TV TIME: The Magic of Belle Isle (Netflix)

 This was a sweet and touching comedy/drama starring Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madden. Morgan plays a disabled author whose writer’s block may have ended his career. He rents a cabin on Belle Isle to try to find his mojo and himself. 

Virginia plays his next door neighbor, a divorced mother with three daughters. One of her daughter’s forms a special bond with the author, who promises to teach her about imagination.  

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INTERVIEW: Sci-Fi Author J. A. Duxbury

J.A. Duxbury

USA

Good Morning, J. A., and welcome to Vision and Verse. 

What have you written? 

I have written Dark Dimensions and Heart of Deception.

Legacy of Risks was released in February of this year.

What is your favorite genre to write? 

I like to write in Sci Fi, but I also write from my dreams.

Pizza or ice cream? 

Ice Cream.

Wine or beer or soda or what? 

Tea and soda.

Where would you like to visit? 

I can't make up my mind. 

There are so many places

I'd love to see.

Favorite musical artist. 

Oooh, hard one. So many, Queen, Hazel O'Connor, Katie Perry, 

David Bowie and so many more.

Do you listen to music when you write? 

What? 

Depends on what I'm writing. I have a fight playlist, a 

flight playlist and if it's an epic battle, then 

I'll listen to 1812 Overture

What makes you laugh? 

A lot of different things. Cats, dogs, myself.

Favorite work of art or sculpture. 

Van Gogh's in there along with The Thinker by Rodin

How old were you when you started writing? 

Wow! I think I was about 10

Do you plan out your book with outlines and

notecards? Or just write? 

I do a bit of both, however, I've just done the first 

draft of 35,000 words all just writing as it came 

with no planning or anything.

Describe your perfect 

evening. 

Writing

Where do you get your 

inspiration? 

All sorts of places. 

Mainly my 

dreams

What do you do when 

you get a writer's block? 

I watch my favourite shows.

Who is your favorite author? 

Again, so many. Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey, 

Kelly Blanchard-Dale, Julian May.

Best book you ever read. 

Actually, it's a series - Julian May's Saga of the Exiles 

and the Millenium Trilogy

Last book you read. 

Again, a series - Tails of the Dragon by Craig 

Halloran

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 

Probably be sitting in a call centre.

Who is the one person who has influenced your 

personal life the most and why? 

My mother. She had an open mind on virtually every 

subject.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with one person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 

Michael De Notre Dame - 

just to find out what order 

supposed to be in!

What advice would you 

give someone who aspired

to be a writer? 

Do it. Don't listen to those who say 'get a real job, writing will never pay your way'. In the latter half of my life, my niece died from our family illness and it suddenly dawned on me - what if writing did pay my way? So, go, do it. Write until you can't write and then write some more. Don't listen to negativity but always listen to constructive feedback. Dissect all feedback to look for its  gems.

Do you have some links for us to follow you?

Author page - facebook

https://www.facebook.com/jaduxbury1

Facebook group: J A Duxbury's Weird Words

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3357069671029525

Twitter

@JADuxbury1

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-duxbury-0462153b/

Website

https://jaduxbury.com/

My books:

dark dimensions

https://www.amazon.com.au/Dark-Dimensions-Clans-

Conflict-Book-ebook/dp/B08P6N5C22

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Dimensions-Clans-

Conflict-Book-ebook/dp/B08P6N5C22

 

heart of deception

https://www.amazon.com.au/Heart-Deception-

Consequences-Book-1-ebook/dp/B098PMXY76

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Deception-

Consequences-Book-1-ebook/dp/B098PMXY76

 

legacy of risks

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09PKM87ZZ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PKM87ZZ

 

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BOOK REVIEW: Harry Starke, Book 1 by Blair Howard

 

This whole Harry Starke series is fantastic! 

Think Mannix meets Bosch. 

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ART: The Fabulous Dutch Artist Suzan Drummen

This gorgeous circular artwork is like giant floor jewelry.  I have never seen anything like the work of Dutch artist Suzan Drummen.

Suzan Drummen is a visual arts teacher in the Netherlands.  Some have called her work psychedelic.  The beads, stones, mirrors, etc. are placed loosely on the floor, making them ethereal and very vulnerable to destruction. 

 Side-view of Suzan's work look like giant sundaes with cherries on the top.  The must be viewed from above to get the full effect.

Directly from the Website by:www.moniquewijbrands.nl

From this website you can view many multidisciplinary works in the media of painting, photography, installation and public art. The works are a playful investigation of space, illusion, optical effects and other visual phenomena as part of a broad exploration of visual perception and the limits of beauty. There is an ongoing inquiry into the limits of seduction and repulsion.
The installations for example, are made from crystal, chrome-plated metal, precious stones, mirrors and optical glass. From a distance they appear clear and orderly, yet upon closer inspection, the eyes become disoriented by the many details and visual stimuli. That moment, of being able to take it all in or not, is explored, time and time again. The visual perception is challenged, requisitioned and intensified.

This website features a selection of the work, in chronological order, with the most recent work at the top. 

Thanks to: family, friends, fellow artists, exhibition curators, art advisors, clients, commissioners, architects and those involved in the production and realisation of the works. 

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Suzan Drummen

1990 – Present (23 years) Amsterdam

"As an artist I make multidisciplinary works in the media of painting, photography,installation, and public art.  The works are a playful investigation of the space, illusion, optical effects, and other phenomena as a part of a broad exploration of visual perception and the limits of beauty.  There is an ongoing inquiry into the limits of seduction and repulsion.

 
The installation is a series of  chrome-plated metal, precious stones, mirrors and optical glass. From a distance they appear clear and orderly, yet upon closer inspection, the eyes become disoriented by the many details and visual stimuli. That moment, of being able to take it all in or not is explored, time and time again. The visual perception is challenged, requisitioned and intensified.

"Developing my own visual work is the main thing I do, but many other activities such as teaching, being member of art committees and initiate new art projects are so interwoven that I can hardly make a distinction between my activities. It is a great a stream of actions, meetings and findings that fertilize each other immensely."        - Suzan

The fabulous Dutch Artist Suzan Drummen uses a very special canvas for her work.  She uses the floor!  She uses crystals, chromed metals, precious stones, mirrors, and faceted optical lens to make large scale murals using complex circular patterns, reminding me of Tibetian sand painting... and the circular written language of Gallifrey.

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SCHEDULE: September 21 - 25, 2026

 

Monday, September 21 - ART:

Fabulous Dutch Artist

Susan Drummen

Tuesday, September 22 - BOOK REVIEW:

Harry Starke, Book 1

 by Blair Howard

Wednesday, September 23 - INTERVIEW:

Science Fiction Author

J.A. Duxbury

Thursday, September 24 - TV TIME:

The Magic of Belle Isle

(Netflix)

Friday, September 25 - BOOK:

Harper Ross

by Carol Ann Kauffman

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BOOK: Wait For Me, Time After Time, by Carol Ann Kauffman

 

Can she just pick up a relationship exactly where death stole it away from her so long ago? 

Richard and Nicole. Their everlasting love survived many lifetimes but not without sacrifice and heartache. Their relationship is never easy. 

After their meeting at the serene place, Blue Lake, it seems in every new lifetime fate keeps them apart until they’re ready to find each other.

When small-town Ohio art teacher Misha Lockhart answered a knock at the door, she instantly recognized her beloved husband from a previous lifetime. 

Richard MacKenzie traveled from London on a whim to find her. Richard, now known as Mick Kiley, a mild-mannered historian, wants to whisk her away to London. 

The memories of their everlasting love ignited, and her passion flared, but could she simply leave everything behind? Job. Friends. Husband?

Can she dismiss everything in her present lifetime, no matter how boring and mediocre, for the promise of a dazzling love from the past?

Amazon Buy Link:

Wait for Me https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0876HD6QF

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TV TIME: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (SyFy)

 

I cannot believe this was a dud at the box office! The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare was based on a true story taken from Winston Churchill’s Confidential Records. There is a great cast, an action-packed script, and lots of perfectly-timed explosions. And Henry! 

I found the fact that this film was based on a true story astounding and that Ian Fleming was involved in the coordinating and planning of Operation Postmaster when he was a naval intelligence officer prior to his 007 spy novel days.

And it STILL bombed at the box office? I liked it. 

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