Italy is a country renowned for its rich history and stunning architecture, and one of its true gems is Villa Hadrian. Nestled in the picturesque countryside near Tivoli, this ancient villa stands as a testament to the grandeur of the Roman Empire. In this blog article, I will delve into the fascinating history of Villa Hadrian and provide essential tourist information for those who wish to explore this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site. History of Villa Hadrian: Villa Hadrian, also known as Villa Adriana, stands as a testament to the grand vision and opulence of Emperor Hadrian during the 2nd century AD. This magnificent retreat was designed as a haven…
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Urbs Salvia – A Hidden Ancient Roman Treasure In The Marche
It is August and that means it’s vacation time in Italy. I spent two busy weeks at my in-laws and finally went to the Roman ruins close to their house. ( I know I am very lucky to have such wonderful in-laws! Especially such a lovely Italian Mother In-Law!) Driving by Urbisaglia all these years, I thought it was just ruins of an amphitheatre but I discovered it was so much more. Let me share with you the most important Roman settlement within the Marche region of Italy. Urbs Salvia was situated at the crossroads of two important roads connecting the towns of the region during the Roman period. Urbs…
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An Author Interview With Jemma Murdoch
I invited Jemma to share a bit about herself and her new children’s book, Suzie Strudel, The Baking Poodle. “I hope to encourage children to believe in themselves, no matter their perceived weaknesses or strengths.” – Jemma Murdoch, author of Suzie Strudel, The Baking Poodle Please tell us a bit about yourself. The basics, day job, how many cats you have etc. Hey, there! My name is Jemma Murdoch, I am an Australian author interested in all things writing! I live in a coastal community and share my home with a mini rascal, of whom I am particularly fond. We have two fish, one named Rex and the other, aptly…
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The Newly Dead
This was a short story entry. The only criteria was that it was a complete short story only in conversation. Hope you like it. “Next.” Marco – “Why is it so dark? Where am I?” “You are dead, Sir.” Marco – “Yes, I got that. It happens. That’s not what I asked.” “Oh what joy! The conscious dead.” Marco – “What? I asked you, where am I?” “Where do you think you are?” Marco – “This better not be Hell. I was a good guy!” “Let me guess, Catholic right?” Marco – “Yes. Now where are St. Peter and the pearly gates?” “Why do I always get the religious ones?…
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Name Rank Number
So here she was, packed in a hot airless SUV with four other volunteers. Not even army issue. Was being incognito more important than safety? She wasn’t sure. Her teeth jarred as they hit another pothole. Hannah was tempted to open the window but half the desert hung in the air as their small convoy snaked along.
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Guest Post – Anxiety and Self-Doubt: My Constant Writing Companions (and tools for alleviating them) by Lucy A. McLaren
We met Lucy a few days ago during an interview, where she shared a bit about herself and her upcoming book. Here she shares with us an post on anxiety and self doubt. Something that many writers face. Follow Lucy on her website here and on Twitter. I’m writing this blogpost from the point of view of someone who is both a writer and a counsellor. I am not an expert in either of these fields, but they are areas for which I feel equally passionate—and for me they are inherently linked together, whilst also influencing each other. I started writing my first book A Child’s Awakening in March 2018…
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An Author Interview With Lucy Mclaren
I’d like to welcome Lucy Mclaren, the first author willing to share an insight into her life, right here, just for you. You can find Lucy in numerous places! On Twitter, and on Instagram. Her website can be found here, where you can sign-up to her newsletter to receive regular updates on A Child’s Awakening as well as free short stories. Hello Lucy, please tell us a bit about yourself. The basics, day job, how many cats you have etc. Hi! I’m Lucy McLaren, I’m 31 years old and live with my husband in Essex, England. I am an animal lover though sadly we don’t have any of our own…
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4 Things A Fledgling Author Needs
As an unpublished author about to start querying, I have done some research and as they say, forewarned is forearmed. Unfortunately, you can’t just write words down, edit them, have an agent fall into your lap, publish and then retire to a beach somewhere to write some more words. As I discovered, there is more to being an author than a story. There is all the back stage stuff too, like these 4 tips I will share below. I have worked through them myself and I hope they can help you out too. In this list of 4 things an author needs, I won’t include, the obvious perfected manuscript, an…
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The Colosseum – Ancient Rome’s Answer to Netflix
The Colosseum or The Flavian Amphitheatre First opened 1,940 years ago by Emperor Titus in 80 A.D. after a mere 10 years of building work. This huge building, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, named after the family who built it, is the largest amphitheatre ever built. It could accommodate around 7,000 people at one time. It’s elliptical in shape and is at the longest point, measures 188 metres long and 156 metres wide. The outer walls are 50 meters high and formed by 80 arches. That’s the boring bits out of the way. Now, these arches functioned as entrances and led to a series of tunnels and steep stairways that…
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Roman Honey Cakes or Libum
During my research for my novel Even Gods Are Blind, I looked at the typical foods eaten during the early part of the Roman Empire. In this post I would like to focus on honey cakes or libum and in the interest of authentic research, I of course, have made them and provided a recipe below. Online, you can find an original recipe by Cato the Elder, in his works on Agriculture. But what is Libum, I hear you cry! Libum was a small cake used as an offering to the Lares, the household gods and I have seen sources that indicate it was offered to others including my favourite,…
