Chasqui's Writing World

This historical novel sequel by Steven Veerapen is as exciting and absorbing as "The Queen's Gold" and I hope all this , and more, is reflected in my review.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2023/05/06/book-review-the-queens-jewel-by-steven-veerapen/

My review of this historical novel was prompted by the reading pleasure I derived while enthralled by the fictional exploits of Christopher (Kit) Marlowe during his student years.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2023/05/05/marlowe-month-may-2023/

Chapter 9 of the Muses' Darling, my historical novel focusing on Christopher (Kit) Marlowe, Elizabethan dramatist, poet and translator who was a contemporary of Shakespeare. In this final chapter available to listen to on Spotify, Kit is on his way to Scadbury for a meeting with Sir Francia Walsingham, head of Queen Elizabeth II's spy ring. Thank you for listening.

Chapters 1-9 in this series, along with many other stories, are available to read on my WordPress website, Chasqui's Writing World. The Muses' Darling will continue to be serialised on my site and Chapter 10 should appear on there at the end of May 2023.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2023/03/06/the-muses-darling-chapter-9/

Chapter 8 of my historical novel, The Muses' Darling, and Kit Marlowe and family have a full and out-of-the-ordinary weekend.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/11/25/the-muses-darling-chapter-8/

Chapter 7 from my historical novel, The Muses' Darling, and Kit Marlowe's unconventional approach to a talk at his old school has quite an impact.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/10/16/the-muses-darling-chapter-7/

Chapter 6 of my historical novel, The Muses' Darling, and Kit is asked to carry out a very special role at the weekend.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/05/30/the-muses-darling-chapter-6/

Chapter 5 of my historical novel, The Muses' Darling, which revolves around the early adult life of the Elizabethan dramatist, poet and translator, Christopher (Kit) Marlowe.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/05/14/the-muses-darling-chapter-5/

British comedy actor Rik Mayall passed away in June 2014, leaving a huge gap in the lives of his family, friends and his many fans. Here is my tribute to the unique Rik Mayall whom I was lucky enough to see live on a number of occasions, meeting him afterwards four times.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/06/21/a-world-without-rik/

To commemorate William Shakespeare's life, here is my list of 50 Facts and Suppositions on The Bard, written with the sitcom Upstart Crow in mind.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2023/04/23/the-upstart-crow-facts-series-50-facts-and-suppositions-about-william-shakespeare/

This is a fictional story of a panda which I wrote having watched these lovely members of the bear family on zoo cams in Washington and Edinburgh.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2023/04/07/and-they-went-off-in-every-direction/

Part 2 of of my father's life and my firsthand recollections of him - often amusing and I hope you enjoy reading about these.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/04/30/an-absolute-riot/

My recollections of my father's early life: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/EJRCUxrFFyb

Remembering my lovely father and some of the more amusing exploits of his early life which began in Great Yarmouth in 1912.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/04/10/remembrance/

This is my review of the historical novel Of Ink, Wit and Intrigue by Susan Cooper Bridgewater. The book is written from the perspective of the main character, John Wilmot, the Second Earl of Rochester, who lived in 17th Century England and was a courtier and friend of King Charles II. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2023/03/15/book-review-of-ink-wit-and-intrigue-by-susan-cooper-bridgewater/

Holiday thoughts from a fictional cat called Fleck - who has her own very definite views on these annual events!

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/03/18/a-home-from-home/

Cats take centre stage in this true story.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/03/04/a-chain-of-events/

My review of the factual book, "Actresses of the Restoration Period" by Susan Margaret Cooper which is also available to read on Amazon and Goodreads.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2023/02/13/book-review/

Continuing the unusual tale of Victorian Cockney, Charles Darkness in this second chapter, split into two parts. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2023/01/30/victorian-darkness-illuminated-chapter-2/

Halfway through January and continuing the theme of correspondence, we are going back to 10th Century York (Jorvik), with a young Viking woman sending news home to her sister. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/01/21/a-letter-from-jorvik/

This is a Victorian-themed story based on a young man with a secret he reveals to few people.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2023/01/07/431/

As we go into the new year, here are some recollections on friendship and my love of writing - even thank you letters!

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/01/07/thank-you-letters/

Chapter 2 of A Special Friend revolves around a new life for one of our characters, and a return home for the other. Both have to make changes and adapt to  different circumstances as the story unfolds.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/12/17/a-special-friend-chapter-2/

This story began as a one-off called Summer Mornings, for a small writing competition, and has grown chapter by chapter from there. While it is an unlikely scenario, I hope you will find it entertaining.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/12/03/a-special-friend-chapter-1/

An ordinary day at his parents' home ends with a worrying turn of events for Kit Marlowe, in my historical fiction centring on this Elizabethan writer with a secret to hide. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/the-muses-darling-chapter-4/

Some nostalgia for Kit Marlowe when he visits his old school in Canterbury, as well as a surprise request from the headmaster, as my fictional tale from the late 16th century begins to unfold.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/02/04/the-muses-darling-chapter-3/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/november/

Set in 2015, this story revolves around a unique location and way of life in the Southern Hemisphere. 

This is written from the perspective of its main character, a famous figure you may recognise from history.  

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/11/05/last-minute/

Welcome to Chapter 2 of The Muses' Darling, where Elizabethan playwright Christopher (Kit) Marlowe sets off to visit his parents in his home city of Canterbury in Kent. As always with my historical fiction, the facts are as accurate as I can ascertain with the story written around these. 

The Photograph, the mini-biography on Kit, as well as Chapter 1 - The New Playwright - are also available on Anchor, posted on 1st and 2nd October 2022 respectively. All three are also available to read on my WordPress site: 

https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/10/01/the-photograph/

https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/10/11/the-muses-darling-chapter-1/

https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/10/22/the-muses-darling-chapter-2/

This is the first chapter of my novel The Muses' Darling, based on the life of Elizabethan playwright and poet Christopher (Kit) Marlowe. When writing historical fiction, I always adhere to facts, weaving my story around these and hoping my characterisation is plausible. The audio version of Chapter 2 will follow shortly. Meanwhile, you may like to listen to my mini biography of Kit Marlowe. Entitled The Photograph, it was posted on Anchor on 1st October 2022, where there is also a link to the written version on WordPress.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/10/11/the-muses-darling-chapter-1/

Centring on the Elizabethan playwright Christopher (Kit) Marlowe, The Muses' Darling is my historical novel which I am serialising chapter by chapter on Chasqui's Writing World. The Photograph, a mini biography of Kit Marlowe, preceded the first and second chapters of this novel on my site, all during October 2021. These will also both appear on Anchor in a few days' time. Chapters 3-4 appeared on WordPress in February 2022, with Chapters 5-6 in May that year. Continuing this pattern, Chapters 7-8 will be published on WordPress and Anchor later this month. Meanwhile, you may like to read the blog post for the biography: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/10/01/the-photograph/

This is a light-hearted story inspired by an amusing job idea, credit for which must go to my father-in-law.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/09/18/setting-the-scene/

Based on my own ancestry on my father's side, this is a fictional tale I wrote in an attempt to bring a small part of history to life.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/09/08/ancestry/

A surreal situation within the real world, inspired by what could probably be described as an optical illusion. A photo of this is at the end of the written version of this story, available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/09/10/the-picture-tells-the-story/ 

Following on from "Onward", this is the continuing tale of an Aztec jeweller in 16th-century Mexico and his determination to be reunited with his family. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/08/30/an-aztecs-tale-part-2-a-turning-point/

Going back to Great Yarmouth in the early 20th century and recalling some amusing tales about my dad's brother John. 

You can read some of my light-hearted recollections of my father via these links:

https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/04/10/remembrance/

https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/04/30/an-absolute-riot/

The audio versions are not yet available but will be in due course.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/08/13/13th-august/

Beginning a two-part story revolving around an Aztec man in 16th-century Mexico shortly after the arrival of the Spanish explorers in 1532. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/08/13/an-aztecs-tale/

How a dislike of mowing the lawn resulted in two South American quadrupeds moving into the garden

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/07/21/sales-pitch/

A true story about a soft-toy tiger family. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/stripe/

This story centres on an inventor with some unusual ideas - some work well, others are failures, but he certainly has a vivid imagination.

Thanks to Anchor, this talking story is auto-converted from the original text.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/07/08/the-best-job-ever/

To celebrate the first anniversary of Chasqui's Writing World, I am posting an audio version of the very first story to appear on this site. Called "Memories", it is an autobiography of a fictional gentoo penguin. Thanks to Anchor, this talking story is auto-converted from the original text.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://chasquiswritingworld.wordpress.com/2021/06/21/memories/