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Fresh From the Mind
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Over the Sea to Skye
It’s November and late autumn in Scotland. My brother and I are on a ‘Family Heritage Tour’ —a kind of pilgrimage— to the stomping ground of some of our ancestors—the Macleods of Dunvegan and Talisker on the Hebridean island of Skye, a popular holiday and tourist destination in summer. The tempestuous Atlantic crashes against Skye’s…
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A Sacred Sanctuary in the Mountains: The Essence of Real Japan
It is early spring in Japan. We are to the west of Mount Fuji, about three hours by train from Tokyo. Minobu, nestled on the side of a holy mountain in Yamanashi Prefecture, is off the beaten travel track and has a rich history, beautiful scenery, and spiritual significance as the home of Kuon-ji, the…
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The Cusp between the years in Tuscany
After Rome, the most bucket-listed part of Italy is probably Tuscany. I spent New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day under the Tuscan sun — how special is that? I was on a 12-day ‘Italian Delights’ tour with ExpatExplore (https://expatexplore.com/tours/italian-delights/). It was their last tour of the 2019 season and featured awakening on Christmas morning…
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BLOOMIN’ MARVELLOUS: Joining the Wildflower Watchers in Western New South Wales 2026
There has been a lot of rain (for the western plains). Outback New South…
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Bribie Island: A Day Trip to a forgotten gem or a prequel to retirement?
If you’re planning a trip around South East Queensland, or wondering about spots to…
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The Joy of Writing For Yourself (and no-one else)
In a world filled with publishing schedules, social media posts, newsletters, blogs, and endless…
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Human Writers in a Synthetic World: The persistence of the heart to write in the age of AI
What it’s like being an ageing emerging writer and writing in spite of AI…
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Navigating Trauma in Literary Narratives
[Image: vecteezy.com] I have struggled for many years to fit my ‘novel’ to the…
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Escape to Nature: Six Highlight Parts of The Scenic Rim
Living in Ipswich, on the threshold between Brisbane and the Magnificent Scenic Rim, we…
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Living the Delusion as a Writer
I have just submitted three short stories to yet another competition. This one required…
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Crafting a Story Round the Lived Experience of Trauma
*BEFORE my INFORMATIONAL POST, an UPDATE on PROGRESS I ask potential readers to excuse…
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Weekend Away: Maryborough, Queensland
Photo queens Park, Maryborough. (L Kelly) There’s so much to explore, enjoy and absorb…
