Author Roderick Hart takes up the ‘Throw a Dice Challenge’

I’m really pleased to welcome author Roderick Hart who is taking part in my

‘Throw a Dice Challenge’

Please can you share your author bio:

 

Roderick Hart

has published poetry in anthologies of verse, made bubble gum in Philadelphia, studied folk music in Afghanistan, and worked for many years in a recording studio, training students in scripting, recording and editing. He lives with his wife in the grounds of an old convent in Edinburgh.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT ONE OF YOUR CHARACTERS ROD

Louise Galbraith is a lawyer in my novel, Interleaved Lives. She is first asked to defend her wealthy friend, Alison Ogilvie, who is accused of arranging the death of her husband. She is later persuaded, against her better judgement, to defend the main character, Douglas Hunter, a private detective employed by Alison Ogilvie to investigate the real cause of her husband’s death.

I am part way through Interleaved Lives and believe that I am just about to meet Louise Galbraith, so this is really interesting for me:

Now can you reveal more about Louise by sharing some of her memories?

We throw a dice. One is the most tragic or horrific memory to a six which is the most fantastic or beautiful memory. Here goes:

 

Memory 1

Louise is described by her friend Alison, as career-oriented, with no family of her own but two nieces kindly provided be her sister.

Memory 2

When Douglas Hunter first meets Louise she is wearing a t-shirt bearing words which typify her in-your-face approach: SEE YOU IN COURT

Memory 3

When defending Alison against police accusations, Hunter finds she is also defending her against him, at first on grounds of conflict of interest and later because she believes that Hunter is after Alison’s money.

Memory 4

On arriving at the police station to represent Hunter, Louise is outraged by DS MacNeil’s attitude, which stops in her tracks – but the tassels on her ethnic headgear don’t stop with her, a comic effect at odds with her ability.

Memory 5

At first misled by Louise Galbraith’s shambolic appearance, it gradually dawns on DS MacNeil that Louise Galbraith is much sharper than she looks.

Memory 6

As Hunter is being interviewed, very aggressively, by DS MacNeil, Louise notices something about MacNeil which Hunter, though a detective, has failed top pick up.

Click photo for Amazon.co.uk

 

 

Now I really am intrigued! I must say that I’m really enjoying ‘Interleaved Lives’ so far and hope to review it for readers soon. 

JUST RLEASED!

Interleaved Lives by Roderick Hart is a crime novel with the protagonist a private detective, ex policeman living in Edinburgh, a city the author knows well.

I wish Rod well deserved success with this novel which has just been released in e book format worldwide!

 

 

Kirkcaldy ~ A Place of Two Halves ~ ‘Healing Paths of Fife’ in aid of Kirkcaldy Foodbank

The Merchants’ Quarter

‘Healing Paths of Fife’ in aid of Kirkcaldy Foodbank

Kirkcaldy at its best

My last post described the difficulties families are facing making ends meet in areas of Kirkcaldy but the Lang Toon is a place of two halves. There are areas of beautiful well kept stone family houses and terraces near the centre of Kirkcaldy and many points of rich cultural heritage including The Museum, library and art galleries, The Adam Smith Theatre and The Old Kirk which boasts of accomplished musical events to name but a few.

 

There are places being restored bringing back new life to the town centre including The Kings Theatre, The Olympic Arcade and the Merchant’s Quarter. See a previous post on my virtual tour of the Fife Coastal Path ~ Kirkcaldy.

Seafield Tower and the Seals

 

There are lovely walks along the promenade, out to Seafield to watch the seals or a gentle stroll to The Harbourmaster’s House in Dysart not to mention the numerous well tended parks.

Maybe a bit controversial, but there is much new building around the outskirts of Kirkcaldy, changing the demographics of the area, all of which should bring more prosperity to the town and attract businesses to establish here. A linoleum factory has even been been restored and reopened, for example, due to the ‘green nature’ of its product, bringing much needed employment to this no so wee toon.

Projects who support local folks in need in Kirkcaldy

The Kirkcaldy Foodbank, sees itself as a last resource to ensure no person is left hungry in Kirkcaldy and the surrounding areas, but there are other places which give well needed support. Here are two of them.

The Cottage Family Centre

A thriving community needs driven hub supported by Gordon Brown.

Greener Kirkcaldy

Giving practical advice and guidance regarding energy needs, also encouraging growing your own vegetables, cooking from basic ingredients and sewing etc

During November and December 2019

any royalties for copies of ‘The Healing Paths of Fife’

sold on Kindle worldwide will go to

Kirkcaldy Foodbank

Click on photo for universal Amazon link to The Healing Paths of Fife

Please Click on the link to buy ‘The Healing Paths of Fife’

I have had wonderful feedback about this fantasy/memoir of mine, and so I ask you to spread the word. This is my way of giving back to a supportive community in our relocation to Fife. It is only £2.99 in the UK and $3.72 in the USA. If you’ve read it already then please spread the word. If not please buy it for a good cause and let me know what you think.

 

Never believe the weather report ~ The sun shines in Scotland too, you know!

Friends from down south come to visit us in Fife, or travel with us further north or west, but we often hear the phrase ‘We don’t come to Scotland for the weather.’ We get phone calls invariably asking, ‘what’s the weather like?’ We can almost hear the disappointment or lack of belief when we say ‘Oh, it’s a lovely afternoon,’ or ‘it’s sunny here today,’ or ‘it’s a beautiful evening.’

I cannot quote a poem by Pauline Prior-Pitt for copyright reasons but I’ve written one of my own, inspired by reading her lovely book of poems ‘be an angel.’

 

Do You Remember the sun my friend

White sandy beaches stretching far, as froth tipped rollers race.

Layers of blue, purple, green ~

sea, cliffs,

lochs, headlands,

inlets, islands,

out to the misty beyond.

Sun kissed onyx rocks, blackness gleaming after rain.

Blue sky

piercing greyness, 

 framing mountain peaks,

dispersing wisps of cloud.

The stillness in that sheltered place where all our being glows with warmth.

 

Do you remember the wind and rain my friend

or do you remember the sun.