Category Archives: Book reading

May 8, 2025 · 10:09 am

Introducing Friend and Fellow Author Hamish Brown

Hamish Brown

Author Hamish Brown joined Eventispress for possibly his last book, at nearly 90 years of age. Having no access to the internet, a PC or a mobile phone, he was at a loss as to what to do with his completed manuscript when Sandstone Press closed as a publishing company last year ( they sell their back copies through other platforms now) Eventispress stepped in and offered to publish his new book and it is now for sale in all the Waterstones in Scotland.

Hamish Brown’s achievements and some interesting facts about him:

  • Hamish has published over 40 books (including updating his popular Fife Coastal Path by Birlinn)
  • Hamish has climbed all the Munros in the UK (the first one to climb them all in one go, only using public transport or foot between them.)
  • Hamish has led expeditions in Morocco
  • Hamish was born in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
  • Hamish has spent most of his life living in Fife.
  • Hamish must have planted thousands of snowdrops over a period of over 40 years!

I think he is an amazing man and I am grateful to be his friend.

Here’s his latest book:

Available in Waterstones Scotland

I will be posting some Adventures with Hamish in the summer.

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Filed under Book reading, Fife, Guest author, Scotland, Scottish authors

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April 24, 2025 · 10:50 am

Fort George ~ Inverness

It was poignant to visit the area where John Taylor, my step Great Grandfather was born, brought up and subsequently joined the army. We arrived at Fort George, near Inverness, which is on a peninsula jutting out into the Moray Firth, Scotland, opposite Rosemarkie on the Black Isle.

Fort George is apparently the strongest fortified fort in the British Isles.

It seemed so familiar to me, but that is hardly surprising since it reminded me of the many forts around Portsmouth and Gosport, near where my parents lived and grew up.

It was a perfect blue sky day. Since there were still army personnel about, it was not hard to imagine John staying in barracks there.

If you’d like to read his story of how he came to live and work on the island of Alderney, Channel Islands in later life, my parents wrote a novella set in the mid 19th century which describes in fiction, life in those days, both at Fort George, Scotland (and Guernsey too) and subsequently on Alderney.

Click on the picture below for possible purchase links:

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Filed under Alderney, Book reading, Channel Islands, Family History, Scotland

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April 17, 2025 · 9:16 am

Diana’s April Book Review ~ The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley

This was a wonderful find on the shelves of Waterstones Kirkcaldy. I only had a few minutes to browse and had no idea what I was looking for ~ not crime, sci fi or too much fantasy. I was drawn to this book and it was excellent for me because it was dual time zones, now and Edwardian England. Perfect!

Fantastic characterisation, Star and Orlando especially, but Mouse grew on me, (as he was supposed to do!)

Contrasting Settings of The Thames, London now, the Lake District in the early 20th century and the enigmatic ‘Atlantis’ in Switzerland.

Family History ~ as Star followed her step father’s clues and coordinates, given on his passing (he seems a bit like a guardian angel to me) Flora Mac Nicoll unravels her past as she tries to find her own path in life away from her dominant sister. (and domineering)

Not only did I find it most enjoyable to read, but I now have six more in the series to look forward to, since there were seven adopted sisters.

Thanks for the pleasure of reading!!!

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Filed under Book reading, Book reviews, Book Shops, Historical Fiction