the writer is a lonely hunter

writing by Gail Aldwin and other authors

Bridport Story Slam: the results

Together with local author Kate Kelly and publisher Julie Musk, I was delighted to be a judge at the second Bridport Story Slam on 18 October. The event was held at the Beach and Barnicott where the front bar was given over to seating and a stage. Organised by Frances Colville (with the help of Kathy Hallsworth, and drawing on the experience of Jennifer Bell) the story slam offered ten writers the opportunity to share their work. Each story was read within a five-minute time frame to a large audience of friends and supporters. Annie Freud acted as compere.

The stories included complex issues such as loss of hearing and vision, transgender, straight and gay relationships, there were some challenging and intriguing settings and a story with murderous intent.  Much discussion amongst the judges resulted in the following winners:

First place, Denial by Gill Smith: a hugely enjoyable story about Hilda, who suffers from hearing loss which gets her into all sorts of difficult situations.  A beautifully crafted story with a satisfying ending.

Second place went to Ged Duncan for his intriguing story, with strong imagery and an unusual setting.

Third place, Unravelling, by Maya Pieris: an intense story with a sinister twist.

Very well done to all the contributors. Each story had a unique element and some were very professionally delivered, in some cases adding to the humour.

Have you ever entered a story slam?

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Flash fiction competition to celebrate 100 years of Thomas Hardy

The Dorset Writers’ Network is celebrating the 100th year of Thomas Hardy by offering a competition. Please submit a piece of flash fiction, up to 300 words, based upon The Ghosts of Max Gate.

File:Max Gate Dorchester.jpg

Thomas Hardy designed and lived in Max Gate, situated on the outskirts of Dorchester, from 1885 until his death in 1928. At the time of construction, Hardy was unaware that Max Gate was situated in the middle of a neolithic stone circle and a Romano-British cemetery.

In his study at the house, Hardy wrote Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure and The Mayor of Casterbridge and much of his poetry. During the latter years of his marriage to Emma Gifford, when she became uncomfortable with the irreligious nature of his work, Hardy arranged for the attic rooms to be extended. This provided a refuge for Emma who became more and more reclusive.

Max Gate is part of the National Trust and open to the public. Please click here for further information.

With the setting of the house in mind, please complete your story about the Ghosts of Max Gate,  and send your entry to:

DWN, Corner Cottage, Bridge Street, Bourton, Dorset SP8 5BA

All entries must be received by 31 October 2013

Entry fees are: £4 for one story, £7 for two stories, £10 for three stories. Please make cheques payable to Dorset Writers’ Network.

Shortlisted writers are invited to read their work at the centenary event Celebrating Hardy’s Dorset, Thursday 14 November, 4:30-700, at Max Gate.

The competition will be judged by Peter Cooper and Alistair Chisholm

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Mere Literary Festival

The small town of Mere, positioned at the western edge of Salisbury Plain, hosts a literary festival each year. It is organised by volunteers and includes a range of events for adults and children, those living nearby and visitors. The highlights for the seventeenth Mere Literary Festival include:

PAUL KERENSA – So a Comedian walks into a Church

The popular comedian discusses his recently published diary revealing the true and hilarious ‘Confessions of a Kneel-Down Stand-Up’.

Monday 14 October Grove Building 7.30pm. £5 in advance £6 on the door.

TARQUIN OLIVIER – So Who’s Your Mother?

What’s it like growing up the son of a great actor? More off-stage stories from his published memoir by the son of Laurence Olivier.

Tuesday 15 October Grove Building 7.30pm. £5 in advance £6 on the door.

CHRIS McCULLY – Poetry Masterclass

A must for all with poetry in their hearts as acclaimed poet, Chris McCully, analyses poems submitted by local writers

Wednesday 16 October, Grove Building 2.30pm. Retiring donations.

AN EVENING WITH DAMIEN LEWIS

One of Britain’s ‘20 Favourite Authors’, Damien Lewis has topped best-seller lists worldwide and has 29 books listed on ‘Good Reads’. He discusses his work including his latest book, ‘Zero Six Bravo’.

Friday 17 October, Grove Buildings 7.30pm. £5 in advance £6 on the door

CHILDREN’S EVENT with award-winning author GILLIAN CROSS

A free event at the library, tickets required

Saturday 18 October, 2.15pm

For the full programme, click here. Tickets available from Mere Library 01747 860546 or the Festival Organiser 01747 860475

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Charmouth Literary Festival

  THE FOURTH CHARMOUTH LITERARY FESTIVAL

Date: Saturday 5th October 2013

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Venue: St Andrews Hall, Meeting Room

10.10 – John Bryant
Author of 3.59.4 The Quest to Break the Four Minute Mile. The London Marathon, the history of the greatest race on earth and The Marathon Makers and Jogging. His latest book is a biography, Chris Brasher, about a truly remarkable and singular man.
John is a veteran of marathons around the world and has been involved in the London Marathon since 1981. He has worked as a Fleet Street journalist since 1971, was Editor in Chief of The Daily Telegraph, executive editor of The Daily Mail and for a decade was deputy editor of The Times. John lives in Surrey and Dorset (Charmouth) and has attended all our Literary Festivals and is a great champion of them.

10:40 – Travel Writing with Sarah and Wendy

Sarah E. Dawson
Sarah decided, aged 52, to have her own gap year and to follow the latitude 52 degrees north from the east coast of England to the west coast of Wales. It was a personal challenge traveling on her own; her story is unusual and shows that you don’t have to go very far in order to experience and write about travel. Her travels continue with latitude 53 and 54.

Wendy Knee
Wendy has written three books, Never Die Wondering, Get Cracking and Travels with Granny. Her love of people and zest for life has enabled her to travel to extraordinary places, including Uzbekistan, Ecuador, Guatemala and many more. She cycled 1000 miles through France and Spain following the Camino St Jacques at the age of 58 and at the age of 66, she spent a month volunteering in Uganda and in early 2012 she worked with young teenagers in Mexico. This is the next book.

11.00 – Coffee and writing session for all

11:30 – James Crowden
James is an author and poet living in south Somerset. In 1972 he joined the army and served in Cyprus, travelling widely in Eastern Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and North West India. In 1976 -77 he spent a winter on the northern side of the Himalaya, in the remote Zangskar Valley in Ladakh.
He works between poetry and prose, between the two worlds of inner and outer landscape. His latest book is called Flowers in the Minefield centred on the First World War.

12:00 – Walk, Write, Wild – Juliette Adair
Outside activity to inspire your writing, so be prepared for all weathers.
Juliette is dedicated to creating space for writing. She has been encouraging her family to fit round her writing habit for the past 10 years and has an MA in Creative Writing from City University, London. Her novel ‘Bog Angel’ won the Christopher Little Award in 2007 and was short-listed for the A&C Black centenary prize. She is a member of the Walking Artists Network and in 2006 walked from Dublin to Galway following the route of an ancient story.

12.15 – Poetry –Rosemary Wells    –    Followed by workshop in library
Rosemary has had some of her poetry read on local radio and has been published in local magazines. She won the Silver Salver in the Adult Poetry category at the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival in 2009.

12.30 – E Books  Chella Adgopul
Chella  is a writer, teacher and publisher from West Dorset. A year ago she started Honeybee books, aimed at helping people who wanted to self-publish their writing, either in hard copy or in digital form as an e-book. She has worked with a range of writers, from beginners to professionals and community groups, and is firmly committed to helping make publishing a more democratic and accessible process.

1.00 – Lunch Hour
Literary soap box around the centre of village. This is your chance to stand on your soap box and read out your work (6 minutes max each).

2.00 – Roving Press – Julie Musk
Julie Musk is the project instigator, creative writing arm and principal editor for Roving Press Ltd, an independent local book publisher. She says, ‘Roving Press was born of our desire to publish books that are down-to-earth, helpful and with a travel and/or local interest slant. We produce only a handful of new books each year which we enjoy and believe in. As well as publishing our own titles, we offer a full or partial publishing service for those wishing to self-publish. Julie is a long-term copyeditor and proofreader for other publishers including Wiley-Blackwell and OUP, and is the author of A Slice of Apple Pie: Your One-Stop Guide to Living in America, Lesser Known Swanage and Lesser Known Weymouth.

2.30 – Peter John Cooper
Peter will talk about his experience of writing and having his work edited/proof read. Peter is a playwright, poet and theatre director whose work has been seen throughout the UK during the past 40 years. Among his prolific output are two adaptations of Hardy novels which have been published online and two books, She Opened the Door: The Wife and Women Who Haunted Thomas Hardy (published by Roving Press) and a self-published e-novel.

3.00 – Tea – write a biography on one side of paper
Dual personality – let the other person come out.

3.30 – Short story – small but perfectly formed – Frances Colville
Frances lived abroad in Norway and Belgium for 25 years, before settling in Chideock. She writes flash fiction and short stories, has had a piece of flash fiction included in Dorset Voices, an anthology published by Roving Press, and recently won first prize in a Story Slam for Dorset writers. She has also had a play for radio produced at Bridport Arts Centre and is involved in various local history projects. She is currently working on a novel set during the First World War.

4.00 – Close with round up of the day.

 

For further information & details see:

charmouthliteraryfestival.org.uk

Contact Wendy Knee  wendy@wendyknee.com   01297 561493     07968 846514

 


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It’s raining on my nearly dried washing

If only I’d been bothered to bring in the duvet covers and sheets when I had the chance. Now they are dripping on the line, more wet than when they first came out of the machine. The sky is grey and lumpy and I need something to cheer me up.  So, let me share with you the photos from a lovely day in Oxford last Friday, when my son finally decided to put in an application for a college place.

Oxford 001 (2)Oxford 002

Oxford 004 (2)

 

 

 

 

 

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Excellent repeat event: Story Slam, Briport 2013

Untitled-6

With the success of last year’s event, the Dorset Writers’ Network are hosting another story slam as part of the Open Book Festival in Bridport. Organised by Jennifer Bell of Storyslingers, the evening will be modelled on previous story slams where participants are asked to register in advance through zomzara@googlemail.com (or turn up and register on the night). If there are more registered writers than time slots, the names will be entered into a draw. Each time slot is five minutes maximum (about 780 words). All genres and styles of original prose welcome. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your talent so get writing and share your work with a supportive and enthusiastic audience.

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Dorset County Show, 2013

The County Show has been celebrating the countryside and all things Dorset since 1841. These days there’s a focus on family entertainment, showcasing agriculture and shopping but the old traditions of a county show remain, including the competitions. There are 1,000 competitions to enter and although we didn’t spend much time looking at the livestock, the homecraft and horticultural tents are endlessly fascinating.

With the rise in popularity of television shows such as The Great British Bake Off, the competition for the best of baking is considerable.  Criteria for entry is strict sometimes identifying the required size, shape and ingredients, others offering the chance to use your own recipe.  One category I continue to find perplexing is:

  • Six sweet scones (men only please)

I wonder what Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood would make of that!

Unfortunately, for all the delights of Victoria Sandwiches, Swiss rolls and flapjacks, they were displayed inside plastic bags and not the best circumstances to photograph, so I can’t show you any of the entries.  However, I can share with you the following:

THREE CARROTS, stump rooted, tops trimmed to approx 76mm

THREE CARROTS, stump rooted, tops trimmed to approx 76mm

PAIR OF MARROWS (any size)

PAIR OF MARROWS (any size)

 

These had my husband anticipating an entry for 2014.

Some of the other categories, however, had me in stitches. For example, THE LONGEST RUNNER BEAN of reasonable quality. I’m not sure that would be worth eating. And then there were the monster entries, the largest pumpkin and the heaviest marrow:

heaviest marrowlargest pumpkin

After all the excitement there was one last treasure. An opportunity to stroke the loveliest of rabbits and meet the proud new owner.

rabbit

 

During a long journey yesterday I listened to ‘When God was a Rabbit’ by Sarah Winman.  The family saga was brilliantly read by Emilia Fox but the story was predictable in places. Rabbits at the show and one in a novel – that must be enough rabbits for one week.

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Galway Girl

The suitcases are now put away for the summer. After a week in Edinburgh we made a dash for Galway City to catch up with Regina who was celebrating her fiftieth birthday. So here’s the party girl with her husband, Andy.

August 20131 013 (2)

It was a splendid occasion: a chance to meet Regina’s family and friends and touch base with her children who are the same age as mine. The Salthill Hotel put on a wonderful spread and we sat on a table called ‘The Enablers’ with others who have worked in the UK, Ireland and overseas.  What a great compliment to be considered an enabler.  The company was splendid and when the talking was over we danced well into the night.

You might like to watch the You Tube clip of one of the songs played repeatedly!

We also had the opportunity to look around the city and take a walk by the coast. What a lovely place – somewhere we would certainly like to make a return visit.

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Back from Edinburgh

Having enjoyed the Edinburgh Fringe and International Book Festival last year, I booked again for a return visit in 2013. Had I known in advance what would be in store for me during the intervening period, I would have reserved a week under a sunshade. However, having galvanised a bit of energy, I made it to Charlotte Square most mornings for the 10 at 10 session which featured a short reading from a visiting author. One of the treats included the opening pages from the The Universe versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extense. This is a debut novel that is included in Richard and Judy’s Summer Book Club. The story is told in the distinctive voice of seventeen year old Alex and revolves around an unusual friendship with Mr Peterson, an American, pot-smoking widower. You can read more about the book in a Guardian review here.

Further highlights included another debut novelist, Courtney Collins talking about her book The Burial, a story inspired by the life of Jessie Hickman a twentieth century Australian horse rustler.  I also got to touch base with Ronald Frame talking about his latest novel Havisham.

In terms of the Fringe, we caught a few comedy shows including Rachel Parrish whose singing/comedy act had me in stitches (the performer is tagged as the Glee-Club chick gone wrong).

When we returned to Dorset, the plants in the garden decided to put on a welcome home display

Begonia

Begonia

Dahlias

Dahlias

Yucca

Yucca

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A bit of luck

Just when I thought I had to return to the office for three more days of work after taking leave next week, I discovered that I’m actually owed some days. As a result, my last day of employment with the County Council will be Friday and I’m madly trying to get everything done ready for a holiday in Edinburgh starting on Saturday.  We’re flying from Southampton and taking hand luggage only, so decanting liquids has been the order of the day. Fortunately, the flat that we’re staying at in Stockbridge provides shampoo and shower gel, so it’s only face creams that I need to worry about.

I’ve packed a couple of paperbacks including The Coward’s Tale by Vanessa Gebbie and The Polish Boxer (which was recommended by Sarah Bower) and you can read a review here. I’ve downloaded two audiobooks to my ipod: Catch 22 and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. So when I’m not attending sessions at the Book Festival or the Fringe I’ll have plenty to keep my busy.

Have a good week.

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