Helena Fairfax

Parachutes, bombs and silk: a review of Liz Trenow’s The Last Telegram

I mentioned earlier this week, in my post Saltaire, Lyon and weavers’ stories, that I’d downloaded Liz Trenow’s The Last Telegram, a romance in which the silk industry plays an integral role. The novel has been waiting patiently for me to pick it up, and now I’ve finished it – and thoroughly enjoyed it :) … Continue reading »

Good to meet you…author Philip Coleman

I’m delighted to welcome a fellow Irishman today, and I’m looking forward to chatting about books and writing and all the places in the world he’s visited. Philip Coleman is a fellow author at MuseItUp Publishing. To try and make Philip feel at home in my English county of Yorkshire, I’ve cooked up a big … Continue reading »

Etiquette, flirting and hidden passions: all the thrill of the Regency ballroom

Yay, it’s Friday! Tonight I’m going to sit down with a big bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk and a glass of wine, and I’m going to watch a programme I’ve been looking forward to for ages. It’s called Pride and Prejudice: Having a Ball. The programme recreates in full the dramatic events of the Netherfield … Continue reading »

Good to meet you…author Gordon Rothwell

Hooray! The sun is out in Yorkshire today, and it’s helping my visitor feel right at home. Author Gordon Rothwell has come all the way from sunny California to talk to me, and we’re sitting outside in my back yard, listening to the buzzing of the bees in the herb patch, drinking cool lemonade and … Continue reading »

A weaver’s stories of Saltaire and Lyon, and a gallery of photos

A few months ago I wrote a post on silk-weaving in the city of Lyon, which is the setting for my novel, The Silk Romance. Today I’m writing about my home town of Saltaire, since the two places have a lot in common. I realise at first this may be a bit hard to believe. … Continue reading »

Cover reveal for The Silk Romance – and it’s beautiful :)

I’m so excited to have the cover for my first novel, The Silk Romance. Here it is. Isn’t it absolutely gorgeous? I’m indebted to designer Charlotte Volnek for all her ideas. Although I’ve worked in the print industry for many years, and worked closely with graphic designers, I’m not a very good artist! I gave … Continue reading »

Good to meet you…author Tammy Lowe

Today’s visitor has provided me with an excellent excuse for cake. We can always find reasons for cake in the Fairfax household, and I happen to know it was Tammy Lowe’s birthday at the weekend. Excellent! So I’ve just cut Tammy a delicious slice of orange and chocolate sponge (mmm, smelll that fresh baked smell), … Continue reading »

Cassandra by Starlight blog tour and giveaway

Today I’m welcoming British writer Susan MacNicol to my blog, as she tours with her debut novel Cassandra by Starlight. You can read all about her tour here on Goodreads and again here on Facebook. There’s a link to a giveaway at the bottom of the page, too, and you have the chance to win … Continue reading »

Love’s Vintage: a review of a 1940s romance, plus an all time classic adventure story

This week I have been mostly reading about Kings and Queens, Barons and Countesses, and adventurous lives in fantasy European kingdoms – and a fabulous journey it’s been! The book that started me on the journey was a present from my daughter – a 1940s novel called Love’s Vintage, by Diana Wilding (my daughters know … Continue reading »

Good to meet you…author Lianne Simon

I’d been looking forward to meeting Lianne Simon ever since I first heard about her intriguing and original YA novel – and today here she is, in person! We were planning to sit outside in the garden, but since April is living up to its name with the usual showers, it will have to be … Continue reading »