Category Archives: Channel Islands

September 8, 2011 · 2:58 pm

To Kindle or not to Kindle – What changed my mind?

This week my debut novel ‘Riduna’ has been launched on Kindle.

After my last post on Kindle ‘ Can you snuggle in bed with a Kindle?’ I had such fun reading the responses, but why have I changed my mind – or have I?

I have agreed for ‘Riduna’ to go on Kindle because:

  • The paperback version has been out for a couple of years
  • I have been convinced that there are now people who only buy e books due to lack of space at home; they commute and it’s easy to carry; it’s easy to access a multitude of books………..
  • I have tirelessly promoted bookshops thoughout the campaign so far and will continue to do so, regardless of this step. I simply love bookshops!

Riduna is the Roman name for Alderney, Channel Islands, UK and the novel is set in late Victorian times. If you like social history and enjoy a good saga then click on the link below:

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June 30, 2011 · 1:33 pm

Why do I love Alderney?

I am going to finish my present holiday theme and try to answer a question a lady posed to me at the end of my talk at Flitwick Library.

 ‘Jersey has its Jersey cows and rich cream and Guernsey its WW2 history, so what makes Alderney special?’

A tough question. Alderney doesn’t have countless museums, forts and galleries to visit but its museum is very interesting, with an array of artifacts telling the island’s story and it is surrounded by magestic fortresses which overlook each inlet and sandy beach. 

There are no ‘attractions’ like the Pearl Centre, stately homes or flower farms and yet the variety of trips offerred by The Wildlife Trust to the visitor to experience Alderney’s sealife, wild life and natural history are varied and both fascinating and enjoyable. Watch out for their puffin webcam on the Visit Alderney website. For those who love to fish, walk or swim in the sea it’s a beautiful island, not to mention to enjoy good local food and the friendly ambiance of the community.

So, what do I love about Alderney which makes me return time and time again? What puts a tear in my eye as the Auringy Trislander leaves on my day of departure and I face returning to a world of traffic jams, noise and pollution and hypermarkets when it takes you ages to do your shop?

That’s just it!  Alderney, unlike Jersey and Guernsey which boast of so much (and rightly so) is a place to escape the rat race, to abandon stress, to amble about with no fear of traffic or road rage, just a gentle pace of life where I can leave the world behind. It’s just so lovely and it’s only a hop away!

Corblets Bay

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April 8, 2011 · 5:18 pm

Down to the Fairy Glen

This is the last in my folk tales and legends theme blog and it’s quite personal to me because I have vivid memories of walking deep into a woodland glade on Alderney as a child and striding (I was small at the time!) across the stepping stones, crossing a small flowing brook which meandered through the trees down towards the sea. This was my memory of The Fairy Glen on Alderney.

Imagine my surprise last year when a member of the Renier family, who now lives back on Alderney and I happened to get to know through my writing, mentioned the Fairy Glen. I was staying with a party of friends and family at The Harbour Lights last June and it was such a pleasure when the lady (I won’t mention her name without permission) took us on a walk to show us the glen. It was one of the highlights of the trip. Delighful!

My book Riduna includes snapshots of childhood memories too!

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