There have been times, when talking to family, friends, and current and ex-students about some of the adventures I've had, that I've heard people ask "why don't you write a book about your life?". 

Over the past few years I've been writing bits and pieces and have decided to create an e-book for the following reasons:

Advantages for the author:

• The book can be written 'piecemeal' instead of fully completed before publication. This also allows for revision and additions over time.
• Without the need for a publisher, the author has complete freedom with regards to content and no deadlines for completion.
• With no deadline to finish, the book can be added to indefinitely.
• It's possible to evaluate and get feedback on the different parts and therefore interact with the readers.

Advantages for the reader:

• It's free.
• Apart from the restrictions of internet and computer access, the book can be read by English speaker, anywhere in the world without the need to visit a bookshop.
• The reader can read as much or as little as they like, accessing background information through hyperlinks to 'Wikipedia' entries, cross references in different chapters or dictionary definitions, with just a click of the mouse.
• The reader can give feedback to the author and ask for clarification or additional information on what they have read.

This book will follow the organisation of Viv's student notebooks. The different chapters are listed below. Any links in blue, show that there is a completed chapter for you to read in this section. Viv will try to add at least one new chapter each month, but if this isn't possible, you'll easily be able to see when new material has been added by noting the "Last update" date at the top of the contents page.

This book has been written for native speakers, and the blue 'hyperlinks' in the chapters should take you to web pages, mostly Wikipedia, giving additional information about the subjects mentioned in each chapter. To return to the e-book, just click on the left arrow (<-) at the top left of your browser (if using Internet Explorer).

However, I would also like to make this book accessible to learners of English at higher levels (intermediate and above), so underlined words link to on-line dictionary definitions for the words. There are flags in the top right-hand corner of the screen which, if clicked, will translate the page into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Japanese or Korean. You can also hear the pronunciation of some words by clicking on the small loudspeaker after the word (it's sometimes possible to hear both USA and UK pronunciation). Native speakers of English can ignore these underlined words.

Green hyperlinks will take you to a photo of the person or thing mentioned and red hyperlinks  to related chapters, articles or diary entries in Viv's e-book. If you want to see where any of the places mentioned in this book are, just click on the pink hyperlinks and your browser will take you to a map using 'Google Maps'.

If words in a chapter are in red (but not underlined), it means that there will be a future link to a chapter in the book. If you click on these words now, nothing will happen.

Note! I've tried to narrate the events in my life, either in the first or third person, as they happened. It is not my intention to offend anyone, so if you prefer to avoid the subjects of sex, drugs and rock and roll, it would be better to leave this e-book and explore other parts of this web site.

I have only used first names for the people who have helped make my life what it has been. If you have been mentioned and would like the reference to you, or photo removed, let me know and I will do this.

Sign Guest book or contact Viv.

Back to contents

Home