Blog

Author Interview: Introducing Joy Wood, Storyteller

March 21, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-

Many thanks to Joy Wood for supplying author shots, book cover pictures, and photos of her at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. Screenshots and other images from Swanwick were taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images created in Book Brush using photos supplied by Joy. Some images are directly from Pixabay.

It is a pleasure to welcome fellow Swanwicker, Joy Wood, to Chandler’s Ford Today. I met Joy at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick and we often “cross paths” via Facebook. Say what you like about social media, and many do (!), but when used properly, it is a fabulous way to keep in contact with your writing colleagues.

Joy and I celebrate publications at Swanwick

Tags: author events, author interview, creative writing, FeedaRead, fiction, Joy Wood, marketing tips, self publishing, The Writers' Summer School - Swanwick, the writing life, writing routine, writing tips

Writing Competition Tips

March 14, 2025 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image directly from Pixabay

I’ve had the privilege of being listed in competitions, being one of a selection of winners for a competition, and have since gone on to judge short story and flash fiction competitions.

The joy of a reputable writing competition is, if you win or are listed, you have something invaluable to add to your writing CV. They can be great ways to build up that CV. It shows an agent or publisher someone else decided your work was publication worthy. It can also show a commitment to your writing.

Tags: am writing, building on your writing CV, checking your writing competition entry, creative writing, follow the rules, writing competition tips, Writing Magazine

The Benefits of Writing Exercises

March 7, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

I’m regularly on both sides of the writing exercise equation as I do them often and set them too. I run a monthly flash fiction group on Zoom for the Association of Christian Writers which is great fun and I set exercises as part of the topic for the evening.

I also have been to many workshops and courses and continue to do so (especially The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, which I’m looking forward to going to again this year). Inevitably writing exercises are set in these things.

There is a huge variety of writing exercises to try. I’ve developed some firm favourites which I often use to inspire ideas for stories I submit to places such as Friday Flash Fiction, where I have a 100 word story published most weeks.

Tags: am writing, building a writing track record, creative writing, developing as a writer, fiction, flash fiction, short stories, writing exercises

Wellie’s Gardening Tips for March 2025

March 4, 2025 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Cut back herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses that have been left over winter. Prune Buddleja to a low framework of stems to encourage new flowering growth. Split over crowded herbaceous perennials to keep them flowering well. Feed ericaceous shrubs such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and pieris with an ericaceous fertilizer.

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, gardening tips, how-to

The Writer’s Wish List

February 28, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos, with some directly from Pixabay.

Picture the scene. You discover this dodgy lamp. You polish it. A genie appears and grants you the ability, as a writer, to create your own wish list. You can have five items on it. Better still, all of those wishes will be granted. The only rule here is no wish should be harmful. You think fair enough and then compile what you would wish for.

So what would I choose and why?

Tags: AI and creative writing, am reading, am writing, handling rejections, learning your writing craft, useful writing information, writer's wish list, writing journey, writing scams, writing sources

Making the Most of an Author Interview

February 21, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Some images directly from Pixabay.

Author interviews are a joy to conduct and to take part in on the other side of the questioning too. They take many forms, of course, but all can help the writer with their marketing. It pays any writer to be prepared for interviews, even if you’re not yet published.

You can study interviews already out there, including the ones I share here on Chandler’s Ford Today and figure out how you would answer the questions if they were put to you. This is invaluable practice for working out how to talk about the writing you do.

And you will need to talk about it at some point, else how will anyone know about it?

Tags: author interviews, interviews as part of marketing, making the most of author interviews, podcasts, preparing for interviews, sharing your writing story, social media, text interviews

Author Interview – Gill James – Natascha’s Story

February 14, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:- Many thanks to Gill James for supplying author and book cover pictures. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos or images supplied by Gill. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is with great pleasure I welcome Gill James back to Chandler’s Ford Today. Gill is an author, editor, and publisher, being the mastermind behind Bridge House Publishing, Chapeltown Books, CafeLit and other imprints within the Bridge House “family”, including Walela Books. The latter published Debz Hobbs-Wyatt’s If Crows Could Talk. Chapeltown Books have published many authors, including me.

Gill has written across many genres including historical fiction (check out her Schellberg series) and science fiction (see her Peace Child books, an excellent series I’m happy to recommend). But this time she is back with a children’s tale, Natascha’s Story, with an unusual viewpoint – that of a Russian doll!

Tags: Bridge House Publishing, children's books, children's reading, creative fiction, fantasy in children's fiction, Gill James, joys and challenges of writing for children, marketing tips, Natascha's Story, writing for children, writing tips

The Chameleons – Cinderella Review

February 7, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-

A huge thank you to all at The Chameleons for kind permission to use their photos. Screenshots (from The Chameleons’ Facebook page showing the sets coming together, their advert for the show, and what they will be staging next) were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images (from The Chameleons) were set in Book Brush settings created by me. Do check out their website for more pictures. I couldn’t use them all here but they will all make you smile, especially if you were at the performances.

This year is the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of The Chameleons. They will be having a special event later in the year but to kick off 2025 in style, they started their new and special year with what is such a major part of theatre – the pantomime.

Tags: amateur theatre, Cinderella, fairytales, pantomime, The Chameleon Theatre Company, theatre

Wellie’s Gardening Tips for February 2025

February 1, 2025 By Wellie Leave a Comment

This is the last opportunity to carry out winter pruning on apple and pear trees. Cut autumn raspberry canes to ground level ensuring you leave no stumps that could harbour disease.

Prune out a quarter of blackcurrant older growth at ground level. Apply a general purpose fertiliser to tree, bush and cane fruit and mulch with well-rotted manure or garden compost.

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, gardening tips, how-to

The Positives and Negatives of Adaptations

January 31, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Somes images are directly from Pixabay.

Many of our favourite stories are adapted for the stage, radio, television, and film and any or all of those combinations in some cases. It is unusual for any story to go “direct” into another medium. Nearly always cuts and changes do have to be made to suit the needs of the medium the story will “go into” or to make the best use of the things those mediums can bring to the tale which the printed word in itself won’t do. Sound effects especially, the use of appropriate music, and much more can add so much to an adapted tale.

Tags: adaptations, am writing, fairytales, film adaptations, pantomime, radio adaptations, TV adaptations

Author Interview: Introducing Gemma Owen-Kendall

January 24, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-

Many thanks to Lynsey Adams of Reading Between the Lines Book Vlog and Gemma Owen-Kendall for supplying author and book cover pics including from her launch for Red Daisy at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. Other images created in Book Brush using images from Lynsey, Gemma or Pixabay. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes, as were the photos of the grounds from The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick.

As you know, one of my highlights of my writing year is to go to The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick held at The Hayes in Derbyshire in August. As well as enjoying the fabulous workshops and courses (and having had the privilege of leading some there too), the other biggest joy is in getting to meet other authors.

Why? Because it is so liberating to share the joy of creative writing with others who “get it”. There is no need to explain why you write here. We just do and we share many tips and tales of our writing lives with each other during this event.

In 2024, Gemma Owen-Kendall got to launch her debut novel, Red Daisy, published by SpellBound Books, at The Writers’ Summer School in their wonderful Book Room.

Many congratulations, Gemma, on this and welcome to Chandler’s Ford Today. It is always a joy and privilege to discuss writing journeys with other authors here but before I put some questions to Gemma, please find below her author bio and a blurb for Red Daisy. This interview is part of a book blog tour organised by Lynsey Adams of Reading Between the Lines Book Vlog.

Tags: am writing, author interview, characters, creative writing, debut novel, editing, fairytales, fiction, flash fiction, Gemma Owen-Kendall, Innocent Times, marketing, novels, Red Daisy, short stories, SpellBound Books Limited, The Writers' Summer School - Swanwick, writing groups, writing journey

Making the Most of Your Writing Time

January 17, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.

Making the most of writing time is always a timely topic. Every writer will have their own answer to this.

Tags: am reading, am writing, creative writing, making the most of your writing time, planning your writing, productivity

The Joys of Fairytales

January 10, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos with some images directly from Pixabay. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

A little later this month, I’m off to see The Chameleon Theatre Group’s pantomime, Cinderella. Oh yes I am! I’m looking forward to it as their pantomimes are always great fun and this one is based on my favourite fairytale. A review will follow in due course (but if you haven’t seen any of their pantomimes, do check this one out. There is still time to book). See their website for more – https://www.chameleontheatre.co.uk/

But the thought of this inspired this article. I’ve loved fairytales for as long as I can remember.

Tags: Charles Perrault, Cinderella, fairytale structure, fairytales, Hans Christen Andersen, learning from fairytales, pantomime, the Brothers Grimm, The Chameleon Theatre Group, the Rules of Three, writing craft

Wellie’s Gardening Tips for January 2025

January 3, 2025 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Time to plan what you want to do to your garden over the coming year. Look at seed catalogues and order which seeds. Wash pots and seed trays so they are clean and ready for using in the coming year. Clean your greenhouse to let in more light over the winter months.

Cut back deciduous grasses to allow new shoots to emerge freely. Plant bare-rooted trees and shrubs now. Cut back foliage of helleborus to show off their beautiful flowers. Sow early peas such as ‘Feltham First’ for harvesting in May/June. Broad beans can be sown inside now, to plant out in February. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for January 2025

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, gardening tips, how-to

Story Tips

January 3, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.

I catch up with a lot of stories during the Advent and Christmas periods but not always via books (of any format).

[Read more…] about Story Tips

Tags: am reading, am writing, characters, creative writing, learning your writing craft, story writing tips, writing advice

New Year, New Writing Hopes

December 27, 2024 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes, as were the two photos from The Hayes, Swanwick from 2024.

I know it is a little early but Happy New Year to you all. I hope 2025 proves to be a good year. It would be nice to have less grim news but I think that may be something I will have to put on a wish list somewhere.

Tags: am reading, am writing, Association of Christian Writers Flash Fiction group, editing, evaluating your writing, Happy New Year, having a writing agenda, new writing year, story competition judging, The Writers' Summer School - Swanwick, the writing journey, workshops

Bridge House Publishing Celebration and Broadcasting News

December 20, 2024 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-

One image created in Book Brush using a photo taken by Lynn Clement and a screenshot taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images from the Bridge House Publishing Celebration Event were taken by Debz Hobbs-Wyatt, Lynn Clement, and me, Allison Symes. One image from CFT archives. Two other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

It’s a lovely way to finish my Chandler’s Ford Today posts for Christmas by sharing festive related writing news.

Tags: Allison Symes, am reading, am writing, Association of Christian Writers Flash Fiction group, author update, Bridge House Publishing Celebration event, Christmas story by Allison Symes, festive flash fiction, Friday Flash Fiction Christmas Competition, Hannah Kate, networking, North Manchester FM, Tact by Allison Symes, The Best of CafeLit 13, Theodore Bullfrog, Three Minute Santas flash fiction show

What I Look For In A Good Story

December 13, 2024 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Everyone has their own tastes in books and stories, of course. The publishing and literary world would not be so interesting and extensive if we all read the same thing. Genres would disappear and creative imagination would be limited to whatever it was we all read. But there are elements in books and stories which cross all genres. These are the things I look out for whenever I read any kind of story, regardless of its word count.

Tags: am reading, am writing, books, characters, flash fiction by Allison Symes, gripping reads, long fiction, plots, short fiction, stories

Chandler’s Ford Community Produce and Craft Indoor Market – Christmas 2024

December 8, 2024 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Chandler’s Ford Community Produce & Craft Market will be back next Saturday 14th December from 10am till 1pm at Brownhill Community Centre, behind the Co-op Fryern Arcade.

Don’t miss the chance to buy special Christmas gifts made by local people.

Last week (7 December 2024) Eastleigh Mayor Councillor Dave Pragnell and Mayoress Jean both came to support the Chandler’s Ford market. Despite the awful weather, the market still attracted lots of people.

Eastleigh Mayor Councillor Dave Pragnell and Mayoress Jean both attended the Chandler's Ford market. — Eastleigh Mayor Councillor Dave Pragnell and Mayoress Jean both attended the Chandler’s Ford market.

Eastleigh Mayor Councillor Dave Pragnell and Mayoress Jean speaking with writer Martin Kyrle.

Tags: Age Concern Centre, arts and crafts, Brownhill Community Centre, Brownhill Road, Chandler’s Ford community, community, craft fair, crafts, event, Fryern Arcade, hobby, local businesses, local interest

Becoming a Pilgrim of Hope – Christmas Message from Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford – 2024

December 6, 2024 By Churches Together in Chandler's Ford Leave a Comment

Written by Rev Deacon Paul Owen
St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church (part of the Catholic Parish of St Swithun Wells)
on behalf of Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford

We are well into December and our senses are full of the coming of Christmas. Whether it’s the Christmas lights springing up all over the area; the Christmas songs we hear all the time in shops or on the radio; the adverts on the TV encouraging us to buy more food and presents than we need. But this year, perhaps more so than in previous years, we prepare for Christmas in a world faced with difficult times. A world in which suffering, wars and political uncertainty are a greater threat than they have been for many years.

It got me thinking about what it is that is special for us as we approach another Christmas. What is it we look for at Christmas? For us Christians, this period of preparation for Christmas is called Advent. The central theme of Advent for all Christians is hope. But for each one of us, where do we find our hope this Christmas?
[Read more…] about Becoming a Pilgrim of Hope – Christmas Message from Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford – 2024

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Christianity, Christmas, church, churches together, community, history, local interest, religion, tradition

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Image Credits:- Many thanks to Gill James for supplying author and book cover pictures. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos or images supplied by Gill. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

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