Pilgrimage Series

New travel writing at its best. This updated, revised Pilgrimage relives the pilgrim's journey, exploring its unique towns with affection and bite, including lovingly descriptions of pilgrims met along thé Way. The stories are written with a vibrant and passionate pen. Commentators say Pilgrimage is “beautiful poetic writing", wising “inspired métaphor", and written “to a breathless walking rhythm”. The Peter Cowan Short Story Prize judge said of one 'Pilgrimage' story: it’s "an epic evocation of place. Yes, this story proves that you can produce an epic in a mere 488 words! Like all good fiction, perhaps, this piece is ultimately an investigation into how time passes and works. Energetic, almost punch-drunk writing (I mean that as a complement!): "Let the stray dogs and big ideas fight over the bones behind the Calle mayor. Fabulous!"

New travel writing at its best, Pilgrimage relives the pilgrim's journey with affection and bite, lovingly descriptions of pilgrim towns and villages, poetica written with a vibrant and passionate pen. Commentators say Pilgrimage is “beautiful poetic writing", with “inspired metaphor, written “to a breathless walking rhythm”. The judge of the Peter Cowan Short Story Prize said of one Pilgrimage story: it’s 'An epic evocation of place. Yes, this story proves that you can produce an epic in a mere 488 words! Like all good fiction, perhaps, this piece is ultimately an investigation into how time passes and works. Energetic, almost punch-drunk writing (I mean that as a complement!): "Let the dogs and big ideas fight over the bones behind the Calle mayor". Fabulous! Towns of interest include Conques, Santiago de Compostella, St Jean-Pied-de-Port, Figaec and Le Puy. Garry is a member of 'That Authors Collective' and DiVerse ekphrasis poets.

An fully revised and updated Pilgrimage Three explores numerous French towns, each seen as characters growing-up over their extensive histories, their colourful stories written with a vibrant pen, full of life, passion, and an astute and comic eye. Two other stories recall the traveller and pilgrim experience on the Le Puy-en Vajey route and in France's Languedoc region. Commentators say Pilgrimage is “beautiful poetic writing", with “inspired metaphor, written “to a breathless walking rhythm”. The judge of the Peter Cowan Short Story Prize said of one pilgrimage story: it’s 'An epic evocation of place. Yes, this story proves that you can produce an epic in a mere 488 words! Like all good fiction, perhaps, this piece is ultimately an investigation into how time passes and works. Energetic, almost punch-drunk writing (I mean that as a complement!): "Let the dogs and big ideas fight over the bones behind the Calle mayor". Fabulous!

You'll want to see St Jean Pied de Port, Bayonne and Ostabat (in France), Manjarin, Acebo, the Rioja, Santiago de Compostela and St Domingo de la Calzada (in Spain) after reading Pilgrimage Four. Each are seen as characters with extensive histories, each with colourful stories. Written with a vibrant pen, full of life, passion, and an astute and comic eye. Two other stories recall the traveller and pilgrimage experience. Included are lively descriptions of the exhausted and half-crazed tour guide. Commentators say Pilgrimage is “beautiful poetic writing", with “inspired metaphor, written “to a breathless walking rhythm”. The judge of the Peter Cowan Short Story Prize said of one Pilgrimage story: it’s 'An epic evocation of place. Yes, this story proves that you can produce an epic in a mere 488 words! Like all good fiction, perhaps, this piece is ultimately an investigation into how time passes and works. Energetic, almost punch-drunk writing (I mean that as a complement!): "Let the dogs and big ideas fight over the bones behind the Calle mayor". Fabulous! Includes fifteen photographs, maps, and web links.

A prize-winning author, Garry McDougall, brings a fresh new collection of stories from France and Spain. He casts his eye over its colourful towns, draws inspiration from each town's weird, violent and peculiar histories, including real and reimagined évents. These towns shape their people. His style is colourful, intense and full of vivid images, like: 'I am pilgrim to Nogaro, north of Pau, south of Brive, east of the Atlantic, west of Shanghai beer. Watching TV Rugby in southern France, it's Pau v Brive; thirty men wrestling in the mud, rucking, mucking and mauling merrily, the thirty-first man blowing his whistle. No reason.'

An adventure in the Ardeche, France, using any and all transport, visiting interesting muséums, towns, gorges, caves and accommodation places. Innovative and imaginative poetic writing by this prize-winning author. Includes practical notes of the best ways and means of getting around.

Rarely has such a vivid imagination graced the poetic stage. In this tour de force of lyrical prose and striking imagery, the author is let loose in small, ancient towns in southern France and northern Spain, each one personified, showing its 'long and eventual 'lives', that seem to shape its people.. The prize winning results have captured hearts and minds with its affectionate portrayal of these towns and their people. As well it is an uncompromising look at their grand and tragic past, bringing to life 'Style is knowing who you are, what you have to say, and not giving a damn.' Gore Vidal.