Shonda Rhimes is a successful writer, director and showrunner. She’s best known as the creator of US medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy, as well as its spin-off series, Private Practice. She’s also the executive producer of the hit US political thriller, Scandal, and has writing and directing credits on a number of other television dramas and… Continue reading The science and art of achieving your dreams
Tag: life
What an evening with Yaa Gyasi taught me about inspiration
I first came across the incredible stillness and power of Yaa Gyasi's writing some years ago when reading a short story penned by the Ghanaian-born author in Guernica Magazine. Inscape, narrated from a daughter's perspective, told the tale of a woman and her Ghanaian mother, weaving between themes of religion, culture and mental illness with… Continue reading What an evening with Yaa Gyasi taught me about inspiration
Life, Learning & The Secrets of the Universe
Probably the most fun I’ve had being interviewed to date. I had the very rich and real pleasure of chatting with Rachael Kearney of the Call on Courage podcast (highly recommend). In short, we take in everything from Thundercats to the education system to philosophical ruminations on the creative process, on the way to talking through my… Continue reading Life, Learning & The Secrets of the Universe
On the Beauty of the Tree
Every so often you come across words – a passage of literature, a quote, a pithy aphorism – that perfectly capture some truth inside of you; a long-held belief, an inward conviction, a sentiment so true it resonates, it seems, in every cell of your being like a well struck chord. For me, I’ve perhaps… Continue reading On the Beauty of the Tree
No School Like the Old School?
"What we’re entering is a world in which we can’t even tell our students what they should know 5 years from now. Because in fact we’re entering a world where the average half-life of a skill is moving from about 30 years to 5 years." This is a quote from a commencement speech delivered at… Continue reading No School Like the Old School?
Creating Legends
Sooo... my very first time doing an author interview. I'll admit I was a tad nervous but Anton Marks was the perfect host. We sat down on a typically wet and chilly Manchester evening to discuss life, family, culture, writing, and my soon to be released debut novel, Lost Gods. And, I have to say,… Continue reading Creating Legends
Chaos Theory
Current headspace: I wake up at 5:30am this morning, write this on my phone in about 5 mins, then go back to sleep. Go figure. Think I'll call it Chaos Theory. Seems apt somehow... There's a season for the sun And a season for the rain There's a season to have fun And a season… Continue reading Chaos Theory
Who Do You Think You Are?
I don’t own a television. The one I had broke four or five years ago and with technology being as it is (with smartphones and the internet and so on) I could never really figure a good enough reason to replace it. Which is likely the reason I only recently saw this commercial (see below)… Continue reading Who Do You Think You Are?
King Lear: A World Where Race Doesn’t Matter?
Thrilling, moving, visceral - at some point you run out of words to explain the feelings that run through you after watching Michael Buffong's stunning adaptation of King Lear. I went to the showing at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre last night and loved pretty much every minute of it. The dark, modern soundscape, the ridiculously… Continue reading King Lear: A World Where Race Doesn’t Matter?
3 Surprising Reasons Batman v Superman is the Worst Superhero Movie Ever
So I finally plucked up the courage to go and see Batman v Superman. I’d done my best to avoid the mounting number of mixed reviews. I’d held the negativity surrounding the release at arms length. I told myself, whatever my misgivings about the casting of Ben Affleck as Batman, and whatever the film’s flaws,… Continue reading 3 Surprising Reasons Batman v Superman is the Worst Superhero Movie Ever