Anna Faversham

Welcome, Meg. 😊

The only thing I can think of in relation to near death experiences being useful is that it does give the person a second chance to maybe turn things around and improve themselves/others/the planet. I found your comment about sulphur burning blue very interesting!

"Everyone stands up." Crikey! That wouldn't suit me. Yes, I think you're probably right, the UK is no longer particularly religious - well not Christian anyway. And something I've noticed is that nobody believes, or thinks about Hell any more. Andy Hamilton wrote a great comedy about Hell called 'Old Harry's Game'. Very funny and well researched. "Antichrist born via surrogacy." Another crikey! Let's hope it's a thousand years from now. Although the way the world is going, it could be next week. How's the passport application coming along? Will you soon have your son here in the UK?

I'm so sorry, Kev, I've only just seen this. I don't seem to be getting email alerts any more and I began to think the site must have closed! I'll try to answer your questions now. I find C of E vicars can be easy going or what they call 'high church' where there is chanting, so my parson in 4 of my books is more like a Methodist or Baptist because he is very casual. He's a country parson and carries on more or less as he sees fit for his congregation of farmers and smugglers! I also mention The Salvation Army in one of my books (look my books up on Amazon if you like) and it seems that you don't have to join, you can just go along as you would to a C of E or other UK church. A collection plate or bag is passed around and you can put in any amount you like or nothing. It seemed that you certainly don't have to pay towards their charity work - as you indicate, they do a lot of this and I think it's good. Hope this helps - and I'm so sorry it's very late.

Ouch! This is heart breaking, Kev. I always have a vicar or similar person in my books, a sort of central person who can drop in wise words when they're needed. A bit like G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown stories. In the current one that I am writing, the poor young vicar, just starting out, has only a handful in his congregation. He starts welcoming newcomers to the neighbourhood and little by little the congregation increases. The heroine, a non churchgoer, finds herself in need of something only he can do. I've made it so that it could be a Baptist, Methodist, Anglican, or similar sort of church. Maybe by now, Kev, the congregation will have increased. Hope so, because the church represents so many cultural values as well as the spiritual ones.

Interesting, Kev. It's a case of finding the right one - one where you feel 'at home', I suppose. Someone I know, (not me, honestly!) tried a new church and when I looked it up on the Internet, it was definitely suspicious. You had to pay to join - several thousand pounds.

I've just come across this thread and found it fascinating. I write historical novels mostly and in each one there is a character such as a parson who provides a sounding board or 'good advice' to those who need it and boy do they need it! Oddly, the C of E parson, who behaves more like a Methodist or Baptist, is one of the most liked characters. In one book, I focus on the Quakers, and in my latest I have brought in The Salvation Army. I'm having fun! I wonder what your latest visits have thrown up, Kevin.

Welcome Minxminnie. I didn't even know there was something called Book Group Online!

Welcome Leganto.

I'll ask! From memory, I also found it a little difficult - but that can be the case with most sites, so I don't think you should worry too much.

I've written out some post-it notes and I'm carrying them around with me and leaving them in strategic places! I need to write out more or maybe print some on cards as this will seem more professional perhaps. I have also recommended Book Forum to another UK writer (sorry, practically everyone I know is a writer!) and she has visited but is finding navigating the site a little difficult. I'm just about to email her with some screen shots which might help.

I can help with this. Would you like to write out a few words and I'll put post-it notes with the web address in various, suitable places?

One Dark Night: A romantic thriller mystery, dark and intriguing (The Dark Moon Trilogy Book 1) eBook : Faversham, Anna: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store The link above describes One Dark Night well. This romantic thriller mystery is set on the English coast in 1821 with smugglers and Revenue men battling for supremacy and both in love with the same girl. It is 99p until 6th July. Reviewer's comment: "What a cracking good read." The second book in this trilogy is also 99p until 6th July Under a Dark Star: Heart-rending suspense (The Dark Moon Trilogy Book 2) eBook : Faversham, Anna: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store Reviewer's comment: "All the fervour of a Poldark-style-adventure" The third One Dark Soul: Heartbreaking Revenge (The Dark Moon Trilogy Book 3) eBook : Faversham, Anna: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store is £1.99 Amazon reviewer's comment: "Excellent historical fiction." So for less than £4 you can be the owner of a trilogy of historical ebooks - details of awards are on Amazon Paperbacks are available at £8.95 each.

I'm an Indie author. I sell more in the US than I do in the UK. A few years ago I received notification that one of my books had become the 'Winner in Bards and Sages eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards - Best Historical Fiction 2018 ' A US award. This surprised me as I hadn't entered any of my books into any competitons at all. I had no idea who had put my book forward until someone emailed me and said he had entered my book because his mother liked it so much. He also asked me if I would sign and send the paperbacks of the whole series to his mother and he would pay for them. I was so delighted at his thoughtfulness that I sent them to him at cost price. What I am saying, in a round about fashion, is that Independent authors are more likely to respond because their sales are likely to be fewer and they are so much more grateful to their much needed readers. Most independent authors will be getting writing related emails - as many as a hundred a day but a faithful, delighted reader is like discovering a diamond.

As I mostly read on my Kindle these days, I ensure I have it with me whenever I am likely to have to wait around for something (dentist waiting room looming soon, for instance). Great idea reading in the bath and I used to do that but I'd worry about dropping my Kindle now. However, perhaps you could start with small steps, i.e. read in designated short periods and over the coming months make the times you have set aside a little longer each week until you can allow yourself at least an hour. Having some sort of drink alongside helps, I find. Life these days has so many interruptions that I make sure my phone is out of earshot. Finding a quiet place helps too.

I'll be interested to see what people say.

Welcome, Lana, and happy new year to you. I hope you will find many books that you absolutely love!

I was excited to think there was a book programme at last but gave up on it fairly soon.

I unexpectedly enjoyed a book called 'The Perfect Sister' by Gail Meath.

Interesting thread with responses hitting various nails on the head. I hope we all have more chance to read during the Christmas holidays.

Yes, Francis, being a writer is definitely hard work! Let us hope that we have readers who enjoy, or find our books useful.

Useful idea and some of us might find this useful too.

I remember saying "How dare he?" Of course, life back then was very harsh and whatever our troubles and hardships in these days, it surely is an easier life than back then.