They marched under this banner – ‘In Politics we want Democracy and in Art Freedom’ 

1989 ?                             NO                                  1979! 

1978- 1981 was China’s Beijing Spring . Experience it through Little Winter’s eyes in Brushstrokes in Time, my novel based on REAL events. The authenticity of Brushstrokes in Time is down to the artist Qu Leilei, seen holding the calligraphy poster in the video. He was in Tiananmen Square as a teenager on August 18 1966 when Mao and Lin Biao told the million and a half young people ‘to destroy the old.’ He was there with his father, the famous (in China) novelist Qu Bo in 1976 when the people of Beijing defied the Gang of Four by mourning Zhou Enlai. Wei Jingsheng, the leader of the democracy movement in 1979 believes Qu Leilei saved his life by recording his trial. Leilei was one of the 5 founders of the Stars Art Movement. Ai Weiwei’s career began with them. As a NO-ONE was telling their courageous story, this crazy English woman decided to do it.  I invented the main characters in the novel but the historical background is authentic.

Today I received the link to an in depth review by a talented young Dutch woman.

https://substack.com/home/post/p-156374043  Maryse on BiT

It feels humbling when  young people take the time to reflect on one of my books. There is a sadness in this one. It is personal and reflects how the world is returning to division and ‘othering’. A sensitive young woman like Maryse doesn’t belong in that scenario. I hope she keeps her courage to see the world as not all black and white. When you are young, you may want to change the world but don’t have the confidence to do it. My philosophy is pragmatic – do what you can where you are. Change for the better can happen but it doesn’t come easily.

I’d like to use this blog to thank some of the people who have recommended Brushstrokes in Time  

A Brilliant Compelling Read:   Shrenik Rao Editor of the Madras Courier

Vetta is always accurate with a grasp of vivid detail: John Gittings Chief Foreign Correspondent of the Guardian, read it determined to find fault but says that he failed and instead endorsed it.

For me, it has to be among my top ten historical novels, certainly of this century. Utterly mesmerising and unforgettable:  Dr Jenny Lewis, Internationally renowned poet.

Could not put this page-turner down. As I reached the end just one thought dominated: everyone should read this book. No one I’ve ever come across has managed to tell the story of modern Chinese politics, arts and society in such accessible, imaginative and compelling a fashion.  Ray Foulk Founder of the Isle of Wight Festival & author of Stealing Dylan from Woodstock.