Author Archives: journojohnson

Family reunions are very important. They always have been. Yet in these times of the Pandemic, they have become more important than ever. It was great for my husband and myself to travel to London at the end of October … Continue reading →

Yes, I’ve gone back to university this time to do a short course – part of an MA – in Creative and Critical Writing. The idea being to be a better writer but let’s wait on that one! Although not … Continue reading →

A recent week in North Devon introduced me to a few local writers I didn’t know had an association with the area. Firstly there is the writer, Charles Kingsley born in Holne in Devon whose family later moved to the … Continue reading →

We have just celebrated my mother-in-law’s 90th birthday with a big party, balloons and a cake Well, she deserves it. Although her actual birthday isn’t until next month, the Bank Holiday weekend was the only time we could all come … Continue reading →

In the last few weeks I have been busy recording a video of me talking about my book, Waireka. In these strange times when movements are still restricted and going out to talk about your book not possible, the new … Continue reading →

In the early nineteenth century when most of the Europeans arrived in New Zealand, the Maoris were the indigenous people. They had been there since the thirteenth century when they had arrived in canoes from the Eastern Polynesian islands War … Continue reading →

Novelist S.C Skillman had visited Australia several times and even lived there for a period, but in November 2019, she made her first trip to New Zealand. As writer of paranormal mystery novels and a lover of JR Tolkien’s Lord … Continue reading →

To introduce my series about New Zealand past and present, I want to share some pictures of the place I have visited and enjoyed three times. New Zealand, or ‘Aoteroa’, as the Maoris call it, ‘Land of the Long White … Continue reading →

As a follow-on from my series on writing with illness, disability and loss, I would like to finish the series by drawing some parallels on these topics by referring to my book, Waireka. Eliza, the heroine of my book, is … Continue reading →