Before you give up on life read on
In 1954, sixty-three-year-old Maine farmer Annie Wilkins embarked on an impossible journey. She had no money and no family, she had just lost her farm, and her doctor had given her only two years to live.
In 1954, sixty-three-year-old Maine farmer Annie Wilkins embarked on an impossible journey. She had no money and no family, she had just lost her farm, and her doctor had given her only two years to live.
Novels are often more effective than truth. Lady Antonia Fraser, a renowned expert wrote extensively on England’s royal dynasties. Her factual history books though acclaimed were not best-sellers. Instead, the writer then told the stories of England’s kings and queens as novels. A smart move for her ‘fictional’ books became overnight successes.
There are few pursuits more healing than creative writing. Setting down one’s thoughts is a way to better understand and discover a solution to any situation. Self-expression through writing actually inspires creativity.
On November 14, 1854, during a severe storm off the coast of Balaklava, the British frigate Prince did not have time to gain a safe haven in the bay, crashed on the rocks and sank to the sea bed. Of the 150 people on board, only six survived.
When during a televised skirmish President Reagan’s recently published memoirs came up, former president wryly remarked: ‘I hear it’s a terrific book. One of these days I am going to read it myself.’
On November 12, 1720 Peter Tordenskjold died in a sword duel. It will not sound familiar to most people, but he was one of the great national heroes of Denmark and Norway—countries that were once united, a daring sailor who would be the equivalent of what Nelson is to the British, Ruyter to the Dutch, Jones to the Americans or Bazán to the Spanish. Remembered in several popular songs and honored with several statues, streets, books, films and even a festival, a corvette of the Danish navy and a ship of the Norwegian navy are named after him. He is also cited in the Danish royal anthem.
Michael Walsh, historian, and journalist, never found enough time to be a novelist until during the 1990s when, down to his last brass cent, he wondered if salvation might come via a novel. The dissident journalist put pen to paper and began work on Retribution which later was re-titled A Leopard in Liverpool. The novel was finally published a year or so ago and was accompanied by a low-key promotion.
MICHAEL WALSH ex-seafarer, nomad and author of seafaring books is more aware than most of the awesome size and depths of the earth’s great seas. After all, the once British seaman on reaching his 26th birthday had travelled to over 60 countries, visited hundreds of ports many several times over.
Sadly, few boys these days have meaningful relationships with male mentors and father figures, men who can teach and inspire them. Some boys grow up without having been taught by a male teacher or are taught by teachers who have no life or work experience outside of a classroom.
The harrowing photographs of starving people that Noerwegian arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen showed in the West shocked the world’s public and helped him organise aid.
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