Chandler's Ford Today

Arts

Every photograph we take, every show we present, or every song and hymn that we sing, we bring inspiration, creativity and joy to the community. Our artists have taken risks. They have brought us wonder and beauty of nature.

The Joys and Woes of Writing Historical Fiction – Part 2 of Gill James Interview

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Last week Gill James shared her thoughts on historical fiction based on her experience of writing The House on Schellberg Street, which is set in Germany during the rise of Hitler and throughout WW2.

Gill talked about why she wrote this book (it is based on her late mother-in-law’s life) and shared the difficulties in bringing it to publication. In Part 2, Gill shares what she feels are the joys and woes of writing historical fiction, gives useful advice to those new to this genre, and reveals what happened as a result of the book. This includes the development of material for use in schools. Now over to Gill…
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Writers at Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017

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Meet the Authors at Hiltingbury Extravaganza

Don’t forget the Hiltingbury Extravaganza is this Sunday, 17th September from 12 noon to 5 pm. Let’s hope for good weather and that all who go along to the Recreation Ground for this lively event have a wonderful time!  [Read more…] about Writers at Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017

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Re-designing Chandler’s Ford Infant School: April Rapley Shortlisted for Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Award

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Recently a tweet by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) caught my eyes:

“Chandler’s Ford Infant School Project – April Rapley. Shortlisted for Student our Excellence in AT Award.”

Congratulations to April Rapley, Architectural Design and Technology graduate from Southampton Solent University! Her re-design of Chandler’s Ford Infant School on Kings Road has been shortlisted for the Student Award for Excellence in Architectural Technology (Project) 2017. [Read more…] about Re-designing Chandler’s Ford Infant School: April Rapley Shortlisted for Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Award

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Writing Historical Fiction – Interview with Gill James Part 1

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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

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Reminder: Children’s Poetry Competition

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Reminder

This is just a quick reminder post about the Children’s Poetry Competition being organised by Chandler’s Ford Authors with Hampshire Libraries in association with the Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017. [Read more…] about Reminder: Children’s Poetry Competition

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Humorous Writing (and why it is a serious business)

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I think the hardest form of writing is humorous writing because humour is (a) subjective and (b) changes over time. Good humorous writing is a joy to read but it is so difficult to do well.

Two of my favourite authors, P.G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett, have sold millions of books each and have been translated into many languages. That aspect is another reason why humour is difficult to write: not all aspects of “English” humour translate well. For it to work the humour in the stories has to be universal. Still there is plenty about the human condition to send up so the material is out there, ready to be used! [Read more…] about Humorous Writing (and why it is a serious business)

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Review: Eastleigh’s 12th Annual Mela on Sunday 30th July 2017

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As always, I had a great time at Eastleigh’s 12th annual Mela on Sunday 30th July. The word means “a public event held to celebrate a special event” (Cambridge Dictionary) and comes from the Hindu word for a festival.

Ours is a multicultural carnival of music, dance and cuisine with such diverse contributors as; Irish Dancers, Southampton Buddhist Centre, Thai dancers, a band from Afghanistan called the Kabul Boys, traditional Indian dancing, Chinese Lion Dancing, the local Nepalese association, more bands including Crestwood’s Panatical steel drum band, who who always make me feel cheerful when I hear them, and a large range of stalls.  [Read more…] about Review: Eastleigh’s 12th Annual Mela on Sunday 30th July 2017

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Hampshire Open Studios: 19th – 28th August 2017

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This is the best time to support our local artists.

Hampshire Open Studios this year is from 19th to 28th August. There are over 250 venues exhibiting from this Saturday to the August Bank Holiday. [Read more…] about Hampshire Open Studios: 19th – 28th August 2017

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Children’s Poetry Competition News

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I mentioned in my recent post about Writers’ Co-operatives that the new local writing group I am now part of would be organising a children’s poetry competition.

I’m glad to now share details of this competition, which is being organised by Chandler’s Ford Authors and Hampshire Libraries in association with the Hiltingbury Extravaganza with prizes sponsored by Goadsby Estate Agents. [Read more…] about Children’s Poetry Competition News

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Collecting Books

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I love books. No surprises there. It would be an odd kind of writer who didn’t love books. My problem? The age old one of the bibliophile – where do you put them all?

My answer is to every so often have a clear out and take books I no longer require to a charity shop such as Marie Curie at Fryern.

This is where I love the Kindle. No clear out really ever necessary and it is so easy to transport 10, 20, 100 books on it! Still, some things don’t change regardless of technology. You can still only read one book at a time! [Read more…] about Collecting Books

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Writer Co-operatives

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Given publishing is a tough business and it is the hardest it has ever been for a writer to find a publisher and/or agent, why on earth would writers want to form groups? Surely they should focus on their own books?

Ironically, it is because the world of publishing is so tough, that writers forming co-operatives is (a) becoming more common and (b) a fantastically sensible thing to do. [Read more…] about Writer Co-operatives

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Revisiting Medieval Hampshire in 2017

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Last weekend, I revisited the Medieval Village in the River Hamble Country Park, set up as part of the Medieval Weekend arranged by the Road to Agincourt Project.

Image Credit:  All pictures taken by Allison Symes at the 2017 Medieval Weekend

The weekend was fun. I learned all sorts of things from the “villagers” I talked to such as the cook and her girls once being camp followers and having to change their back story as they were “ladies who provided a service” (and not food either!). [Read more…] about Revisiting Medieval Hampshire in 2017

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Why have Book Signings? Report from the Station – Allison Symes

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Image Credit:  Many thanks to Janet Williams for taking the signing photos at the railway station.  Like many women, I can multi task but there is a limit and even I couldn’t take a picture of myself signing a book!

Many thanks to all who came to my book signing at our lovely railway station on Saturday 8th July. Particular thanks go to Mark Miller and Nick Farthing of the Three Rivers Rail Community Partnership, Hilary Stone for “manning” the drinks and snacks bar, Janet Williams, Richard Hardie and Daniel Symes.
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Review: Blood and Valour Comic Book

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As a comic book fan I love reading the various Marvel and DC comic books. However, there are plenty of comic books outside of the two big companies. Blood and Valour, the comic book series detailing the exploits of the legendary Sir Bevis of Hampton (aka Southampton, somewhere very near) is a great comic that details local legends very well.

The first volume is about Bevis as a child. It tells the story of how he became a legendary warrior to fight for his kingdom. There’s magic, action and betrayal. As a huge fan of Lord of the Rings and other fantasy shows like Merlin, this instantly appealed to me. It brought me back to playing Dungeons and Dragons when I was younger. [Read more…] about Review: Blood and Valour Comic Book

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Medieval Weekend – 15th and 16th July 2017

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AGINCOURT MEDIEVAL WEEKEND: JULY 15TH AND 16TH 2017

Why am I interested in history? I suppose it is because I love stories of all kinds and history in many ways is the ultimate tale.

When all is said and done, history reveals, only too clearly at times, who we are, where we came from, what horrible mistakes we’ve made in the past (and sometimes what things we did right!). [Read more…] about Medieval Weekend – 15th and 16th July 2017

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The Arcade Youth Theatre: Peter Pan by J.M Barrie; 28th – 29th July 2017

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Following the astounding success of The Arcade Youth Theatre’s first production, ‘Alice’ by Laura Wade, last year, which raised over £800 for the company, they will be taking to the stage again in the classic children’s tale, ‘Peter Pan’ by J.M Barrie.

With breathtaking flying sequences, intense fight scenes, and dazzling light dances, this show is stepping up to be their best yet! All of the creative direction has come from a collaboration with the cast, design crew and their 17 year old director and founder, Lewis Pickles. [Read more…] about The Arcade Youth Theatre: Peter Pan by J.M Barrie; 28th – 29th July 2017

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Signing at the Station by Allison Symes

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By the time you read this, I will be coming to the end of a much needed break in stunning Scotland. (Sadly it’s not one I can write about for CFT as there’s no question of using our lovely railway station as a starting point!). [Read more…] about Signing at the Station by Allison Symes

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Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan Interview Part 2 – Allison Symes

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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

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Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan – Interview Part 1 by Allison Symes

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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

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