It's Been Quite a Couple of Weeks!
Here at Words Are Life, we've published 3 very different books. Click on the covers to find out more, and to purchase.
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paperback £4.99
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available from amazon
pages 100
100 pages of blank ukulele tab in a cute little notebook, ready for you to stash in your pocket for when ideas arise on the go.
connected blog articles
Lesley Atherton
Jul 25, 20221 min read
Writers Need Estate Agents! And, On An Associated Topic, Know Your Scenarios Inside Out
Why writers need estate agents!
Lesley Atherton
Jul 24, 20224 min read
Do You Know Who You Are Writing About?
Using character questions to help write deeper characters.
Lesley Atherton
Jul 16, 20221 min read
Who Remembers Britain's Most Outrageous Comedian? Allan Birkin, AKA Scully, Comes To Words Are Life!
Allan Birkin (songwriter, drummer, singer and 'blue' stand-up comic, Scully who put the F in Laffta) shares his life and times.
Lesley Atherton
Jul 15, 20222 min read
Tools For Writing Success
Using reference and quote books to inspire your writing, plus reading examples from Lesley Atherton at Words Are Life.
Lesley Atherton
Jul 5, 20221 min read
What Do Coronavirus, Euthanasia & Eyewitness Evidence Have In Common?
David Holding, that's what. Our most prolific writer, David Holding, has been extra-prolific this last year or so. His books: Live Or Let...
Lesley Atherton
Mar 3, 20212 min read
Review of Shaun Fallow's 'Access-Ability'
Wigan poet, Shaun Fallows, has produced one of the quirkiest and most thought-provoking books of poetry I’ve ever read.
Lesley Atherton
Mar 3, 20213 min read
Review of Three Books by Samantha Turner
I recently got hold of three books by Wigan writer, Samantha Turner, and they are three glossy-covered and slim volumes.
Lesley Atherton
Feb 7, 20211 min read
Tongue Tied Hog Tied
‘I love you,’ he says.
And I think, Ivan, you’re amazing. You have the weirdest mind I’ve met. Like, ever. We have a good time, me and Ivan
Lesley Atherton
Feb 7, 20214 min read
Review of 'Words, Thoughts, Observations' by JR Easton
Richard Easton was in my year at high school. Though our form rooms were a few steps across the corridor, I didn’t know him, but almost...
Lesley Atherton
Feb 6, 20211 min read
Harv Hovers
Harv hovers at the launderette.
He chews another Nicorette while
Eyeing his companion’s jacket
For the outline cardboard packet.
Lesley Atherton
Feb 6, 20212 min read
Babymaking
Matt’s head peeped from behind our ensuite’s door. ‘You up for it again? Third try and fingers crossed?’
Legs crossed, more like.
Lesley Atherton
Feb 4, 20210 min read
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20214 min read
Why I Wrote The Waggon by Lesley Atherton
My book, 'The Waggon', will shortly be published.... In this instance, the old adage write about what you know about is true. It is a...
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Book Review: Fireside Tales of the Traveller Children
7 September 2019 Tales from Firesides Generations Past Review of Duncan Williamson's 'Fireside Tales of the Traveller Children' 'Fireside...
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Jan 26, 20212 min read
My Favourite Childhood Book - Rumer Godden's The Diddakoi - by Lesley Atherton
Rumer Godden's 'The Diddakoi' was made into a children's TV series called Kizzy when I was a little girl, and I couldn't tear myself away..
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20214 min read
Some Thoughts On Short Stories
Sometimes wonderful writing creeps up on you by stealth. It may seem simplistic, perhaps overly so, or even naïve - or primitive. But...
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20212 min read
Review of '344 A Story of the Pretoria Pit Disaster' by Andrea Jane Finney
Below is a review of a book published in 2011 about the Pretoria Pit Disaster which appeared in Wigan Heritage Service’s Bulletin "PAST...
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20211 min read
Interview With Parents Who Made Their Daughter's Dream Come True
Thirty years after Penny Taylor's death, Judith Taylor has published a book of her life, and it's a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman.
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20211 min read
Why We Should All Be Cooking 'Recipes From The Past'
I happened upon this little book recipes by chance, and was drawn to so much about it. Firstly, the format. ‘Recipes From The Past’ is a...
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Why Do We Love Crime Drama?
If you’re looking for a morally flawed, highly controversial character, with twists and turns galore to reignite your love of the genre...
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20214 min read
Words Are Life: How It All Began...
Five years ago I decided to come out of the woodwork and admit to the world at large that I am a writer. One thing leads to another...
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20211 min read
Ghost Writing and Supermodels in 'No Matter What'
Another of our shorter novels, or novelettes, 'No Matter What' is a gripping story of isolation and obsession.
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20211 min read
Helios sphere - now out!
Eleanor Duvivier's novel of Greek mythology, marathons and magic is now awailable as both ebook and paperback. It's a fantastic and really e
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Bookends
‘So, this is the freedom you were talking about. It stinks.’
I nodded. ‘But we can still be friends.’
‘Friends?’ she spluttered.
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Interview with Eleanor Duvivier, author of 'Helios Sphere'
Author Eleanor Duvivier answers five questions about her new book 'Helios Sphere' and reveals the mix of influences that ran this book toget
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Ideas... Too Odd, Too Many, Too Few
A week ago I started watching ‘Stranger Things’ and have now reached the end of what’s currently available on Netflix. I resisted the sh
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20214 min read
Little Things That Annoy Us
Trudie tickled Alex’s feet, sang ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ a couple of times, and gave her son exactly what he needed and what her loving hear
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20212 min read
Review of 'Letters to Paul' by Keith Hachtel
The story is a one-sided insight into the suffering of Lacie as she communicates with Paul - a young man who is introduced to us while lying
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20215 min read
Ten Tips to Rub Out Writers' Block
Do other professions have similar issues to writers’ block? Is there such a thing as Doctors’ Dread? Opticians’ Obstruction? Grocers’ Groan
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20214 min read
Viva Miss Merryweather - Watch Out - Brexit / Politics Alert
Joanne Merryweather’s speech to the Republican-Democratic Party Conference in Blackpool, 2021, promised to be quite a spectacle. Not only be
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20212 min read
Review of 'The Loves of a Liverpool Lad' by Peter McGeehan
This book is the story of Liam Parry, and he is quite a guy! Throughout the course of the book, he enjoys psychiatric nurse training, nursin
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20212 min read
Review of 'Hard Times' by Charles Dickens
What is the point in writing yet another review of a classic? None. Other than for personal satisfaction and as a reminder of what I...
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20215 min read
Hot and Cold
Perfection. That’s what she was, and I was sure that today would work out just the way I’d planned.
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20211 min read
Minute Poem
1 (8 syll) The straw that broke the roofer’s back
2 (4 syll) A roof of thatch.
3 (8 syll) With ma
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Interview with Hannah Pike, Author of 'Bound'
Q1: Hi Hannah, good to have this opportunity to speak to you… First of all, I was wondering where the idea for ‘Bound’ came from. Perhaps yo
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Review of 'The Last Runaway' by Tracy Chevalier
‘The Last Runaway’ was written in 2013 and was selected for me to read by my teenage daughter. She was hovering around the historical ficti
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20212 min read
Review of Three Books Published by ‘Never Such Innocence’ and 'Forgotten Heroes Foundation'
I came across the organisation ‘Never Such Innocence’ when my 13 year old daughter, Morrigan, decided to enter their 2018 art competition wi
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
'Moving Times' by Phoenix Writers
The first thing you notice is that it is a very attractive book with a simple but well-designed and effective cover. This really does the co
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Mother Gracie
Mother Gracie shuffled over to her stove. Raq remained where he was. Long gone were the days when he followed at her skirt hems if she move
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Interview with Lesley Atherton about Past Present Tense (now published as 'Life's a Mess')
A: This book is about hoarding and nastiness as well as being about family and relationships. It's an obvious question, but why on earth wo
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20212 min read
Transcript of Lesley Atherton interview by Grace Sachs 13th February 2019
G: My first question for you is a very simple one, and you must get sick of answering it. Why would anyone want to write? It
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Photographic Studio
Photographic studio
Child and mother? Or sister and brother?
A photographic studio, in best clothes, matching mustard and apple green?
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
Boundaries - the Philpotts
Mick and Mairead Philpott made a terrible decision a few years back: to set a fire in their overcrowded home and to subsequently blame Lisa
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20212 min read
Review of 'Poetic Desire' by Jackie Hutchinson
Buy the book HERE!
Only £3.99!
This collection of poetry, compiled in 2017, was inspired by many things.
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
It's a Gamble
Who’s to say why you’re so easily misled and discouraged? There’s no point asking because you won’t answer. It isn’t that you have
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20211 min read
'Past Present Tense' (Life's a Mess) - Brilliant Review Comments
Comments from a reader of 'Past Present Tense' (now known as Life's a Mess... and Then You Die!
"Good pace. Takes its time to reflect in
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20212 min read
Review of 'Tales from the Plots' by David Jackson
The book begins with the statement “These stories of allotment life draw on the author’s own experiences as an allotment gardener of over 30
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20217 min read
The New Rumplestiltskin
Graham twitched awake and immediately found himself not only bound and gagged, but in deep confusion about how he’d ended up in that state.
Lesley Atherton
Jan 26, 20213 min read
The Mystery of Teenage Girls
‘He looks like Justin Bieber. Or that YouTuber that all the year 10 girls like - you know, that Dutch guy Henri…’
‘Oh yeah. Henri. He’s
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