Clare Flynn’s Blog

The painting that is my oldest memory

The painting that is my oldest memory

My earliest childhood memory is from when I was a baby. Apparently, I cried all the time – probably because of the rude arrival of my brother when I was fourteen months old! My dad would be deputed to try to get me to shut up when I woke bawling my head off in the...

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The Cromwellian Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed

The Cromwellian Church, Berwick-upon-Tweed

One of the interesting highlights of my recent trip to Berwick-upon-Tweed was a look at one of the few churches in England built under the jurisdiction of Oliver Cromwell during the Commonwealth era (1649-1660). The church and the charming, wooded graveyard that...

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Dublin Dockers’ Nicknames

Dublin Dockers’ Nicknames

Recently I visited Ireland for a family wedding. Whilst there, enjoying an evening in a local pub, I was reminded of one of the inspirations behind part of my book Storms Gather Between Us – an inspiration I’d entirely forgotten about until now!

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A Recent Visit to Charleston Farmhouse

A Recent Visit to Charleston Farmhouse

I’m lucky enough to live just a fifteen-to-twenty-minute drive from Charleston, former home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. My sister was visiting and had never been, so off we toddled – me somewhat reluctantly as I’ve been several times before and am not a huge...

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Retreat at Mousehole

Retreat at Mousehole

I love writing retreats. Not organised ones with tutors, but small gatherings with other authors in attractive or new surroundings to write. Being in a different place is usually a stimulus to the creative juices – and there’s nothing like having someone to else to...

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A Treasured Book from my Childhood

A Treasured Book from my Childhood

I was always a voracious reader from a very early age. I seem to remember my dad – who was then a school teacher – teaching me to read to give some respite to my mum who by the time I was three had two more babies to contend with. I raced through the entire canon of...

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On Location in Australia

On Location in Australia

My first novel A Greater World is set in the beautiful Blue Mountains of Australia. As it’s only about 70 miles from Sydney you can visit on a day trip. On my first visit to Australia in 1995 I stayed at the beautiful Lilianfels Hotel close to The Three Sisters and...

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The Lady at the Fountain

The Lady at the Fountain

Continuing my new blog series, featuring important items from my life. In the second of the series, I invite you to meet “The Lady at the Fountain”, who has sat on my mantelpiece for many years and has a special place in my childhood memories…

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What I’ve been reading…January book reviews

What I’ve been reading…January book reviews

This year, my resolution is to write more book reviews – I always appreciate my own readers leaving reviews, so I’m leading by example!I did rather a lot of reading during January. The long winter days, and some very unpredictable weather, meant being cosied up with a...

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