Author: Paul Speller

Writer, journalist, husband, dad.

Never forget what home learning has taught us

An article by Paul Speller for the Gef the Mongoose website has been praised by many parents and teachers.
Paul was asked by the Gef team to reflect on a year of on/off home learning in the Isles of Man. He called for much greater investment in nurture and emotional and mental health support in schools.
His piece was also praised by the Island’s Education Minister, Dr Alex Allinson, who said the government ‘must do better’.
You can read the full article: Never forget what home learning has taught us

Tell me you haven’t cried this past 12 months

https://covid19.gov.im/health-wellbeing/are-you-ok/home-schooling/

Paul has written an open letter to fellow parents who have faced the challenge of guiding their children through home learning during the pandemic.

He was asked to write the piece for the Isle of Man Government’s series of Are You OK? articles supporting mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In his article, which you can read in full here, Paul says it’s okay to admit you are struggling and to not place too much pressure on yourself. And to remember that one size does not fit all.

The importance of journalism to democracy

Paul was asked by leading Manx website Gef the Mongoose to write an article on the role of journalism in democracy.
It came after a row broke out over the Manx Government’s interaction with journalists at their regular Covid-19 briefings.
Paul’s piece, which can be read here, explains the historical importance of journalism in the Isle of Man as well as detailing why dogged reporting does not always make for compelling viewing – but it is the end the result that is the most important.

Why our children need snowflakes

For his regular Grapevine column in the March edition of Business 365 magazine, Paul opted against writing about the Manx Budget and instead focussed on the impact of lockdowns on the Island’s children – and the need for government to support them in their recovery.
The full digital version of the March edition of Business 365 can be found here.

Raising a glass as Island leaves lockdown – Paul writes for Mirror

The Isle of Man became the first place in the British Isles to allow pubs to reopen this week after leaving lockdown and all Covid restrictions being lifted.

The Mirror called upon Paul to write about the celebrations as Islanders raised a glass to the regained freedoms.

You can read the full Mirror story online here.

‘I am not a teacher’ – Paul Speller on home learning

‘I am not a teacher …

‘… but I am grateful for those who are.’

Paul Speller writes about what it’s like to suddenly find yourself at the helm of home learning with two primary school children, in this article published on the new Business 365 website.

Clerk here to read the full article.

 

 

Free download of Beautiful Dangerous by Paul Speller

Paul has produced a free-to-download version of his story Beautiful Dangerous, first published in the USA in 2018.

Download now:  Beautiful Dangerous2 by Paul Speller

You can download a PDF version by clicking the link above and then either read straight away or save for later.

Dimension6 Annual Collection shortlisted for award

Dimension6 Annual Collection 2017, which features a story by Paul Speller, has been shortlisted for an award.

The anthology, including Paul’s haunting story The Curious Child, is a finalist in the Best Anthology category of the 2017 Aurealis Awards.

The awards, which cover science fiction, horror and fantasy, are organised by the Western Australian Science Fiction Foundation.

Coordinator Tehani Croft said: ‘We continue to be impressed by the breadth of entries, with publishers from all over the world ensuring the work of their creators is considered.

‘This year the judges read more than 800 entries across the categories.’

The winners of all categories will be announced during a ceremony held at the Swancon convention in Perth over the Easter weekend.

The Dimension6 Annual Collection is available in ebook format from Amazon or direct from publisher Coeur de Lion .

Related articles:

Award-winning Baby Blue eyes is republished

Paul’s story The Curious Child out now

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Why finishing a story is sometimes just the start

Paul Speller is celebrating, after finishing work on his latest piece of short fiction.

But, as he explains here, sometimes finishing the story is just the start of a long journey that, hopefully, ends in publication.

He also confesses to forgetting to warn his brothers that their names were set to appear in a previous short story!

Read the full article.

Related articles:

The Curious Child is published

Prize-winning story re-published

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