Freddie Owen is the pen-name for the painter F. John Owen - who has exhibited his paintings Internationally for over 30 years, along with his artist wife Fiona Owen. After many long summers in Italy, imbibing its landscape, people, culture (and vino!)... he has found that writing has become complementary to painting and drawing; it has added another dimension to creativity. ' What Ho! Giotto ' is enhanced at the beginning of each chapter with a pencil sketch taken from the sketchbooks made when on his many travels with his family through Italy.

There are two books: 'What Ho! Giotto' and 'THE WOODSTOCK TALES'. Both are now available as illustrated paperbacks directly from www.lulu.com or  Amazon as both paperbacks or as Kindle ebooks (www.amazon.co.uk)              

' W h a t  H o !  G i o t t o '
 
an artist's verbal sketchbook
- on life, love of Italy
and creation of a studio and garden
in Le Marche ....

' Opening those windows changed the question of whether we should buy to where do we sign? With a twist of handle and rattle of glass the old windows opened again and again in my mind and in poured the light, spring warmth and birdsong. In poured Italy.'  - Freddie Owen

This story follows the a fulfillment of a dream to create a studio and garden in Le Marche, Italy; the area where Raphael and Signorelli had painted during the Renaissance. It's the tale of two artists who've spent a lifetime painting and gardening and who struggled from living in a 6'x4' shed to achieving their long cherished vision of painting in Italy.
It's a sketchbook of memories, fate and fun, it's illustrated with pencil sketches from his actual drawing books.
But reality is not without its trials and challenges; plagues of hornets and flies, snakes and floods, the loss of a precious olive tree and even a lightening strike..

NOW AVAILABLE AS A PAPERBACK DIRECTLY 
                                                     FROM www.lulu.com  price £7.99
or order on line from www.amazon.co.uk, www.barnesandnoble.com or from all major booksellers

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REVIEWS:
This is for someone "who wants to read a charming, often funny book about an artist's life and his affinity with Italy. It's a combination of travelogue, memoir and artistic musing."
Joanna Lord (The Guardian)

" Complimenti! I've just finished reading 'What Ho! Giotto' and much enjoyed it. I liked the strong visual descriptions - as you'd expect from a painter. And the humour works well."
Peter Greene ( Travel writer)

" Makes you want to jump on a plane to Italy, artist author uses language as he paints, bringing landscape alive."
A. Shepherd

" I found it delightful, fascinating and more than anything open-hearted and spiritually honest. I would like to write in such a warm and interesting way. I feel I have just finished listening to a long and absorbing piece of music. There are flashes of metaphysical depth in many places that suggest a second book one day, weaving together themes of artistic exploration, human meetings and conversations with nature."
M. Preston

" I've just finished reading "What Ho! Giotto" ... I was completely hooked - loved every page - and was just sad that I finished it in only a few days... Thank you so much for inspiring me and sharing your journey which has fed my soul and fuelled my imagination. 'Mi hai fatto molto felice'"
O. Mcnair

" This is like painting with words!"
Dr. A Kingsbury

                                                                                    

' T H E 
W O O D S T O C K  T A L E S '
 a hippie pilgrimage in a van...

"when 'the veins are bathed in liquor of such power as brings about the engendering of the flower'(G. Chaucer) then maybe you're ready to experience the 'flower-power' that was so potent at that time..." - Freddie Owen

This is an updating of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. 
Now the pilgrims are a bunch of hippies, a Vietnam veteran, a black Reverend, a woman's libber etc. on the way to the Woodstock Festival overnight in the back of removal van in August 1969.
The tales take the same themes as Chaucer, and the words rock with the rhythm of the van and the poetry of the event they are about to take part in.
There is 'the Wife of a Bath appliance salesman's tale', 'Dr. Harry Shipman's Tale', 'The soft-porn Merchant's tale' etc. updated with bawdiness appropriate to 1969!
Every band that played at Woodstock is mentioned in the tales, some hidden away in the text some more obvious.... and of course it's all about the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll of that era.


REVIEWS:
"Loved it .... great stuff, original, raunchy, witty, quirky and did I say raunchy?"
 Simon Frith writer of 'The Archers', BBC Radio 4


"Read it twice, very evocative if you remember Woodstock - just a mention of the names of bands you have forgotten about takes you back to the time. Freddie makes you feel you were there with the guys and girls in the truck with his mesmeric style. The tales are very intriguing and addictive." Mang Woods


NOW AVAILABLE AS A PAPERBACK FROM AMAZON WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MEREDITH OWEN (SEE BELOW) from www.lulu.com £7.99

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Contact

buy directly as paperbacks from publishers www.lulu.com
or www.amazon.co.uk,  both books priced @£7.99
or as ebooks
 email:  o[email protected]

John and Fiona Owen
The Old Chapel, Marle Hill,
Chalford,
Stroud,
Gloucestershire GL6 8PN
United Kingdom