Tag Archives: the power of story

What is the future of story?

Posted on August 11, 2014 by [email protected]

The following short clip is from an address that Kevin Spacey made to the Edinburgh International Television Festival; he talks about the future of story, about how stories are being delivered, and about the importance of listening to the people … Continue reading →

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What is fiction anyway?

Posted on August 4, 2014 by [email protected]

My latest novel, EAST INDIA, was published on 11 July! Described by one critic as ‘Jack and Rose in the seventeenth century’, East India is a story of romance, courage and survival in the face of overwhelming odds. If you’d … Continue reading →

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WHY A LOVE STORY IS NOT JUST A HAPPY ENDING

Posted on July 5, 2014 by [email protected]

My niece asked me recently: Why is there always a love story in your books? And it’s true: there almost always is. So why do it? For a gratuitous sex scene? Because people like romance? So the main character can … Continue reading →

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HITLER AND THE GAME OF THRONES

Posted on June 30, 2014 by [email protected]

Like most of the western world, I am totally hooked on Game of Thrones. I don’t watch much TV but this is story telling at its finest. However I got a bit behind so I’ve only just got to watch … Continue reading →

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LETTER TO A FRIEND

Posted on May 22, 2013 by [email protected]

There have been days when you have woken up and thought: why am I doing this? Days when you said to yourself: why am I doing this job, when it’s not what I really love? Times when you have looked … Continue reading →

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MAN WHO INVENTED THE SENSATIONAL HEADLINE DIES IN BIG DISASTER!!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by [email protected]

One hundred and one years ago today, the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic; on board was one of the greatest newspapermen of his age, and the most famous Englishman on the ship - William Thomas Stead. Who? You have … Continue reading →

Posted in HISTORY | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

WHY I CAN’T READ THE NOVEL I WROTE

Posted on October 16, 2012 by [email protected]

They say you cannot step in the same river twice. Two weeks ago I published a novel for the first time here in the US that was a huge bestseller in Australia. The Naked Husband is very different from my … Continue reading →

Posted in WRITING | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

WHAT CNN CAN TEACH US ABOUT WRITING FICTION

Posted on October 8, 2012 by [email protected]

Have you noticed how the news calls every item a ‘story’. As in: We’ll keep you updated with that story as it unfolds. Yet it’s not a story. Most things we see on the news are nothing likea story. They … Continue reading →

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THE POWER OF STORY: the third in my two-part series

Posted on September 5, 2012 by [email protected]

Take a look at this and tell me what story it’s from. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MqCnCkEBUw&w=560&h=315] Okay, I’ll tell you at the end. First, let’s look at original ideas.

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Once upon another time: THE POWER OF STORY 2

Posted on August 31, 2012 by [email protected]

We take another look at the power of story: the plot thickens. Los Olivos, California. Two guys walk along a timbered sidewalk past wine tasting rooms and gourmet restaurants. Jack is trying to jolly his pal Miles along as they … Continue reading →

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