Month: September 2026

The cinema of my dreams – Was it just another surveillance job – Episode 36

I’m back home and this story has been sitting on a back burner for a few months, waiting for some more to be written.

The trouble is, there are also other stories to write, and I’m not very good at prioritizing.

But, here we are, a few minutes opened up and it didn’t take long to get back into the groove.

Chasing leads, maybe


I’m glad she didn’t ask me about Nobbin, or the fact a woman by the name of Josephine was working for him.  That went ditto for Severin, and Jan, who was working for him.

It was a tangled web.  Now, apparently, I was working for her.

I had another idea, and went back to the computer room to do another search, this time for the names of those who had been on my training course, and who was also assigned to the surveillance job.

I checked the name Jack Temple, and his file was marked closed, with a stark, red, deceased across the first page.

I checked the name Adam Alwin, and it was the same, deceased.

I checked the name Jennifer Underwood, and it had the label inactive, on medical leave.  She had been injured and was recovering.  There was no reference to her being in a hospital, or a recovery facility so I presumed she was at home.

It was another address to remember, this time what I assumed was a flat in Putney.  It was not something she had mentioned in all the time we have been together.  She had spoken of a house in Scotland.

But, then, who really told the truth when we were trained and continually told to lie about everything.  In the end I don’t think we quite knew who we were.  I knew her as Jennifer, but I doubted that was her real name.

Maybe I’d find out when I went to see her.  I needed help and from someone I could trust.  It was logical to select her.  We had, for at least six months, relying on each other to get through.

 

I cam out into the daylight and it hurt my eyes.  The artificial light, not that it was very bright, had queered my sight briefly.  No good, because for a minute at least I was vulnerable to an attack.

Good thing it didn’t happen.

But something else did.  A car pulled up on the side of the road, one I instantly recognised as the same Nobbin had used when he collected Josephine.

He wound down the rear kerbside window and said, “Sam.  Just the man I want to see.  Get in.”

I saw him slide over.  I opened the door, got in, and the driver drove off.

He seemed pleased with himself.

“How is the hunt?”

“How do you think it’s going?”

He looked quizzically at me.  “Why would I ask if I knew the answer?”

“I think you do.  I was at O’Connell’s flat when one of your assistants was there.  She discovered the same as I did, nothing.”

“What assistant?”  He tried to sound surprised.

“We’re not going to be very good friends if you are going to lie to me.  She called herself Josephine.  I wouldn’t be much of an agent if I didn’t have a few tricks up my sleeve.  And, lets be clear about one thing, if nothing else, you want to play games, fine.  So will I.”

“What did Monica want?”

“What everyone wants.  There appear to be secret documents on the loose.  Everyone thinks they’re on a USB, and that O’Connell has hidden them somewhere.  They’re not in his flat, and the cat wasn’t talking.”

“Just remember that O’Connell was working for me, and he was getting the documents for me.”

“So you know what these documents are about?”

“No.  He didn’t tell me because he didn’t look at them.  He couldn’t.  They’re encrypted, and he doesn’t have the code.”

Which wouldn’t do much good for me if I tried to see what the fuss was about.  Perhaps the best idea would be to destroy the USB so no one had these documents, given the trouble they’d caused so far.

“Anyone check O’Connell’s body properly for the USB?  He may have had it hidden in his clothing somewhere.”  I knew I didn’t have sufficient time to thoroughly check myself.

“No one knows where the body is.”

“I saw the cleaners arrive to process the scene.”

“Well, if they did, the job never reached the books.  According to the cleaners, no one was dispatched to take care of anything at the location.”

Which meant Severin had the body, had checked as I would if I had the time, and it was not on him.  Otherwise, he would not have paid me a visit.  It was back to Peaslake then, the next step in the investigation.

“Recovery of these documents is time-sensitive Sam.  You need to double your effort.”

“A lack of clues is not helping.  Nor is everyone working on their own agenda.”

“Then don’t lose focus.”

I saw him motion to the driver to pull over and let me out.

I waved as the car pulled back out into the traffic.



© Charles Heath 2020

Coming soon: “Strangers We’ve Become”, the sequel to “What Sets Us Apart”

Strangers We’ve Become, a sequel to What Sets Us Apart.

The blurb:

Is she or isn’t she? That is the question!

Susan has returned to David, but he is having difficulty dealing with the changes. Her time in captivity has changed her markedly, so much so that David decides to give her some time and space to re-adjust to normal life.

But doubts about whether he chose the real Susan remained.

In the meantime, David has to deal with Susan’s new security chief, the discovery of her rebuilding a palace in Russia, evidence of an affair, and several attempts on his life. And, once again, David is drawn into another of Predergast’s games, one that could ultimately prove fatal.

From being reunited with the enigmatic Alisha, a strange visit to Susan’s country estate, to Russia and back, to a rescue mission in Nigeria, David soon discovers that those whom he thought he could trust each have their own agenda, one that apparently doesn’t include him.

…

The Cover:

strangerscover9

Coming soon

 

The cinema of my dreams – I always wanted to see the planets – Episode 1

I’d been on the starship for almost three hours when…

…

The captain was coming up from the earth station by transport, not wanting to trust the transporters, and I’d just finished the orientation of the ship by the second officer, and had arrived on the bridge to see various crew members hunched over their consoles.

The captain had told me, before stepping onto the transport, that we would be leaving the dock shortly after he arrived.

Nothing I’d seen so far had led me to believe it would be going anywhere, anytime soon.

Nevertheless, the crew briefing had run smoothly, the second officer assigned to correlate the complaints/problems list, and everyone else had taken their assigned positions. 

I was waiting for the captain, standing beside the ‘chair’, ready to hand over.  In any other situation, we would be off to an illustrious start.

Until the dulcet tones of the Chief Engineer rang through the bridge, uttering those fateful words, “the warp coil has had a catastrophic failure”.

This was at odds with another statement he had made earlier when I was in Engineering, and given I was told the Chief Engineer was prone to hyperbole; his statement ‘they just don’t make warp coils like they used to’ hadn’t exactly filled me with confidence, but I had been expecting we would be ready to depart.

I had been looking at the screen, an overlay of the window that looked out over space, or at this moment, the space dock, where there was a representation of the planets that were ‘out there’.

I had been curious about M75, but the helmsman, a rather taciturn chap who seemed to resent the fact he was assigned to this ship, just shrugged and said, “it’s something, somewhere, but not of much interest,” then went back to his console.

If this was Star Trek, we’d be ejecting the warp coil by now, but in the space dock, that didn’t seem to me to be a viable option.

“How long before we can get this bucket of bolts moving,” I ask the Chief.

“I’m going as fast as I can.”

Yes, words ripped right out of the script of a Star Trek episode, I thought. A sad case of life imitating art.

A strange whistling sound emanated from the speakers, then the whoosh of the elevator just before the doors opened. OK, new ship, squeaky doors, another item to be put on the ‘look at’ list after the shakedown cruise.

The Captain had arrived.

“Why are dock workers still on the ship, Number One.”

For a moment there, I thought I was talking to John Luc Picard.

“Faulty warp coil. You know how it goes, save a billion by outsourcing to the cheapest supplier.”

The captain didn’t appreciate my sardonic humour, or my apparent disdain in outsourcing what we had once built ourselves.

He gave me a frown, a slight shake of his head, then said, “I’ll be in my quarters. Let me know when we’re about to leave.”

He didn’t wait for acknowledgement and disappeared through another squeaky door. More repairs.

The Chief’s voice then came over the speaker. “I can give you impulse speed, warp speed will take a little longer.”

“Doesn’t that refer to miracles over the impossible,” I ask.

“Perhaps.  But in the meantime, I need a specific spanner and the replicators are down. So, now we have to fix them first, before moving on. Might take a while.”

I look around the crew, seeing their expectant faces drop with disappointment.

Outer space was going to have to wait a little longer.

…

© Charles Heath 2025

The 2am Rant: Is there a reason to get out of bed?

I sometimes wonder if there is.

Is that depression speaking, or am I just tired from all the late nights?

Unlike most writers, authors and bloggers I don’t have a day job.  You could say it’s one of the benefits of getting old, this retirement thing, but after a while, not having a reason to get out of bed starts working on your subconscious.

The idea of having a job, and going to work, is a good reason to drag yourself out of bed every morning.  And because of this, the idea of sleeping in takes on a whole new meaning.

You know, I’ll just lie here for a few more minutes, and then I’ll get up.  Having turned off the alarm, the eyelids flutter, and before you know it, half an hour had passed, and you wake up in fright, knowing you’re going to be late.

In retirement, that doesn’t happen.  There is no alarm, there is no guilty pleasure in spending those extra minutes in bed.

Of course, this tardiness, or lack of desire could be because I find I do my best writing in the dead of night, often not getting to bed before 2 a.m.   Last night it was a little later because of a story I’m working on came to life with a new idea.

It had been stagnating because it’s part two and whilst I had an idea about where it was going to go, in the end, we’re off in a different direction, and the words flowed.  You just don’t stop writing when you hit a vein.

But this isn’t always the case.  This morning I have an excuse to stay in bed, but most others I don’t.

Perhaps I should find something else to do, something that will give me that same reason I used to have to get up every morning.

Or maybe I should be more organized in my retirement life, you know, set a schedule and do things according to a timetable.  I was never one for being organized, but perhaps it’s time to start.

Just let me lie here for a few more minutes and think about that.

What I learned about writing – Just what is the right word processor?

It was as if Microsoft Word was sent down from that place in the universe where a group of torturers sit around a table to find new ways of making our lives just that little bit more difficult.

I mean, most of the time it works really well and behaves itself.

But…

Then there are the times, usually when you are stressed about a deadline, or you are nearly at the end of what you believe to be the most brilliant writing you have ever put on paper.

Then…

Disaster strikes.

It could be that the power goes off, even for just a few seconds, but it’s enough to kill the computer.  It could be that you have reached the end and closed Word down, thinking that it had autosaved, all the while ignoring that little pop-up that says, ‘Do you want to save your work’?

It’s been a long day, night, or session.  You’re tired and your mind is elsewhere, as it always is at the end.

You always assume that autosave is on.  It was the last time; it has been since the day you installed it however long ago that was.

So…

When the power comes back on, you start the computer, go into Word, and it brings back all the windows you had open when the power failed, and the one with the brilliant piece you just wrote, it’s just a blank sheet.

Or up to where it last autosaved, which is nowhere near the end.

Or it didn’t save at all.

You forgot that the software was updated recently and that always brings changes.  Usually, unwanted changes.

By which time you have that sinking feeling that all is lost, deadline missed, brilliant work lost, it’s the end of the world.

You promise yourself you’re going to get Scrivener, or something else, where this doesn’t happen.

Or if you’re like me, you put the cat on the keyboard and tell him to sort the mess out.

365 Days of Writing, 2026 – 246

Day 246 – Are modern novels boring?

…

Are Modern Novels Boring? (And How Do We Avoid the Literary Abyss)

Scroll through Goodreads, wander the aisles of a major bookstore, or tune into BookTok, and you’ll find a paradoxical landscape. We are currently living through a golden age of publishing volume. Yet, a nagging, heresy-sounding question is echoing among avid readers, critics, and writers alike:

Are modern novels… kind of boring?

It’s a controversial take. After all, thousands of brilliantly crafted, highly praised books hit the shelves every year. So why does a pervasive sense of literary fatigue seem to have gripped the reading public? Why do so many contemporary books feel like they were written by an algorithm, polished by a focus group, and designed to be consumed like fast food rather than savoured like a fine wine?

Let’s dive into the state of contemporary fiction, explore why modern novels sometimes feel like an uninspired trudge, and discover how readers can navigate past the noise to avoid the terrifying “literary abyss.”

Part 1: Why Do Modern Novels Feel Boring?

To be clear, “boring” doesn’t necessarily mean slow. In fact, many modern novels move at a breakneck pace. Rather, the boredom stems from a sense of sameness, predictability, and a retreat from genuine artistic risk.

Here are the primary culprits turning contemporary fiction into a snooze-fest:

1. The Domestication of the Plot (The “Cozy” Trap)

In an effort to remain hyper-relatable and emotionally safe, a massive slice of modern literary fiction has retreated into the mundane. We are flooded with novels about contemporary people sitting in apartments, navigating micro-aggressions, having esoteric conversations about modern dating, and agonising over career pivots.

While everyday life can be profound, too many modern novels mistake triviality for depth. When every book is a quiet, low-stakes character study about upper-middle-class ennui, the genre begins to smell of stale coffee and self-absorption.

2. The Algorithmic Homogenization of Style

Publishing is a business, and businesses hate losing money. In the age of algorithmic marketing, publishing houses increasingly lean toward formulas that have worked before.

This has birthed a distinct “contemporary literary voice”: clean, hyper-accessible, emotionally explicit, and largely devoid of stylistic idiosyncrasies. Authors are often encouraged to write in a cinematic, easily translatable style that makes adaptation for Netflix or HBO effortless. Gone are the eccentric prose styles of the past; in their place is a bland, standardised English designed not to offend anyone’s palate.

3. “Show, Don’t Tell” Has Become “Explain Everything”

Good writing historically trusted the reader to read between the lines. Modern fiction, however, is terrified of ambiguity.

Influenced perhaps by the digital age’s demand for instant clarity, contemporary novels often hold the reader’s hand a little too tightly. Themes are spelled out explicitly in the dialogue. Characters give TED Talks to explain their internal psychology. When a book does all the emotional heavy lifting for you, the act of reading ceases to be a dynamic collaboration and becomes a passive lecture.

4. The Moralization of Art

Literature has always explored morality, but a growing trend in modern fiction is the demand that characters (and by extension, authors) pass strict contemporary ideological purity tests.

When novels become moral instruction manuals rather than explorations of human complexity, they lose their spark. Great literature thrives in the grey areas, the hypocrisies, and the moral ugliness of humanity. When every character has to be a pristine avatar of virtue—or an unambiguously cartoonish villain—the narrative tension evaporates.

Part 2: How to Spot a “Boring” Book Before You Buy

If you want to protect your reading time from the abyss of blandness, you need a radar system. Be wary of books that feature these red flags:

  • The Over-caffeinated Blurb: If the back cover features quotes comparing the author to Joan Didion, Sally Rooney, and Ottessa Moshfegh all at once, you are likely looking at a manufactured trend, not an authentic voice.
  • The High-Concept Gimmick: A book whose entire value proposition is a quirky premise (“What if an AI ran a coffee shop in a post-apocalyptic IKEA?”) but lacks stylistic prose or psychological depth.
  • The Trauma-Drop: Books that rely on an early, shocking revelation of trauma to generate forced emotional stakes, while the rest of the prose coasts on cruise control.

Part 3: How Do We Avoid the Literary Abyss?

If you are suffering from reading fatigue, do not give up on reading altogether. You simply need to change your navigation strategy. Here is how you can step back from the brink of the literary abyss and fall in love with reading again.

1. Read Widely Across Time

There is an entire cemetery of brilliant literature out there waiting to be exhumed. If modern fiction feels flat, step back. Read the 19th-century Russians for sheer psychological depth; read the mid-century modernists for stylistic fireworks; read genre fiction from the 1970s and 80s that prioritised pure, unadulterated storytelling.

A healthy reading diet resembles a balanced ecosystem: mix the old with the new.

2. Seek Out Small Presses and Indie Publishers

While the Big Five publishers are increasingly risk-averse, independent presses (like Graywolf, Coffee House Press, New Directions, and Europa Editions) are taking massive artistic gambles.

Indie publishers are the lifeblood of contemporary literary innovation. They are printing translations of international authors, genre-bending experiments, and unapologetic prose that traditional houses won’t touch because they aren’t “marketable enough.”

3. Embrace Translation

American and British fiction often suffer from a specific cultural insularity. By looking outward and reading translated literature, you instantly escape the stylistic homogeneity of the Anglosphere.

Writers from South Korea, Argentina, Norway, Japan, and France bring entirely different philosophical frameworks, cultural rhythms, and narrative structures to the page. Reading translated works is the literary equivalent of taking off virtual reality goggles and seeing the real world for the first time.

4. Support Books That Take Risks

When you find an author who refuses to play it safe—someone who uses weird punctuation, writes unlikeable characters, tackles bizarre subjects, or structures a plot like a labyrinth—support them. Buy their books, recommend them to friends, and let publishers know that readers still reward audacity.

Conclusion: The Horizon is Still Bright

Are modern novels boring? Many of them are, yes. But boredom is simply a symptom of a bloated marketplace prioritising commercial safety over artistic peril.

The literary abyss is real, but it is entirely avoidable. By raising our standards, looking beyond the bestseller lists, and championing books with teeth, grit, and originality, we can push past the noise.

Great, vital, mind-altering books are still being written—we just have to be a little braver in how we look for them.

…

If I only had one day to stop over in – Barcelona – what would I do?

One Day in Barcelona? The One Spot That Will Make It Unforgettable

If you’ve only got a single day to soak up the magic of Barcelona, there’s no better way to turn a quick stopover into a memory that lasts a lifetime than to spend it at the Sagrada Familia.

The towering spires, the kaleidoscopic light that dances through stained glass, and the sheer audacity of Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece make this basilica the ultimate “must‑see” for any traveller pressed for time. Below, I’ll walk you through why the Sagrada Familia deserves top billing, how to experience it efficiently, and what you can squeeze in around it so your twelve‑hour layover feels like a full‑blown Barcelona adventure.

Why the Sagrada Familia Wins the One‑Place Vote

FactorWhat It Means for a One‑Day Visitor
Iconic statusRecognisable worldwide, a single photo here instantly says “I’ve been to Barcelona.”
Architectural wonderGaudí’s evolving vision combines Gothic verticality with natural forms—an immersive lesson in art, engineering, and spirituality.
Compact yet completeYou can explore the interior, the crypt, and the towers in 2–3 hours, leaving plenty of time for a bite and a stroll.
AccessibilityCentral location (Eixample district) is on the main metro line (L2, L5) and a short walk from the city’s bus network.
Year‑round appealNo seasonal closures; the light inside changes dramatically with the sun, giving you a fresh experience any day you visit.

In short: it’s the perfect blend of visual impact, cultural depth, and logistical convenience for a traveller with a clock ticking.

Making the Most of Your Visit

1. Book Your Ticket Ahead of Time

  • Online reservation: Purchase a timed‑entry ticket on the official site (or a reputable reseller) at least 24 hours in advance.
  • Choose the “Tower + Audio Guide” upgrade if you want panoramic city views and a deeper narrative (extra €15–€20).
  • Arrive 10‑15 minutes early; security is brisk, but the basilica fills up fast, especially in summer.

2. Timing Is Everything

  • Morning slot (9:30 am‑11:30 am): Sunlight streams through the Nativity façade, highlighting the intricate stonework.
  • Mid‑day slot (12:30 pm‑2:30 pm): The interior glows with a warm, diffused light—perfect for photography.
  • Late afternoon (4:30 pm‑6:30 pm): The Passion façade faces the setting sun, casting dramatic shadows.

If your flight lands early in the morning, aim for the 9:30 am slot; if you arrive later, the 4:30 pm slot gives you a chance to explore a bit of the city first.

3. Navigate the Space Efficiently

  1. Entry Hall – Quick video intro (3 min) runs on the screen; pay attention for a concise overview of Gaudí’s vision.
  2. Main Nave – Follow the audio guide’s highlighted points: the column forest, the ceiling’s ribbed “cocoon,” and the stained‑glass windows.
  3. Crypt & Museum – Spend 20 minutes here; the crypt holds Gaudí’s tomb, and the museum explains the construction timeline.
  4. Towers – If you opted for the tower experience, the lift ride (about 5 min) ends with a 360° panorama that includes the Mediterranean, Montjuïc, and the city grid—a perfect final shot for your travel diary.

Quick “Around the Basilica” Itinerary

You’ll have roughly 5‑6 hours left after the Sagrada Familia. Here’s a streamlined loop that maximises flavour, fun, and photogenic moments without straying far.

TimeActivityReason
12:30 pmTapas on Carrer de Mallorca (e.g., Bar Mut or Cerveseria Catalana)A short 5‑minute walk; try “patatas bravas,” “jamón ibérico,” and a glass of cava.
1:30 pmPasseig de Gràcia stroll – admire Casa Batlló & La Pedrera (exteriors)You get a second Gaudí glimpse without buying extra tickets; perfect for quick photos.
2:15 pmMetro to Plaça Catalunya (L2 to Passeig de Gràcia, then L1)Central hub for a short walk to the next highlight.
2:30 pmLa Rambla & Boqueria Market – a sensory sprint10‑minute walk; sample a fresh fruit juice or a quick jamón bite.
3:15 pmGothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) – snap the Cathedral façade, narrow alleys, and Roman wallsA 20‑minute walk from La Rambla; you can wander until your next transport.
4:00 pmHead back to the airport – Metro L3 from Liceu to Zona Universitària, then transfer to the Aerobus (A1) or direct train (R2 Nord)Gives you ~45‑60 min buffer for security and boarding.

Adjust the times according to your flight schedule; the whole loop can be trimmed to a “quick bite + photo sprint” if you’re pressed for minutes.

Insider Tips for a Smooth Stopover

  1. Carry a lightweight, waterproof backpack – You’ll need space for a water bottle, a portable charger, and a small umbrella (Barcelona’s micro‑showers love to appear unexpectedly).
  2. Download the Sagrada Familia app – It syncs with your ticket QR code, offers an offline audio guide, and shows real‑time tower wait times.
  3. Speak “Catalan” greetings – A friendly “Bon dia!” (good morning) earns smiles from locals and staff alike.
  4. Avoid the “free ticket” scams – Only buy from the official website or authorised vendors; the price is consistent (€26‑€32 for basic entry).
  5. Take a moment to just look up – The basilica’s interior is designed to make you feel small and infinite simultaneously; a few silent seconds are worth the crowded schedule.

Wrap‑Up: The One‑Place Rule for One‑Day Travellers

When a city as vibrant as Barcelona squeezes into a single day, the temptation is to hop from museum to market to beach. Yet the true essence of Barcelona lives in a single, unforgettable structure that ties together its spiritual past, avant‑garde art, and bustling present—the Sagrada Familia.

A brief but intentional visit gives you:

  • Instant visual identity (those spires are instantly recognisable worldwide)
  • A deep cultural touchpoint (Gaudí’s philosophy of nature and faith)
  • A logistical hub (central, well‑served by public transport)

Add a quick tapas stop, a dash of modernist architecture on Passeig de Gràcia, and a stroll through the Gothic Quarter, and you’ll leave Barcelona feeling like you’ve truly lived the city—even if the clock says you’ve only been there for a day.

So next time you find yourself with a 24‑hour layover, remember: a single visit to the Sagrada Familia converts a fleeting stopover into a lifelong story.

Happy travels, and may your Barcelona day be as unforgettable as the basilica’s soaring towers!

In a word: Mark

A teacher will mark a test in order to give the student a mark out of 100.  Yes, to mark a test means to ascertain right and wrong answers and score it accordingly, and getting a mark out of 100 could determine a great many different outcomes at school.

Whereas a mark on your clothes could mean you’ve been playing with fire, rolled in the mud or if much older having a salacious affair with an unexplainable lipstick mark on your collar.

A mark is someone that a con man believes will be easily deceived.

A mark is a catch in certain types of football.

You can have an identifying mark on some item of property.

it’s literally the x marks the spot for someone who cannot write, i.e. make your mark

There can be a mark on a rope that indicates the depth of water.

And many, many more…

But not to be confused with marque, which could be the make or model of a particular type of car

Or marc which is the refuse of grapes after being pressed

 

The story behind the story – Echoes from the Past

The novel ‘Echoes from the Past’ started out as a short story I wrote about 30 years ago, titled ‘The Birthday’.

My idea was to take a normal person out of their comfort zone and led on a short but very frightening journey to a place where a surprise birthday party had been arranged.

Thus, the very large man with a scar and a red tie was created.

So was the friend with the limousine who worked as a pilot.

So were the two women, Wendy and Angelina, who were Flight Attendants that the pilot friend asked to join the conspiracy.

I was going to rework the short story, then about ten pages long, into something a little more.

And like all rewrites, especially those I have anything to do with, it turned into a novel.

There was motivation.  I had told some colleagues at the place where I worked at the time that I liked writing, and they wanted a sample.  I was going to give them the re-worked short story.  Instead, I gave them ‘Echoes from the past’

Originally, it was not set anywhere in particular.

But when considering a location, I had, at the time, recently been to New York in December, and visited Brooklyn and Queens, as well as a lot of New York itself.  We were there for New Year’s, and it was an experience I’ll never forget.

One evening, we were out late and finished up in Brooklyn Heights, near the waterfront, and there was rain and snow; it was cold and wet, and apartment buildings were shimmering in the street light, and I thought, “This is the place where my main character will live”.

It had a very spooky atmosphere, the sort where ghosts would not be unexpected.  I felt more than one shiver go up and down my spine in the few minutes I was there.

I had taken notes, as I always do, of everywhere we went, so I had a ready supply of locations I could use, changing the names in some cases.

Fifth Avenue near the Rockefeller Centre is amazing at first light, and late at night with the Seasonal decorations and lights.

The original main character was a shy man with few friends, hence not expecting the surprise party.  I enhanced that shyness into purposely lonely because of an issue from his past that leaves him always looking over his shoulder and ready to move on at the slightest hint of trouble.  No friends, no relationships, just a very low profile.

Then I thought, what if he breaks the cardinal rule and begins a relationship?

But it is also as much an exploration of a damaged soul as it is the search for a normal life, without having any idea what normal was, and how the understanding of one person can sometimes make all the difference in what we may think or feel.

And, of course, I wanted a happy ending.

Except for the bad guys.

…

Get it here:  https://amzn.to/2CYKxu4

newechocover5rs

If I only had one day to stop over in – Moscow – what would I do?

Making the Most of Your One-Day Stopover in Moscow: The Ultimate Guide to Red Square

If you’re whisked away on a one-day stopover in Moscow, you’re in for a whirlwind of history, grandeur, and unforgettable vistas. While the city teems with landmarks, there’s one place that captures Moscow’s soul and serves as the perfect hub for a memorable day: Red Square. This iconic plaza isn’t just a single attraction—it’s the heart of Russia’s capital, where centuries of imperial history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture converge. Here’s how to make the most of your day.

Morning: Arrival and the Majesty of Red Square

Start your day early to beat the crowds and soak in the serene, pre-dawn atmosphere of Red Square (Красная площадь). As the sun rises, the golden domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral shimmer, and the Kremlin’s fortress walls glow in the light. Begin your stroll here, taking photographs and marvelling at the square’s historical energy.

  • St. Basil’s Cathedral: Pop into this kaleidoscopic masterpiece. Climb its domes for panoramic views of Moscow, or simply admire its colourful onion-shaped roofs.
  • GUM Department Store: Adjacent to the square, this neoclassical shopping arcade has sold luxury goods to Russian elites for centuries. Grab a coffee at its open-air café to people-watch.

Midday: Kremlin Intrigue

A short walk away lies the Kremlin—Moscow’s most powerful symbol. This fortified complex is a labyrinth of palaces, cathedrals, and museums. Allocate 2–3 hours here to explore:

  • Kremlin Walls and Towers: Walk along the 19th-century fortress walls, with stunning views of the city below.
  • Cathedrals of the Assumption and St. George: Tour these UNESCO-listed churches, where Russian emperors and Soviet leaders are buried.
  • The Armory Chamber: Discover opulent treasures like the Diamond Fund and Fabergé eggs.

Pro Tip: Book your Kremlin tickets in advance to skip the lines—especially recommended if you’re short on time.

Afternoon: The State Historical Museum

Head back to Red Square for a deeper dive into Russia’s past at the State Historical Museum (Gosudarstvennyy istoricheskiy muzei). Its gold-domed façade is a masterpiece itself, but inside, you’ll find exhibits spanning Byzantine icons to Soviet memorabilia. This is a must for history buffs, offering context for the landmarks you’ve seen.

Alternatively, take a lunch break at Ermolaevskiy (just steps from the square). This historic restaurant serves traditional Russian dishes like borscht and pelmeni in a lively, old-world setting.

Evening: A Walk to the Kremlin Wall and Beyond

As the sun sets, stroll along the Kremlin Wall Gardens, a hidden gem with a prime view of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s. For a romantic finale, visit Sparrow Hills (Vorobyevy Gory) in Moscow’s southwest. The 200-meter hill offers sweeping views of the city’s skyline and is lit up at night—a magical way to cap your day.