Category Archives: Creative writing

Celebrating the Launch of ‘The Palliative Horse’ by A.S. Williams

Posted on November 10, 2025 by ASWilliams

It did boost my spirit to sell all my book copies and have such engaged visitors. The morning after I awoke to a house full of flowers and warm memories. So much so that I remarked to Frank that I felt happy. Waking up in a positive mood is not always easy after a terminal diagnosis so the distraction of writing the book, publishing and celebrating it has done me a world of good. Weekly chemotherapy keeps me on my feet for now, as do enjoyable and nourishing activities. Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Art, cancer journey, Creative writing, lifestyle, poetry, short fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Poetry and Healing: My Ovarian Cancer Experience

Posted on October 4, 2025 by ASWilliams

Dear Readers, Sorry for the radio silence, but I’ve been seriously ill and some activities like maintaining my blog have taken a back seat. I’d like to say that my cancer experience is all behind me, but sadly that is … Continue reading →

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Supernatural Dreams and Tragic Love: Ekphrastic Poem Shortlisted in Fiction Factory

Posted on May 17, 2023 by ASWilliams

A while ago, I came across the painting, The Entomologists’s Dream, 1909, by Edmund Dulac and it inspired me to write an ekphrastic poem. I was so struck by the devastation on the butterfly collector’s face that I felt compelled … Continue reading →

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Posted on December 21, 2022 by ASWilliams

Dear Readers, Thank you for your patience! I have let my blog posts slide a bit this year for reasons better known to themselves. But just to update you a little I am posting a list of shiny things in … Continue reading →

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May your two and four-footed friends bring you much joy in 2022!

Posted on December 19, 2021 by ASWilliams

It’s been a long time, I know! If you’re wondering, I’ve been busy on a new course I’m following via Jericho Writers. The Ultimate Novel Writing Course to be precise. It is quite demanding of my time. We aim to … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative writing, short fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Central Library, Oosterdok – The Jewel in Amsterdam’s Crown

Posted on February 4, 2020 by ASWilliams

OBA which stands for Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam boasts in total 26 branch libraries, 177,000 members and has 1.3 million books, CDs and DVDs in its collection. Amsterdam Central Library, Oosterdok is one of my favourite places in the city. The … Continue reading →

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The End of the Dutch Golden Age

Posted on November 20, 2019 by ASWilliams

A Night in the Museum Only last week I was invited to an evening in the Rijksmuseum by a girlfriend who is a friend of the institution. The event offered a chance to speed-date with various experts dotted around the … Continue reading →

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A Ghost Story for #Christmas!

Posted on December 13, 2018 by ASWilliams

The Haunting of Hill House plays with that numinous area between emotional vulnerabilities and supernatural possession suggesting that we are all, like the Crain family, ‘haunted’ in some way; perhaps by family trauma, relationships that went wrong or wishes that never came to fruition. Continue reading →

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Celebrate National Flash Fiction Day!

Posted on June 16, 2018 by ASWilliams

16 June is National Flash Fiction day! Founded by writer, Calum Kerr in 2012, this relatively ‘new’ genre of micro-stories is growing in popularity and there are more and more opportunities for writers to submit and see their work published … Continue reading →

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Sing for your supper, or is it dinner, or perhaps even tea?

Posted on June 7, 2018 by ASWilliams

A Dutch student learning English once asked me when British people have their supper. A deceptively-simple sounding question, isn’t it? One which I could have answered simply enough by telling him that supper is a simple snack of a sandwich … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Creative writing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments