An Excerpt from The Wave by Lochlan Bloom

This striking black and white cover for The Wave by debut novelist Lochlan Bloom caught my attention--doesn't it make you want to find out more about the story?

The plot suggests an interesting mix of meta-fiction with a slightly dark edge and hints of David Lynch. After speaking to the author online, Lochlan sent me an excerpt from the opening of the book which appears below.

The Wave will be released next month by Dead Ink Books and is available to pre-order from: deadinkbooks.com/product/the-wave-by-lochlan-bloom/

Lochlan has completed recent projects for BBC Radio Scotland and written for Slant Magazine and Ironbox Films amongst others. He is the author of several pieces of short fiction including the novella Trade and The Open Cage.

The BBC Writersroom describes his writing as "unsettling and compelling… vivid, taut and grimly effective work," and he has written for Litro Magazine, Porcelain Film, EIU, H+ Magazine as well as Calliope, the official publication of the Writers’ Special Interest Group (SIG) of American Mensa.

He has attend the invitation only SCENEinsiders event at the Gothenberg Film Festival and currently has a feature length script in production with Porcelain Film. He has also taken part in workshops from the Publishing Training Centre and EdinburghMediabase.

Lochlan lives in London and does not have a cat or a dog.

For more details visit: http://lochlanbloom.com.

*

(from) The Wave

μ opened the front door and there it was. It struck him as unusual. There was never normally post for him – some bills perhaps – but even that was less now that he had moved flats.

He turned the envelope over, feeling its weight. The heavy-duty manila suggested its contents might be valuable. His name was written on the front in thick marker pen. Brightly coloured stamps and postmarks crowded together – wavy lines of red ink. One mark looked like it read: "Brasil" and another: "Airmail." μ didn’t know anyone in Brazil.

He pulled at the thick glue that held the envelope shut. Inside lay a sheaf of typed sheets. Names and descriptions of locations were interspersed with clips of dialogue, as if someone had been following people, noting down their actions. It made no sense. Had some confidential dossier been sent to him by mistake? He looked closer.

It appeared to be some sort of film script. He didn't read these sorts of things and he struggled to grasp the layout. Most of each page was white space, broken only by small regular clumps of text floating in the centre. Why had it been sent to him?

He leafed quickly through. Page after page was covered in light grey font reminiscent of old-fashioned manual typewriters. He ran his finger over one of the pages but it was smooth and appeared to have been printed rather than hand typed. Who would send him this? He checked the envelope again; it definitely looked like one of the stamps read "Brasil." There was no letter of explanation enclosed.

μ threw his bag on the couch and placed the script on the table, orbiting around it. The flat took up two floors of a draughty old building that had been half-heartedly renovated in order to rent out. The landlord was never there and his flatmates weren’t back by so he had the place to himself.

He flicked through the first few pages. What a disappointment! Twelve pages in and it was clear that this was no "Citizen Kane." Instead there was a confused story about a character named Ddunsel, who seemed to be the main suspect in a case involving several abductions, child molestation and murder. In several places graphic descriptions of his crimes were included. He seemed to be some sort of all-powerful psychopath. The action jumped around at random and the dialogue was uniformly poor. Who had sent him this drivel?

The few sections that contained anything approaching a decent plot were ill-thought-out and μ felt a dislike for the writing. There was no narrative line, only a haphazard collection of scenes, and it was obviously written by someone with little love of language.

Despite the clumsy phrasing, μ felt it was all written for a purpose, as if by some malevolent intelligence. He was in the middle of reading one repulsive section, describing the brutal rape and murder of a young boy by Ddunsel, when the sound of the front door made him jump.

They would all be returning for dinner. μ put the manuscript down and then, on impulse, covered it with a magazine. He had nothing to hide, but still, child murder was not what he wanted them to think he usually read.

He was sharing the house with foreigners. They entered, talking amongst themselves, and threw a nod in μ's direction. He nodded back and they busied themselves preparing their evening meal. There were only three others that actually lived there – Georgi, Ivan and Katarina – but often their friends would come around in the evenings and as many as ten or twelve of them would sit in the shared space eating and talking.

μ had not stayed in the flat for long but it already felt a lot better than the place he had been before. It was hard to believe that he had stayed in that old house for so long. Now he was sure his problems were behind him.

"All those people living on top of each other, rubbing against each other every day," he thought. "It's just as well that I moved out."

*

Learn more about The Wave by visiting Dead Ink Books.

Introducing Lots A Lolly for Personal Loans

There are lot of different options to get a personal loan these days, aren't there? If you are in the UK and in need of money in your bank account very quickly, you might want to check out www.lotsalolly.co.uk. Their instant loans of up to £2000 can appear in your bank account on the same day you apply.

You can apply for a loan online by filling out a simple form, and you'll find out almost instantly if you're approved or not. If you're approved, you can repay the loan in installments over a time period of three, six, or twelve months.

Lots A Lolly was founded to provide a quick and convenient option for people who may have trouble with their credit rating. The company is based near the famous Old Street in East London, an area that is becoming known for tech companies and interesting startups. If you have more questions about the company or the way its borrowing and repayment processes work, you can see more about that here.

When it comes to personal loans, this is a topic where people tend to have lots of questions. Well, I always have questions myself when it comes to my finances anyway! As you likely know, there are different regulations for loans in different parts of the world, so you will want to look at the laws in your local area--and take time to look closely at the policies of any loan company you're considering.

Meet Oliver White, Barrister: A Commercial Barrister from London

Oliver White is a barrister based in London specializing in commercial litigation. In this interview he gives some background as to how he became a barrister, plus details on what a typical day could involve. If you would like to find out more about him, then please see his LinkedIn profile.

1. How did you first become interested in pursuing a career as a barrister?

My father spent his whole career in the practice of the law, albeit as a partner in a provincial but well-regarded solicitor's firm, in which he developed a specialty in commercial planning law. I remember attending a planning inquiry with him, only to discover that my father had instructed counsel to represent his client at the hearing.

Prior to this, I was unaware of the distinction in the profession between solicitor and counsel. I was fascinated about this division of labor, and by nature drawn towards the theatrical calling that is so often associated with a career at the bar. From that day, I cannot recall ever wanting to pursue a different career.

2. As a commercial barrister, what are some of the common types of cases you encounter in your practice?

The range of commercial disputes I have acted in or currently act in is unsurprisingly wide ranging, both in the legal problems and complexities each case discloses and also in terms of facts. However, as a general observation, many if not all commercial disputes contain certain underlying common themes, which in my experience are very human and flawed by nature in ways you might expect.

They include being motivated by greed, a hidden agenda which is driven by a belief in a need on some level to restore pride and exact revenge. Sadly, embarking on costly litigation is, I'm afraid to say, one of the least effective ways achieve any or all of the above.

3. What do you find most challenging about your work?

Every case presents its own unique set of challenges. Perhaps the most challenging is structuring the client's expectations of the likely outcome in a litigated dispute. Many clients only want to hear what they want to hear from their advisor, and I sometimes struggle to get through to an expectant and over-confident client the realistic strengths and weaknesses of their case.

As time goes on, I am improving my communication skills in relation to outcome prognosis, and hopefully this is increasingly helping my clients to be armed with a full and dispassionate overview of the merits of their case.

4. How do you envision your career path over the next five years?

At my age (37), I suppose it is just about realistic (albeit a trifle presumptuous) to be thinking of taking silk in five years time. It is certainly a target I would wish to set myself, and even if not achieved, it will hopefully provide a valuable motivational platform to increase the size and quality of my practice over the next five years.

If any potential clients are reading the interview, then they can find me on Google Maps by clicking on this custom map that I created: Oliver White Barrister on Google Maps.

Thanks, Oliver!

Meet Ellen Frazer-Jameson, Author

Ellen Frazer-Jameson is a journalist, published author, and former BBC broadcaster who hosted the largest late night radio audience program in Europe; she is also an experienced a life coach and theater professional. Ellen lives in Miami Beach and London, and she abides by her mission statement "to be part of the solution."

1. As an author of both fiction and nonfiction, how do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Writing almost every day since I was about seven years old--journals, short stories, essays--my mind is always buzzing. Some stories demand attention, forcing themselves to the front of the line. Much of the creative work I do in dream work, meditation, and reading opens up the imagination to characters, plot, and locations. I always carry a notebook and jot down unusual characters, dialogue, or situations. Writing is great therapy.

2. What inspired you to write your motivational book, Seven Steps to Fabulous?

Seven Steps to Fabulous was a labor of love and started as notes to inspire my god-daughter. Having been in the media and appeared on TV and stage, I believe, like Marlene Dietrich, "The show starts the minute you leave home." Opportunities come unexpectedly, so be dressed and ready for any invitation. Act fabulous.

3. How can writers learn from the theater and other forms of art?

Writers need to open themselves up to all art forms and culture. The imagination is stirred and the color and richness of life can be absorbed and transformed. Theater has all the elements of life on stage plus magic in the spotlight. Extraordinary and good theater always focuses on the great emotional experience that all writing should be striving to deliver to readers. Theater has the advantage of costumes, sets, and music--writers must draw their own pictures with words.

4. What projects are you planning to take on in the second half of 2015?

This year I publish my second novel. It is called Dark Hole in my Soul (4DSB Press). Set in Miami and New York, it follows the lives of three generations of women who display extraordinary courage in facing struggle, challenges, grief, and loss. The story is one of hope, redemption, and forgiveness. The message of the book is that only love heals. There is glamour, romance, and drama.

I will spend the summer in Europe researching my next novel, a follow-up to my first novel, Love Mother Love Daughter (Matador). Research is a very important part of the writing process and travel definitely broadens my mind. Life really is FABULOUS.

Thanks, Ellen!

London Drivers for Sightseeing and Private Transfers

Followers of this blog might remember when I posted before about custom tours of Italy where you travel in a minivan. So here's another post about an inconspicuous way to travel abroad. Did you know that there are licensed private car services in and around London that can cost you 40% less than a taxi? If you need to get to an airport or a cruise ship port, or if you just want to do some sightseeing, you can hire a car for less.

For example, for a cab Manchester to London (or London to Manchester, of course), you can find an affordable transfer fare, especially if you book ahead of time. You can also choose from different types of cars, from an executive car that carries three passengers, up to a minibus which carries up to eight passengers.

The drivers are licensed professionals, and they can pick you up at all sorts of popular points in and around London. They have fixed prices for common journeys, so you know what to expect, and nobody will be playing any games with the meter! Submit the info about your journey using the "request quote" feature on the London Drivers site, and plan your travel budget accordingly.

Learn more about London Drivers on YouTube.

Meet Jason Tweedy, Personal Injury Solicitor and Lawyer

Jason Tweedy is a personal injury solicitor and lawyer from London. He has recently set up a new legal firm in the city specializing in personal injury claims. He offers support to people who work and live in London that have had an accident and require compensation.

1. I think a lot of people aren't sure what is covered by "personal injury" law. Could you tell us some of the types of claims that you help your clients pursue?

We help people that have been injured in an accident that wasn't their fault. So for example, drivers who have been hit and have suffered an injury, or people that have slipped up in a store. Essentially, if a person has an accident and suffers as a result, either through changes to their lifestyle or potential loss of earning, then we can help them to claim compensation. As personal injury solicitors and lawyers it's our job to take as much pressure and stress from our clients as possible and to ensure that they receive recompense for an accident.

2. What are some common misconceptions people have about personal injury lawsuits?

Over the last couple of years, personal injury law has had a bit of a rough time. This is mainly due to the fact that there were a few charlatans in the industry who tried to push through personal injury and accident claims that probably should never even had seen the light of day. This is due to the large amounts of money that are involved. Thankfully, in the UK there is new legislation being pushed through and recommendations by the Ministry of Justice in order to clamp down on this type of behavior. At Personal Injury Solicitors London we are very transparent and ethical when it comes to personal injury claims which is why we have the reputation that we do.

3. If someone already has auto insurance or a similar policy that is covering injury-related treatment, how can a person know if he/she should also be considering a personal injury claim?

Having insurance is great, but most insurance companies will only cover an injured person for the very basics. A bad accident can have a huge impact on a person's life, and it's the job of a personal injury lawyer to evaluate the impact and explore all avenues possible in order to get the client the best support possible--whether that's financial or otherwise.

4. What is your advice for finding a reliable solicitor/lawyer to handle an injury claim?

Look for online reviews or speak to someone you know that has had the misfortune to need a personal injury solicitor. In London and the UK, there are various registers which hold details on the best qualified and reputable lawyers and solicitors, so these are also worth checking against. If you do meet with a personal injury lawyer and you don't feel comfortable working with them, walk away.

5. In your own legal career, what drew you to the personal injury field, and what are some aspects of your job that you especially enjoy?

At university I was involved in local charity work, whilst doing my legal degree. It seemed like the most "human" aspect to law for me to enter into. Plus at the time, personal injury law was becoming a hot topic, and it appeared like it could be a very rewarding niche of law to enter into. It's not been an easy process becoming an established personal injury solicitor in London, but was definitely worth it! I love meeting new clients and helping them come to a resolution with their cases. There's nothing better than seeing a happy face at the end of a case, and seeing how our services can actually improve someone's life and that of their family--especially after what has probably been a dark time in their life.

If any of your readers would like to find out more about me and my personal injury firm, then they can visit my website.

Thanks, Jason!

Meet Victoria Neblik, Author, Photographer, and Lecturer

Dr. Victoria Neblik is a freelance writer, botanical photographer, and former Oxford University research biologist. She is currently involved in a number of writing projects and has periodic public speaking engagements on wildlife topics. Her books include Where Flowers Bloom.

Victoria trained at the Universities of London and Oxford and subsequently spent six years as a post-doctoral research biologist and research fellow. Her scientific work has taken her to 19 countries and across 4 continents. Today, she writes for various magazines and works as a public speaker and visiting university lecturer.

The photo below is (c) Victoria Neblik, 2014, all rights reserved.

1. When you were a student and researcher, what first drew you to studying the sciences?

I have been interested in wildlife and living things for as long as I can remember. As a child I used to be wildly enthusiastic about planting seeds and growing things; I also remember being very interested in my mother's medical textbooks (she worked as a hospital nurse). In many subjects, books for adults seem to become much more dense--devoid of pictures--and generally much less appealing than those for children. In science, though, books are often full of pictures and diagrams and that captured my attention early on.

In Britain, we tend to specialise much earlier in our education than in the US, so by the time I was at University I had long since made the decision to study science. As a student, I did a degree in microbiology because liked the idea of unraveling how diseases and germs function. Later on, I applied for various doctoral studentships in the microbiology, but many of them seemed uninspiring. Spending three years studying one tiny part of one virus seemed insignificant, somehow. So at that point I began to move towards zoology: studying many animals at a time, rather than one disease.

2. As a photographer and author, what do you see as the connections between your visual art and your written work?

I take pictures of plants and wildlife and I write about both. Really, I think these are just two different ways to look at the same subject. Actually, a lot of the writing I do is for magazines, so I am working in a very visual medium much of the time.

Sometimes you get a great story and only a fairly mediocre image to go with it, and at other times you can get a fantastic studio shot with not a lot of effort and no tale to go with it; for me, the real magic comes when you get both--a visually exciting image and a great story behind it.

3. What inspired you to branch out into public speaking?

Public speaking is part of life as an academic, whether it is giving lectures to students or to school children who wish to study science or presenting a discovery at a scientific conference. So, I guess public speaking has long been part of my life. It is just that I talk to people from all walks of life, now, rather than only to academics. Writing and public speaking are both ways to present a view of the world or tell a story, though, so they have something in common. It's just that you get more immediate feedback in a public talk and interaction with the audience.

4. Would you tell us a bit about your experiences in the Middle East and topics for talks you've developed from your experiences?

Certainly! I have been very lucky in that I have been to see some amazing places and some great wildlife. The talks are really just an excuse for me to share some of that experience and the pictures I took. I remember being first inspired to visit the Middle East by a talk someone gave to my class when I was at school--so, talking in schools now is a bit like coming full circle.

I have spent quite a bit of time in Jerusalem and I used the city as a base for shorter trips to various wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. I felt that Jerusalem has a really powerful, ancient and authentic atmosphere to it: as if it is as old as time itself. It was quite a moving experience.

My first trip to the region was to see Palestine Sunbirds, which are a little like hummingbirds. Once I arrived, though, one thing led to another and I moved on to see hoopoes and hyraxes, Syrian dragonflies and so on... Highlights of my last trip included seeing a giant black fire racer snake in the Golan Heights and a trip to the Alexander River to see the population of Nile Turtles they have there. The turtles, frankly, are fairly hideous looking things--enormous creatures with peculiar snouts and a face only a mother could love--but they have an interesting biology and a sort of primitive "gill"-type structure inside their throats. So I guess they're interesting, rather than endearing--but I thrive on that, you know? The weird and the wonderful! The Middle East has plenty of both, which is something I have tried very hard to capture in my talks.

5. For aspiring writers who would like to focus on topics related to nature and travel, what are some tips you would offer based on what you've learned in your own work?

I think different things work for different people, but for me, keeping a diary or a notebook is important. Little details can add great appeal to almost any article and it is precisely these details that tend to be forgotten. Having a solid background in biology (in my case) or in geography or history, I think can also be a huge benefit for travel writing: that way you are writing from a position of strength--starting with what you know about a place and embellishing with local details and with your own experiences.

Thanks, Victoria!

Meet Marie Terry, Tattoo Artist

A tattoo artist from London UK working in Old London Road Tattoos, Marie Terry grew up in Canada and came to London at 18 years old. Marie likes cats and motorbikes.

Check out this gallery of Marie's portrait tattoos.

1. What inspired you to become a tattoo artist?

I've always liked drawing and painting. Coming from a very alternative family full of rock and rollers, guitarists and rockabilly djs and being into punk rock myself, tattoos were a familiar sight, and it all just seemed to make sense. An old drummer of my Dad's called "Wild Bob Burgos" was covered in tattoos, and I remember being fascinated by him from about four or five years old. I never wanted to go to bed when he was around.

2. How would you compare tattoo artistry with other forms of visual art like painting and drawing--and on the other hand, how is tattoo art distinct from other art forms?

It's very different from painting and drawing, although these are a good base for learning to tattoo. The canvas is what separates tattooing from other art forms. A living, breathing, moving, canvas that tells you what it wants painted on it. And because every skin type is different, it's like having to paint on different textured paper every time! When painting a picture it is almost always going to be on a square or rectangular, flat canvas. Tattoo art needs to have the right composition for the body, for different body parts--it will wrap around parts like the arm and leg, so you have to think how this will affect your design, too.

3. What are some of your favorite tattoos that you've done?

I love tattooing colorful animals, so I guess the tigers, tree frog, and sea turtle :)

4. For someone who is trying to decide whether or not to get a first tattoo, what's your advice?

If it's your first tattoo and you are not sure, then there's no harm in waiting a little or just not getting it. Tattoos are better suited on people who don't worry about getting one! They have gotten so popular that people who actually don't want one feel like they have to have one. It used to be more of an alternative thing for strange and interesting people. I never feel comfortable tattooing people who are not sure if they actually want it but are just doing it because of fashion or their friends have one.

5. In planning a tattoo, what can someone do to collaborate with a tattoo artist to make sure that the tattoo is a realization of what the person has imagined it to be?

The best thing to do is bringing lots of images with you to talk to the artist face to face. It's much easier to get an idea across when you are talking directly to people--you can use your arms and legs and pointing to explain what you want. It's very difficult if you insist to do a consultation over email or phone only.

You can ask to see a rough idea of the design before the appointment in case you want any changes made. But be aware you won't see a fully finished, detailed, polished piece of art. It will most likely be a rough outline or sketch or maybe a Photoshop file. If tattoo artists spent five hours on each design before tattooing it, we would never have time to tattoo. I also feel that when I do the final design with all the details it should be the one on the skin--if I've done it beforehand by painting it with all the details, it would feel like a replica or a shadow of my original. The first time you do a design is always the best because you have thought about it more and put more effort into it.

Thanks, Marie!

Glass Partitions for Office Spaces

I'm coming up on my one-year anniversary of starting this blog, and in the time I've been posting, one of my favorite things to write about is a product or service that's new to me. As someone who works from home, I don't have much experience with larger office spaces, and as a result, I didn't know that you can buy custom glass partitioning systems to divide up an office in stylish and effective ways. I learned about this through the website for Lizzanno glass partitions.

Lizzanno is a company based in the UK, and they design partitions using 3D CAD modelling software to create what they aptly describe as "innovative space solutions." From the examples on their site, I could see how the glass partitions create more flow as well as a sense of both modernity and community.

Glass partitions can transform spaces in many ways. They can be used to create meeting rooms, small offices within larger open plan spaces, and other break out areas. They really create new options for designing--or remodeling--a workplace. The partitions are available in patterned, acoustic, and plain glass. As I noticed when I browsed the samples on Lizzanno's website, the different types of glass can make a design statement, too.

Lizzanno uses glass manufactured in London by the European Glass Group, and by working with a local company, they have access to many unique forms of glass--from glass that bends and curves to glass that is tempered and toughened. There are various options related to the acoustic needs of different office environments as well.

I almost wish I could dress up my home office with specially designed glass!

Christine Mary Flemming on the Release of Her Novel, President Fionn

Last November, I was pleased to share an interview with author Christine Mary Flemming about her experience as an author of historical fiction. Christine contacted me recently to let me know that her novel, President Fionn, has just been released and is available for Amazon Kindle.

Christine is a London-based author with a background in journalism. For more about Christine and her work, check out her website, as well as her Facebook fan page.

You can also read an excerpt from President Fionn by clicking here.

1. How many years has your new book, President Fionn, been in the making?

It's taken me nearly two years, which sounds a long time but I was working as well as writing. There was also a lot of research to do on the book as well and I wanted to get the true voices of Dubliners and that took practice.

2. What has been the response from early readers of the book?

The response has been really encouraging. I've been told it is an easy read that is thought-provoking, and I was told by one reader it was "lyrical" like one long song, which was a very interesting comment!

3. What inspired you to write President Fionn?

I have Irish ancestry and lived in Dublin when I was a child for a period, so it was a theme I wanted to explore.

4. Why did you choose Kindle/e-book format for the release of your book?

I chose Kindle because it was the quickest way of getting it out there, but it is now out in print/book form, too.

5. I read that you're currently at work on a play--have you ever thought about adapting President Fionn as a play or film?

Well, I think President Fionn would make a better film than a play, and I do have experience in this type of writing, so may give it a shot sometime.

Thanks, Christine!

Meet Emma Simpson, Managing Director of CheaperAccountant.co.uk

Emma Simpson is the Managing Director of CheaperAccountant.co.uk, a firm of accountants who have established a reputation across the UK for the provision of quality yet affordable accountancy services to small businesses. Cheaper Accountant has grown in population over the last few years and the company now works with more than 1,000 clients across the UK to provide cheap accountants for a variety of businesses.

1. At Cheaper Accountant, how do you keep your expenses and fees down?

We only operate online and take full advantage of modern technology to complete all of our communications with clients and for all of our marketing efforts. This means that our cost base is extremely low and much lower than a traditional high street accountant. Our website is our shop front and costs very little to operate, and the bulk of our online advertising is via social media which is completely free. So it is easy to see that without expensive high street rents and rates, newspaper advertising, property maintenance, and even an office secretary our rates can be reduced to a fee which is considerably less than the fees charged by other accountants. We may not be popular amongst other accountants, but we are popular with small businesses across the UK.

2. What are a few things that a small business owner can do to simplify their record-keeping when it comes to taxes?

This is a great question and something I am always happy to answer. Regulations stipulate that appropriate accounting records must be kept, but this task is now far easier in the modern world than ever before. Modern cloud accounting software allows the user to upload bank statements into the accounting system and then to simply click and allocate business expenditure to the correct category. Furthermore, modern iPhone applications allow business owners to scan receipts and then to upload the scanned document into the accounting system. With the growth of online, cloud-based accounting software business owners can now access their accounting records from a web browser anywhere in the world.

3. What inspired the founding of Cheaper Accountant?

I created CheaperAccountant.co.uk as I believed that small businesses should be offered a better deal for their accountancy work. Accounting for a small business is often more straightforward and less time-consuming than accounting for large businesses, and the fees charged to small businesses should reflect this. I firmly believe that all fees should represent the level of work and service provided, and I will never charge a client more than a fair price for my work. This has become the ethos of my company.

I also wanted micro businesses with very low turnover to have access to an accountant at a fair price. Sometimes it can take time to create a successful and profitable business, and in the early years of trading turnover and profits may be very low. We created a unique pricing structure for clients with turnover less than £10,000 and reduced our prices even further to ensure that even the smallest of companies can afford a qualified accountant.

4. Do you think there are any common misconceptions people have about hiring an accountant?

Yes I do. The major misconception people often have is that they can't afford the services of an accountant because all accountants are far too expensive. We have made it our mission to change people's minds on this and to prove to business owners that they can afford a professional and qualified accountant who is experienced to complete all of their accountancy work. Furthermore, we often save clients money by ensuring that they don't pay more tax than is absolutely necessary and ensure that all allowances are fully utilized. I have also received a number of tax refunds for a variety of clients and the reduction in tax obtained has often been more than the fees we have charged.

5. For people who are "going it alone" instead of hiring an accountant, what might you say to encourage them to consider giving working with an accountant a try?

I would say that working with a qualified accountant really can pay for itself and the gain can be greater than the cost. After all, how much do you know about accounting rules and concepts, and can you get your accounts right and avoid being fined? An accountant will ensure that your accounts are produced to a professional standard and will ensure that everything is submitted on time to the correct authorities. In addition to this, specialist accounting software is required to produce accounts in the iXRBL format mandated by HMRC and it is far more cost effective to pay an accountant to prepare your accounts in this format for you.

Editor's Note: Please click the following link for more information about cheap London accountants.

Thanks, Emma!

Excerpt from The Original Rude Boys' Son? by L.A. White

L.A. White was born in London, England of Jamaican parents during the time of the mass exodus from the West Indies to England that started in the 1940s and continued to the 1960s. White's father ran a sound system, which was a sort of mobile disco, and when he was growing up, his father was one of the premier sound men in the Jamaican community in London. The memoir, The Original Rude Boys' Son?, is some remembrances of White's family at the time.

The Original Rude Boys' Son? is available for download for Amazon Kindle. An excerpt from the book appears below.

*

Winston Churchill died two days before my eighth birthday. We watched his funeral on the telly, my brother and I, sitting on the floor of our aunt's parlour while the bars of the electric fire burned at our side. The crowd massed in the winter streets as the gun carriage drawing his casket rolled by. The HMS Havengore took it down river to Festival Pier. On the docks each crane bowed its head in salute.

I had heard in school of a boy who pulled a sword from a stone, became a king, united a warring and disparate people and ushered in a time of abundance and prosperity. Mortally wounded, and attended by beautiful handmaidens he was taken by barge, to Avalon from whence he would one day return to unite his people once again.

Was this the fellow they were talking about? Churchill had been old when he died but our first form teacher Mrs Gottschalk said that he had been a heroic figure in his youth.

Uncle Augustus sat at the dining table behind me studying The Sporting Life. Saturday was his betting day. The racing, suspended because of the funeral, would soon commence.

"Was that the man that united the Kingdom," I asked him.

He stared at the screen over the top of his glasses. He looked at me. He leaned back in his seat, snatched the glasses off his face one handed and tossed them down on the table. "When them call wi to fight, wi come running," he said, "black man, coolie man, all a them empire fight for them."

"But yu never do any fighting, Augustus, yu never leave England," said Aunt Minnie.

"Miss Richie," Augustus tried to rise out of his seat, table and belly conspired against him, he pushed the chair back and tried again. "Miss Richie, I don't stop fight since I come a this country."

He was on his feet now, prodding a finger at the telly, then turning to prod the same finger at her. I had known them all my life and never heard him refer to his wife by anything other than her maiden name. Aunt Minnie fell for Augustus when she saw him in his army uniform, my mum said; fell like a sack of potatoes. He was a large brown skinned man who paraded around the house in the army issue khaki shorts and shirt that he had never thrown away. Standing at ease in the centre of the room he continued watching the screen.

"I was so surprised when wi come," said Aunt Minnie, "everything seem so dark, so grey, like the sun never shine. Them say the streets of London paved with gold: wi never find none though."

Aunt Minnie came first, she was the eldest: my mum's sister. Hughlet, their brother, came next. He didn't like it: he returned home to open a shop in Kingston. Then Ezra. Then my mum. My dad followed her and he brought over Biltram, his brother. Another Richie, Laurence went to America, he opened a bar in Chicago. Jeddy, the youngest never left Jamaica. He liked to drink. So he stayed in Jamaica and drank.

On screen the train bore through the countryside to Blenheim and burial, passing through stations lined with people paying their respects to the fallen hero, their breath rising above them, visible in the cold air.

I pushed George off as he leant over to get at the electric fire. We didn't have electric fires at our house. We had paraffin. Everybody hated it. It stank out the house and it stank up your clothes, it never really got very warm and you had to have an adult light it for you. Flicking a switch at Aunt Minnie's house and having the room magically heat up: that was the height of luxury. Leaving the fire burning all day, that was another level of luxury completely: only pools winners could do that, pools winners and Uncle Ezra.

Uncle Ezra had the Richie head for business. My grandfather, his father, made a lot of money in Panama in the years after the canal opened. When he returned to Jamaica he invested it in property. Ezra said he never saw his father do a day's work in his life. Ezra worked for British rail. He invested in property, too. He lived in Edgware with his wife Joan and their five kids. There might have been other black families living there then but you'd have to walk for miles to find one. George and I and our mum and dad lived in Hornsey. We had tenants in our house. Uncle Ezra had houses with tenants in them. Their family even had private and exclusive access to the public park behind their house: a hole in the fence allowed them to creep in whenever they wanted. We never went up to uncle Ezra's much; I don't remember my dad ever going there. It was a bus, a tube and another bus ride away and we never had a car. Uncle Ezra did of course, a blue/green Ford Zodiac. Whenever we went there the whole family spent the evening playing board games around the table. The two youngest were close to the ages of George and I and there were three older kids. I envied them. The six years difference between George and I mean that our games were never competitive.

The funeral was over and normal Saturday service resumed. The bookies would be open now. Augustus gathered up his betting slips and put on his trilby. When he returned he usually took a nap on the settee to wake up in time to check his pools during the results service. Then we'd eat dinner and watch whatever was on the telly that night.

*

George and I went down to Aunt Minnie's most weekends. She lived in the shadow of Arsenal's Highbury football stadium. It was our home from home. Our real home was a three storey terraced house in north London. We were just an average West Indian family of Jamaican immigrant parents and two English born sons. The one thing that separated us from the herd was the very reason we went to Aunt Minnie's every weekend. Part of that reason stood in our passage way.

"What are those?" asked the postman one day. He had squashed himself up against the porch wall, parcel in hand and was looking past me into the passage.

"They're speakers," I said and let him in. He stepped past me into the hall, stopped at the first speaker box, the smaller of the two. The box was made of chipboard, stood three and a half feet tall, three feet wide, the dark brown front sloped back towards the top, a fifteen inch soundhole was cut in the centre with wire mesh fitted over it. Metal handles screwed into the side. He stepped sideways, in front of a box the size of a small wardrobe and over which I still couldn't see. It had a natural wood finish at the sides and a cream coloured front on which were painted in vertically, in five inch high, 3D lettering, either side of the sound hole:

C O U N T D E N N Y

"Who's Count Denny?" asked the postman.

"My dad."

"What's he do with these?"

"He plays dances and parties and stuff."

The postman looked down at the package in his hand: a 7 inch square cardboard packet swathed in masking tape and Jamaican stamps.

"These are records?" He said. He delivered a similar package every couple of weeks.

"Yeah."

"Where does he play?"

"Halls, clubs, house parties."

"Just to--to coloured people?"

"Anybody," I said. "But mainly, yeah."

"Now I know," he said.

The bedroom door clicked and my mum came out. The postman retreated to the front step and I went to the kitchen to finish my breakfast before going to school.

There were three big Sound Systems in north London then, a time when the dance or Shebeen or Houseparty was the main social arena for the West Indian diaspora and every other social occasion, birthday, wedding, funeral usually had a Sound System to provide the music. They were Federation, Sir Grand and Count Denny. Count Denny was the King; his domain was north London and he alone ruled. He was my dad: I was his eldest son and heir.

Thanks, L.A. White!

Meet Tina Bradley of Elan.London

Elan.London is an exclusive Matchmaking Introduction Agency in London. They are the only agency in the world to offer a triple guarantee. They provide discreet and thoughtful introductions for busy, successful, and attractive singles. As a bespoke professional introduction agency, the staff at Elan.London are proactive in finding the perfect match for their international clients, who are typically high fliers: people who have successful careers, great personalities, are attractive to the opposite sex, and look after themselves physically and mentally. They have busy and exciting lives but simply do not have the time to find Mr or Miss Right.

1. What most distinguishes Elan.London from other agencies for singles to find matches?

Elan.London is unique in that we offer a triple guarantee: we guarantee a certain amount of matches, guarantee that we are the best agency in London, and also will match any other guarantee out there. In addition to that, we don't just wait for new members to join us; we are proactive in finding suitable matches for our busy clients.

2. What does your agency do to be proactive in finding the perfect match for a client, and what is the role of your "socialite headhunters" in this process?

Elan.London has a team of socialite headhunters or consultants who network seven days a week at high end social events, always looking out for the perfect partner for our clients.

3. Why don't people meet more eligible matches in their daily lives?

Professionals these days work very, very hard--especially in major cities like London. They have little time to keep socializing to meet new people and form lasting relationships. We reduce the amount of time it takes to be introduced to a suitable match: a person who will tick all the boxes for the client.

4. Are your clients located in London or around the world?

The majority of our clients are based in London but some do have homes in other countries, too.

5. For someone who feels hesitant about signing up with an introduction agency, what advice or encouragement might you give?

We would suggest taking a look at what agencies are offering and whether you feel they would be doing an excellent job for you. Ask them about guarantees and what sort of person you can be expected to meet. Yes, a dating agency costs more than internet dating but you are paying for a very specialized and personalized service. You're cutting down the amount of precious time spent wading through online profiles, and you want to be sure that the person you meet is committed to having a long term relationship and has been checked out by the agency.

Thanks, Tina!

Meet Julia Buckley, Fitness Writer and Trainer

Julia Buckley is a fitness writer and trainer based in London, England. She writes for many top health and fitness magazines, and her first book, The Fat Burn Revolution, will be available in January 2014. For more about Julia and her work visit www.juliabuckley.co.uk. Julia also shares advice, tips and news on her fitness blog.

Photo credit: Ciaran Hanway

1. When did you first become interested in fitness training?

I hated sports at school, but when I was 16, I tried a Jane Fonda exercise video and loved it! I exercised fairly regularly after that with various at-home programs and then later in gyms. My passion for fitness gradually snowballed over the years until it became inevitable that I would dedicate my career to it.

2. Why did you decide to offer online fitness programs, and what do you think are the benefits of the online format?

I’ve been offering a 12 week fat loss fitness program online since October 2012 and am currently coaching the third group to do it. The internet allows me to share my passion for fitness and to help people all over the world get the bodies they want. It means I can reach them in their own homes (and anywhere they have internet access) and be available to them whenever they need me. For many people this works much better than only seeing their training for a few hours per week: it's a lot more affordable, and more convenient for people who can't get to gyms. Plus I can give them more detail on what I'm asking them to and why than you might be able to get with in-person PT sessions. I'm able to constantly support and encourage and remind them of what they need to do to reach their goals.

3. What has the response been to your programs from participants and from the media?

Oh gosh, it's hard to know where to start with this one. I don't want to sound boastful, but my program has transformed lots of people's bodies and lives and that's something I'm very proud of. Every single person who has completed my 12 week fat loss fitness program finished with fantastic reductions in excess body fat, outstanding levels of fitness, and heaps of healthy habits and training know-how that will help them continue to make progress with their fat loss and/or fitness training. I've been in tears many times while reading their "thank you" messages. It is immensely rewarding.

The program has received some excellent coverage in the media, locally, nationally, and internationally. Probably the article that got the most attention was this piece on the Daily Mail website.

4. How did your online programs and your fitness blog lead you to write a book?

I'd actually got the contract to write the book before I started offering the online program. I'd been researching and recommending the techniques and type of training for a long time, but it was getting the book deal that spurred me to create a structured program aimed specifically at people wanting to shed fat. The first online program I ran was a pilot project so I could test out and refine the regime based on the feedback and results of real people, but it was so successful that I've carried on offering it as an online course. The online program offers a rather different experience to what readers of the book will get because they have regular contact with me and I'm able to personalize the exercise a little more to suit their needs. Plus there's group support and they keep a journal on their training and diet which I check regularly, so there's that sense of "accountability" to keep them on track, too. But readers will be able to follow the same fitness program from the book, and obviously, it will be a much cheaper option for those that are not able to invest in personal coaching.

5. What would be your top three suggestions to someone who would like to burn more fat on a regular basis?

Lift heavy weights. A lot of people think that the best way to shed fat is by doing lots of steady cardio. You can lose fat that way, but it's not the optimal type of training for fat loss. By adding muscle to your body you will burn more fat all of the time as well as improving your shape.

Keep processed carbohydrates to a minimum. Sugary foods are the worst type of foods you can eat when fat loss is your aim. They are not only fattening, but also addictive and energy-sapping. Most people know that, but a lot don't realize how things like bread and pasta can inhibit fat loss. They are just "meal-bulkers" which offer very little in the way of nutrition (or taste) and act in a very similar way to sugar in the body. I recommend replacing them with lots of vegetables.

Exercise because you love your body, not because you hate it. Some people try to find motivation by beating themselves up about the condition of their bodies. This is usually actually demotivating and only makes them feel like crap! Once people get past this and start to feel good about the positive steps they're making towards their goals, they start getting fantastic results. The better they feel about their bodies, the more they want to train and the better eating choices they make. The more they train and the better eating choices they make, the better they feel about their bodies. And so it goes on. It's a wonderful thing!

Thanks, Julia!

Note: Julia also dispenses daily tips and advice on Twitter, follow her at: www.twitter.com/Julia_B.

Meet ONYN, East London Artist Group

ONYN are a creative collective in East London, England. ONYN formed in July of 2012 and since then have been prolific in their painting output. In the last six months they have sold over 2,000 original canvas paintings worldwide. Find samples of their work at www.onyn.com and on their Facebook page. ONYN create original, unique paintings on canvas; they are not adverse to using technology (it has its place), but believe there is currently nothing better to beat talent, paint, and a brush!

1. What are the materials you use to create your artwork (from the photos, it looks like canvas panels and acrylic paint, and I'm curious to know if you make and paint your own frames)?

Yes, currently at ONYN we paint exclusively on linen canvas panels with acrylic paints plus some pencil and inks for good measure. As for our frames, it's another "Yes." We have a basic ethos of creating unique, high quality objects for a reasonable price. We make our own frames out of ethically sourced, natural solid wood and decorate them with the same paints we use in our images.

2. How many people are in your collective, and what inspires you to work together?

As a loose creative group, our numbers change depending on internal and external forces; we're somewhere between four and eight creative souls at present. As for what inspires us to work together, I guess it's that we push each other to try new things, and therefore ONYN is greater than the sum of its parts.

3. How do you come up with the subjects for your paintings, and what would you say are some common themes that come up in your work?

We create images that makes us smile and feel good. A lot of our paintings are on www.onyn.com. We don't purposely repeat themes; however, certain images seem to reappear from time to time. Sometimes we are asked for a specific animal, character, or situation, and we're always happy to meet a challenge.

4. Do you do most of your sales locally in London, or do you travel to shows in other cities--and countries?

Since we started last year we have focused on East London shows, as it's where we are based and the area attracts a lot of international people who appreciate art. ONYN paintings seem to be popular throughout the world with particular interest to date from Italy, Spain, South Korea, Japan, and the USA. We're always looking for opportunities to expand our range and reach! To keep up to date with news and show dates, be sure to "like" us on our Facebook page: www.fb.com/Love.ONYN.

5. How can people who admire your work online contact you to buy a particular piece--and do you ever accept custom orders?

To meet the demand (especially from international customers), we have decided to launch an ONYN eBay store at http://stores.ebay.com/ONYN-Whimsical-Unique-Art-Paintings. People will be able to buy original, unique ONYN art with or without our painted frames, and have them delivered direct to their door. As for commissions, we love to meet a challenge and our creativity doesn't stop at canvas paintings. Ideas and requests can be emailed to: art@onyn.com.

Thanks, ONYN!

Meet Roman Sahakov, CEO of Frozzo

Roman Sahakov is the CEO of the social media marketing company, Frozzo. He is known as a wise, patient, and knowledgeable leader. Roman cherishes his family dearly and is a devoted father to his son and a loving husband to his wife.

Frozzo social media agency offers different types of social media metrics that contribute greatly in the growth of any type of launched campaign. Those can be Twitter followers, YouTube views, and Facebook fans.

The company was founded in 2010 and since then it has followed a road of great development and improvement. It seems that Frozzo marketing company is going to be the next social superstar. Headquartered in London, UK, the company has already created buzz among internet marketers, webmasters, businesspeople, artists, and almost anyone who needs social media coverage.

For more information, follow Frozzo on Twitter and like it on Facebook.

1. What benefits have clients seen after working with Frozzo?

Frozzo has come up with a comprehensive social media marketing solution for internet marketers, businesspeople, artists, and webmasters. The web-based platform works with three major social media websites, namely: Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. This amazing social media marketing service will help you get thousands of followers, views, and active fans.

This means, you won't have to wait for a social buzz or exposure: Frozzo is able to lift your brand name right away. Furthermore, to add to the prospect of increase in popularity in a short time span, you get it for a very low price.

2. Why do you think people are more likely to like/follow someone who already has followers, rather than be the first to discover a new product or artist?

People love to follow the social media stars: your followers and fans will bring more clients.

Have you ever noticed your own view about the social media stars? You'll more likely follow people or businesses that have already grown a good client base. This definitely indicates the importance of fans and followers in your account. Investing for a few thousands of active users will potentially help grow your social signals stronger and more positive.

Becoming a social media star isn't a challenge for those who use Frozzo. You just have to select a suitable package and you will get the social exposure almost instantly. The exposure will let your social marketing operation go on autopilot and start generating targeted social traffic in no time.

3. With Google penalizing sites for selling links and other companies taking similar measures, how does Frozzo provide followers without putting the client at risk?

Frozzo is concerned about the shocking search engine penalties.

Recently, the search engines have become more concerned about low quality websites with irrelevant or fluffy content. Google, the leading search engine, has already come up with few major updates in the algorithms and rankings. Some websites have been hit so hard by the search engines that the webmasters are trying to change their SEO plans and strategies.

Frozzo is concerned about the penalties. It neither sells links nor spreads spammy anchors online. It has developed a loyal social group who are ready to help their clients grow. The natural sharing on the social platform can easily create positive non-spammy social signals, and that's how Frozzo marketing company protects its customers.

4. How can a customer make the best use of Frozzo's resources and services?

Frozzo has already built a huge follower base of 100,000, and the number is still on the rise. You simply have to select an offer that suits your marketing budget and business strategy.

Choosing a single platform won't help you a lot to rank on the search engines. Rather you should concentrate on all three platforms and get social signals from multiple resources. This is the only way how you can use the most of Frozzo. If you're only subscribing to one-platform service, consider trying all of them together.

5. How did you personally become interested in social media marketing, and what do you see in the future for Frozzo?

Social media marketing is the future of IM: Frozzo is definitely going big in upcoming years.

Experts are saying that SEO and internet marketing will mostly depend on the social websites in next upcoming years. We are entering a new age of user-oriented search engines. In such conditions, Frozzo is definitely going to grow bigger and more powerful over time. As social media marketing is the future of IM, Frozzo is going to be the ultimate destination for the internet marketers around the world.

Thanks, Roman!

Meet Greg Griffith, Writer

Greg Griffith is a poet, writer, and visionary from London. He has recorded music under the persona of Mr Griméz The Anti Hero. In 2004, he started to develop a comic for his character Mr Griméz. In his words, "It went through a development hell process, and now in 2012 the comic book has risen from the ashes." Check out sample pages of the comic, illustrated by Caroline Harrington, on Facebook.

1. Who is Mr. Griméz, and what's his world like?

Mr Griméz (Grim-éz) is a warrior from the Sulari clan. The purpose of the Sulari clan is to eliminate the parasite race known as the Hyperons. In the first issue of this comic, we see the reality of Mr Griméz become distorted due to a situation. Can he overcome the challenge, or will he be consumed by negativity which could take him off his warrior path? With all the chaos and confusion in London, how does a warrior maintain his sanity due this situation?

2. What inspired you to use a retro style for your comic?

It's no secret that I am a fan of the 1990s, but I do appreciate comics, movies, cartoons from the 1980s, 1970s, and even 1960s. I do prefer hand drawn comics & cartoons--it feels more organic.

My retro-style comic sucks you into the dimension of a gloomy London hit by a recession. The artwork shows you that London is a damaged place due to manipulation of Hyperons. Even though the comic may seem dark and miserable, it's animated with a sense of humor and philosophy.

Retro comics are a part of history and should not be forgotten or censored. Since digital comics are flooding the marketplace, I think it's good to bring back the nostalgia of the art form in the digital age.

3. What's your process for collaborating with Caroline Harrington?

Firstly I build up the concepts in my mind. Then I go through a filtering process with the ideas. I write the script, and then I do some filtering with certain scenes and the dialog. While this is happening, Caroline is illustrating my vision of the characters in the comic.

When I sent the complete script to Caroline, she did a draft version of comic to make sure I was happy with the ideas presented. Then--ka-blam!--Mr Griméz Anti Hero London Terrorist Part 1 was born.

4. Why is the comic format the best way to tell your character's story?

I feel that the comic format will inspire people to do more reading. This could be a starting point for some people to eventually read books to help build their knowledge. Some people may find reading books a hard time, but reading a comic is much easier. The artwork engages them with the story and sparks their imagination. I do believe imagination is important, so it would be great if adults start using it more.

I did try to write a book version of Mr Griméz, but I felt it didn't have the same impact as the comic. The comic creates the right atmosphere for the reader. Sit back, read it, and enjoy the adventure.

5. What would your advice be to someone who wants to write a comic but hasn't tried writing comics before?

Ask yourself the question: what stories would you like to see in a comic book format? Never take the safe option and create what everyone else is doing. For example, if the most popular genre right now is a zombie invasion, then try writing about something completely different. Mix and match concepts together to form one concept. Your comic book idea might take a long time to manifest but be patient with it. Use your imagination and think of the unbelievable and don't be afraid to take a risk. Embrace your creativity and don't allow yourself to be a lifeless robot thinker.

Thanks, Greg!

Meet Christine Mary Flemming, Author

Christine Mary Flemming is a London-based author with a background as a journalist, and an education in Art History and Philosophy from the University at Reading. She is the author of two historical novels, The Hydrangea Amongst The Weeds and the forthcoming President Fionn. For more information, visit Christine's website and Facebook page.

1. How would you describe Fionn Connolly, the main character of your new novel, President Fionn?

I would say when Fionn is young, which is where we find him in part one of the book, he is a dreamer, he has a fantastic imagination and when things get tough, when his troubled family are arguing, he has a problem, or he's sad he retreats in to his mind and imagines all sorts of things, many of them very funny. In the book his hero is Tarzan, and he imagines having lots of adventures in Africa and being able to call on all the wild animals to rescue him if he gets into trouble. In the second half of the book, when he is grown up, in the 1960s, he has changed somewhat because of a childhood trauma, but the essence of who he is doesn't change, even if it is hidden deep down.

2. What did you read/study in doing your research to capture the historical details of Ireland in the 1930s-1960s, and John K. Kennedy's visit to Ireland in 1963?

I read several non-fiction, autobiographical books on what it was like to live in Dublin/Ireland in those periods. I read a lot of the newspapers, too; this is a great way to get a feel for what was going on. I also went back and read about the history of Ireland. This was useful; you don't get a handle on why people behave as they do until you know where they have come from.

There is so much stuff written about Kennedy--I had my pick. One book I bought was JFK: Day By Day which chronicles every day of his presidency. That was an eye opener, reading about how much he had to deal with on a daily basis. I also watched a lot of documentaries on Ireland and the President, his televised visit to Ireland and Berlin for instance, his many speeches and of course the circumstances surrounding his death.

3. Your previous book, The Hydrangea Amongst the Weeds, is also a historical novel. What attracts you to writing historical fiction?

Several things really. My first book is set in a town near London called Reading. It had a rich history that I could call on. Many of the men were involved in World War 1 and 2 and also it had big factories such as Huntley and Palmer, the biscuit manufacturer. In the late 1800s right through to the 1900s, life was changing rapidly, and I found a lot of information about the working class, their conditions, their relationships with the upper classes and of course the suffragette movement. It is not widely known that some working class women, often married with children, were heavily involved in that. Again, as with President Fionn, I brought fact and fiction together to make the story.

4. What are the challenges and what are the benefits for an author when it comes to finding a readership online?

I think the challenge is getting your message across, really explaining who you are and what your books are about. It should be easy in a way, but nobody has the time or wants to read a big essay, least of all me, so I get that! I think people can be put off very easily and are afraid that the books might be difficult or boring, but I'm a very straightforward person, and I think that comes across in my work. I have been lucky in that my first book as been taken up on book club circuit, so people have been able to discuss it.

The benefit of course is that you can approach a wider audience and engage with people that you would never have otherwise had the chance to reach and that's lovely.

5. How does your academic background in Art History and Philosophy inform your work as a writer?

I left school before going to college, and it was through my love of going to see art, really as a hobby, that I finally went back and did my degree part-time, when my children were at school, which was hard work and took a while but was worth it. When I'm writing, I tend to see the words and actions in my head, like a movie; studying art history helped me with that I think--plus there is a rich history around every painting and building, and it fascinates me how people lived before me.

Philosophy also comes into art, and it is all about questions, why are we here, what does it mean to be a human being, should we be allowed to do this or that, to name but a few. There is always an argument on both sides in any discussion, so I guess it makes you look at other points of view, instead of seeing things in black and white. I think this is useful as a writer. I for one don't want to judge in my books: I'm merely asking questions and observing.

Thanks, Christine!