of the lagoon. St Mark’s Square, the Rialto and the main shopping streets are … Continue reading →

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Murder, Martyrdom and the Quest for Bones

Posted on December 29, 2014 by tthurai

As the sun was setting late in December, four armed men strode through the Cathedral precincts determined to arrest one of the country’s most powerful men – or, at least, teach him a lesson. They had probably been drinking and … Continue reading →

Posted in Canterbury, Cathedrals, History, King Henry II, Plantagenets, Rochester, St Thomas Becket, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Independence to Exile: The Extraordinary Story of Sir Oliver Goonetilleke (Part 3)

Posted on December 8, 2014 by tthurai

Life in Exile Nine years of researching the background to my novel The Devil Dancers introduced me to some fascinating historical characters. One of the most remarkable was Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, one of the key architects of Ceylon’s Independence and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceylon, Exiles, History, Independence, Sir John Kotelawala, Sri Lanka | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Independence to Exile: The Extraordinary Story of Sir Oliver Goonetilleke (Part 2)

Posted on December 8, 2014 by tthurai

From Dawn to Dusk Nine years of researching the background to my novel The Devil Dancers introduced me to some fascinating historical characters. One of the most remarkable was Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, one of the key architects of Ceylon’s Independence … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceylon, History, Independence, Sir John Kotelawala, Sri Lanka | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment