01 May 2026

Susannah Authors, Books 5 Comments Permalink

A Good Historical Murder Mystery

Susannah 1 May 2026 5 Comments

Those of you who love a good historical murder mystery might enjoy two books I recently read at top speed, not wanting to put them down. Read more

01 May 2026

Susannah Authors, Books, Literary Trees, Newsletter 3 Comments Permalink

Literary Trees – Pirandello’s Pine Tree

Susannah 1 May 2026 3 Comments

In Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano novels, Salvo Montalbano loves to sit under a Saracen olive tree to mull over the tricky cases he is trying to solve. Read more

01 May 2026

Susannah Poem of the Month 4 Comments Permalink

Sylvia Plath & Mushrooms

Susannah 1 May 2026 4 Comments

I have never included a Sylvia Plath poem in my Poem of the Month selection, so here’s one from that fascinating American poet. Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Authors, Newsletter, Talks 40 Comments Permalink

Jewels in Literature

Susannah 1 April 2026 40 Comments

It is generally considered that one of the greatest short stories ever written is The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Books, Newsletter 4 Comments Permalink

Persephone Books

Susannah 1 April 2026 4 Comments

Have you ever come across Persephone Books? Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Authors, Books, Newsletter No Comments Permalink

Pets and their People

Susannah 1 April 2026 No Comments

Having just published a book about famous writers and their cats, how could I resist a book called Pets and Their People? Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Authors, Literary Trees No Comments Permalink

Literary Trees – Coleridge’s Lime Tree

Susannah 1 April 2026 No Comments

In 1797, Samuel Taylor Coleridge was looking forward to what he liked best – the company of literary friends Read more

01 Apr 2026

Susannah Poem of the Month, Poems 2 Comments Permalink

Philip Larkin & The Mower

Susannah 1 April 2026 2 Comments

For this month’s poem I have chosen a work by Philip Larkin (1922 – 1985). Read more

31 Mar 2026

Cheryl Newsletter Permalink

31 March 1920: Deborah Mitford is born

Cheryl 31 March 2026

The Duchess of Devonshire was a devoted Elvis Presley superfan – her love of the King of Rock and Roll ran so deep that she visited Graceland twice, collected memorabilia and even installed what was later described as a shrine to him at Chatsworth. [1] Read more

01 Mar 2026

Susannah Authors, Books, Children's Books, Newsletter 10 Comments Permalink

Winnie-the-Pooh is 100

Susannah 1 March 2026 10 Comments

Did you know that the bear of little brain, Winnie-the-Pooh, is 100 years old this year? Read more

01 Mar 2026

Susannah Authors, Newsletter 2 Comments Permalink

The King’s Painter

Susannah 1 March 2026 2 Comments

As you might have gathered from my various posts on the subject, the Tudor era is one of my favourite historical periods. Read more

01 Mar 2026

Susannah Authors, Newsletter 4 Comments Permalink

Mark Twain’s Typewriter

Susannah 1 March 2026 4 Comments

Did you know that the first author in the world to send his publisher a manuscript typed on a typewriter was Mark Twain? Read more

01 Mar 2026

Susannah Books, Literary Trees, Newsletter No Comments Permalink

Literary Trees – The Lemonade Tree

Susannah 1 March 2026 No Comments

In the grounds of Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren’s home at Näs, Vimmerby, stands a huge hollow elm tree. Read more

01 Mar 2026

Susannah Poem of the Month 6 Comments Permalink

Ursula Bethell & Time

Susannah 1 March 2026 6 Comments

I am currently in New Zealand and so it seems a good time to include a Kiwi poem Read more

01 Feb 2026

Susannah Newsletter 17 Comments Permalink

What’s in Your Mind’s Eye?

Susannah 1 February 2026 17 Comments

Have you ever heard of ‘aphantasia’? it is a newly coined term that describes the absence of a mind’s eye. Read more