Gill James is a prolific writer and publisher. As well as running Bridge House Publishing, Chapeltown Books and Cafelit (along with Debz Hobbs-Wyatt), Gill has written dozens of books ranging from science fiction (The Tower Trilogy) to historical fiction (The House on Schellberg Street). She has also been a university lecturer in creative writing. [Read more…] about Writing Historical Fiction – Interview with Gill James Part 1
interview
Everybody is a storyteller. Through these interviews, we learn about other people's passion, their work, their struggles and hopes, and their inspiring stories. We see how our lives are intertwined in the community.
Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan Interview Part 2 – Allison Symes
Last week Anne Wan, local children’s author, talked about why writing for children is fun and what she learned from writing her debut novel, Secrets of the Snow Globe: Vanishing Voices. In Part 2 she shares her three top tips for writers and what she loves and loathes about editing. There will be a lot of common ground here for writers in all genres! [Read more…] about Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan Interview Part 2 – Allison Symes
Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan – Interview Part 1 by Allison Symes
I enjoy interviewing authors for Chandler’s Ford Today. I love finding out their top tips, how they work and what inspires them.
It was a joy then to meet local children’s author, Anne Wan, for tea, coffee and a chat at Bay Leaves Larder recently. Anne has a background in primary school teaching and her book Secrets of the Snow Globe: Vanishing Voices is now out (North Oak Press). [Read more…] about Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan – Interview Part 1 by Allison Symes
Introducing Myself – Nicola Slade
I write mystery novels set in and around Winchester – and sometimes even in Chandler’s Ford!
Chandler’s Ford has been home since 1981 when we moved here from Surrey for my husband’s new job. I come originally from Poole and my husband comes from Oxfordshire. When we moved here our son was twelve and went to Thornden, followed in due course by his sisters: our elder daughter who was ten when we moved here and went into the top year at Hiltingbury Juniors, and the younger one, who was five, who started school at Hiltingbury Infants. [Read more…] about Introducing Myself – Nicola Slade
Meet 92-year-old War Veteran Frank Damerell
Last Sunday I had a brief interview with Frank Damerell, the 92-year-old war veteran from Chandler’s Ford.
Frank arrived at the War Memorial on Hursley Road just after 10.30am, accompanied by his son Phil. Frank later laid a RAFA (Royal Air Forces Association) wreath during the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the war memorial at St. Boniface Church in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Meet 92-year-old War Veteran Frank Damerell
Going Full Circle: the Journey of Hiltonbury Jerseys
In the 1960s my Father, John Vining, and I decided to create a milk round in Chandler’s Ford direct from Hiltonbury Farm and deliver to a growing population wonderful Raw Jersey Milk direct from the farm.
From the Hiltonbury Herds beginnings in 1947 by my Father, we were at that time milking around 40-50 Jersey cows in a long shed that housed 36 at a time, so had to do a changeover during milking to accommodate all the cows. It was very time consuming and labour intensive. [Read more…] about Going Full Circle: the Journey of Hiltonbury Jerseys
The Poetic Life: Sharing the Muse – Sandra Gordon
Last week’s interview into the poetic life with successful local poet, Sandra Gordon, showed her sharing her thoughts about poetry and naming some of her favourite modern and classic poets.
I loved discovering the Poetry Foundation website as I researched some of those Sandra named. I hope to make great use of this given the site gives biographies of poets and shares samples of their works. It could be a great place to go to if you wanted to read more of a poet’s work but weren’t sure where to begin. The Poetry Society website is also full of useful information. [Read more…] about The Poetic Life: Sharing the Muse – Sandra Gordon
The Poetic Life: Interview with Sandra Gordon, Part 1
Sandra Gordon, near neighbour and local poet, has recently performed some of her poetry at the New Forest Folk Festival as part of the Lines and Squares Poets.
She has also received the exciting news her work will be published in The North magazine in July. [Read more…] about The Poetic Life: Interview with Sandra Gordon, Part 1
Interview: Jacci Gooding – The Writing Life
Further to my interview with Jacci Gooding last week which focused on her adventures in self publishing, this post now looks at Jacci’s writing life.
She also reveals what she looks for in a good story as she prepares to launch her own short story collection, A Collection of Unsettling Short Stories. The anthology will be available as an ebook, as a paperback and in audio formats. [Read more…] about Interview: Jacci Gooding – The Writing Life
Interview: Jacci Gooding – Adventures in Self Publishing
One of the things I love about writing for Chandler’s Ford Today has been the chance to interview fellow authors, to share news from the publishing world and so on.
Today I talk to Jacci Gooding, who I met at the Winchester Writers’ Festival. As well as learning a great deal from talks at conferences like this one, the other big joy has been making friends with other writers and knowing you are not alone out there. Mike Sedgwick touched on this theme recently with his post about the Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford anthology. [Read more…] about Interview: Jacci Gooding – Adventures in Self Publishing
Interview Kate Day: Chocolate Muffin Publishing
One of the strange but nice things about dementia is the way arts can help retain memories. Singing, for example, seems to affect the brain in a way that can put patients on a level playing field with those without that awful disease.
Why? Because singing helps retain memories for all who take part, singing makes all feel good and can be a social event for all. [Read more…] about Interview Kate Day: Chocolate Muffin Publishing
Writing as Therapy: Introducing Chocolate Muffin Publishing
I’m a great believer in the arts being good for the soul, that the arts are therapeutic and are something we need despite there not being an obvious biological need for them.
Writing helps me unwind and it is a lot of fun creating articles for Chandler’s Ford Today as well as my short stories and novels. And I’m definitely not the only one to believe this. [Read more…] about Writing as Therapy: Introducing Chocolate Muffin Publishing
Hiltingbury Post Office (and GoldDust)
It’s rather unusual that you walk into a post office to buy curry ingredients.
But in Chandler’s Ford you can just do that.
The post office on Ashdown Road in Hiltingbury sells stamps, envelops, cards, soaps and scarves.
It also sells GoldDust Masala Blend. [Read more…] about Hiltingbury Post Office (and GoldDust)
Ignite Your 2016 with the Best of Chandler’s Ford Today 2015
Year 2015 has just flown by.
In the past year, we produced 320 posts, sharing local stories, news, and events with the community.
This ‘community’ is not restricted to Chandler’s Ford. We have readers and writers from Australia. [Read more…] about Ignite Your 2016 with the Best of Chandler’s Ford Today 2015
Little Ranch Farm Christmas Trees at Fryern Arcade 2015
If you haven’t got your Christmas tree yet (or if the one at home is simply not enough), you could pop down to the Fryern Arcade and get one.
Jimmy Peters, who grows and sells Christmas trees, is now busy selling Christmas trees at the Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Little Ranch Farm Christmas Trees at Fryern Arcade 2015
Adventures of a Fantasy Author – Richard Hardie Interview Part 2
Further to last week’s post, when Chandler’s Ford author, Richard Hardie of the Temporal Detective Agency fame, shared what signings and other events have occupied him recently, this continuation shares some of his further news as well as tips for fellow writers.
[Read more…] about Adventures of a Fantasy Author – Richard Hardie Interview Part 2
Further Adventures of a Fantasy Author
One of my earliest posts for Chandler’s Ford Today was an interview I conducted with local author, and fellow dog walker, Richard Hardie, who had not long released The Trouble With Swords, his second book in his Temporal Detective series and follow up to the marvellous Leap of Faith. [Read more…] about Further Adventures of a Fantasy Author
From Dancer to Writer: Felicity Fair Thompson
Chandler’s Ford Today covers a wide spectrum of interests – from football to gliding, from local history to reviews of shows in nearby theatres and Thornden Hall. From memories of the Gang Show to news of the latest fundraising efforts by the Scouts and the Fairtrade events.
Naturally a blog like this will attract writers. People like Richard Hardie, whose young adult Temporal Detective Series (Leap of Faith and Trouble With Swords), will be highlighted in Chandler’s Ford library next Thursday 29th October. People like Brenda Sedgwick whose first novel, Marriage, a Journey and a Dog, was out earlier this year. [Read more…] about From Dancer to Writer: Felicity Fair Thompson
Hiltingbury Extravaganza – Talking Maths: Andrew Kuttner
I’ve lived in Chandler’s Ford for over 25 years but it was only last Sunday I went to the Hiltingbury Extravaganza for the first time.
I was fascinated by the combination of pony trekking, the dog show, the hot food stalls, the icecream vans, the giant slides and a mini bus ride, the tea and cake stands and educational stalls.
Hang on… Educational stalls? At a family fair? A fun event?
Yes… and it wasn’t the first time one particular educational stall, manned by a very familar face, had been at the Extravaganza. [Read more…] about Hiltingbury Extravaganza – Talking Maths: Andrew Kuttner
Gill James: Top Tips to Writers’ Networking
This post continues from yesterday’s article where Gill James shared some of her thoughts on life as a creative writing lecturer and author.
Gill gave me my first publishing credit via Alternative Renditions, a Bridge House anthology, and I have since had other work published online and in Limerick Nation and The Shamblelurklers Return. I’m currently working on a short story collection. [Read more…] about Gill James: Top Tips to Writers’ Networking