Louise Sibley Author

  I’ve lost count of the times when someone has asked me if I am so and so in the book. The answer, I guess, is yes, probably. My Nan used to say that I was a diamond, which was rather sweet. I know she meant that I was precious to her and special, but if you think of a diamond as having multiple facets, then that is true about all of us. Initially, we’re the product of our genes and DNA. One father, one mother, and some late-night shenanigans, and suddenly there’s a new person. We inherit bits of their DNA, like our dad’s eye colour, our mother’s red hair or a quirky shape ear or chin that blesses generations, but the other facets of our lives don’t necessarily come from our parents; they are learnt or experienced. Some of my personality comes from experience; being hurt or bullied gave me a tougher skin for a while. Experiencing trauma leaves a mark, too. Illness, bereavement, being the last to be picked for team sport, or just feeling like you don’t fit in can all develop tr...

 Morning everyone! Do you ever wake up in the morning and have no clue what day it is? I just realised it’s Friday, so it’s blog day, and I know exactly what I want to talk about. Esse Quam Videri was my school motto. It means ‘to be, rather than to seem’. I saw it quoted on social media this morning, and it reminded me of my school days. When I was at school, I tried to fit in like everyone else. I had a small group of close friends, but I wasn’t one of the popular girls. I felt awkward in my own skin because I wasn’t particularly pretty or clever; I wasn’t sporty or gifted in art; I was just ordinary with a horrendous A-line navy skirt that did me no favours. My domestic science teacher told me that it was good that I chose an alternative to cooking because my cooking skills were appalling, and my French teacher said that a grammar school education was wasted on me because I was likely to be just a housewife. I usually came near the bottom of the class in end-of-term exams, and I...

Hello there! So because today is Friday, let me introduce you to Audrey, for those who haven't read Wings & Behemoths yet, because she'll be giving you her words of wisdom today. She's never short of things to say and doesn't have time for idiots. She's fiercely loyal, hates tofu, and loves to party hard. She’s Trinidadian and Welsh, straight talking and honest. If you ask her a question, expect her to be direct; she won't hold back. Most people love her, apart from Miranda (I'll introduce you to Miranda another time), but Audrey's the heart and soul of college life, and she's here to answer today's dilemma. ***** Q; (Edited for anonymity and the question was a bit long) My best friend is dating my ex. She told me he'd asked her out, and I said it was fine, but I hate seeing them together, and now she barely talks to me, so I've lost my best friend too. How do I move on? Audrey writes; What is she playing at? You do NOT date...

  Hi there! It’s a gorgeous day. Sun is shining and I am looking after my beautiful baby Granddaughter so I'm grabbing some time to write whilst she has a nap. #livinginhope :D In Wings & Behemoths, you might notice a theme of food running through the book. Ellen Wyatt is one of the main characters in the book. She is a mum, in her forties, with four children, and she is known for cooking food and lots of it. The family spend a lot of time sitting around the table, eating together, sharing stories and talking, which is how my husband and I raised our family too when they were little. We have three boys and a girl so cooking for six every day was quite a big deal. Occasionally, we were lucky enough to get a romantic weekend away together so my parents would come and spend the weekend at our home and look after their grandchildren. My mother cooked dinner one evening and my Dad was watching the News on the TV, as he helped to lay up the table. He shouted up the stairs ...

  Hello, bonjour, hola! Welcome to my first blog in ages. It’s been crazy trying to spin so many plates, but thanks for looking me up. The new book Wings & Behemoths is out now and available to buy on Amazon. I’ve never been so nervous in my entire life. Opening up your heart and soul to be judged by friends, family and strangers alike is unnerving. Do I have a backbone of steel? Nope. Would I rather hide in my wardrobe with some salt and vinegar rice cakes? Yep. Add in a massive bar of chocolate and a black cherry yoghurt or six, and I’d never come out. Why is it so hard to let people read your stuff? Because there’s bound to be someone psychoanalysing you, and then they’ll discover how truly weird you are. I don’t think I’m weird; I think I’m passionate about what I like. My best friend stopped going to the cinema with me because she said that I only liked bloke movies full of blood and gore, which is actually not true because I’m up for a bit of love and romance too, ...