I Have Fallen in Love With The New Irish Passport
The 2026 design celebrates the wildlife, landscapes and seasons of Ireland, and includes poetry in Irish and English by Eavan Boland, Biddy Jenkinson, Thomas Beggs and Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe. The … Continue reading
Writers, Be In It AND Win It
How just entering a competition can help your writing career International Short Story, Flash Fiction and Poetry Competition MANY WRITERS have made a successful career out of entering competitions, not … Continue reading
A Great End to a Writing Course
I finished teaching a four week Writing History course at The Regency Town House last Friday and having Norma Curtis and Edward Milner as guest speakers was a great way … Continue reading
What to do when the Weather is a trifle above Mild…Sensible Advice from Mrs Finnegan
THIS IS A WARNING to all readers who may not be aware that in the summer prolonged exposure to the OUTSIDE can lead to drab BROWNING of the skin. It … Continue reading
A Triumph! Plus a Sunshine jelly and Mrs Finnegan’s Thoughts on a Certain Kind of Poet
Dear Readers! It has happened. My first ever tour of The House* took place last Sunday. It was a success of staggering proportions that outran even MY wildest expectations. People … Continue reading
Free Audiobooks Today for Millions
AUDIOBOOKS are part of my regular reading diet. In fact it is a rare day when I don’t listen. I listen when I am walking, gardening and doing those essential … Continue reading
Got a Novel Stashed Away in Your Desk Drawer? Read this
NOW OPEN The Cheshire Novel Prize is an International prize open to unpublished or self-published, un-agented writers over the age of 18, of any nationality and resident in any country. … Continue reading
Mrs Finnegan Offers Advice to Short-Armed Men and an Invitation to Everyone Else
I have ESSENTIAL advice for guests visiting country houses, wealthy estates and oh, just to take an example at random, a Regency Town House in somewhere like West Brighton on … Continue reading
Getting Books into Bookshops – Sometimes there’s a Problem
I met thriller writer Jack Chandler on a Menorca writing retreat a couple of years ago. She has been in touch asking for support for a petition to help self-published … Continue reading
The Guilty Pleasure of Unread Books
I read somewhere that around 30% of the books on the shelves of most keen readers are unread and will probably remain unread. I definitely fit into that category. It’s … Continue reading
Butlers Beware! Mrs Finnegan is Seeking Out Wily Intrigues and Wanton Ineptitudes
Faithful readers will remember that when we were last together I had the MOST difficult decision to make. Should I hang up my apron and retire to share my SUNSET … Continue reading
The Books I have Read So Far in 2026
I always intend to keep a record of the books I have read and never do. The arrival of the first day of March and meteorological spring has inspired me … Continue reading
Forget The Booker, Make Sure You Enter The Rooker Book Competition
I’ve just heard about the nicest writing competition I have ever come across, run by what sounds like the nicest football club. It’s an annual competition run by Lewes FC. … Continue reading
Shall I Stay or Shall I go? Mrs Finnegan Has a Big Decision to Make
We are ONLY 28 days into a New Year and change of prodigious proportions is afoot. But first let us be CLEAR that now is the time to draw a … Continue reading
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 