French Travel Book Series on Amazon – A Journey into the real France – its people and places
It was a wine tasting that was warm, generous and convivial, as warm and generous as the spicy red wine produced in his sun baked Southern vineyard. Our new friend makes up a case of red and rosé and carries it outside the ancient domaine to our car. As he does so two other members of the family are returning the ancient tractor from the fields and they smile at us, no doubt knowing that we have been charmed by the hospitality of their father. M.Oliver firmly shakes my hand and I bid him goodbye. Niamh’s hand he tenderly takes and bows to give it a gentle kiss. As we drive away down the dusty track we wave from the car and Niamh settles into her seat, her mind taken to another place. What a gentleman.
Excerpt From the book – FRENCH WINE UNCORKED
On Amazon Worldwide & FREE on Kindle Unlimited *
‘Off the Autoroute’ is now on KOBO
Discovering my life through my Vinyl Collection
This is a selection of writing as I enjoy a time travel into my vinyl record collection
Come back to the 1970’s with me as I revisit some classic albums as well as a few more obscure ones
My Travel Blog 
Please follow my Latest BLOG posts. I will write regularly about France, my travels and post excerpts from my books. Follow me as I write about my travels and also some more personal memoir writing. My aim with my French books is to make you want to go to this wonderful country and make your own memories – also now with UK posts and Music writing
Read my Books 
I have years of experience in traveling to France. Please enjoy my stories and guides. I have laughed and cried my way around France, having great times with friends and family. I have found my own way for the most part and I want to encourage you to have the same rich travel journey around France
Follow Me 
I love feedback and contact from my readers who have been so kind as after reading my books. Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts. Subscribe to my site to get updated when I add new writings.
Genealogy Writing 
I have also written about family history. It is a remarkable story from a military perspective and has a heartwarming present day ending. A BULLET FOR LIFE is on Amazon and took 10 years of research. I hope it inspires you to find your story.
About Me
I am a Lancastrian born and bred but relocated to Somerset to write, be a photographer, enjoy the countryside and walk. My writing passion is travel and particularly French travel. I was a late developer as regards exploring the world but since finally leaving the cliffs of Dover I have travelled extensively in France. Wine and food have always featured on my travels and now is integral to my books. My friends always await our return from France with the latest new finds from the vineyards and I was more than happy to keep sampling.
Initially, so conservative was my travel upbringing that it was a long time before I even ventured as far as Cornwall. My travel plans always ended before the car reached the sea. I have more than made up for the slow start and have enjoyed helping many others with their travel plans to France and especially to Paris and Provence. I write to inspire you to travel and because frankly, I really enjoy it.
I am not trying to be Hemingway or Shakespeare but just wish to pass on some of the joy I have found in meeting people and places, the pleasure of interacting. My roots will come through in my writing style as I feel does my sense of humour acquired by too much exposure to 70’s British dry humour.
I have written a series of five books on France – All are now on Amazon: THE FIRST TIME WE SAW PARIS about our first steps in French Travel, THYME FOR PROVENCE our discovery of that glorious region and the people and places we met and discovered, A DREAM OF PARIS a personal memoir of our times in Paris with friends. Finally in the French Travel Book Series, FRENCH WINE UNCORKED – quite self-explanatory, please open a glass.
In addition I now have published a book that takes a Tour de France from Normandy back around from the South to Calais –
OFF the AUTOROUTE – Now on Amazon
France has been fun, we have been burgled on our very first arrival, we discovered the best cafe that changed our travel lives on the very next day, we learnt about French wine, we escaped from the most horrendous gite, we found the best of gites, B & B’s and people, we laughed and cried with dear friends in Paris, I was hosed down by a crazy owner to cool me down in Provence, our breakfast in a remote village was served by the French army, we stepped totally out of our comfort zone and discovered the best of French culture. The experiences are varied and many and please come with me as I retell the stories and my footsteps are there to follow.
I am also writing about ancestry and genealogy and my first book about our incredible family story themed around war and the military is now on Amazon – A BULLET FOR LIFE – from Wellington to Salerno Italy.
I love the English game of cricket, golf, soccer, photography, walking and cooking. Oh, and travel of course.
I love the English game of cricket, golf, soccer, photography, walking and cooking. Oh, and travel of course
French Travel Books - France, Paris, Provence & French Food & Wine 