Thank you for your notes on Madiera. I love travelling alone as well. You live by your own at-the-moment schedule, you meet far more locals, and although seeing beautiful sights with a friend is unparalleled, seeing them in solitary compensation has it’s joys.

I travelled alone all over South America for 3 weeks, back in 1979 (before the horrific drug lords distorted everything) and it was wonderful.

Thank you, Kate.

Regards,
William

As a huge audiobook fan I hope an audio version (read to perfection by Patricia Rodriguez again) is on the way.

I know it’s ridiculous to suggest that you should re-jacket the rest of the series just for my sake… but will you please re-jacket the rest of the series as well, for me?

With the upcoming movie (2020-11-20!) interest in the books should skyrocket, and the H&S 50th anniversary editions of Dune and Dune Messiah are by far the best covers available.

I don’t honestly think many voters will change their views without the proof of Brexit disaster (or success, ha ha). So the divisions will continue for a very long time, while inward investment to the UK dries up.

But don’t worry. Political parties (and civilisation) will soon be a thing of the past, due to massively accelerating global warming.

*sighs*

This however, is often not what is advocated for on many online forums. Rather, it is to inflict the most pain and most damage, and permanent damage where possible, on the presumed male attacker. Most of the rationales put forward for such recommendations are questionable at best. The justification/rationale for kicking/hitting/grabbing/what have you a man in the groin often degenerates to things like a man said something a woman did not like, he touched her (as in a non-sexual contact in a normally considered non-sexual part of her body) while walking by her in a club, on the sidewalk, etc. etc.

Doubtless some women while find great humor in the Amanda Monti story, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1483220/Jail-for-woman-who-ripped-off-ex-lovers-testicle.html, and create their own justification for what this woman did. After all, he must have said/done or threatened her in some way in the past, so this was justifiable ‘payback’ for all that abuse-real or imagined.

There are other stories of woman attacking their partner’s in their sleep, intentionally mutilating the man’s genitals, then using the same or similar justifications as those stated above. Often, according to the case law anyway, there are few serious consequences for these actions- with the ‘he said – she said’ nature of these events taking prominence.

Research shows that domestic violence is a very much shared event between men and women as perpetrators, however one can only imagine the outcry if a man made creative use of a bread knife and decided to do to his partner’s breasts what some women have done to their partner’s testicles. I wonder how the courts would view such an act? In the spirit of equality, we should expect a suspended sentence or outright dismissal, based upon the same justification/defense put forward by women who summarily mutilated their male partner.

Women also have knees, noses, eyes, etc. which presumably are subject to the same vulnerability as those anatomical features are on a man. Men, on average, have about 50% greater upper body strength than women do; some women are certainly stronger than some men, but it is certainly the case that some men have vastly greater upper body strength than women. A woman that kicks a man in the groin (or anywhere else) because she take offense to something he said, or an inadvertent and unintentional contact should expect a rapid, violent, and intense response that is intended to cause equal or greater pain and harm. As women advocates of self-defense and groin kicks/testicle crushes/etc. are so proud to state- the defender is not responsible for what happens to the attacker – they are certainly not sending them a friend request.

Everyone has the right to be safe, and the right to defend themselves -to use reasonable force in the circumstances. Woman also have the right (as men do) to be left alone if they choose to , and men need to bloody well respect that right, and honor it. Women should be able to walk wherever they like by themselves, without looking over their shoulder every 30 seconds, or having to restrict where they walk. It isn’t a perfect world, and it’s high time men keeping their f-ing hands (and other parts) to themselves -unless clear consent is given to do otherwise.

Whatever you decide, write for yourself first. We trust you.

Regards,
William Donelson

Thank you – that’s a lovely post! I am beaming proudly.

http://rhetoricandlogic.tumblr.com/post/182108687186/claire-north-author-appreciation-post-now-that-i

Hi Elle, the texture is smooth like a normal book. The embroidery was physically created and then copied onto paper to create the beautiful jacket design.

Thank you so much for writing; I’ve loved each of your books. Happy New Year to you, your readers and everyone else!

Perhaps a taste of Brexit collapse will put to rest the fantasies of the Leavers? Followed by begging for re-entry to the EU. I’lll be there on my knees if anyone wants me.

Here’s hoping you have a wonderful and productive 2019. Your books are the highlight of my years. Thank you.

Human testosterone was a drug for survival 50,000 years ago. It’s a poison to the planet today.

Sadly, more true for me every day:
The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.
– Charles de Gaulle

When you are looking for a new genre or no genre, I would love to see what you could do with romance….

Keep blogging and thanks for all of it.

Reading your blogs really does make me happy that I never went into writing or theater.

Anyway, I came across this blog entry because I was googling a title for a new (music) piece I’ve just completed; I was thinking about calling it Urban Magic. It’s no real surprise that this blog was one of the first hits. Synchronicity. . . (another kind of magic?).
–
Tom

Anyway, I came across this blog entry because I was googling a title for a new (music) piece I’ve just completed; I was thinking about calling it Urban Magic. It’s no real surprise that this blog was one of the first hits. Synchronicity. . . (another kind of magic?).
–
Tom

And David Weiner’s (Mad Men) new TV series, The Romanoffs, has started on Amazon now!

My life has been wonderfully privileged, for which I’m dead grateful. I mean, don’t get me wrong – there’s been all the usual anxieties, doubts and fears and I’ve had to work hard, but generally I’ve been very lucky. However, respectfully I’m not sure that invalidates my opinion, my data, or me. However I’m always interested in debate around facts, if you want to talk further there.

And your superb writing IS literature, AND science fiction. Wonderful.

My best friend for many years was a BBC lighting-camerman, and his kids did theatre and lighting for years as well.

I did some productions myself, and I remember asking a semi-famous actor what he mostly did as an actor. He said, “Wait around for lighting to get done”

Regards,
William

Note for Americans: 40°C = 104°F … HOT!

Sorry – not aware of any plans for one! I hang my head in shame (and also apologise for taking forever to answer).

Are there any plans to print Children of Dune and other books in the series in this style? As a lover of books as objects, it’d make a great collection!

Harry August is one of my favourites, by the way, and I’m in the middle of Touch and am engrossed by it!

The other side effect is it can take me a long time to work out who’s who in a TV series. Like seasons. I have to stick with it and take it on faith it’ll fall into place eventually.

On the up side I’m better than most at identifying voices. I’ll sometimes recognise the voice of an actor but not the face e.g. Anthony Hopkins in Thor recently.

I had a dream not so long ago that I witnessed a murder but couldn’t recall the face of the murderer! I only identified them when I heard the same voice speak! That’ll make a short story one day…..

Thanks, Kaye for the question. We are planning to release the ebooks as a compendium towards the end of the series. As soon as more details are available there will be links on site.

The reality is the Brexit vote was hijacked by the likes of Boris Johnson, Gove, Davis and Rees-Mogg who all ONLY expect to feather their own nests from the suffering of millions.

But the real problem is the half of the country that still believes in some sort of MAGICAL BREXIT.

Reversing course now will only inflame their passions.

Perhaps we need to crash out to WTO for a short while? Corporations would never trust us again, though, and relocate anyway. The damage done to the economy would take 50 years to overcome. But those pesky pro-Brexit voters “would be taught a lesson”. Ugh, that’s still suicide for all.

I only see one way out: For two or three big companies to announce EVERY DAY the horrific layoffs to come as the economy collapses. And the tax base. And the NHS.

I don’t want to end up in (your eloquent, brilliant) “84K”.

Regards,
William Donelson

Big Fan!

I do know this: Your heart sees the world exquisitely, wonderfully, like no other. And your mind expresses this so clearly, so powerfully, so passionately.

I am awed and thankful to have found your work.

But thing is…. it’s like all the people watching the football and criticising it. So ecstatic when it goes their way, but scornful experts when it doesn’t.

They are not on the pitch. And you’re not producing a season of superhero TV.

But yeah, I put it down to the casting. Anyway. Bit of lukewarm cage two to watch. Not sure why…..

Hi William, you can purchase the 80th anniversary edition here: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Daphne-Du-Maurier/Rebecca/21591788

Great writing as always, fascinating and intimidating!

A fair question – we will look into that.

I’m trying to find out if these Ben Simmon covers to the Memory, Sorrow and Throrn series are available in paperback? And if so, can I order direct to you to ensure that i get these covers and not the older version?

Sincerely,

jwk.

* Form CARPOOLS to Multiply your voting power !
* Set up a CARPOOL Club with many cars to take voters to the polls.
* Push kids and friends to register and come to vote.

* Only YOU can save democracy in the UK.