Alpine Dawn
A sneak preview of Alpine Dawn, my work in progress
Regulars will be aware that I am presently working on an ambitious novel called Alpine Dawn. This book takes the reader back to the years immediately before the golden age of Alpine exploration–with my own unique fictional take on events, of course!Here is the first draft of my
End of year update on “Alpine Dawn”
Chamouni in the early 19th century I have managed to achieve very little writing over the past few weeks. My progress on Alpine Dawn is glacial and I still seem to be halfway through Chapter 4. I tell myself this is because I’ve been busy getting Crowley’s Rival
Looking back on 2012 from an author’s perspective
I know we’re not quite at the end of the year yet, but the next two weeks are going to be very busy so I thought I would write a reflective post while I have the chance! I will also take this opportunity to bring readers up to speed
The quest for the sublime in the Alps
In this blog post I’d like to talk a bit about how I’m trying to connect the late 18th / early 19th century concept of the ‘sublime’ (and by extension, Romanticism) with my work. First, some definitions. According to Wikipedia, “the sublime (from the Latin sublīmis) is the quality
Work begins on ‘Alpine Dawn’
Somerset House, Strand, in the 1840s. The action begins in the street near this spot on Christmas Eve, 1847. After months of very hard work, on Saturday I realised I had run out of things that needed doing before I could start writing my new novel. The realisation was a
I am making progress
Since making the decision to ‘go indie’ last week I have been firing on all cylinders. Progress made so far: 1. Most obviously, this website is now in a far more presentable condition and ready to host whatever content I need to showcase. 2. I’ve been putting effort into
A gold mine
Just when I thought I was coming to the end of the research I have to do on my new project, something else has turned up to demonstrate just how little I know! I’ve been doing some research into Albert Smith, a popular mid-Victorian writer, and in the course
The boundary between research and prewriting
I’m gradually coming to the end of the research I originally planned for my new book. Since this project is set in a period of time that was until recently unfamiliar to me, the reading list was huge and the list of things to research even longer. I’m
Terra Incognita
Part of my research for 1848 has involved a study of the cartography and glaciology of that decade. The Alps were only partially explored, despite Chamouni (modern-day Chamonix) being almost permanently overrun by tourists from every corner of Europe. Mont Blanc had been climbed dozens of times, but most other
Words of wisdom from Professor James Forbes
Professor James Forbes (1809 – 1868) was, in many ways, the first British explorer of the European Alps. Many other British climbers had scaled Mont Blanc, or journeyed throughout the Alps and climbed various mountains here and there–but none of them, until this remarkable man came along, ever made a