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You are here: Home / Arts / Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford

Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford

June 12, 2016 By Mike Sedgwick 4 Comments

It is not solitude, loneliness and seclusion that makes a writer. It is a great social life. They often start their careers in a Creative Writing Class. So it happened that four writers met in Chandler’s Ford writing group a few years ago.

The result is the intriguingly titled, Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford. A collection of fictional short stories is written by four local writers and available in several local stores.

The Secret Lives of Chandler's Ford: The Book
The Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford: The Book

How the book began

Catherine, Karen, Maggie and Sally met at a creative writing class in Chandler’s Ford several years ago. Keen to develop their hobby, they formed a small writing group.  The original aim was to discuss story ideas and read their work to each other.

After several meetings admiring one another’s kitchens, drinking coffee, eating cake and chatting, they thought it was time to get to work. The idea for a collection of short stories was born.

Each of the writers has their own individual style. However, they wanted a theme to unify the collection. As they all love Chandler’s Ford it became apparent that there could be no better backdrop to their stories. Who are these people who have found our secret heart?

"Secret Lives of Chandler's Ford". Authors: Maggie Farran, Sally Howard, Karen Stephen, Catherine Griffin.
Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford authors: Maggie Farran, Sally Howard, Karen Stephen, Catherine Griffin.

The authors

The writers live and work locally. They love the space and greenery of Chandler’s Ford, the choice of houses, well-regarded local schools, range of shops, cafes and pubs. They enjoy living in a thriving, varied, evolving suburban community. Like many of its inhabitants, the writers were not born or raised in Chandler’s Ford.

Catherine hails from Bristol. She has lived locally since the 1980s. A mathematician, she retired early and is now a full-time writer. Catherine is especially interested in reading and writing within the fantasy genre. She also enjoys writing contemporary stories with a twist. Catherine relaxes by pottering around her large garden.

Karen moved south from Scotland in the 1980s. She came to Chandler’s Ford for work reasons. Just for a couple of years, she thought. Eighteen years later, it seems she’s here to stay! Karen works full-time. She enjoys writing across several genres. She has contributed both historical and contemporary stories to the book. Karen loves theatre, books and socialising.

Sally is originally from the Midlands. She is a working mother of children and two naughty kittens. Sally enjoys writing for children and young adults. When she has spare time, Sally enjoys cooking and reading (sometimes at the same time, with mixed results). Her favourite type of holiday is a safari, which she hopes to introduce the children to in the near future.

Maggie is well-known in Chandler’s Ford. A teacher for many years at Hiltingbury School, former pupils often stop her for a chat. Maggie enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren.  Now she is retired from teaching, she does voluntary work.  She also sings in a local choir. Maggie loves to write stories which are gentle, family-centred and often romantic.

writing image by bloomingmimosa via Pixabay

Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford

The writers spent the summer and autumn of 2015 working on the collection of stories. The meetings became more organised. The group found a focus (but still enjoyed cake). What, they wondered, are the “secrets” of Chandler’s Ford? What goes on behind the net curtains and leafy hedges?

Chandler’s Ford is a quiet, respectable backwater. A suburb, although no one is quite sure whether of Winchester or of Southampton. It has clean streets, decent and kind citizens. It even has a reinvigorated Fryern Centre and a new parish council building. Could it have any secrets?

Hiltingbury Road, Chandler's Ford.
Hiltingbury Road, Chandler’s Ford.

Then the writers thought about the day Chandler’s Ford turned into the badlands, “the helicopter on the roundabout shootout” from a few years ago. They did some research. They learned about a haunted phone box.  About Chandler’s Ford’s role in WWII. They thought about the lives of people they knew, had heard of, or invented. They envisaged alternative versions of Chandler’s Ford where white magic and dark events swirled around the suburb.

Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford features 14 stories that are contemporary, historical and futuristic. They are fun, fabulous and of course, completely fictional. The writers had a great time writing them and hope that you enjoy reading them.

NEW!

Chandler's Ford authors book signing at Bay Leaves Larder in Hiltingbury.
Chandler’s Ford authors book signing at Bay Leaves Larder in Hiltingbury.

Past event:
Secret Lives Chandler's Ford book signing at Bay Leaves Larder, Chandler's Ford.

Book signing

Bay Leaves Larder Hiltingbury new image

On 8 July, the writers will be at Bay Leaves Larder on Hiltingbury Road, from 11:00 am – 14:00pm, for a book-signing event. Come along and meet them.

Contact: Secret Lives of Chandlers Ford on Facebook, and Chandlers Ford Lives (@chfordlives) on Twitter. You could also send the writers story ideas for volume two!

Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford by Maggie Farran, Catherine Griffin, Sally Howard and Karen Stephen. (2015) ISBN 13:978-1519668686 is available from Amazon, WH Smiths, Bay Leaves, Andersons, Kerry’s and Eastleigh Museum.

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Related posts:

Sshhh – Do You Want to Know a Secret about Chandlers Ford? Richard Hardie’s Book Writing Fun at Chandler’s Ford Library Further Adventures of a Fantasy Author Adventures of a Fantasy Author – Richard Hardie Interview Part 2 How Have Your Reading Habits Changed?
Tags: book signing, books, Chandler's Ford Library, Chandler’s Ford community, event, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, local interest, publishing, reading, writing

About Mike Sedgwick

Retired, almost. Lived in Chandler's Ford for 20 years. Like sitting in the garden with a beer on sunny days. Also reading, writing and flying a glider. Interested in promoting science.

I work hard as a Grandfather and have a part time job in Kandy, Sri Lanka for the winter months. Married to a beautiful woman and between us we have two beautiful daughters and 3 handsome sons.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Allison Symes says

    June 12, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Great post, Mike. Hope the group and the book does well. My son was at school when Maggie was still teaching so would remember her well (and he sometimes volunteers at the Eastleigh Museum where the book will be on sale). If I can I’ll pop along to the signing at Bay Leaves. (Not that I need much excuse to go there!).

    Reply
  2. Moira Moriarty says

    June 14, 2016 at 8:13 pm

    Really sorry to be missing your signing day.
    I enjoyed this collection of stories, where each author displays her own personal style.
    A must-read for all who live in Chandlers Ford..and beyond.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. New Discoveries and Finding Inspiration in Chandler’s Ford - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    April 29, 2017 at 5:15 pm

    […] Related posts: Review: Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market Christmas at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market 2016 It’s Back – Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market for the Community Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market – Saturday 12th March 2016 Christmas at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market 2015 NEW! Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford […]

    Reply
  2. Sshhh - Do You Want to Know a Secret about Chandlers Ford? - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    June 13, 2017 at 9:54 am

    […] be aware that last year, we were thrilled and proud to publish a collection of short stories called “Secret Lives of Chandlers Ford” . Together with my writing chums,  Maggie, Catherine and Sally, we spent a year researching, […]

    Reply

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