Author Profiles

There is no lack of talent in the Algarve. It may be the abundance of sun and colour, the clear blue sky, and the distinct possibility of pursuing a fulfilling life here that gives rise to such creativity. Here we promote two authors who are making a particular contribution to cultural life in the region.

Lena Strang

Lena’s curiosity as a journalist and her desire to learn about the way of life in the Algarve have led her to countless encounters over the years. In her approachable writing style, she presents readers with a set of past and present stories about people and places that truly capture the life and identity of the region.

“An incredible piece of social history. There is a plethora of interesting characters that define and reflect the social fabric of the Algarve. The books are well written and a joy to read.” Ephy Clarke, Lagos.

Touching Lives: Remarkable People and Places in Western Algarve

Vidas que Nos Tocam: Pessoas e Locais Únicos do Barlavento Algarvio (Portuguese version)

Crossing Cultures in the Western Algarve

Culturas que se Cruzam no Barlavento Algarvio (Portuguese version)

Books are available (10 euros plus p.p) directly from Lena ( lena.strang@gmail.com)

Facebook: Lena Strang - writer / escritora

Peter Giacomini

The Cardboard Suitcase took six years to write but a lifetime in the making. It’s a biography which spans six decades, four continents and a host of countries. It is an epic tale of what can be achieved with fearless dreams and far reaching ambitions. As a young boy Peter left his small village in northern Italy to enter the international hotel business as an inexperienced trainee waiter in Rome. He describes the roller coaster events of his life with its ups and downs, failures and ultimate success with candour and humour that is bound to create an indelible impression. By publishing the book, Peter hopes that his story will provide a positive spur and inspiration for readers. He wants to show that with determination and courage anything is possible in life regardless of birth, social status or education.

The Cardboard Suitcase is available on Amazon

www.petergiacomini.com

You can purchase the book directly from Peter at €20 +pp on peter@giacomini.us

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P.D. Cain

P.D. Cain – a.k.a. Captain Peter (as he presently provides the weekly Algarve Sea and Weather Report in animated form, through YouTube and FaceBook, and previously presented the Seawatch Report on Kiss FM Algarve radio for 19 years). He has lived on the Algarve for over twenty years and during that time has produced a number of books. His novels include April Dawn – Life Lives, Percy the Parrot (1 & 2), and ZA. Poetry books include 'A Sign of the Rhymes' along with Poetry and Colouring Books, A-Z of Animal Poems & Coloring Book (also Z-A), Fred the Frog Coloring Book-with poem. And, there are also his activity books which range from Gardening Journals to a 'Learn to Write Handwriting Practice' book, and recently a series of Puzzle Books..All are easily purchased through Amazon Books, or through the www.captainpeter.net website..

LATEST BOOKS PUBLISHED:-

Alyson Sheldrake

Alyson Sheldrake is the former editor of Portugal Letter magazine, and a feature writer for the Algarve’s Tomorrow magazine. She also publishes her own monthly newsletter/magazine Snapshot! An author and artist, she lives in the Algarve with her husband Dave, a professional photographer. A former police officer and Director of Education in the UK, Alyson handed in her notice, packed up her easel and paints, and moved with Dave to Portugal 12 years ago to ‘live the dream’. She is the author of the Algarve Dream Series of travel memoirs about their life here in Portugal, and the author/curator of the Travel Stories Series of anthologies.

Her latest book, Kat the Dog, is a bestseller in both the UK and US. When she is not busy painting or writing, you can find her walking their newly rescued Spanish water dog, Zara, along the river path in Aljezur.

You can find out more about her work on her website:

www.alysonsheldrake.com

Ann McGarry

Ann McGarry is a human development consultant, trainer and coach. Her coaching and training programmes on management development and personal effectiveness act as a catalyst to unleash talent for personal fulfilment and also organisational goals.

She has provided quality consultancy services internationally to the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. Prior to self-employment practice she held senior quality assurance roles.

She has lectured in Universities in Ireland on human resource development, supervisory management, quality management and wellness topics.

Ann is a strong advocate of lifelong learning holding a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Dip. in Industrial Management and a Cert. in Total Quality Management. Her studies expanded to personal development over the last twenty years to include a Cert. in Stress Management, Dip. in Training and Development and Professional Coaching and is an NLP Practitioner. In 2012 she graduated with an M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Behaviour with her thesis on leadership.

Passionate about developing human potentials inspired her to write ‘CARE of Leadership: A practice for developing Leadership Effectiveness’ and ‘Power of W: Women Thriving in Their Third Act’ coupled with the Reignite: The Retirement Ready Programme which advocates living life to the highest potential from the Authentic Self.

She lives between Ireland and Portugal. Her interests also include painting and she regularly walks Caminos.

Julian Putley

Julian started writing while travelling the world in a small sailboat. At 35 years of age the rat race had been run and the rats had won. It was time for a change. There was so much of interest in the islands, foreign lands and diverse cultures that stories just had to be told. He wrote of new discoveries about the disappearance of aviatrix Amelia Earhart, pirates and wooden sailing craft in Indonesia, crocodile hunting in Papua New Guinea – all magazine articles that helped pay the way.

In the Caribbean Julian became fascinated by the ‘Golden Age of Piracy’ and the treasure that had been buried on Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands. Research turned up a lot of evidence and his first booklet, The Virgins’ Treasure Isle came to fruition.

Julian was a charter yacht captain in the Virgin Islands for over 30 years and in between chartering wrote two novels, Sunfun Calypso and Sunfun Gospel, both Caribbean Island satires. The Drinking and Eating Guide where visitors who bought the book could get free drinks became very popular.

The terrible hurricanes of 2017 prompted Julian and Brazilian wife Monique to move to Portugal in 2020 and they both live in Praia Da Luz. Sunfun Gospel has been republished as Yes, No Bananas and is available as a hard copy or e-book on Amazon.

Stephen Powell

David S. Jones

David S. Jones is the creator of the hugely popular children’s cartoon character ‘Fireman Sam’. Resident in the Algarve for over 30 years, he turned his creative ability to writing modern fiction including material intended for film and animation.

His earlier work aimed at a younger audience would lend itself to film or animation. In ‘King Arthur, the Legend’ he approaches the ever-popular tale from a highly innovative angle. ‘Phoenix Company’ set in the future is an American take on ‘Fireman Sam’. Both are fully colour-illustrated and print ready.

David's books are available on Amazon in paperback or as an e-book. Press on the book for link.

Suzy Turner

Suzy Turner wrote her first chick lit novel in her early twenties, but it wasn’t until much later that she decided to focus on writing full time. Before that, she worked as a trainee journalist for a local Algarve newspaper. Her love of writing developed and a few years later she took the job of assistant editor for the region's largest English language publisher before becoming editor of a monthly lifestyle magazine. Early in 2010 Suzy was made redundant and, with the support of her husband, became a full time author, publishing The Raven Witch Saga over the following couple of years. Suzy has since published several more urban fantasy books and contemporary women's novels under her own name as well as her pen name SG Turner.

Having grown up in Portugal, Suzy (originally from Yorkshire in England) now lives in the Algarve with her husband, three cats and a dog, where she does yoga and meditation every morning and book stuff for pretty much the rest of the day!

She is a qualified yoga instructor, witchy blogger and author of YA urban fantasy and chick lit.

For more information, visit:

Witchy Blog: www.suzyturner.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/suzyturner

Facebook: www.facebook.com/suzyturnerbooks

Twitter: www.twitter.com/suzy_turner

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/suzyturnerbooks

Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Suzy-Turner/e/B0050BSH1I

A list of books written by Suzy:

THE WINTERBOURNE WITCHES:

Willow Tree Farm

Helene Leuschel

Leaving a busy lifestyle in Brussels, Helene moved to the Algarve in 2009. It’s here that H.A. Leuschel made her dream come true in becoming an author of fictional stories.

Helene is resident in the Algarve with her husband and two children since 2009.They’d initially planned to stay for a year which turned into more than a decade… and they haven’t looked back on their move!

Prior to moving to Portugal, the author gained a Master in Journalism & Communication, which led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and Edinburgh. She later acquired a Master in Philosophy, specialising in the study of the mind.

Helene has a particular interest in emotional, psychological and social well-being and this led her to write her first novel, Manipulated Lives, a fictional collection of five novellas, each highlighting the dangers of interacting with narcissists. The anthology is available in English and German. My Sweet Friend was her next book, a stand alone novella which evokes the powerful hold of appearances and what a person is prepared to do to keep up the facade. She has also brought out her debut novel in April 2020, The Memories We Bury which explores the dangerous bonds we can create with strangers and how past memories can cast long shadows over the present.

Please find out more about Helene at

www.heleneleuschel.com/

You can discover more about her books (in e-book or paper format) on Amazon

by clicking on the author page link:

www.amazon.co.uk/Memories-We-Bury-H-Leuschel-ebook/dp/B084SN5KV7

Links to her goodreads

www.goodreads.com/author/show/15337013.H_A_Leuschel

Facebook

www.facebook.com/HALeuschel

Lovely Books

www.lovelybooks.de/autor/H.-A.-Leuschel/

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