Math Bird's Blog: Westside of the Dee, page 3

Witches Copse (enhanced Audio Version)

1979, the Winter of Discontent, and gun for hire, Elizabeth Dayton’s career is brought to a shuddering halt when a job leaves a young girl in the hospital.

But she gets a chance at redemption when renowned barrister Quentin Quinby pays her to travel to a remote Welsh village and escort an acquaintance back to London from the ominous Witches Copse …

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Border Tales: Flintshire's Literary Mosaic

This area, rich in history and natural beauty, has inspired many writers. Stories that reveal the complexities of life in this part of Wales. Whether you're a long-time lover of Welsh literature or new to the wonders of this region's storytelling, this episode promises to be a captivating journey across the Dee Estuary and the Flintshire lowlands.

Border Tales: Flintshire's Literary Mosaic

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me, you, the sun, and the moon

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published I’m always wishing for the sun, yet when it comes all eager, smiling, blinding me as I drive and moidering me as I read, it’s me that starts to ...

Episode 5 - Border Tales: Flintshire's Literary Mosaic

At the Crescent-Mill pool

The sky we looked down on was so old

a snapshot of its birth,

yesterday’s stars bristled over still waters 

the moon skimmed across its surface

breaking those dark stems of reed,

our eyes caught as flickers in that glassy blue-green. 

As silent as the birds, our smiles hid in shadows,

we were held by the youth in our faces,

believing we would never age.

Believing we would never age,

we were held by the youth in our faces.

As silent as the birds, our smiles hid in shadows,

our eyes caught as flickers. 

In tha...

Beyond the Page: Reading Like a Writer

Like many aspiring writers, when I started taking my writing seriously, I sought advice from many sources such as ‘How to’ Writing Books, Writing blogs, and journals. Also, I enrolled in a few creative writing courses and, in my 40s, went on to gain a PhD. A plethora of writing advice is available, but some should be taken with varying degrees of salt. From my experience, writing is the best way to improve as a writer. Most of us know this, and my reiteration offers no new words of wisdom. Howev...

Close to Home

Why the best stories begin right outside our window

Delving into the rich tapestry of our hometown's history, people, and culture has always been fertile ground for storytelling. For me, and I imagine for many writers, it often pays to embrace and explore the power of the ‘local.' which I discuss in this short article.

Close to Home

Like many of us, I’ve longed to write from a young age. I don’t entirely know why. I suppose the idea always appealed to me, linked perhaps to wanting an outlet for a vivid imagination. Like many, I was enthralled by books, films, TV, and radio, and with our imaginations stimulated in various compelling and thrilling ways, it seems only natural to have the desire and the need to tell our own stories. The sentiment grew stronger with age, and in my late teens, I decided it was all I wanted to do....

Unbroken Covenants: How Witchcraft Survived the Centuries

A short article about the persistence of witchcraft practices and beliefs and its journey through 19th century America and its influence on my current novel in progress, WITCHES BLOODING. Read HERE

Unbroken Covenants: How Witchcraft Survived the Centuries

I guess if you asked most people to suggest a time in history when witchcraft, its practices and beliefs were at its most abundant and frenzied, many might think of the infamous witch trials and hysteria across Europe during the early and mid-17th Century. Perhaps the question might invoke images of the innocent and victimised strapped upon the ducking stool or Matthew Hopkins, the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General, terrorising those unfortunate enough to be accused across the English Countrys...