Janet Cameron

When Nothing Happens - Forever...

2021-06-26T11:17:00.016-07:00

Eventually, there will be a universe where nothing happens - and nothing happens forever. All will be sea of photons which will, themselves, eventually dissolve into nothing. No memory. No matter. (In the sense of matter in physics, but it could mean matter in the sense of emotional attachment as well.) So don't bother about organising a "permanent" statue to celebrate your achievements. Just don't bother.

Attribution: Bob Lee

This is according to Professor Brian Cox. He was grinning as he said it, like people do when they've clocked something you haven't. (Excuse the unintentional pun.) I was watching his Adventures in Space about the properties of space and time and, therefore spacetime, since the two cannot be separated. (According to Einstein.)

I was feeling pretty down today, and Professor Cox's programmes are always fascinating, and he's a nice sort of person to have in your living room, even if just on your TV screen.

As the Universe expands, all this weird stuff happens with space and time and the "fabric" of the Universe. We are compelled to travel into the disordered future. The stars, eventually, become White Dwarves and then they degenerate and dwindle and decay into Black Dwarves till they are obliterated and, if I remember correctly, that's where we end up with just particles of light and black holes and then the inevitable photons. (Note to self: Look up photons on wikipedia.)

I watched Brian Cox to cheer myself up. Hah! That was a waste of my TIME!

Cellar Arts Poets - A Special Edition of Poetic Excellence

2020-10-15T07:59:00.001-07:00

Cellar Arts Poets

This little poetry book is a non-profit publication by the Cellar Arts Club in Worthing. It was published just before the pandemic hit, so it hasn't had the benefit of a proper launch.

Poems by Angela Geach, dick douglass, eila, Elizabeth Kate Archer, Jacqueline Andrews, Janet Cameron, Joe Bunn, Naomi Wood, Pamela J Hinton, Sandy Barton and Zoe King.

Too good to miss !

THE MINX - HOW TO SUCCEED AND TRIUMPH OVER YOUR DETRACTORS IN 13TH CENTURY BRITAIN

2020-10-15T05:51:00.004-07:00

It is the year 1307 and two young women are preparing for the adventures of their lives. One is to be married to a King, the other, her lady-in-waiting, intends to make the most of all of her assets; her beauty, her intelligence and an inflated sense of personal entitlement. This upwardly-mobile medieval heroine intends to stop at nothing to get what she wants, using her wits, her influence and by exploiting or thwarting the powerful men who seek either to charm her or destroy her. Lady Eleanora is a force to be reckoned with, dangerous, crafty and yet admirably resilient. Find out how she fares in the sometimes macabre reign of Queen Isabella and the husband she married for love, the tragic King Edward II.

Paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MINX-JANET-CAMERON/dp/107335413X/

Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MINX-JANET-CAMERON-ebook/dp/B07SXCCX9D/

Mr. F. Parker

An Entertaining Evocation of a Turbulent but Formative Period in British History

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2020

Verified Purchase

This delightful retelling of the disastrous twenty year reign of Edward II deserves the highest praise. Ellie, The "Minx" of the title, is Lady-in-Waiting to the young Queen Isabella. Friends since their days at the court of King Philip of France, she accompanies the 12 year old princess to the wedding and remains with her throughout the next two decades. Only 14 herself at the outset, she is, nevertheless extremely worldly wise with a lust for life and for sexual pleasure that knows few bounds.
She sees, and records for our entertainment, all of the horrors of the period: hangings, burnings and be-headings are described in gory detail. This and the many sexual encounters she witnesses and partakes in make the book unsuitable for young readers.
But it is the political intrigues, especially Edward's lavish treatment of his favourites and contempt for the majority of the barons, that make this story so fascinating in every telling. The King's downfall, at the hands of the still young Queen and her lover, is inevitable and cruel in the extreme.
Cameron has a witty style and has created in Ellie a truly memorable character. She shows her contempt for the majority of the other players in this drama, except her lover and the young Prince Edward.
For me the outstanding achievement of this book is the way Ellie's relationship with the future Edward III is developed. Historian's have wondered how it was that a boy who witnessed the betrayal of his father by his mother and her lover, the son of the most incompetent of leaders, became a King who showed remarkable restraint in his dealings with his subjects.
Cameron provides a possible answer. The fictional woman the rest of the courtiers called “The Court Strumpet” and “Chief-Lady-in-Mating” provided the mentorship that neither parent nor any of the sycophants that surrounded them could.
When he has become King and is contemplating the best way to take his revenge on Mortimer for the death of his father, she advises him: “You're not only the King but a politician too. To be a good politician, you must be patient and wait for the best opportunity, for the right action at the right time.”
Some passages are reminiscent of Ben Elton's “Blackadder” television series. If you enjoyed those, you will be equally delighted with “The Minx”. But if you love British history, especially the turbulent but formative 14th century, I can unhesitatingly recommend this entertaining evocation of the period.

PHILOSOPHERS OF ANCIENT TIMES

2019-12-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

Philosophers of Ancient Times - Beautiful Insights and Mad Moments

I write about male philosophers too, and those ancients were brave, clever and quirky. Many of their insights and visions have stood up to the test of time. The paperback is in larger print, 16 point, but there is also a kindle ebook.

THALES, ANAXIMANDER, HERACLITUS, SOCRATES, ASPASIA (the only woman in the book) DIOGYNES, PLATO, ARISTOTLE, DEMOCRITUS, EPICURUS, PYRRHO, TIMON, ZENO, ST THOMAS AQUINAS, OCKAHM.

Prepare to be amazed!

USEFUL FOR WORKSHOPS

2019-10-30T11:04:00.001-07:00

I've learned recently that groups are beginning to discover my EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS to be a useful basic guide for feminist philosophy sessions. As there are eighteen chapters, that provides material for an equivalent number of sessions, with no fiddly photocopyng for the facilitator if each student has a book.

Students or members can be encouraged to do some additional research, and its easy enough to set out questions around each chapter to inspire lively debate.

Philosophy debates are tremendous fun and very educational. It's so enriching to know more about the great women who have made our own lives a little easier. I wish my own book had been available to me when I started running my philosophy sessions six years ago in Brighton! That, of course, is a rhetorical statement but all the same, it's true. I had to create my own material, hence the book!

In Kindle and Paperback.

EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS

google.com, pub-2384172236489926, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

My New Feminist Writer Facebook Businesss Page

2019-10-16T05:32:00.001-07:00

Please click on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/janetcameronfeministwriter/posts/

THE TROUBLE WITH TROLLEYOLOGY AND FATISM

2019-09-10T11:21:00.001-07:00

The Trouble with Trolleyology and Fatism

A weird week this week.

What do YOU think about this new trolleyology dilemma?

I joined a meeting with some budding philosophers to tell them something about my research relating to women phiilosophers, from ancient times to the present day. (Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers)

It should have been fun. I planned a section on the growth of feminism through its famous "three waves" and, for a lively group discussion, I picked Philippa Foot's "Trolley Problem" where you may choose to divert a runaway trolley from its track towards one person, to save five vulnerable people on the other track.

There have been a few variants on Philippa Foot's work to look at other moral aspects presented by the problem. This includes the famous variant, The Fat Man.

The Fat Man version supposes that, instead of diverting the trolley with a lever, you push a fat man in front of it to stop it. Many people are willing to pull the lever to divert the trolley onto the other track, but they wouldn't directly kill the fat man by pushing him onto the track.

The issue with the fat man seemed to be a sticking point with the group, who were familiar with the variant. They had already read my book and discussed it, but wanted to pursue it further.

The first thing I was told was I should "lose the fat man." One member of the group was particularly angry that I should fat-shame this anonymous and representational overweight person.

Phew! What options do I have?

The Fat Man scenario was developed by from Philippa Foot's original version by other philosophers during a time when "fat" was used as an adjective.

Now it seems I am required to change "fat" to maybe, "large" in my book. Really?.

This seems patronising to say the least, as it denies the historical context of the dilemma, and the writing of Philippa Foot and other philosophers, such as Judith Jarvis Thomson, who helped developed the several variants of the problem including The Fat Man.

But, to change the established and accepted content of this text is not good academic practice, nor is it honest.

Alternatively, I suppose I could add that useful little word "sic" after the word "fat." But, for heaven's sake, aren't we all adults, and old enough to understand the issue?

At a time when gay people are reclaiming the word "queer" and black people absorb the N-word into their discourse, thereby diminishing its power, how pathetic to have to face hositility over one descriptive word used in its correct historical context.

It isn't my place to change it.

Besides, as a far-from-lightweight but reasonably presentable woman, I think I must reclaim the word "fat" into my life.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH SMASHWORDS

2019-08-26T15:10:00.001-07:00

Interview with Janet Cameron

What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?

I like Pinterest, as it's fun to create pins and categorise them. The problem is that the first edition of my EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS (published on Smashwords as FIFTEEN WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS) did well on Pinterest, and had around 1.3k hits, and plenty of shares and comments. My publisher, the online educational site, Decoded Everything, folded, and my book disappeared so I needed to republlish it myself which has been a tough learning curve. It has also been a little bit painful closing down the pins displaying that first edition, and sacrificing the 1.3k hits to give the new book a chance. I hope it will soon catch up, as it's beeen revised and has three more brilliant women philosophers. It's my baby, the result of lots of research and reflection and inspiring content, and I hope people will continue to buy it.

What is your favourite review for Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers?

I've been lucky enough to get a professional book reviewer, Zoe King, to read and rate the book. Zoe gave it 5 stars (Hooray) and here is her review:

"As the author says in her opening salvo, why a book on ‘women’ philosophers? The answer she goes on to tell us is that women are woefully neglected in general introductory philosophy books. In an attempt to restore the balance, Janet Cameron here features 18 women who have, each in their own way, contributed to the genre over the years. She cites Hegel and other male commentators who have remarked upon the omission, not always in a supportive manner, and goes on to tell us briefly and concisely about women we should know about, and should celebrate ranging from 5 th century mathematician Hypatia, through later feminists.

In Chapter 1, the author marries her twin passions of poetry and philosophy to take a look at Hypatia, citing the work of American poet Adrienne Rich. In Diving into the Wreck, Rich mirrors the lift and obscene death of Hypatia, who so threatened the status quo that she was allegedly killed by having oyster shells hurled at her. In chapter 2, we find 10th century Japanese feminist, Murasaki Shikibu, reputed to be the world’s first woman novelist. Little is known about her life, but Cameron explores what little we do know.

Following chapters take us through better known names such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Ada Lovelace, Ayn Rand, Simone de Beauvoir, and up to the present day, with a look at Iris Murdoch, Mary Warnock, Mary Midgley, and the oft beleaguered Mary Beard. All in all, the book builds into an invaluable introduction to these wonderful women and will undoubtedly fire the imagination and the desire to learn more.

What's the story behind your latest book?

Ten years ago I joined a Philosophy course. The teacher was very good and went through the history of philosophy entirely from a male perspective. This was interesting, but when he asked us what we'd like to do next term, I said could we look at some women philosophers? He shrugged dismissively and said, "It's not very interesting. It's just about feminism." I was so mad with him, but this further sparked my interest, which had always been there. But now I wanted to do something about it. I began to run a course myself, strictly non-sexist as we looked at both male and female philosophers. Then I began to write content for an educational website, who published the first edition of the book with Smashwords, but with just fifteen women philosophers, For the second edition, that is, the one I am hoping you will want to read, I revised a little, and also added three more women.

What motivated you to become an indie author?

I have been traditionally published for all my adult life, in fact I have earned my living that way, along with teaching English and lecturing in creative writing. However, in retirement I have developed more "niche" interests. I have actually turned down commissions offered by two or three of my former publishers - I have enjoyed my writing but my heart isn't in "that place" any more. I don't regret it. I much prefer to write about philosophy and poetry than murders, crime and ghosts! The money isn't so good, but the freedom is wonderful!

How has Smashwords contributed to your success?

The first edition of my most precious book attracted some attention on Smashwords since its first publication in 2014, so that set the bar for future success - I hope.

What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

I love my subject. Also, I must confess, I like being appreciated for what I produce.

What are you working on next?

I am working on my book of iconic women poets. It's actually finished apart from proofreading and checking presentation.

Who are your favorite authors?

Too many to list here. Iris Murdoch, for her wonderful philosophy book, Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals, My favourite poets are Adrienne Rich, Maya Angelous, Charles Bukowski, Walt Whitman, and the incomparable John Keats. My favourite novelist is probably Ian McEwan and my favourite short story writers are Helen Simpson, Raymond Carver and Alice Munro.

What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

Breakfast! Also, I do look forward to writing, walking and seeing friends.

How do you discover the ebooks you read?

I search on my device for favourite authors.

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?

Yes. It was called "A Day in the Life of a Mouse" and it was read out in front of the entire school. I was ten.

What is your writing process?

I think I probably just "go with the flow", forgive the cliche. I never sit down in front of a blank sheet. I do a lot of thinking and when I'm ready, I write, on a sheet of paper if I'm not at home. This may seem disorganised, and I suppose it is. Still, I have produced a lot of books and been translated into several languages; also my work has had to fit around other responsibilities.

Connect with Janet Cameron:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetcameron.104
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Blog: http://janetcameronwriting.blogspot.com
Smashwords Interview: https://www.smashwords.com/interview/janetmc
Smashwords profile page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/janetmc

Published 2019-08-26.

Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author, publisher or reader. Create your own interview!

Books by This Author

Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers by Janet Cameron

Price: $2.39 USD. Words: 22,470. Language: English. Published: July 31, 2019. Categories:Nonfiction » Philosophy » Ethics & moral philosophy, Nonfiction » Biography » Philosopher biography

Throughout history, women refused to be subjugated by a patriarchal society. They wanted freedom, education, and sexual and financial independence. As a result, they struggled to find ways to live better and address inequality, and today they excel in the fields of Applied Philosophy, such as morality and ethics,

MAYA ANGELOU QUOTATIONS

2019-08-09T13:53:00.001-07:00

💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

A wise woman wishes to be no one's enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone's victim.

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.

The thing to do, it seems to me, is to prepare yourself so you can be a rainbow in somebody else's cloud. Somebody who may not look like you. May not call God the same name you call God - if they call God at all. I may not dance your dances or speak your language. But be a blessing to somebody. That's what I think.

Won't it be wonderful when black history and native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.

18 AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS - HOW WOMEN CAN RECLAIM OUR BURIED PAST

2019-07-22T07:56:00.002-07:00

EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS

Click on the link above to find in either paperback and ebook. Be a part of it. Women must claim their buried past along with the men who care for them.

The development of women's philosophical thought spans the three waves of feminism starting in the late 1800s.

This history did not spring from a vacuum. Before the early suffragettes lies a plethora of amazing, smart-thinking women pepared to speak up and to suffer for their beliefs - and so it continues.

Learn about Hypatia of Alexandria, Murasaki Shikubu, Marie le Jars de Gournay, Mary Wollstonecraft, Sojourner Truth, Ernestine Rose, Ada Lovelace, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Ayn Rand, Hannah Arendt, Simone de Beauvoir, Simone Weil, Philippa Foot, Elizabeth Anscombe, Iris Murdoch, Mary Warnock, Mary Midgley and Mary Beard.

These women, and others like them, blazed trails for feminism and helped change the world and the way we think today. We can only wonder at their great achievements.

EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS

FROG HEAVEN - 7 5-STAR REVIEWS

2019-07-06T03:02:00.001-07:00

REVIEWS FOR FROG HEAVEN

Mr. F. Parker

Empathy for the Human Condition

19 April 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The stories in this collection have all been published elsewhere in the past but this is the first time they have been offered in a collection. I am glad that Ms Cameron chose to do so.

What I most like about the collection is the empathy with which MS Cameron draws the characters with which she populates her stories. There's Zara, a woman camped in the woods near a cottage occupied by a couple escaping from urban life. Reminiscent of Alan Bennett's 'Lady in the Van', this story ends with a touching twist.

In the title story, a recently widowed woman is struggling to come to terms with her grief as she watches her toddler son. Washing up plays a key role in two stories, acting as metaphor for the problems faced daily by women. All but one of the central characters are women and these stories deal with their relationships with men and the other women in their lives; as carers, wives, mothers, daughters, girl friends. The exception concerns a boy rejected by his parents and enduring a series of placements in foster homes.

Reading these stories one cannot help but feel, not only that Ms Cameron understands the human condition, but that she has a wonderful way of conveying that fact to us, her readers, so that we, too, are able to share her understanding.

Zoe King

A delightful collection

24 May 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

In this delightful collection, Janet Cameron brings us the many vagaries of the human condition; people lost in their own lives, or in the lives of others. The characters come to such life that we feel the author must have met them, or others like them. The same is true of setting. The sea plays a role almost throughout, beautifully captured in its various moods, so much so that I felt a little cheated when we moved to the woods for Zara's story.

Overall, the touch is deft, with much going on beneath the surface. If I have reservations, they are that one or two of the pieces would have benefitted from the light touch of an editor, and one or two from a longer treatment. Zara in particular lends itself to a far longer story, the main character (and her premise) is so engaging,and we learn so little of her backstory, that I found myself wanting more!

ann perrrin

Five Stars

20 April 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Love this woman's stories very well written. So where is book two....hope it will be soon.

Robert John Alan Howard

Another excellent book

3 July 2019

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Having read Ms Cameron’s books covering Philosophy, fiction (the Minx) and now, What category is Frog Heaven? I shall call it “Life”, I am amazed at the scope of her writing.

Most helpful customer reviews on Amazon.com

Amazon.com: 3 reviews

John

These short stories offer thought-provoking, glimpses into the complexities ...

28 April 2016 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

These short stories offer thought-provoking, glimpses into the complexities of human relationships. They transported this American reader seamlessly into the British landscape and psyche, complete with brooding rainy days and quirky care-worn characters. The entire collection can be read in an hour or less, or the stories can be savored one at a time as time allows. Time well spent.

Maria H Blanco

Delightful

23 March 2016 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Janet Cameron crafts beautifully developed characters and vivid imagery in this collection of short stories, as she deftly maneuvers readers through gritty textures, to surprise endings, and down the winding bends of memoir. Nearly as much poetry as prose; Cameron's language --alternately sharp and flowing, compassionate or lilting-- spins woolen, nubby and silken yarns that make you yearn for more.

dernhelm

Excellent Collection of Stories

3 August 2016 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: Kindle Edition

I enjoyed reading all the stories in this book.

Janet Cameron has a smooth style that makes reading a pleasure. Each story is quick and snappy but has a depth that makes it compelling. Most of them raise a sense of unease, as though there's a sinister punchline coming. Even when the implied doom never materializes, there's always a twist at the end. All the stories are well crafted.

Anyone who loves words will appreciate the beautiful prose and vivid imagery.

THE PHILOSOPHER QUEENS - New Book Claims it is the FIRST of its Kind.

2019-06-24T02:52:00.003-07:00

I am devastated that the introductory style and format of my EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS has been appropriated by some university graduates. This new university-supported book is not the "first" at all, and the editors shouldn't be using this claim as a promotional tool and to pursue crowdfunding, especially as the original edition of my book dates back to 2014.

I am not sure how anyone could have missed my work if they were really looking as is claimed.

My Fifteen Women Philosophers was published in 2014, five years ago by decodedscience.org, and since Decoded has recently folded, the rights reverted to me and the new edition in ebook EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS (inc. 3 extra chapters, see above) was independently published on Amazon in May 2019, swiftly followed by the paperback. During its first edition it appeared on several platforms, Amazon, Decodedscience.org, Smashwords, Goodreads. The editor of my monthly column has plugged it for me since inception. If you google me on Goodreads you can access all the editions with one click.

Both books start with Hypatia - well she is an icon. Also in the last five or six chapters, both books include ANSCOMBE, WARNOCK, MURDOCH and MIDGLEY. Altogether we have eight identical philosophers. There's also a lot of anger about the disregard for women's philosophy. Not true, there might not be many books out there, (apart from mine) but plenty of essays and blogs! Women are passionate about these role models.

CHAPTER 1 HYPATIA
CHAPTER 2 MURASAKI SHIKIBU
CHAPTER 3 MARIE LE JARS DE GOURNAY
CHAPTER 4 MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT
CHAPTER 5 SOJOURNER TRUTH
CHAPTER 6 ERNESTINE ROSE
CHAPTER 7 ADA LOVELACE
CHAPTER 8 ELIZABETH CADY STANTON
CHAPTER 9 AYN RAND
CHAPTER 10 HANNAH ARENDT
CHAPTER 11 SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR
CHAPTER 12 SIMONE WEIL
CHAPTER 13 PHILIPPA FOOT
CHAPTER 14 ELIZABETH ANSCOMBE
CHAPTER 15 IRIS MURDOCH
CHAPTER 16 MARY WARNOCK
CHAPTER 17 MARY MIDGLEY
CHAPTER 18 MARY BEARD

This has all been a great deal of hard work and it's not easy self publishing either, once you have had your work published in the traditional way, as I had to do after my publisher went out of business. I self-published for speed as people were asking where the book had gone, as well as one or two other books of a more general nature.

This feels really bad and I hardly know how to deal with it. My writer friends are equally anguished for me and understand my pain and frustration. I had a post on FB a few weeks ago which I replied to, in a similar vein, but nobody is listening!

EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS you should have heard about in school but probably didn't! (first edition published 2014. Credit for the catchy subtitle, my editor Victoria Nicks.) And here is the cover of the original, designed by Victoria Nicks - there are still plenty of URLs out there to prove how long it has been available.

FROG HEAVEN AND OTHER STORIES

2019-06-01T11:47:00.001-07:00

FROG HEAVEN AND OTHER STORIES

Only 99p.
Step 1: Read the Reviews below
Step 2: Click on the link above
Step 3: Order for your Kindle
Thank you.

John

These short stories offer thought-provoking, glimpses into the complexities ...

April 28, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

One person found this helpful

Comment

Maria H Blanco

Delightful

March 22, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Comment

dernhelm

Excellent Collection of Stories

August 3, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition

Reviews from the United Kingdom

Mr. F. Parker

Empathy for the Human Condition

19 April 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Sending feedback...

Thank you for your feedback.

Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again

Comment

Zoe King

A delightful collection

24 May 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

ann perrrin

Five Stars

20 April 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Love this woman's stories very well written. So where is book two....hope it will be soon.

EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS - PAPERBACK EDITION

2019-05-26T11:34:00.001-07:00

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1096590093

A special revised edition of the well reviewed "15 Women Philosophers you should have learned about in school but probably didn't." Originally published by the former Decoded Science. Now updated and extended. It's time women philosophers had a platform and true acknowledgment for their great courage and unique insight in spite of - or maybe because of - the obstacles and upsets they encountered on their journey.

The under-representation of women in philosophy is an unfortunate truth. The development of women's philosophical work today spans the three waves of feminism starting in the late 1800s.

This history did not spring from a vacuum. Before the early suffragettes lies a plethora of amazing, smart-thinking women prepared to speak up and to suffer for their beliefs.From brave Hypatia of Alexandria and bookworm Maria le Jars de Tournay, to the stunning Mary Wollstonecraft, who was so far advanced in her thinking that we can only wonder at her great achievement - these women blazed trails for feminism, even though, in their time, the word "feminism" had not been created.

Join award-winning author, retired lecturer Janet Cameron as she explores eighteen female philosophers you may never have heard of - women who changed the world, and the way we think today.

PHILOSOPHERS OF ANCIENT TIMES ~ BEAUTIFUL INSIGHTS AND MAD MOMENTS

2019-05-22T08:02:00.005-07:00

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON (Click here!)

Why Science Needs Philosophy

2019-05-17T14:06:00.002-07:00

WHY SCIENCE NEEDS PHILOSOPHY

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON NOW!

Philosophy is needed more than ever in the world today. Philosophy is the search for wisdom, and ethical philosophy helps us to make wiser choices. Through science, we can learn about the world and discover exactly what we can, or cannot, do. Philosophy says, "Okay, but is this a good idea? Will it help to further human interests? Will it be harmful to people, animals, the environment, the planet?" Philosophy helps us to work out why we should choose to act the way we do, or whether we need to make provisions or compromises. Sometimes the decisions we make are difficult and depend a great deal on perspective - and sometimes it seems no one way can be completely right. With the help of philosophers and other experts, this book attempts to ask those difficult questions and maybe address some of these issues. The debate must continue...

EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS

2019-05-12T11:16:00.001-07:00

EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS IS NOW ON THE KINDLE BOOKSHELF

A special revised edition of the well reviewed "15 Women Philosophers you should have learned about in school but probably didn't." Originally published by the former Decoded Science. It's time women philosophers had a platform and true acknowledgment for their great courage and unique insight in spite of - or maybe because of - the obstacles and upsets they encountered on their journey. This is a start but it's far from finished - we still have a long way to go.

Paperback version also available - go to the Kindle Book Store.

8 Actions that will Infuriate the Writer in your Life

2019-05-10T01:22:00.004-07:00

Royalty Free Image (Bing)

1. When you get home early from work, don't go bouncing into her study while she is writing and ask if dinner is on. She's had a hard day creating wonderful prose - get the dinner on yourself.

2. Don't interrupt her if you see her sitting with a faraway look in her eyes and biting on her pencil, She has just had a mind-blowing insight about her central protagonist. Those amazing, wonderful insights can scuttle right into the darkest depths of the mind never to be recalled if they are interrupted at a sensitive juncture. Be warned. Shut your mouth and make yourself scarce.

3.Don't insist on reading her early drafts. Writers are sensitive about notes that are not yet edited and polished. She may want your advice - if she truly trusts you - and you should be honoured if this is the case. Otherwise wait until she offers.

4.Don't be cross if she creeps out of bed in the middle of the night to go fix something in her current novel which has to be done this very moment. She can't help it.

5.Don't think that what she writes is all about "her." She does not have murderous thoughts (that is providing she is not interrupted at the wrong time) nor is she a serial adulterer. Those notorious steamy sex scenes are not personal history. Writers, you see are great observers of all of human nature and can empathise without personally experiencing what they write. She will still remain the warm and affectionate human being you fell in love with.

6.Never tell her that her hair is a mess while she is writing. Never, never, never.

7. Don't hold back on support. Presents of notebooks with attractive covers and good quality HB pencils will be well-received, and if you can, take a course in computer programming and problem-fixing so that when the wretched thing breaks down in the middle of a crucial chapter, you can repair it for her. She needs to concentrate on her writing, not worry about petty nerdy stuff. That's what you are for.

8. Don't spare the celebrations when she finishes her novel. Go to the book signing. Show her you think it's a magnificent achievement, which it is. Buy her champagne and flowers and chocolate. Especially chocolate. She will love you for it.

2018-09-21T13:29:00.001-07:00

My poems in The Pangolin Review. Scroll down through the PDFs to SEA DANCE.

SEA DANCE

2018-08-19T04:47:00.002-07:00

This is so useful and so insightful.

Asking the Universe for the Golden - Published by Pangolin Review

2018-06-08T15:24:00.003-07:00

I so enjoyed writing this little poem, which is a response to a writing trigger at Cellar Arts Club, to compose a poem based on a colour. "Golden" seemed a good choice, as it's so steeped in lovely literary layers.

My poem is in part 2 of the publication, see link below. All the poems are worthy of reading, but if you are short of time and want to find mine quickly, go to the bottom of the section and scroll up 10 poems.

: https://thepangolinreview.wixsite.com/mypoetrysite/current-issue-part-2

Barbara Cartland, Queen of Romance, Born Today 9 July 1901

2017-07-09T12:30:00.002-07:00

Dame Barbara Cartland in 1987 by Allan Warren

I remember her well, batting her enormous black eyelashes on TV, swathed in glorious frothy frills and furs and lace and hats. Oh, and enormous hair! There was no one like her and never will be again. Of course, she was madly non-pc, especially by today's terms. But, for all that, she had a certain, rather terrifying, panache. She wrote over 700 romantic novels - heaven knows where she managed to find 700 different romantic plots. (Is that possible? I really couldn't say.)

She was born in Birmingham Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland.

Her writing career was not confined to the romance novels. She was a reporter for The Daily Express in 1920, specialising in writing society material. Some time ago I read one of her biographies, the one about Napoleon's Josephine, and I remember being impressed with the quality of her writing, having had it drummed into me that everything she wrote was formulaic, predictable and trivial. Not entirely true!

Her romances may not have been literature, but they were extraordinarily successful for all that and gave immense pleasure to many women during difficult times, although they may not have furthered the causes of feminism! The main charges against them was they were always about "ideal" upper class women who always did the right thing, beat the bad girl to get their man through their virtuous sweetness, and were rewarded with long and lasting happiness for their rightness and their commitment to the greater good of the male sex.

Cartland married two McCorquodales, cousins Alexander and Hugh (although not at the same time, of course.) Her daughter, Raine, was the result of her marriage to Alexander McCorquodale, and Raine, as we know, married the 8th Earl Spencer, and became the step-grandmother of Princess Diana.

Barbara Cartland also concerned herself vigorously with human rights and achieved some fine results. According to the website www.thefamouspeople.com:

"She also campaigned for better condition and salaries for midwives and nurses. For her contribution in this field, she received Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem."

This multi-faceted woman died of cancer in the year 2000 aged 98.

Ernest Hemingway Remembered on the Anniversary of his Death, 2nd July 1961

2017-06-30T09:47:00.001-07:00

Ernest Hemingway, Image: Open Culture

This Sunday, 2nd July, is the anniversary of the death of the novelist, Ernest Hemingway, in 1961. A prolific writer and storyteller, Hemingway was not religious but he was a great moral thinker, using biblical concepts to inform his writing.

Ernest Miller Hemingway (1899-1961) was an American writer of novels and short stories, although he is more highly regarded for his short stories. He was the son of a doctor from Illinois and began his writing career as a Kansas City reporter. In 1918 during the First World War, Hemingway volunteered to serve on an ambulance unit on the Italian front, where he was wounded.
Later, he became a reporter for the Toronto Star. In time he was mixing with such icons as Ezra Pound, Ford Madox Ford and Gertrude Stein. He became a war correspondent during the Second World War, and in his later years, spent his life in Cuba, which, together with his liking for deep-sea fishing, provided him with the background for his fine, philosophical novella, The Old Man and the Sea.

Hemingway - Much Married

Hemingway was married four times. His first wife was Hadley Richardson whom he married in 1921 and divorced in 1927. Hemingway and his second wife Pauline Pfeiffer were divorced in 1940, and then he was married for the third time to Martha Gellhorn. They divorced in December 1945 and the following March, Hemingway married his fourth and last wife, Mary Welsh.

A Novella and a Parable - One of Hemingway's Finest Novels

In simple prose, The Old Man and the Sea explores what is most meaningful and painful about the human spiritual journey. Its central character, the fisherman Santiago, develops a relationship with another creature, an enormous marlin, which he holds in great respect for its courage, endurance and beauty – while trying to hunt it down and destroy it. Eventually, Santiago's central purpose shifts and the great fish's destruction is more about Santiago's pride than his hunger.

Hemingway said, "I tried to make a real old man, a real boy, a real sea and a real fish and real sharks. But if I made them good and true enough, they would mean many things."

Certainly, they are good and true. The fish represents religion, while the struggle between man and marlin is symbolic of the struggle for faith and meaning as the two central protagonists become strangely attracted. Although Santiago, metaphorically speaking, reels in his prize, by then it is no more than a carcass since the sea, representing life, has sent sharks to consume the beautiful fish. Santiago's greed has been punished, although his courage and spirit remain triumphant.

It is hard to believe after reading the novel that its author was not a religious man since his writing is steeped in biblical allusions. Interesting as the allegorical levels of his novella are, it is the simplicity of Hemingway's prose that makes the characters, man and fish, especially real. He received a Pullitzer Prize in 1952 and two years later, the Nobel Prize.

Some of Hemingway's Major Works

In Our Time (1925) ~ The Torrents of Spring (1926) ~ The Sun Also Rises (called Fiesta in Britain, 1926) ~ Men without Women (1927) ~ A Farewell to Arms (1929) ~ Death in the Afternoon (1932) ~ Winner Take Nothing (1933) ~ Green Hills of Africa (1935) ~ To Have and Have Not (1937) ~ The Fifth Column (1938) ~ For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940) ~ The Old Man and the Sea (1952.) There were two novel published posthumously: Islands in the Stream (1970) and The Garden of Eden (1986.) The Dangerous Summer tells of Hemingway's trip to Spain in 1959 and A Moveable Feast was a memoir of his time in Paris after World War One.

He committed suicide by shooting himself in July, 1961, after a long illness.

· The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English, Editor: Ian Ousby, (1988) The Cambridge University Press.

· Hemingway, Ernest, The Old Man and the Sea, (1952) Scribner.

· The Oxford Companion to English Literature, Editor: Margaret Drabble, (1987) Book Club Associates, Guild Publishing.

Linked Short Stories - the Best of Both Worlds

2017-06-29T05:02:00.000-07:00

I love linked short stories.

People who prefer novels often say it's because they have become attached to the characters - a short story doesn't fulfil that sense of "I'm going to be with this narrative for a while and, yes, I really care about what happens next." So, if you want to get to know a character and make him or her part of your precious inner fictive reality, then maybe a short story isn't going to work for you.

I understand this completely, although I truly love the short story as a particular literary form that is spare, concise and self-contained and sometimes poetic or lyrical.

BUT - YOU CAN GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Inspired by an excellent TV series based on Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," I picked up a book from the shelf, one I've had for some time. It's a linked series of stories by Margaret Atwood entitled "Moral Disorder" and was published in 2006. I have read a lot of her work in the past, but I'd forgotten just how much I enjoyed it.

As with most short story collections, the title is that of one of her stories.

I love Nell and Tig. Margaret Atwood explores their lives, in Nell's first-person narrative, in eleven delightful, self-contained stories, which seem commonplace (although commonplace in gorgeous language.) Yet the depths of her incredible insights may only dawn on you after you have read for a little while.

People are, by definition, so irritating and so adorable and there is nothing ordinary about them, ever! The characters are beautifully dissected as Atwood's sharp analytical dagger of perception stabs into the most private and awkward places. Yet she is always kind and not judgemental.

Her first short story is "The Bad News" and wow! is it easy to make analogies with what is going on today? Tig wants to get "The Bad News" off his chest the moment he opens the newspaper, but Nell needs time before she is ready to face being able to "absorb, to cushion, to turn the calories of bad news - and it does have calories, it raises your blood pressure." It's impossible not to identify with her characters, to understand yourself more fully as a consequence of reading her.

Yes, bad news is definitely very high in calories and we can all do with less of it.

If I ever write another fiction book, it's going to be a book of linked short stories. They won't be a patch on Margaret Atwood's, but maybe I will come up with something worth reading, some new insights, a neat turn of phrase, a memorable metaphor! Who knows?

Frank Parker - Interview with an Author of Great Historical Fiction

2017-05-02T02:09:00.000-07:00

You were an engineer before you retired, but when did you actually start writing, and why?

I wrote on and off throughout my adult life. I started doing it seriously – as my main occupation – after retirement at an online magazine called Suite101 (I think that's where we first encountered each other!) This was 2010 and about the same time I heard of a local writers' group and joined them. It was all good experience and encouragement.

Was it something you always wanted to do from childhood?

Absolutely. When I left school I thought I might join the local weekly newpaper as a junior reporter. I was told that only a handful of those who became reporters actually made it as professional writers. “Get a trade: you can always try writing later, then if you don't succeed you'll have the trade to fall back on”. So I took up an apprenticeship as a Mechanical Engineer.

Your blog says you "retired" to Ireland. Are you actually Irish?

No. Back in the early nineties my son, who is a psychiatric nurse, was working in Frimley. He met a nurse there who happened to be Irish. They settled in London after marriage but when their child was approaching school age they couldn't afford housing near a good school so decided to come to Ireland where the 'Celtic Tiger' had just taken off. When I retired it was a natural choice to go and live near them.

Do you read any particular Irish writers to help inspire your own writing?

I do read a lot of Irish writers. Colm Toibin, Colum MacCann, Sebastian Barry, Anne Enright, John Boyne – to name just a few! But I also read many English, American and “New World” writers also.

What was your first real success?

I'm stll waiting for that! Although I have self-published four novels and two collections of short stories, none of them sell in significant numbers. It's a good month if I get a couple of sales via Amazon. I've recently started selling print copies of Strongbow's Wife via visitor centres in Irish heritage sites. I'm waiting to see how that turns out.

Do all your novels have a historical background?

Yes. The exception would be Transgression which is set in the present day but has a back story covering the whole of the period since WWII. So not really an exception at all!

Do you have a "muse"?

I'm not even sure what that is. The nearest thing would be the Writers' Group, especially its leader. She and they are very supportive.

How much do you edit before you are satisfied/ Can a writer "over-edit" do you think?

I probably don't do enough editing. Strongbow's Wife went through 7 drafts before I was satisfied. Transgression had about the same number of drafts plus a professional edit. As for “over-editiing”, I think you know when your WIP is the best it can be. It's striking a balance between having the patience to keep polishing and believing it's good enough to release to the world.

Does your mood make a difference to your writing? Some writers are most productive when they are under stress.. Others try to achieve a real distance from their characters before they can write about them. What works best for you?

I'm a great one for indulging in diisplacement activity. I'm not sure if that is something to do with mood. More to do with having the self discipline to grapple with difficult scenes. I find that I have to work scenes out in my head before I start writing – not that the scene always ends the way I originally expected!

Any tips you can share to help other writers?

I'm wary of giving tips as I still regard myself as a beginner. The only thing I would say, and it's a cliche, is never give up.

Thank you for the opportunity to talk about myself and my “practice”.

(Interviewer's footnote: Frank Parker is far too modest!)

Useful Links:

Frank's Website:

Frank's Author Page: