“Exploring life through fiction, together.”Several books I’ve read recently have pointed out how history comes in cycles. Pandemics, stock crashes, corrupt leaders, and border crises. Wildfires, species loss, civilisation collapse, and human flourish...

“Exploring life through fiction, together.”When you stand at the top of a cliff, do you also feel the void calling to you? For me, it feels like a magnet pulling forward, willing me to leap. Just to see what it would feel like.Fiction Bite - The tide...

“Exploring life through fiction, together.”I’ve always struggled to find the balance with my diet. Sometimes I’m militant. No carbs, no snacks, no letup. Doesn’t matter if there’s a church lunch, or a birthday party, nothing takes me off track.Other...

“Exploring life through fiction, together.”In On Writing, Stephen King postulates that we don’t invent stories, we discover them. Writers grope around in the darkness until they find a lump that could be a bone, then follow tibia to femur to pelvis u...

“Exploring life through fiction, together.”I grew up with two factions around challenges. One said you should try, but if it got hard, if you didn’t seem suited, if it just wasn’t convenient, then quit. Most people aren’t cut out to be special, they’...

“Exploring life through fiction, together.”I’ve always struggled with humour. I’d read joke books and practise the patter in my head. But the words always came out jumbled or mistimed. Or worse, they worked and suddenly I was the centre of attention...

“Exploring life through fiction, together.”[I would like to apologise for missing last week. I could say it was the business of Holy Week, but in reality, I had everything written and forgot to hit send. We got there in the end, and you'll get the ne...

“Exploring life through fiction, together.”Desmond Tutu tells the story, in The Book of Joy, of the last time he saw his father. They were getting ready to leave when his father asked if they’d stay, as he had something to say."I was too tired and I...

“Exploring life through fiction, together.”Sometimes, I wonder how I’ll react when Death comes calling. After all, nobody gets off this ride alive. We don’t talk about it much, the final stop, so I don’t know where to aim. Should I try to die va...

“Exploring life through fiction, together.”What do you do when you’re stressed? I used to hunt through the cupboards, devouring anything I could stuff straight into my mouth. I’d thought I’d got over it. But once again, I’ve been snacking with abando...