S.C. Skillman's Blog, page 3
June 26, 2024
Blog Tour for Maressa Mortimer’s New Novel ‘Downstream’
Book Blog Tour for YA Dystopian novel ‘Downstream’ by Maressa Mortimer.Today I’m pleased to be taking part in the Blog Tour for Maressa Mortimer‘s new YA novel: Downstream, the third in her Elabi Chronicles. These books are set in a dystopian world exercising control over the hearts and minds of their citizens. Downstream may be found here on Amazon.
Here are the blurbs for Books 1 and 2 in The Chronicles of Elabi.Book 1: Walled CityGax is a young adult who enters the city-state of Elabi undercover as a missionary. His mission is to infiltrate a society that does not allow for beliefs or emotions. Elabi has a culture based on logic and factual thinking, and a view of relationships Gax comes up against when he tries to share the Gospel. His own worldview is challenged when the city’s control hinders his evangelism, limiting his opportunities to reach out to share his faith with the people in this first book of the Elabi Chronicles. Will Gax survive long enough to spread the Gospel, or will he be sent beyond the Hills?
Book 2: Beyond the HillsMacia Durus, daughter of the well known Brutus Durus AMP, works hard to achieve a life of honour and prestige in her beloved Elabi. When a so-called “friend” challenges her priorities, Macia’s confusion threatens her carefully constructed plans. And her decision to investigate a forbidden book could have serious consequences for Macia as well as her family, turning their lives upside down.
About the Author, Maressa MortimerMaressa is a lovely fellow author I’ve met several times – we’ve met up at writers’ conferences and festivals and writers and shared our writing journeys and supported each other on those journeys, on and offline. Maressa has also helped me in my research for my forthcoming book on Gloucestershire, since that is where she lives!
Here’s a picture of us during a meet-up at a Stroud cafe.
Authors SC Skillman and Maressa Mortimer meet over coffee in Stroud, Gloucestershire December 2022AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY Maressa grew up in the Netherlands and moved to England soon after finishing teaching training college. Married to Pastor Richard Mortimer, she and Richard live in a Cotswold village with their four children. She is a home-school mum, enjoying the time spent with family, travelling, reading, and turning life into stories. She wants to use her stories to show practical Christian living in a fallen world.
Author Maressa MortimerBLURBRadio signals have been picked up that might reveal the location of Downstream. Macia longs to find her mother there and tries to persuade her friends Gax and Cecilia to join her in the search. But is it a dangerous mistake or a mission from God? Many difficulties await them and they will need to trust God as they encounter darkness and danger, reaching out with the Light.
My ReviewYoung Adult Dystopian novels are among my favourite genres and I’ve read several trilogies: The Hunger Games, The Declaration Trilogy, The Maze Runner, The Newland Trilogy being just some of them. So I expect a sinister, chilling scenario in which the main character battles injustice, crimes against humanity in some kind of ‘brave new world’ run by an autocratic Party which controls individuals through tight repression, secrecy, and ruthless punishments for failure to comply.
In Book 3 of Maressa’s trilogy, the three main protagonists, Macia, Caecilia and Gax, are teenagers with the courage to rebel and defy the prevailing order, and they source their strength from the loyalty and love of their allies. Maressa’s trilogy is outstanding for the fact that it is underpinned by a strong spiritual theme.
Macia is setting off on a quest to locate Downstream and find her mother; her journey will take her through the jungle, the river, and the village of Colchuyni which can only be reached via the town of Aniquist. It is dangerous, risky and challenging, and she will need jungle survival skills. Her friends Gax and Caecilia agree to go with her, and they all spend a long time preparing. They are taking books with them in huge rucksacks and will need to walk across mud flats which can only be crossed again one year later.
Once in Aniquist they find a friend, Riu, who helps them. Riu eventually becomes my favourite character, along with the pair of ferrets whom the group adopts! We learn Aniquist is ruled by a macabre religious sect, compulsory for all. Because they resist this, Gax is abducted and beaten up by the Chief Elder of the Cult. They rescue him and escape into jungle, pursued by fanatic Elders from the Cult.
From here on there is a very strong sense of the geographical terrain as they struggle through the jungle dogged by murderous Elders, crocodile and numerous physical survival challenges – all very vividly and convincingly depicted.
How they come through peril and adversity makes up the fast-paced plot of the book, together with the horrifying discoveries they make when they do meet up with Macia’s mother and little brother, learn the terrible consequences of breaking away from Elabi, and come ever closer to the sinister truth of the true nature of the mysterious and much-feared Downstream.
The intense narrative drives the story forward through shocking revelations and further suffering. To avoid plot spoilers I cannot reveal the ultimate outcome but I will admit I loved the ending!
LINKS TO BUY
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Website
https://www.instagram.com/vicarioush.ome
Linktr.ee
https://linktr.ee/Vicarioushome
Look out on the socials for the hashtag #DOWNSTREAM
Why not join me on my writing journey and sign up to receive my monthly newsletter straight to your inbox. I share gems and snippets from my research and news and insights from the writing and publishing worlds. Also you’ll be the first to hear when I have a new book out.
And if you enjoy reading my blog posts here, please do buymeacoff.ee/scskillman – I’d be very grateful.
About MeHello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new contemporary fantasy novel in progress, called Director’s Cut.
In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.
I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group!
Author and Blogger SC Skillman at the British Library in London
June 6, 2024
Book Reviews: The Newland Trilogy by E.M. Carter: YA Dystopian Trilogy
Today, I ‘m pleased to share my reviews of two outstanding young adult novels, books 1 and 2 of The Newland Trilogy published by Resolute Books in 2023 and 2024.
The three novels in The Newland Trilogy, a YA Dystopian Trilogy by E.M. Carter published by Resolute BooksI received ARCs of these two excellent novels, for my honest review. Here are my reviews of these first two books in the trilogy.
‘Repression Ground’ by E.M. Carter, book 1 in The Newland Trilogy published by Resolute Books 2023 Repression GroundThis story is set in a nightmarish post-pandemic world in a country called Newland – which, we are to understand, is future England. The pandemic is known as “the Scourge”. Life prior to that is now known as “the Before” and the brainwashed inhabitants of Newland know nothing about the past – so this resonates with present-day “rewriting of history” by the propagandists of autocratic and tyrannical regimes. However, to my mind, the extent of their ignorance does suggest a time gap of several generations between the dystopian world of the story, and our present-day society.
This is a world of tight control, taken to extremes, and there are many graphic descriptions of relentless child abuse, psychological, emotional and physical, in a Training Institution known as “Ashton Training House”. Institutional abuse is rife here, in a society with a ruthlessly-enforced One-Child Policy using a squadron of NForce Officers. All electronic media is Prefixed with N for Newday – so we have NPhones, NSlates, NCom, NBook and NDOS 7 – Newday Operating System 7. I was delighted to see, however that one of the main protagonists has consummate skills in IT and is able to break into these systems!
The Party who control this society are inspired and motivated by their ultimate authority, the Illumen. Children in Ashton Training House are known only as Girl or Boy followed by a single letter of the alphabet and a surname composed only of the trade or business of their father. Everyone is judged entirely accordingly to their Productivity. Only when the children grow to adulthood as full Productives are they entitled to receive a name.
The Unproductive get removed to a mysterious and sinister location euphemistically known as the Home. Those who rebel find themselves in the hideous “Compound Think”. Within Ashton Training House, the children are punished by incarceration in The Think, supposedly to make them bring their views into line with The Party; but in reality, solitary confinement in a bare cold room.
The main protagonists are three teenagers: Amy, Carys and Jacob. The teachers in the Ashton Training House are mainly sadists: Miss Warden and Miss Principal, and many others. The institution’s gardener is also highly malevolent as are the majority of the adults who control the children, though Trainer One is a bit more reasonable and kind.
Jacob is an ally to Carys, has plenty of spirit and high technical gifts, and plans to mastermind their escape into The Outside where Carys hopes to go to the Home and find her parents (sent there years before).
How Jacob and Carys manage their escape, along with their friend Amy, and other friends they hope to rescue too, forms the thrilling substance of this story. They survive many crises, on several occasions slip the net despite traumatic recapture, and penetrate Compound Think to carry out more rescues. Along the way they start to have their eyes opened about past freedoms, the lies they have been told, the history that has been falsified and the propaganda they have believed. Ultimately they will discover the true nature of the Home, and what happened to their parents and all others who were taken there.
This is a tense and compelling novel – and it is strong stuff. For anyone sensitive about child abuse, or indeed with experience of it, this would make for a challenging read. The writing is sharp and crisp, and extremely vivid. The story made me re-think some of my own attitudes to control of human behaviour in a community. There is plenty to reflect on here, both about our present world, and about the possibilities ahead if certain paths are followed and extremists have their way. Highly recommended.
‘Rebellion Ground’ by E.M. Carter, book 2 in The Newland Trilogy, published by Resolute Books in 2024Rebellion GroundThis is book 2 in E.M. Carter’s YA Dystopian trilogy, and in this strong, tense, driving narrative, the author sends our three teenage heroes away from the authoritarian city and out into the areas devastated by the New Day regime, inhabited only by groups of rebels and dissidents who have learned to survive in harsh conditions.
When the trio save the life of an apparent stranger, they are lured back to the hellish Compound at the centre of Newland, where they meet the repulsive and chilling head of the regime. They are divided, then coerced into serving the regime in the glaring eye of Newland media. But not all of them: you will need to read the book to find out who escapes, and who has to face the dual challenges of physical survival and the cruellest betrayal of friends.
In this second book I found the comparisons with The Hunger Games were very strong, so it is safe to say that fans of that hugely successful trilogy will love this!
Highly recommended: a powerful story opening up to us one possible chilling future we may never believe will happen… but which we humans are perfectly capable of straying into without even recognising what we are doing.
Highly recommended novel from an inspiring author.
Why not join me on my writing journey and sign up to receive my monthly newsletter straight to your inbox in which I share gems and snippets from my research discoveries, news and insights from the writing and publishing worlds, plus you’ll be the first to know when I have a new book coming out.
About Me
Hello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new contemporary fantasy novel in progress, called Director’s Cut.
In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.
I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group! And if you’re a regular reader of these blog posts and would like to support my writing journey, please buymeacoff.ee/scskillman.
Author SC Skillman in The British Library, London.
May 29, 2024
Her Last Summer by Nina Manning
I had vowed I would never get back into the water, but of course, this was always going to be the outcome. I never really had a choice. When out of work actress Rey Levine is offered her dream acting role, she knows she has to make it work. But there’s a catch: the film […]
Her Last Summer by Nina Manning
May 21, 2024
New book on the way: Paranormal Gloucestershire
I’m pleased to announce that I’ve just signed a contract to write a fourth book for Amberley which is Paranormal Gloucestershire.
Woodchester Mansion, Nympsfield, Gloucestershire (photo credit Jamie Robinson)
The Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton under Edge, Gloucestershire (photo credit Jamie Robinson)
View of The Ancient Ram, Wotton under Edge, from the main road (photo credit Sheila Robinson)I’ve already begun visiting some of the fascinating locations in Gloucestershire which have a rich history and are surrounded by many curious tales.
These include some of the locations shown above: Woodchester Mansion, Tewkesbury Abbey and the Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton under Edge.
Tewkesbury Abbey (photo credit Sheila Robinson)I’ve also visited Berkeley Castle, and my next visits will be to Chavenage House and Owlpen Manor.
As with my previous books for Amberley, this one will have 20,000 words of text and 100 original photographs.
Here’s a taste of what will be in the book.
Gloucestershire is a county rich in beauty, history, and a high level of spiritual, mysterious, and paranormal activity. With a profusion of haunted inns, castles, houses and landscape features, the sensitive continue to feel the presence of spirits of the past absorbed into the fabric of places as diverse as the Iron Age burial chamber of Belas Knapp Long Barrow, the prisons at Gloucester and Littledean, and the 12th century Ancient Ram Inn at Wotton under Edge. In this book I will also be looking at the stories behind the hauntings at Sudeley Castle, Chavenage House, St Briavels Castle, Woodchester Manson and Owlpen Manor.
Many report unsettling experiences at the Abbeys in Gloucester and Tewkesbury, the villages of Prestbury and Arlingham, and in the Montpelier and Pittville areas of Cheltenham. I visit eerie locations and unearth a selection of chilling tales shared by visitors. With everything I investigate in Gloucestershire I will question further to clarify the surprising or less well-known aspects, and unearth the quirky elements that may underlie what is known about the hauntings of this fascinating county.
Why not sign up to join me on my writing journey and receive my monthly newsletter direct to your inbox in which I share gems and snippets from my research discoveries, news and insights from the writing and publishing worlds and new cover reveals. Plus you’ll be the first to know when I have a new book coming out.
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May 8, 2024
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Five: What further stories can you tell about your time at the BBC?
Broadcasting House, London W1AWe’d be queueing up for lunch in the canteen at the top of BH and I’d see a familiar media figure in the queue just ahead of me, and think, ‘He looks much smaller and more ‘ordinary’ in real life’. It’s true that people always appear much sharper, brighter, larger-than-life on television and cinema screens; and we can put that down to the skills of the lighting directors, make-up artists and camera operators!
However, I can say that when I met Cliff Richard face-to-face at a reception in the crypt at All Souls, Langham Place (across the road) he looked just as good as I expected!
All Souls, Langham Place, London W1AThat came about because my producer was away for a few days and an invitation came in from the Scripture Union for him to attend a reception to launch Cliff’s new initiative, a series of readings on cassette from John’s Gospel called ‘Start the Day.’ I lost no time at all in inviting myself instead of my producer; I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to meet Cliff.
I found myself in the same group as Cliff with our flutes of champagne and chatted to him for a couple of minutes as a representative of BBC Radio; he was very natural, pleasant, and attractive and I was thrilled to meet him.
Cliff Richard in the 1970sIn BBC Schools Radio religious programmes, we sometimes recorded live on location in All Souls. School parties from all over the UK would be invited and the church would be packed with teachers and eager children. At the time Michael Flanders and Donald Swann were very popular comic song-writers and entertainers, and I was stationed just outside the door of the vestry where Donald lay in wait ready for the moment when the presenter introduced him.
The Songs of Michael Flanders and Donald SwannI gave Donald the signal: ‘You’re on, Donald,’ and he sped past and lightly sprung onto the platform straight to the piano and began playing ‘Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud’ for which he was renowned at the time.
Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, comedy due, ‘At The Drop of a Hat’ recordingWe became used to working with nationally-known presenters, and one of them, famous for hosting a much loved religious programme on BBC TV, presented several of our programmes for schools. I had to do a private viewing for him of our new technology (which of course sounds almost primitive now!); that is, Radiovision. The BBC would supply a set of slides that accompanied a radio programme schools would purchase as a package, so teachers would play them in the classroom.
Our popular presenter came in, charming, good-looking and charismatic, and saw straightaway that he would be hosted by me for the next hour in the absence of my producer.I’ll call him RG (not his real initials). He was well known among the secretaries for being flirtatious (if I put that politely). There we encounter the BBC culture at the time – and in many workplaces, I’m sure. There was a culture of, ‘He’s a bit of a lad, just laugh at it, don’t take it seriously.’ I won’t name here the hugely reviled BBC celebrity (someone else, I hasten to add) whose reputation eventually cast the BBC in a very bad light.
I certainly experienced a selection of moves from this handsome presenter’s repertoire during that radiovision showing. Fortunately some of my colleagues came in too to watch so I wasn’t left entirely to his mercy.
Afterwards, my producer said conversationally, ‘Was old R up to his tricks again in there?’ and we all laughed it off as we always did. I must say a good sense of humour carried us through at the BBC!
Why not sign up to receive my monthly newsletter straight to your inbox? I’d love to have you join us! I share gems and snippets form my research discoveries, news and insights from the writing and publishing worlds, and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new book coming out!
Sign up here to join me on my writing journey!
Hello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new contemporary fantasy novel in progress, called Director’s Cut.
In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.
I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group!
April 24, 2024
Book Review: Small Wars in Madrid by Anthony Ferner
Today I ‘m pleased to share my review of an outstanding new novel, to be published by Fairlight Moderns on 14 May 2024.
A paperback copy of the new contemporary novel, ‘Small Wars in Madrid’ by Anthony Ferner, published by Fairlight Moderns14 May 2024
‘Small Wars in Madrid’ by Anthony Ferner is a novel that evoked a number of emotions in me as a reader; at different times, I felt shocked, moved, and a strong sense of illumination.
This contemporary novel set in Spain defeated my expectations. Although the main plot, and the blurb, tells of a traumatised Spanish naval officer trying to recover his identity and his marriage following a tragic episode in his career, much of it was about his confused sense of himself as a Jewish person brought up in an adoptive Catholic family. I found the novel compulsive reading and the subject matter totally fascinating.
I have often wondered exactly what it means to be a cultural Jew, one who may even be agnostic or atheist; and why it may mean so much to take part in all the Jewish festivals and customs regardless of faith. In this story, we find David re-negotiating his relationships with two committed and observant Jewish women: his wife, Margalit, and his newly-rediscovered biological mother, Elena. Alongside this he is also struggling to manage his trauma. I have had so many unanswered questions about the essence of Jewishness, and in this story Anthony Ferner opens up that experience in the most vivid and compelling way.
‘Small Wars in Madrid’ by Anthony FernerI learned many new things in reading this book; I loved the main protagonist, David, and especially his best friend Marce, his companion who suffered alongside him during an intense and terrifying period of their lives fleeing violent militia groups in Lithuania. Incorporated within the novel was a tense survival story which I also found totally gripping.
Highly recommended novel from an inspiring author.
Why not join me on my writing journey and sign up to receive my monthly newsletter straight to your inbox in which I share gems and snippets from my research discoveries, news and insights from the writing and publishing worlds, plus you’ll be the first to know when I have a new book coming out.
About Me
Hello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new contemporary fantasy novel in progress, called Director’s Cut.
In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.
I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group!
Author SC Skillman in The British Library, London.
April 10, 2024
The Curious, Quirky and Intriguing Surprises in Shakespeare’s County of Warwickshire – a Review of ‘Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire’
Today I’m sharing a wonderful and detailed review of my book ‘Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire,’ which was shared on Goodreads.
The author of this review, Mari, wrote and published a trilogy of novels about family life, set in Oxford, England, which explores the relationship between science and religion in 21st century Britain; The Mullins Family Saga.
Landscape image, with the words ‘Time for Review’ and a pile of booksMari Howard very sadly died in 2023, and continues to be much missed not only by those who loved her, her family and friends, but also by many of her fellow authors who benefited from her stimulating comments on authors’ Facebook groups, and from their conversations with her at writers’ conferences. This detailed and thoughtful review is characteristic of Mari, and the way she approached her life and her creativity.
MARI’S REVIEW OF ‘ILLUSTRATED TALES OF WARWICKSHIRE’
S.C. Skillman has done meticulous and painstaking research to bring all the rich detail of this county to life in her latest book, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, illustrated on every page with photos taken by herself or members of her family.
Warwickshire has long been a centre of pilgrimage for tourists with an interest in its most famous historical figure, the writer William Shakespeare, and I remember visiting as a child to explore Shakespeare’s birthplace, and the various houses and other buildings and locations he would have known. I remembered being thrilled by the numbers of timbered Medieval-style buildings which remain, thrilling to me as a child who had recently discovered and was reading many children’s historical novels in addition to enjoying Shakespeare’s mysterious plays.
To set Warwickshire in context, before I began reading I first looked at a counties map of England, and discovered this county is surrounded by nine others (counting Derbyshire which the border just touches!). It is indeed in the centre of England, indeed for well-known writer from a sea-faring nation, Shakespeare was born and raised in possibly the furthest county from the coast, and in a town surrounded by lush countryside and a nearby Forest which he incorporated in to his writing.
A quick look through the pages of Illustrated Tales tells the reader (possibly a tourist from overseas) that this country is absolutely illustrative of that picture of England which associates us with history, and with a quiet traditional life, surrounded by peaceful views of countryside, set with old churches, and harks back to the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth. And although that is of course only part of the tale — modern life has of course come to Warwickshire in the form of industries (now consigned to the small county of ‘West Midlands’, home to Coventry and the large conurbation Birmingham), the southern part remains mostly rural. Along with counties such as Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire suggests the perceived ‘Englishness’ of England.
The chapters include, under each title, a quotation from one of Shakespeare’s Plays — excepting one. Chapter 13 has no quotation, and tells of an old and grisly local practice, somewhat unpleasant. Otherwise, Skillman has done her homework on what quaint, or creepy, or peculiar is associated with many of the buildings in Stratford, (Shakespeare’s birthplace and childhood home) and surrounded towns and villages, including an interesting ritual associated with paying dues to the Lord of the Manor, (the ‘Wroth Silver ceremony’) which remains to this day – including a candlelit ceremony at dawn, in the open air, and a hearty breakfast at the local Inn (now the Queen’s Head at Broughton, but traditionally at the Dun Cow at Stretton-on-Dunsmore) to conclude proceedings. It is said this ceremony has roots in Anglo-Saxon times.
Also among the famous associated with Warwickshire are other literary figures: J.R.R. Tolkien (whose creation, The Shire, does seem to echo a feel of the place), Malory who wrote the original ‘Morte d’Arthur’, and the actress Sarah Siddens, who began her working life not on the stage but as a Lady’s Maid at Guy’s Cliffe, a large house in Warwick itself. And we find that the Forest of Arden has a chapter to itself, (chapter 11 p.73) and is not an invention but a real Forest, though by now existing only in some ancient traditional hedgerows and a few small woodlands, far from the Forest in As You Like It which held dangers such as bears and wolves. Instead however, two very old churches exist in what was Arden, one of which, built before the Norman conquest, remains without modern convenience of any kind and is lit by candles in winter. The author has attended a service there! Shakespeare had relatives living in several villages located in the ancient forest, and his mother was from the family of the Ardens. I really appreciated that Skillman has gone as far as to find out those relatives, giving extra interest to what could just have been a convenient invented woodland, part of the plot of a play.
All manner of interesting details emerge along the way to enhance the locations the tourist might during holiday spent in this county, perhaps using Stratford as a centre and culminating with a visit to see a Shakespeare play, without even delving into the witchcraft and haunting associated with many houses and areas. And to conclude they visit, if there is a fair or similar happening nearby, with of course another English institution, a performance by the Morris Men (and women). I would highly recommend this informative and well produced book to anyone who is thinking about a stay-at-home British holiday, or has friends or relatives visiting from overseas, much more than a ‘guide book’ it is an interesting read, well illustrated and meticulously researched but also very accessible.
April 4, 2024
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Four: What Was Your First Permanent Job?
I’ll always remember my first working day at the BBC in London W1A.
Radio mic and headphones.
Presenter and interviewer in studio with radio microphones on the desk in front of them.I stepped into the BBC Radio office at 1 Portland Place, W1A, opposite Broadcasting House (to be known forever as BH).
By the end of that day, I had experienced my First BBC Crisis.
I was working for one of the producers in a department the BBC lost years ago – BBC Schools Radio.
At that time, they used reel to reel tape machines in studio, and portable Uhers for ‘voxpop’ interviews on location, and they edited by cutting tape with razor blades.
My producer sat me in his office and told me to listen to his latest programme as it went out over the air, gave me the stopwatch so I could time music, links, drama and copyright material as if I was in studio, and then he disappeared off somewhere else.
I sat there mesmerised, listening, just getting used to the uniqueness of my situation, letting the presenter’s voice roll on, when suddenly the door burst open & the secretary from the programme office next door came in & said in a thrilled voice, ‘I hear you have an unedited repeat going out over the air!’
I stared at her nonplussed and then she vanished, and a few seconds later the Chief Assistant, Schools Radio, rushed in, and said to me in a confidential tone of voice, ‘I’m going to pretend I care, but I don’t really.’
He then also vanished.
I tried to look as if I knew what was going on, but next my producer entered, and said dramatically, ‘Now everybody knows I’m not God.’
Finally, he too disappeared leaving me alone in the office, stunned.
All I needed then was for somebody to walk in and say, ‘Welcome to the BBC.’
I wrote a daily journal throughout my years at the BBC and have many hilarious and quirky stories to tell.
Once when we were recording in one of the BBC music studios at Maida Vale I saw a notice stuck up in the control room where I sat.
It said, ‘Beware! Naked Razor Blades Are Dangerous!’
Underneath one of the studio managers had scrawled, ‘So are people with ideas.’
Why not sign up to receive my monthly newsletter straight to your inbox? I’d love to have you join us! I share gems and snippets from my research discoveries, news, and insights from the writing and publishing worlds, and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new book coming out!Sign up here to join me on my writing journey!
Hello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new contemporary fantasy novel in progress, called Director’s Cut.
In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.
I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group!
March 20, 2024
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Three: What Books Did You Love Reading as a Child? What Made You Want to be a Writer? What Authors Have Influenced You?
A grid of SC Skillman’s favourite children’s books: ‘Pippi Longstocking’ by Astrid Lindgren; ‘The 101 Dalmations’ by Dodie Smith; ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’ by Norton Juster; ‘Heidi’ by Joann Spyri; ‘A Little Princess’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett; and ‘Anne of Green Gables’ by L.M MontgomeryMy earliest choices included the stories of Mary Plain by Gwynedd Rae – a little bear born in the Bearpit at Berne in Switzerland who is found and adopted by a man she calls The Owl Man because of the glasses he wears, and she is taken by him on a journey including a stay in a hotel where she also meets The Fur Coat Lady.
Other favourite books in my childhood were Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking, Dodie Smith’s The Hundred and One Dalmatians, Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth and Norman Lindsay’s The Magic Pudding, an Australian children’s story, as well as Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat. All of these books I thought witty, brilliant and imaginative.
Book cover for Enid Blyton’s children’s novel: ‘The Famous Five’The adventure stories of Enid Blyton were among my top favourites too. So many authors have mentioned Enid Blyton when asked what made them want to become writers. I even believe you can tell the personal characteristics of that author from their favourite member of The Famous Five. My favourite member of the five was George! She was rebellious, she hated being thought of as a submissive girl, and she wanted to be as adventurous, intrepid and risk-taking as any boy.
And certain beloved books I read over and over again: Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, Heidi by Joanna Spyri, The Little Princess and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, What Katy Did and What Katy Did at School by Susan Coolidge.
Among the most thrilling books I’ve ever read is King Solomon’s Mines by Rider Haggard. I also enjoyed the books of Monica Dickens: e. g. My Turn to Make the Tea and the stories of how she tried her hand at a career in nursing and a career as a new reporter. Again I found her a very funny writer, and one who described her experiences in ways I could identify with.
In addition poetry was very important to me, especially the poems of Walter De La Mare and narrative poems like The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes and The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I have long loved Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays, especially A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Later I discovered the Liverpool Poets – Roger McGough, Brian Patten and Adrian Henri. I admired their poetry in print and at public readings.
What made you want to be a writer?My answer to that, as I’ve said above is: when I was a child I read Enid Blyton, and her fiction inspired me to write children’s adventures stories like her. I wrote many, but none ever made it to publication. I particularly enjoyed the Famous Five books and also The Castle of Adventure and The Island of Adventure. I loved stories in which the children outwitted nefarious adults. And George was my favourite, closely followed by Timothy the dog!
The love of writing that Enid Blyton first instilled into me has never left me, but only strengthened over the years. If I’m in the audience at a workshop or conference or public talks I’ll always have my notebook with me, and am apparently writing down everything that’s said, but in reality recording all the names of the other people on the workshop together with whatever personal snippets of information they share about themselves.
Which authors have influenced you?
A selection of SC Skillman’s favourite authors: Charlotte Bronte; Jane Austen; Wilkie Collins; Thomas Hardy; JK Rowling; JRR TolkienI have loved many books in my life, but the ones that stand out for me all seem to have three ingredients: archetypal themes, emotional charge and X factor.
Some have the power to shock and electrify the reader: authors such as Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene and Shusaku Endo. Others have characters that haunt you through the years: Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester, Cathy and Heathcliffe, Lizzy Bennett and Darcy, Pip and Estella; perhaps Bathsheba from Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd or Raskolnikov in Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, or Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray; or the master-criminal Count Fosco in Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White, or maybe Dorothea in George Eliot’s Middlemarch or Nicholas Darrow in Susan Howatch’s Mystical Paths.
And I also favour authors who are witty, perceptive and brilliantly funny – like P.G. Wodehouse, Tom Sharpe, David Lodge, Jerome K. Jerome, Dodie Smith, Stella Gibbons and Jilly Cooper.
I respond to authors whose work shows warmth and compassion, such as Katie Fforde and Joanna Trollope, or those who sail to the furthest reaches of the human psyche, such as Iris Murdoch or Susan Howatch.
And among my most-loved books are those which tell of a small person harnessing the power of loyalty, friendship and love to overcome great odds – JK. Rowling’s Harry Potter stories, JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, or C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I have marvelled, too, at the imaginative fireworks in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy.
Finally, as a postscript to this, I remember a line from Virginia Woolf’s essay How Should One Read a Book? “I have sometimes dreamt, at least, that when the Day of Judgement dawns…The Almighty will turn to Peter and will say, not without a certain envy when he sees us coming with our books under our arms, ‘Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them here. They have loved reading.’”
Hello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes psychological, paranormal and mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new contemporary fantasy novel in progress called Director’s Cut.
In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.
I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing creative nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group!
Why not sign up to join me on my writing journey?You’ll receive my newsletter straight to your inbox every month. I share gems and snippets from my research discoveries, news and insights from the publishing and writing worlds, plus you’ll be the first to know when I have a new book coming out.
I’d love to have you join us! You can sign up here and you’ll receive a free ebook: Pursuing Your Creative Passion, a taster from my inspiration ebook Perilous Path.
March 7, 2024
Author Research – Gems in Paranormal Gloucestershire
Author research in Gloucestershire for me means a photography trip as well, in order to gather the best images to go with my stories. This is for my forthcoming nonfiction book ‘Paranormal Gloucestershire‘ which is to be published by Amberley and which I will deliver to the publishers before October 2024, for publication in 2025.
On the way I find unexpected delights which have nothing to do with ghosts – and I include pictures of them, for they are places ‘haunted by beauty’.
Here, then, is a foretaste of some of the photos that will be in the book. They are, from top to bottom and left to right,
GLOUCESTER: Dick Whittington’s; the Cathedral; The New Inn
ARLINGHAM: Slowwe House
ST BRIAVEL’S: St Briavel’s Castle
NEWNHAM: the River Severn
LITTLEDEAN: Littledean Hall, Littledean Jail Museum
GLOUCESTER: the Old Prison; The Fleece; and Blackfriars.
Views of Gloucestershire – Gloucester, Arlingham, Littledean, the River Severn at Newnham, and St Briavel’s Castle. All photos, copyright SC Skillman.
Do join me on my writing journey and sign up to receive my monthly newsletter straight to your inbox. I share gems and snippets from my research discoveries and news and insights from the writing and publishing worlds, plus you’ll be the first to know when I have a new book coming out.
AUTHO BIO
Hello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes psychological, paranormal and mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new light gothic horror novel in progress.
In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.
I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group!
