Gill Buchanan's Blog

The first IWD was on 8th March 1911 I was quite surprised that it goes that far back. The purpose of International Women's Day is to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while raising awareness of gender equality. A novel set in the 1940 gives us an insight into gender equality then I’ve just read the novel, A Town Like Alice, which Neville Shute wrote in 1950. This story highlights the inequality that women faced during the 1940s. Jean

by Clare Chambers A quirky childhood for Esther Fairchild This is a beautifully written novel which tells the story of Esther Fairchild who has a quirky childhood in the 1970s, living in a rundown old schoolhouse where nothing quite works as it should. Electricity is not always on, the boiler is called 'The Beast' due to it's unreliability and most things in the house are in need of repair. Her father is a chaplain for a local prison and her mother doesn’t earn much doing odd

The benefits of reading fiction are far-reaching and, frankly, amazing. Getting lost in a good story isn’t just enjoyable—it’s good for your mind, your mood, and your emotional wellbeing. People who read fiction regularly escape to other worlds, cultures, and time periods. That mental journey helps us feel more relaxed, less stressed, and often happier overall. Stories allow us to step into other people’s shoes, strengthening our empathy and understanding of different emotion

Amol Rajan Podcast: Radical interviews Sabrina Cohen-Hatton about her inspiring journey from homeless to Chief Fire Officer

When I arrived at King’s Cross station, I wasn’t expecting to visit two rather quirky places nearby. Wilding in the City Camley Street...

The great thing about women reaching midlife is that they often have the opportunity to change their lifestyle to suit them. Back in the...

My latest novel, Life Beyond the Garden Gate, explores attitudes towards the homeless. I was motivated to volunteer for a homeless...

The thing I’ve learnt about yoga is that it works for your mind as well as body. By stopping and taking to my mat for thirty minutes a...

I have been reading Julia Bradbury’s book: Walk Yourself Happy For Julia, the profound impact of nature has helped her survive cancer and...

James May argues that Tea is the glue of society; people share their joys and woes over a cup of tea

What Happened to Us? by Faith Hogan is an enjoyable read with a feel-good ending

I’m looking forward to the Christmas Light switch-on in Bury St Edmunds this Thursday 16th November. Normally this is far too early for...

I am so grateful for the gift of creative writing. It is such a joy to create characters and storylines that will delight readers. I am...

All Good Things by Amanda Prowse is a brilliant portrayal of a dysfunctional family

My good indie author friend Julia Blake posts Book Stacks once a week and this time it was telling the story of her hobbies. She...

A Dry Spell by Clare Chambers My third novel from this author and happy to read more. To begin with I wasn't sure what the novel was...

I certainly have a couple of favourites in Bury St Edmunds and St. John’s Street is vying for first position. This street is a rare...

Sunday April 2nd 10am – 4pm Head upstairs at The Market Cross (was the old Art Gallery) for the chance to meet six local authors who will...

All my published novels to date fit the genres ‘Romance’ and ‘Women’s fiction,’ perhaps ‘Romantic Comedy.’ So writing about a dairy farm...

On Capel Dairy Farm they have egg-laying hens and Wanda is very fond of them. This is the fictitious farm that features in my novel: The...