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Stand Alone Books

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Image Credits:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Book cover images from Chapeltown Books.

I love reading stand alone novels. One of my favourites here is The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. The story is complete. There could not be a follow up. But especially in genre fiction, there is a lot of the room for the series novels. Crime and historical fiction seem to me to lead the way there. I will be interviewing an American author shortly who is renowned for her crime series, but I thought for this post I’d take a look at the joys and challenges of writing stand alone books.

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Returning to The Writers’ Summer School Swanwick for 2025

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Image Credits:-
One image created in Book Brush using my photos. Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. One image directly from Pixabay. Many thanks also to Penny Blackburn and Joy Wood for supplying author pictures. Also thanks to Julia Pattison for taking the image of me when I ran an editing course at Swanwick in 2024. Other photos of The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick were taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is always a pleasure to return to The Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire for my big writing event of the year – The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. I spend a fabulous few days in the company of friends, enjoy making new friends, and learn so much from the courses and workshops on offer. I am immersed in the world of writing and it is a wonderful, tiring, and inspirational experience.

This year, the weather was gloriously sunny. We appreciated the air conditioning in the rooms where the workshops were being held, and there were new additions to the grounds at The Hayes. I do not remember seeing the goats before.

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Meeting Up With Other Writers

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Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. One photo taken by me, Allison Symes.

By the time this goes live, I will have just returned from my annual jaunt to The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. As ever, a good time was had by all (and far too good a time had by me, writing events have their social side which doesn’t necessarily do that much for the old waistline!).

I learned so much from the workshops and courses. I do think this is one aspect where writing is good for you. You keep learning all of the time and developing your craft. That keeps you on your toes, encourages you to up your game and when, hopefully, publication successes come as a result of this, that too encourages you to keep going and it encourages you to see if you can be published again. At least that has been my experience to date.

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Author Event – John Puzey at Chandler’s Ford Library – Captive Audience – 16th August 2025

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Image Credits:  Many thanks to John Puzey for supplying the poster image. Screenshot from John’s website was taken by me, Allison Symes

AUTHOR EVENT: JOHN PUZEY –

CHANDLER’S FORD LIBRARY – 16TH AUGUST 2025

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE

 

 

Local author, John Puzey, will be at Chandler’s Ford Library on 16th August 2025 from 10.00 am.

All are welcome. John tells Chandler’s Ford Today that a big part of his new book is about life in a POW Camp. If you have letters, photos, or diaries of relatives who may have been in camps, do bring them along to when John holds his library event. Please note it should only be paperwork you bring along to this!

John (who is part of The Chameleon Theatre Company based in Ritchie Hall), will be discussing and signing his book, Captive Audience, which is published by Authors Reach Limited.

Behind the wire and the watchtowers, three prisoners of war begin their journey to fame. An adventure of escapism and escape, set against the backdrop of war-torn Italy and the lure of post war stardom.

For more information on this book, and his others, do check out John’s website at https://johnpuzey.co.uk/

 

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Visiting Jane Austen in Dorchester

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Image Credits:  Photos were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images created in Book Brush using my images or those from Pixabay.

I had the opportunity recently to go and see a Jane Austen exhibition at the Dorset Museum in Dorchester. This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth and there have been various events to commemorate this. (I am sure there will be more as we head to Miss Austen’s birthday in December and it would pay to keep an eye out for events at Winchester Cathedral, where Jane is buried).

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Review – The Chameleon Theatre Group – Notes From A Small Island

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Image Credits:   Images were created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos, or were direct from Pixabay. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes, one of which has been used in the Feature Image.

It’s always a delight to go and see the latest production from The Chameleons but this one is a little different for me. It’s the first time I’ve gone to see a play based on a famous book but which remains one I haven’t read. I don’t know whether that means I went with a more open mind than I might have done if I had read the book (though I like to think I am fairly open minded anyway). I have often watched films based on books I’ve read (and most work well) but plays, no.

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Author Interview: Introducing Esther Chilton and The Secret Dragon

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Image Credits:- 
Many thanks to Esther Chilton for supplying book cover and author shots. Images from The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick were taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images or images supplied by Esther Chilton.

It is a great privilege and pleasure to welcome Esther Chilton to Chandler’s Ford Today. Esther is a fellow flash fiction writer, a tutor for the Writers’ Bureau, runs workshops and goes to The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, which, naturally, is where we met. She will be running a course on flash fiction there this year.

But as well as writing for adults, Esther also writes for children in the 5 to 7 years old category. Her new book, The Secret Dragon, comes out on 25th July.

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Breaking Down Why A Story Works

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

Breaking down why a story works may seem a strange thing to do. Surely you just want to read an enjoyable tale and move on to the next one, ideally having a good mix of genres, classic and contemporary works as part of your “reading diet”?

Well, yes, but if you want to write your own stories, it does pay you to work out what it is you love about those you enjoy reading. You will learn a great deal from this, some of which at least you will be able to apply to your own writing.

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Quizzing Your Characters

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

Now I’m fond of a good quiz (Pointless, Mastermind, University Challenge etc) and I always count it as a good day if I get the book/author related questions right. I do feel like I’m a numpty if I don’t!

But I also use quizzing techniques when it comes to creating stories. One way I do this is to quiz potential characters. I want to find out just what it is about them which means I should write their story up. I see it almost like interviewing a potential actor for a role. I must get my cast right. If they don’t fascinate me, they’re unlikely to work their charms on potential readers.

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Stories in Troubled Times

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Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One photo taken by me, Allison Symes, at an Association of Christian Writers event.

Do you read more or less fiction when the news is grim? Are you conscious you’re doing so? I know I deliberately listen to more classical music, write more, read more. All of these are good to focus on, so unlike the news. I recall there was always a funny or warm hearted story at the end of the main news bulletin. Do those still exist? I haven’t come across them recently.

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Allison Symes – Local Author News – Seeing The Other Side

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Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Some images from Bridge House Publishing/Chapeltown Books. Other photos were taken by me, Allison Symes. A huge thanks to Janet Williams for taking what I now use as my author shot from one of the Hiltingbury Book Fairs and for the other image where I am signing books at the same event.

Now this is a post I’ve wanted to write for some time but am delighted I can now do so. I am thrilled to announce I have signed and returned the contract to Bridge House Publishing for my third flash fiction book called Seeing The Other Side. Chapeltown Books are one of BHP’s imprints and both of my other flash collections came out via Chapeltown).

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Celebrating 60 Years of Drama with The Chameleons – A Look Back at the Open Evening

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Image Credits:  Images and screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images are created in Book Brush using my images.

On Saturday, 7th June 2025, I was delighted to go along to the Open Evening held by The Chameleon Theatre Company to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

I remain amazed at what fabulous productions they put on when you consider they don’t have the world’s biggest stage. They do make the most of every bit of space at the Ritchie Hall.

Bear in mind too they cover drama, comedy, and pantomimes, all of which have different demands. For the latter, there are more members on stage than there are for some of the dramas The Chameleons put on.

Did you know by the way their mascot is called Ritchie? I didn’t until that Saturday evening either.

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Why Write Fiction

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

This may be a strange question for a fiction writer to ask but it’s not a bad thing to look into as it ties in closely with why write at all. I believe the creative arts as a whole are worth celebrating and supporting. Fiction writers, though, have the chance to show reflections on humanity’s behaviour all through the medium of entertaining stories.

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for June 2025

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Now is the time to divide bearded irises, replant sections that have two or more fans on them. Keep watering plants, especially newly planted ones, young vegetables, containers and hanging baskets. Protect plants from slugs and snails.

Cut down oriental poppies to ground level after they have flowered, and they will send up new foliage. Check roses for signs of blackspot, aphids and leaf rolling sawfly damage. Cut down daffodil bulbs now as it has been at least 6 weeks since they flowered. Thin out or trim back Clematis Montana if it needs controlling. Trim evergreen hedges, but check for nesting birds first and wait until they have fledged. Keep dead heading summer bedding, early flowering perennials and repeat flowering roses to encourage more flowers.

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Thoughts on Editing

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

Now I’ll put my hands up and admit to being biased about editing. Well, I am an editor so I would be. But my experience wearing a writer’s and editor’s hat (and sometimes both together) is there is no middle ground here. People love it or hate it.

Before becoming an editor, when I found my acceptances were increasing when I put in decent editing work on my own stories, that changed my attitude too. I thought I’d share some thoughts on editing here which I’ve found helpful with my writing. (A lot of them can apply to when I’m editing someone else too).

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The Chameleons – Open Evening – 7th June 2025 – Celebrating 60 Years of Drama

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Image Credits:  Many thanks to the Chameleons for kind permission to use screenshots (and photos) from their Facebook page for this post.

This year is the 60th anniversary of The Chameleons who are based at Ritchie Hall, Hursley Road, Chandler’s Ford.

As part of their year round celebrations to mark this momentous occasion, they are holding an Open Evening on Saturday 7th June 2025 from 6 pm to 9 pm.

All are welcome to go and find out more about them and the work they do, on and behind the stage. You can also see what company members think of The Chameleons via the slideshow, along with pictures of their recent appearance at the Fryern Funtasia.

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Please do see the various links I’ve shared below to find out more about them.

https://www.chameleontheatre.co.uk/

https://www.chameleontheatre.co.uk/about-chameleons.html

Better still, why not pop down and see them on 7th June? They always need people to join the company. Bear in mind they make their own sets too, they always need lighting and sound crew etc., so if acting isn’t your thing, maybe helping out here would be instead.

Many congratulations to all at The Chameleons for a wonderful anniversary!

Next Show

Oh and their next show is Notes From A Small Island based on the novel by Bill Bryson (adapted for the stage by Tim Whitnall). This will be from Thursday 24th July to Saturday 26th July 2025.

Janet and I are already looking forward to going to this – it should be very funny.

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History and Stories

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image taken by me, Allison Symes, at The Hilt Book Fair.

History is full of stories, which is one reason I love it. Of course, history is said to be written by the winners. There is truth in that but every so often someone will come along and come up with alternatives to the “orthodox” version. Josephine Tey did this in fiction regarding Richard III with her marvellous The Daughter of Time, which The Richard III Society credits as being a major reason for many people joining them.

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Supporting Marie Curie – Great Local Contributions

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Marie Curie is the U.K.’s leading end of life charity providing palliative care in people’s own homes through the famous Marie Curie nurses and support for all the family. This free service is for anyone with an illness of any kind that they are likely to die from.

They also provide bereavement support and financial advice, fund research into end of life care, and lead campaigns to influence government policy in this area.

Marie Curie can only continue to do all this by regular fundraising. Although a National Charity it is local people and their families who benefit. [Read more…] about Supporting Marie Curie – Great Local Contributions

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Author Interview: Val Penny and Historical Short Stories – The Ring

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Lynsey Adams from Reading Between the Lines Vlog and Val Penny for supplying author and book cover shots. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is with great pleasure I welcome back Val Penny, author of the DI Hunter Wilson/Edinburgh Crime Mysteries and the Jane Renwick Thrillers, to Chandler’s Ford Today with something different from what she normally writes.

This time Val has a short story with a historical aspect to it included in an anthology. This must be as close as it can get to be the total opposite for the crime novels she is best known for. Naturally there is a fabulous reason for Val doing this. The anthology, called The Ring, is going to be a charity one and the money raised will be going to that excellent cause, The Reading Agency.

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Inspiration Ideas

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

One of the great things about getting out and about during the spring and summer months is this can give you plenty of inspiration for your writing. You don’t have to go far from home necessarily either. How come?

Partly the reason is you are doing something different. That in itself can inspire you to think differently and be more open to creative ideas. Even just walking the dog gets me out and about, gives me screen breaks, and it gives me opportunities to spot things I might get to use in stories later.

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