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.

Event News: The Book Fair, The Hilt, Chandler’s Ford

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Image Credit:-
A huge thanks to Vie Portland for supplying the poster for The Book Fair. (Look out for it in the area. I’ve seen it in the Post Office window!).

EVENT NEWS –

 

THE BOOK FAIR AT THE HILT,

CHANDLER’S FORD

 

Am thrilled to say there will be a Book Fair at The Hilt, Chandler’s Ford on Saturday 8th July from 1.00 to 5.00 pm. Many local authors are taking part including Richard Hardie and myself. Do come along and say hello.

Good news: the event is free.

However, if you pre-book a ticket, your name will put into a raffle and you could win a £10 voucher to spend with one of the authors at the event (free book basically!).

For more on that, please go to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/hiltingburycommunityassociation/931076?fbclid=IwAR2hmxcL5Zp4pgkZd_ozaMn4U1QrGLHF37oW5oA-zNEUdpnEDMdHthfYmMU

There is also an event page on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/events/1179799816030117/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[]%7D

Hope to see you there!

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Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.

Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.

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Author Interview: Gail Aldwin and The Secret Life of Carolyn Russell

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Gail Aldwin for supplying splendid author/book cover photos and the cover reveal mini video. All other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.

It is with pleasure I welcome Gail Aldwin back to Chandler’s Ford Today. Gail is a prolific writer. As well as writing her coming of age novels including the lovely This Much Huxley Knows, Gail has written flash fiction. Her book, Paisley Shirt, was published by Chapeltown Books.

Gail has had pieces on CafeLit. Her latest book, The Secret Life of Carolyn Russell, takes a different direction. This psychological suspense novel will be published by Bloodhound Books on 3rd July. Gail will be holding a Twitter book launch (which is something I’ve not come across before and want to know more about!).

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Gail Aldwin and The Secret Life of Carolyn Russell

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Part 2 – Francesca Tyer – Author Interview

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Francesca Tyer for her fabulous author and book photo pics. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is great to welcome back Francesca Tyer for Part 2 of her interview. Francesca is part of the Authors Reach stable and is the author of The Firestone, The Seastone, and, shortly to be launched, The Earthstone.

There is so much hard work behind writing any book, yet alone a series, and given most authors spend so much of their time at their desks, it is great to get away from that for a while to have an enjoyable discussion about writing and to spread the news about our latest works.

So welcome back to Chandler’s Ford Today, Francesca. Now to pick up from where we left off last week.

[Read more…] about Part 2 – Francesca Tyer – Author Interview

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Author Interview – Francesca Tyer – Part 1

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Francesca Tyer for her fabulous author and book photo pics. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is with great pleasure I welcome back Francesca Tyer to Chandler’s Ford Today. Francesca is one of many authors who are part of the Authors Reach stable (the driving creative force behind that is Richard Hardie, author of Leap of Faith and Trouble With Swords).

[Read more…] about Author Interview – Francesca Tyer – Part 1

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Val Penny – Author Interview and News Update

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Val Penny for supplying author and book cover pictures and some wonderful shots of Edinburgh. Photos connected to The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, were taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images were created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

It is with great pleasure I welcome Scottish crime writer, Val Penny, back to Chandler’s Ford Today.

Naturally, she has been busy since we last spoke and is now on the Committee for The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick as well.

Committee service is voluntary, but it can be rewarding. Most writers like to give back in some way. This is one way to do just that. The school couldn’t run without its volunteers.

So over to Val with the questions.

[Read more…] about Val Penny – Author Interview and News Update

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Lilies on the Land – Chameleon Theatre Company – Thursday 27 Jul – Saturday 29 Jul 2023

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The Chameleon Theatre Company is an amateur dramatic group based in Chandlers’ Ford. It was established in 1965, and they stage four productions each year – three plays and a pantomime.

The next production is Lilies on the Land. Box Office is open.

[Read more…] about Lilies on the Land – Chameleon Theatre Company – Thursday 27 Jul – Saturday 29 Jul 2023

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To Outline or Not To Outline

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

Writers can fall into two categories – the planners and the pantsers. One lot plan out their writing while the other prefer to write “by the seat of their pants” so to speak. They get to their desk and just write.

But you can be both. Some writers will want to plan out, say, a novel, but don’t worry about doing this for their shorter forms of writing. I do both too. How does this work?

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Local Author News: Allison Symes – Spring 2023 Round Up

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Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image directly from Pixabay. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Photos from The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick were taken by me, Allison Symes, or by kind colleagues using my phone!

It has been a busy few months since my last round up and that was only back in March!

Mind you, this is how it is supposed to be! The writing life is not a static one. Nor it is meant to be. So what has been going on writing wise for me recently?

[Read more…] about Local Author News: Allison Symes – Spring 2023 Round Up

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The Joys and Pitfalls of Writing Research

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image from CFT archives.

Every writer has to carry out some research regardless of whether they write fiction or not. As I mentioned in my History in Stories post last week, the need for research crops up in every fictional genre. It perhaps is a more obvious need for the non-fiction writer.

[Read more…] about The Joys and Pitfalls of Writing Research

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History in Stories

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image from the CFT archives.

The Coronation of King Charles III is the latest chapter in the story of kings and queens throughout our history. It was that thought which made me think of this topic for this week’s post. History turns up in fiction, as well as in non-fiction.

[Read more…] about History in Stories

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Review: Spring Trio – The Chameleon Theatre Group

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Image Credits:-
Images kindly supplied by The Chameleon Theatre Group. Many thanks to them.  Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Two images from the Chandler’s Ford Today archives.

It was lovely to join Janet at Ritchie Hall to see Spring Trio, the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Group, on 27th April. (This ran until 29th April). Spring Trio lives up to its name as the audience was presented with three plays, one of which was written by Matthew Meehan from the Chameleons. The plays were a mixture of comedy and drama. There were interesting twists too. All three plays made great use of simple sets and props.

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How To Guides

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Image Credits: Most images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

I mentioned briefly in my Book Recommendations post last week I have used how-to-write guides (and still turn to them for reference when needed). I adore Stephen King’s On Writing, which is a great mix of memoir and writing advice. Many writers speak highly of it.

[Read more…] about How To Guides

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Book Recommendations

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Image Credit:    Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Image of Jane Austen from CFT archives (and originally from Pixabay).

Do you recommend books to others? I do sometimes, usually when chatting with other writers at an event over a cup of tea, and they recommend books to me. This is why all writers everywhere have an enormous To Be Read pile. They have an even bigger To Get Around to Reading at Some Stage pile. Don’t even ask what I’ve got waiting for me on my Kindle. Am just go glad electronic book shelves can’t collapse under the strain!

I blog once a week for Goodreads, the book website, and recommendations crop up all the time on there.

[Read more…] about Book Recommendations

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Using Time For Fiction

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

I’ve often used time in fiction. I’ve sometimes used Time as a character. I sometimes have a story where a character has a certain amount of time in which to achieve their objective. I’ve also written from the viewpoint of time travelling aliens (as you do!). I’ve written the odd story as a diary format and even timed the entries written by the narrator. I’ve also written historical flash fiction where the setting is back in time. All great fun to do.

[Read more…] about Using Time For Fiction

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Days to Treasure: Faith and Literature

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This year Winchester Cathedral hosted the Church Times Festival of Faith and Literature (subtitled as a three-day literary festival with a theological slant). Some of our parish went along to see what was on offer.

One of us volunteered as a steward at the West Downs campus for the Saturday. She says, “I had a very interesting day.  As a steward I had the opportunity to attend a number of seminars.  My day began with hearing from Brian Draper on the subject of Soulfulness, followed by Rowan Williams speaking on Christian Ethics and Solidarity. I then listened to Catherine Fox and Francis Spufford as authors in conversation together on faith in fiction, and rounded it all off with a discussion between Rachel Mann and Jay Hulme as poets, on (un)holy desire with a trans perspective – a fascinating and eclectic day by anyone's standards, with much to reflect on! (And so much more I didn’t get to hear!)”

Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral – via Pixabay
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Author Interview: Gill James – Build A Book Workshop

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Gill James for supplying images of books produced by the Build a Book Workshop and for her author photo. Most of the other images were created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos with one taken directly from Pixabay.  Image from Bridge House Publishing celebration events was taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is with great pleasure I welcome Gill James, publisher and author, back to Chandler’s Ford Today. Gill wears many hats. She is a multi-published writer and is the driving force behind Bridge House Publishing, CafeLit, and Chapeltown Books amongst other imprints.

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For more information check out the following sites.

Useful Website Links

Gill James website: http://www.gilljameswriter.com/

Bridge House Publishing: https://www.bridgehousepublishing.co.uk/

CafeLit:  https://cafelit.co.uk/index.php/submission-guidelines-2

Chapeltown Publishing: http://www.chapeltownpublishing.uk/

Bridgetown Cafe Bookshop/Buy Link: http://www.thebridgetowncafebooksshop.co.uk/2021/07/build-book-workshop.html

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Gill James – Build A Book Workshop

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Anthologies

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Image Credits:-
Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots and photos of my earlier publications were taken by me, Allison Symes. Book cover images are from Bridge House Publishing. Creativity Matters – Find Your Passion for Writing book cover photo was supplied by Wendy H Jones.

I’ve had the privilege and joy of being published in various anthologies over many years, mainly published by Bridge House Publishing.

What are the advantages to writing for anthologies? I thought I’d take a look at this and give some tips on working out ways of using any set theme wisely.

[Read more…] about Anthologies

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Purposes of Reading

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Image Credit:  Most images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos though one is directly from Pixabay. One photo of me signing at Swanwick was taken by a Swanwick colleague on my phone.

It is lovely when themes flow well together! Purposes of Reading was a natural follow on topic from Purposes of Creative Writing last week.

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Healthy Living?

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‘I see you are eating the meat of a pig,’ an American sharing my table in the hotel eyed my delicious crispy bacon. ‘Disgusting animals, they eat worms and roots from the ground. They roll around in mud and their own excrement.’

‘You must be a vegetarian,’ I suggested as he was eating a bowl of gravel-like cereal.

‘Vegan,’ he said. ‘Cooked meats contain secondary amines, and they are carcinogenic.’

‘So that is not milk on your cereal but some vegetable juice that lacks calcium. You must be taking supplementary vitamins to stay healthy.’ I glanced under the table to see whether he was wearing leather shoes, but his feet were tucked under his chair. He was not used to being challenged by a committed omnivore. Perhaps I should pay attention to a healthier lifestyle.

Coffee - image via Kaboomppics
Coffee – image via Kaboomppics

Coffee comes in for most comments. In the popular press, it is shown to be harmful, cancer-causing, and to be avoided. The following week’s newspaper will hail coffee as the drink to improve your intellect and prevent dementia, not to mention physical prowess. [Read more…] about Healthy Living?

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