LIVING

Comments

• Maggie Scratch

  Maggie Scratch
  Susana Gross
  
  About the novel
  On the Mediterranean island of Ibiza in 1979, Maggie Scratch, a no-nonsense baby boomer writes for the island newspaper. While documenting the present, she relives the past, journeying through her road movie of the 60’s and 70’s, re-creating the relationships and adventures which have brought her from Elkins Park, Pennsylvania to the almond blossom beauty of Benimussa Valley, to the century old farmhouse and the root of her problem with Izzy, the charismatic painter: Izzy has a vasectomy. The book is a psychological jigsaw puzzle. While fitting the pieces together and fantasizing about how she will get pregnant, a surprise piece falls in Maggie’s lap. Destiny? Or, Maggie wonders, are the pieces meant to be?
  Seneca Stone reveals the key to her best friend’s life: “Maggie Scratch Searching For Seeds”. It is this key, both real and metaphorical, that drives Maggie to understand the events that have brought this search to light.
  
  About the author
  
  Susana Gross, born in Philadelphia, earned her Bachelor of Arts in French Literature and Language from Boston University in 1970. She then spent time living and working in Boston, New York, Montreal, San Francisco, Eureka, and Jalapa, Mexico until she arrived in Ibiza where she became a journalist and lived for six years. When her daughter was born she moved to Barcelona and began writing sitcoms for Televisión Española. Her grandfather nicknamed her Maggie Scratch. She used this name as a pseudonym for her column in The Ibiza News and created the character who went on to become the inspiration for her novel.
  
  Maggie Scratch is now available as an ebook from Circaidy Gregory Press at http://www.circaidygregory.co.uk/maggiescratch.htm and on Amazon under these links:
  USA
  UK
  Germany
  France
  Spain
  Italy
  
  Blog: maggiescratchthenovel.blogspot.com
  
  
  

  Posted by Susana Gross April 24, 2012 23:39:14

• British writer living in La Coruña publishes new novel

  British writer Mark Guscin publishes new historical novel, entitled All the Diamonds in the World. Guscin has been living in La Coruña for 25 years.
  
  About the book
  All the excitement of a Da Vinci Code plot, but with the historical knowledge of Umberto Eco and a passionate story of love and romance. The book is a fascinating blend of historical novel, thriller, love story and spiritual search for freedom. A middle-aged historian quietly in search of manuscripts and icons finds himself mixed up with a murdered monk in a remote monastery on Mount Athos, a beautiful woman and a mysterious age-old association known as the Brotherhood of the Holy Face, who would stop at nothing to recover the icon in question – which they believe holds the key to world peace ... or world war. The double chase takes us at a hectic pace through Greece, Italy and Cappadocia (Turkey).
  
  Flashbacks to the Byzantine Empire, its wars, saints and power-crazed adulteresses, and to the Fourth Crusade in 1204, through the eyes of a contemporary chronicler, add to the adventure and give us the background to the icon the historian is looking for. He eventually finds it in the north of Italy.
  
  About the author:
  Born and bred in the UK, Mark Guscin left for NW Spain in 1986 and has not looked back since. After working as Head of International Relations at the City Council of La Coruña, he opened a translation agency and has managed to combine this with writing history books – eight published to date in both English and Spanish, on topics ranging from the Napoleonic Wars to editions of unpublished medieval Greek texts. He has now published his first novel, All the Diamonds in the World.
  
  Mark Guscin obtained a first class degree in Classics at Manchester University and then did postgraduate research in Medieval Latin. He is currently working on a PhD at London University in Byzantine History and Iconography, although living in Spain.
  
  

  Posted by Mark Guscin January 17, 2012 13:26:34

• Writers in art residency

  Jiwar Creation & Society is a new artist residency in Barcelona city (Gràcia). We host all kind of artists and often a English language writers. We organise a meetings and events with them. Please, if you want join us in our activities or share a seminars with our writers residents you can visit our Facebook, our web site (under construction now) www.jiwarbarcelona.com or you can write us to jiwarbarcelona@gmail.com

  Posted by Jiwar Creation & Society October 24, 2011 08:14:02

• Conquering Babel: A Practical Guide to Learning a Language

  This time, you mean it. You're really going to learn Spanish, or Catalan.
  
  Yes, but how? Where do you even start?
  
  This practical guide to learning a language answers questions such as :
  -where can I find a good tutor?
  -do I really have to learn grammar?
  -what are some good self-study resources?
  -how can I stay motivated?
  
  This is your ideal kick start to language learning, and it can be bought from Amazon: http://www.tinyurl.com/conqueringbabeleu
  

  Posted by Claire Handscombe September 15, 2011 12:33:49

• Two Wheels Over Catalonia

  My third travel book, 'Two Wheels Over Catalonia', has just been published by Summersdale.
  
  Sixteen years after first moving to Catalonia, I finally found time to slow down and explore the back roads by bicycle. With over 400 kilometres of sparkling Mediterranean shoreline and an interior dominated by the Pyrenees, it was a spectacular journey from
  wind-blown headlands to the glitzy costas, and from bustling Barcelona to remote hillsides where only grazing goats and chirruping cicadas disturb the tranquillity. Tales specific to Barcelona include the unwanted stripper at the Cafe de l'Opera, the gatecrashing singers in the Bari Gotic and the mystery of the impossible beer.
  
  Spain-based English writer John Barlow was kind enough to review the book, characterising it as being ‘… packed with an eclectic array of information: historical, gastronomic, linguistic... a beautifully eccentric evocation of a fascinating European culture’.
  
  'Two Wheels Over Catalonia', retailing at GBP 8.99, can be purchased from www.amazon.com, from www.summersdale.com or via any bookshop.

  Posted by Richard Guise May 31, 2011 18:03:38

• Launch of Dark Legacy: Book I - Trinity

  Book I of the Dark Legacy Cycle is the story of Kieko, a Lemurian boy of mixed blood, who seeks to know more about his absent father’s mysterious, Atlantean past.
  
  Visit http://www.thelegacycycle.com for more information regarding the first book, Dark Legacy: Book I - Trinity, of The Legacy Cycle.
  
  About the Book:
  Book I – Trinity of the Dark Legacy Cycle details the violent end of the Kai Order–an ancient, spiritual guild of warrior guardians and priestesses who have sworn their lives to protect the Oracle Queen of Atlantis–at the hands of Maniok, the being referred to as the “Great Evil” in the age-old Song of the Oracle King.
  
  It is a chronicle of Arkan, the last Kai guardian, and his desperate attempt to save the life of his priestess who carries his unborn son, and his escape from Atlantis.
  
  It is the story of Kieko, a lonely, Lemurian boy of mixed blood, who seeks to know more about his absent father’s mysterious, Atlantean past. Constantly bullied by Aiko, he eventually takes refuge with the village priest in the Kadek Temple where he studies medicinal and culinary arts, calligraphy, and ultimately, the art of Ki sword. Under the tutelage of the priest he comes to know the grim truth about his father, and is prepared to face the horrific assault of the armies of the Atlantean Empire upon his humble world.
  
  And this is just the beginning . . .
  
  About the Author:
  Domenico Italo Composto-Hart was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He studied Archaeology and Anthropology at Boston University, and lived in Tokyo, Japan for over three years pursuing a career as a freelance musician. He currently teaches American and modern European history, geography, and economics at an international high school. He lives with his wife and son in Barcelona, Spain.
  
  Visit the author´s website at http://www.thedragonbone.com
  

  Posted by Domenico Italo Composto-Hart January 26, 2011 18:23:38

• A Short History of Sant Cugat

  I wrote and recently self published this book, in English, about the fascinating history of Sant Cugat del Vallès. From its prehistoric origins, through the Roman occupation and on to the modern era, Sant Cugat has survived the sometimes violent but always compelling events of Catalan and Spanish history. In an easy to read, 90-page format, 'A Short History of Sant Cugat' is a great way to refresh the English reader on local and national history. Released in April 2010, the book is on sale in all bookshops in Sant Cugat, just a 20 minute train ride from Plaza Catalunya.

  Posted by Michael Costello June 18, 2010 18:42:43

• FC Barcelona

  'Barça - The Year Of Living Gloriously' (13€) (scottishleague.net 2010, ISBN 978-1-4457-0343-5) is available from Come In Books, C/ Balmes 129 bis 08008 & Hibernian Books, C/ Montseny 17,08012. Also available online - http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/bar%C3%A7a---the-year-of-living-gloriously/8369246
  
  David Ross is a writer and football historian who is the author of several football books. During 2008-09 he attended many Barcelona matches and this is a first-hand account of those historic days.
  
  FC Barcelona made history in 2009 winning every prize in club football, the Champions League, the Spanish League and Cup - the first ever winners of the coveted 'treble' - then went on to lift both the Spanish and European Super Cups before rounding off the year by becoming World Club Champions. And they did it in style, scoring goals for fun, playing attractive football and entertaining millions worldwide thanks to the presence of superstars like Xavi, Iniesta, Henry and the peerless Leo Messi.
  
  Yet at the start of their record-breaking season with five first team players departed and a new and untested manager in place little was expected of them.
  
  This is the story of their unforgettable season, from pre-season trips overseas, through their amazing 6-2 destruction of arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, on to their historic victory over Manchester United in Rome's Olympic Stadium and ultimately to Abu Dhabi where they lifted the global crown.
  
  This unique historical adventure is the first ever English language account of Barcelona's greatest season and is written by an established football historian with inside access to the club.
  
  More details here:
  http://www.scottishleague.net/book.html
  
  More on the author
  http://www.scottishleague.net/author.htm
  
  Barça - el año de vivir gloriosamente
  
  David Ross es escritor e historiador de fútbol, autor de varios libros sobre este tema. Durante 2008-2009 asistió a multitud de partidos del Barça y este es el testimonio de aquellos históricos días.
  
  FCB hizo historia en 2009, ganando todos los trofeos que un club puede conseguir, La Champions League, La Liga y La Copa del Rey y logrando así triplete. Tras ello, ganó tanto las Supercopa de España como la de Europa antes de convertirse en Campeón del Mundo.
  
  El Barça se alzó con el triunfo haciendo uso de un estilo atractivo y lleno de magnificas jugadas que millones de personas por todo el mundo disfrutaron, gracias a jugadores como Xavi, Iniesta, Henry y el inimitable Leo Messi.
  
  Pero al comienzo de la temporada, con cinco jugadores estrella abandonando el club y un nuevo e inexperto entrenador, no se creía posible que el equipo pudiera tener éxito.
  
  Esta es la historia de un viaje memorable e inolvidable que dio comienzo antes de la temporada internacional con la asombrosa destrucción en el Bernabeu de su Verdadero competidor, el Madrid, seguida de su victoria histórica sobre el Manchester United en el Estadio Olímpico de Roma y culminada en Abu Dhabi donde alzó la corona global.
  
  Esta aventura histórica y extraordinaria es narrada por primera vez por un historiador de fútbol de habla inglesa (con acceso al club) que nos hace revivir la temporada más grande de toda la trayectoria del club Blaugrana.
  
  Se puede adquirir el libro en:
  
  Llibreria Anglesa Come In C/ Balmes 129 bis 08008 Barcelona
  
  Hibernian Books Carrer de Montseny 17 08012 BARCELONA
  
  En linea:
  http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/bar%C3%A7a---the-year-of-living-gloriously/8369246
  
  Más información sobre el autor:
  http://www.scottishleague.net/author.htm
  
  

  Posted by David Ross May 26, 2010 11:29:07