I always have been a storyteller and writer, and now I am a full-time writer.
I was born and brought up in Cambridge; we were a ‘town’ family, not ‘gown.’ When I say I come from Cambridge, many think I must be posh or superior… no, my parents were ordinary working people, as were their parents before them! I spent most of my life in Manchester, a great city which I love to return to. I now live in a small Somerset village; we are about 300 yards from the sea, and about three inches above it!
Most of my working life I was a teacher and met many amazing young people, and had many dedicated and brilliant colleagues. I taught in Manchester, Oldham, and Weston-super-Mare; I taught English as a second language, and then I taught in pupil referral units, for young people not in school … I loved it… but now I work full-time as a writer.
In this blog I write about writing, how I do it, why I do it and what I do. However, I also write about other things too… what I have been doing and where I have been, I write about books, cooking and food, pubs and pints, places, and what music I listen to and bands I go to see…
Writing is my passion and that is what I do every day, from the moment I get up till late at night! I have always written and have twelve novels which are published as e-books on Amazon. I’ve also written three novels to encourage reluctant readers and am working on two new novels. My Radwinter series of five novels, will become a sextet when I publish the next book in the autumn this year, 2017.
I have just published my sixth Radwinter novel as a paperback and an e-book, which along with my e-books is available on Amazon; you can find my books here:
- Flipside
- Loving Judah
The Easthope novels:
- Farholm
- The Stalking of Rosa Czekov
- night vision
- The Double Act
- Lucky Portbraddon
The Radwinter novels:
- Radwinter
- Magick
- Raddy and Syl
- Beyond Hope
- Earthquake
- Saltpans
Other:
- The Moving Dragons Write – anthology with Richard kefford and John J.C. Watts
- So You Want To Write…
- The Story of Rufus Redmayne
- Run Blue, Run!
- Screaming King Harry
Hi Lois, thanks for the follow!
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You’re welcome, Barbara!
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This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for writing!
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Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am getting lichen-mania here in Iceland, and besides that, it is a beautiful and inspiring place. Cheers!
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Lichen…. I jut love lichen!
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An award for you! 🙂
http://faeriethoughts.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/thank-you-versatile-blogger-award/
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I awarded you! http://tinasrabbithole.wordpress.com/ YEs…. again… but then what can you do? 😛
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Oooh! Thank you!!
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Thank you for this beautiful blog!
Just noticed you visited our travelblog and liked the most recent post! Please feel free to visit the ExpatsBlog and share your comments, your thoughts about our family’s project! Thank you in advance, and wishes for a great week!
http://www.expatsblog.com/contests/709/twenty-reasons-for-adding-bolivia-to-your-expat-visiting-list
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You have some great posts, and pics!
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Thank you, Lois!
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Thank you very much, Lois! Have you had a chance to go visit the full-text page… and maybe… leave your comment? 😮 I know, I know… it’s shameless, but… why not? Thank you!!! 😮
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😉
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Hi Lois,
I AM TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ANDREW SIMPSON – WE WERE AT THE SAME SCHOOL IN LONDON BACK IN THE EARLY 60’S – I HAVE BEEN READING HIS BLOGS AND HAD NO IDEA THAT HE HAD BECOME AN AUTHOR/HISTORIAN !
THanks,
Les Bacon
01444 451233
Haywards Heath,
West Sussex
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Hi Les, I have sent a message to Andrew, and also messaged him on FaceBook… I guess he will be in touch with you tomorrow!
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Hi Lois,
Andrew couldn’t wait – he phoned me this morning.
I suppose there was much to catch-up on in 47 years !
Many thanks for your intervention.
Regards
Les Bacon
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great! I spoke to him this morning – he had tried to ring you but you were engaged! Glad you got back in touch!
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Dear friend, Thank you very much, I was really happy to have been following your blog. I’m still a lot to figure out, and here I can only say that you are an awesome blogger, full Inspiring and hope you can inspire more readers. Thanks and greetings compassion from Gede Prama 🙂
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Very good post!
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Dear Lois,
I hope you don’t mind that have nominated you and your blog for the Dragon Loyalty Award as a way of thanking you for your lovely blog and for your encouraging comments.
If you’d like to participate you can pick up your badge and information/rules on how to pass on the award at http://gingerandbread.com/2014/06/01/elderflower-pancakes-hollerkuchle/
All the best,
Ginger
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Oh thank you! Gosh I’m honoured!
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Congratulations, Lois! I gave you an award nomination on my post for the Most Influential Blogger award! I hope you will check it out, along with the one who nominated me. The rules are on her blog, since I tend to accept the awards by spreading it around (but not posting the rules nor the picture of the award, usually!) Smiles, Robin
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Aww thank you Robin!!
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Hi Lois, Thanks for the follow. Am enjoying having a look around your blog, you’ve got a wonderful range of stuff! It’s fascinating reading your family history. I hope you achieve your wish to make it to Tassie yourself some day, it’s well worth it. Fiona
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Just seen your comment, Fiona! Thanks… It is my dream to visit… not just for the family connections but because it looks such an interesting and intriguing place – and it has pick-your-own olives!!
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I am delighted to discover your website – we are distantly connected, and I am Sydney Schiff’s second cousin (my mother is a Schiff). I would be interested to make contact as I am writing about the Schiff family – and I live not far away near Exeter.
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Hello Frank, thanks for getting in touch, you can email me at lois sparshott at hotmail dot com, all lower case, no gaps!
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🙂 It’s always a story inviting a successful self-publishing author, but would you like to submit something to P’kaboo? Your short-story was pretty good, and we’re gearing up, looking for more authors.
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Thank you… I’ll have a look!
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Hi, Lois, thanks for following my former account. I am now at this location: https://worldisateaparty.wordpress.com/
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OK got it!!! Good luck in your new ‘home’!
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Lois
Are you aware of the impending auction of paintings of Samuel and Rosetta Moses…check out this:
http://www.invaluable.com/catalog/viewLot.cfm?utm_source=inv_kwalert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keywordalertlive&utm_term=2&lotRef=2304571A9C&scp=c&ri=1&wtchLt=true
Having seen your connection with these people I thought you may be interested.
Regards
James Gibson
(ex Hobart)
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No!! Thank you very much, James! They are my great-great-grandparents!
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Just had a look… wow! One of the pictures I have already seen in a book, but the other with all the children are just amazing! I think the oldest boy might be my great-grandfather!
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Dear Lois, I can tell you a lot more about Laurence Bisson.
I have just been given a big collection of his papers, and I am looking for the best library to house them (Oxford, Belfast or perhaps the Institut Francais).
Professor Bisson was the tutor of my mother’s oldest friend, Philip Boyd, who died this week after a long illness. Laurence was married to Isabel, who Philip and his wife looked after in her old age. They later lived in the Bissons’ house in Stratton Audley. Philip was married to my godmother – my mother’s best friend – that is how we all come to be connected.
The Bisson papers include his articles and manuscripts, papers going back as far as his school reports in Jersey, and collections of amazing interwar French magazines and theatre programmes. They were all filed carefully in a cupboard.
If you live in London or come here often, you would be very welcome to see the papers before I find them a permanent home.
All the best, Amanda Sebestyen
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Thank you, what a kind and generous offer… Unfortunately I live in the west country and rarely visit London. I hope you find the right place for his archive, he deserves to have his papers properly housed and taken care of. Thanks so much for your comment.
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Great blog, I will reading with interest 🙂 x
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Just found you by putting Ruth Drew into Google. Lovely to find someone else who enjoys The Happy Housewife, given me as an engagement present by an aunt! Do you make Ruth’s Apple Charlotte? Perfect for this time of year with all the wonderful apples around. I recommend it!
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Ruth was amazing, wasn’t she! I wish I could have heard her broadcasts – I love her book, her personality springs off the page!
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It looks like a couple of SPAM posts ended up here, and that URI could be shortened (: (you can delete this post since it is only for your noting.)
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Thanks very much
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