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Barbara Gaskell Denvil

Goodreads Author

Born

in Cheltenham, The United Kingdom

Website

http://barbaragaskelldenvil.com

Twitter

BGDenvil

Genre

Historical Fiction, Children's, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Member Since

September 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/barbaragaskelldenvil

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I was born approximately two hundred years ago (It sometimes feels that way) in Gloucestershire, England, right in the heart of the Cotswolds. After a few years, I moved to London and fell in love with the history which oozes through the old stones, and the medieval atmosphere leaks from the beautiful old buildings. For many years, I walked the old cobbled lanes and researched the 15th century from original sources, and the books in the British Museum. I worked there in the Department of Ancient Documents, a place which I adored, full of scrolls illuminated by medieval monks, and hordes of informative parchments.

My father was an academic and playwright, my mother was a retired teacher, and my sister was an author of fantasy. I had no other I was born approximately two hundred years ago (It sometimes feels that way) in Gloucestershire, England, right in the heart of the Cotswolds. After a few years, I moved to London and fell in love with the history which oozes through the old stones, and the medieval atmosphere leaks from the beautiful old buildings. For many years, I walked the old cobbled lanes and researched the 15th century from original sources, and the books in the British Museum. I worked there in the Department of Ancient Documents, a place which I adored, full of scrolls illuminated by medieval monks, and hordes of informative parchments.

My father was an academic and playwright, my mother was a retired teacher, and my sister was an author of fantasy. I had no other passion except the arts, and books

Already a passionate reader half-crazed by the avid consumption of literature, I had grown out of Enid Blyton when I was about six. Next came a passion for Georgette Heyer, although far too young to understand romance. Once again it was the historical details I loved and I moved quickly onto Shakespeare, Dorothy Dunnett, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and a host of others.

I started writing. Nonsense naturally! But I kept it up and eventually write articles and short stories for current magazines and newspapers. I was also a tutor for scriptwriting, and a reviewer for Books and Bookmen. That kept me busy until I married. A husband and three little girls (including identical twins) were a full-time job, and for most of the time I also worked at secretarial jobs, keeping the threat of starvation at bay and paying for the baked beans.

After leaving my husband, I started writing again but this time I was distracted by something different, as I had a wonderful 18-year romance with a man who lived on his yacht in the Mediterranean, sailing during spring, summer, and autumn, and exploring Europe by car in winter.

My partner died, and I was bereft, deciding to come to Australia for a change instead of sitting around in stagnant tears. Writing again, and seriously this time, I wrote full length books in all my favourite genres. I was accepted by one of the big top 5 publishers, and two of my historical crime/mysteries were published in the traditional manner. However, although I was reasonably well paid and sold reasonably well, I also found myself disliking the control system. I had to write as commanded, insert bucket loads more romance, accept covers I hated, and generally do as I was told.

Now, happy and free, I self-publish, and enjoy every minute of my writing. I live in Australia, adore the weather, the birds and the wildlife, and live a placid life during the day and a wonderfully exciting one in my dreams at night.

I have written fantasy and historical fiction. Very different genres, but all are crime mysteries in one way or another. I have almost finished my children’s series (Bannister’s Muster series, for middle-grade children), no crime here, but a vibrant mixture of history and fantasy. After this is complete I am moving onto a series of modern crime mysteries, and I’m looking forward to that.

Writing is and always has been my passion, now that I am able to do this full time, I am in my element and life couldn’t be better (a little more sunshine might help though).
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Barbara Gaskell Denvil’s books

Average rating: 4.03 · 1,262 ratings · 216 reviews · 38 distinct works • Similar authors

	Blessop's Wife 3.95 avg rating — 332 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sumerford's Autumn 4.04 avg rating — 133 ratings — published 2011 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Flame Eater 3.90 avg rating — 125 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Satin Cinnabar 4.12 avg rating — 100 ratings — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Deception of Consequences 4.17 avg rating — 89 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A White Horizon (Stars and a Wind #1) 3.78 avg rating — 51 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fair Weather (Barometer Sequence, #1) 4.11 avg rating — 81 ratings — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Snap (Bannister's Muster #1) 4.08 avg rating — 37 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Singing Star (Stars and a Wind #3) 4.35 avg rating — 26 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Summer of Discontent (Historical Mysteries Collection Book 6) 4.09 avg rating — 22 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Barbara Gaskell Denvil's Blog

Ideas to Replace Sliding Pocket Doors

Sliding pocket doors – Sliding doors are a popular option in houses with platforms or patios in the back , because they allow the entrance of a lot of natural light and allow to have views while connecting the outer space with the interior. But once they start to get old, the sliding doors stop operating smoothly or efficiently. The rollers and rails wear away with each use, the handles become mis Read more of this blog post »

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Series by Barbara Gaskell Denvil

Historical Mysteries Collection (5 books)
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Barbara Gaskell Denvil (Goodreads Author)

4.00 avg rating — 779 ratings

Stars and a Wind (3 books)
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Barbara Gaskell Denvil (Goodreads Author)

4.06 avg rating — 108 ratings

The Barometer Sequence (2 books)
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Barbara Gaskell Denvil (Goodreads Author)

4.13 avg rating — 88 ratings

Bannister's Muster (6 books)
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Barbara Gaskell Denvil (Goodreads Author)

4.29 avg rating — 68 ratings

The Games People Play (3 books)
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Barbara Gaskell Denvil (Goodreads Author)

4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings

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Barbara Denvil rated a book it was amazing The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci I strongly recommend this book. It brings so much to life, both the courage and success, along with the sadness and appalling cruelty of the second world war. Here we follow the French Resistance, ...more
Jan 03, 2021 02:13AM · 2 likes · like · see review
Barbara Denvil finished reading A White Horizon (Stars and a Wind #1) by Barbara Gaskell Denvil (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 04, 2019 01:09PM · 16 likes · like