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Author Interview – Francesca Tyer – Part 1

June 16, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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).

Tags: author interview, Authors Reach, book launch, Francesca Tyer, The Earthstone, The Firestone, The Seastone

Val Penny – Author Interview and News Update

June 9, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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.

Tags: am reading, am writing, author news, classes, creative writing, crime fiction, detective series, fiction, publication news, Spellbound Books, The Writers' Summer School, Val Penny, workshops

River Hamble Country Park

May 29, 2023 By chippy minton 3 Comments

Despite having lived in the area for over 50 years between us, Mrs Chippy and I had never been to River Hamble Country Park until we took part in a running even there earlier this month.

The run took us on a delightful route through woods and alongside the river (and up a few hills), and this was enough to whet our appetite for a return visit for some less strenuous exercise. So, this was the venue for today’s Bank Holiday walk. And the park lived up to our expectations. [Read more…] about River Hamble Country Park

Tags: getting out and about, Hampshire countryside, outdoor exercise, walks

Local Author News: Allison Symes – Spring 2023 Round Up

May 26, 2023 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

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?

Tags: Allison Symes, am writing, author news, author newsletter, creative writing, feedback, flash fiction, Friday Flash Fiction, Hiltingbury Book Fair, publication news, The Writers' Summer School, workshops, Writers' Narrative

The Joys and Pitfalls of Writing Research

May 19, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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.

Tags: am reading, am writing, crediting sources, fiction, joys of writing research, non-fiction, pitfalls of writing research, research

History in Stories

May 12, 2023 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

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

Tags: am reading, am writing, cosy crime, historical fiction, history in other genres, history in stories, telling details. sagas, writing research

Review: Spring Trio – The Chameleon Theatre Group

May 5, 2023 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

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.

Tags: amateur theatre, performances, review, Ritchie Hall, Spring Trio, The Chameleon Theatre Group, twists

Fryern Funtasia 2023 Chandler’s Ford

May 1, 2023 By Janet Williams 4 Comments

Have you been to Fryern Funtasia today? I hope you have enjoyed this event. This morning I went to Fryern Recreation Ground for a quick visit and this place has brought back some very fond memories. I used to go there with some of my friends and our children, but now our children have left home and my friends were elsewhere, so it did feel quite different and I even felt a tiny bit meloncholic. However it was wonderful to see some friendly faces, beutiful owls, really fluffy dogs, and lots of happy children. It was very lovely to see many local groups such as Scouts, Girlguiding, Boys’ Brigade, Lions Club, Stroke support group, Churches Together….. local businesses such as Peter Green and Gair Gas and many others.

Tags: Chandler's Ford Parish Council, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, days out, Eastleigh Borough Council, event, Fryern Funtasia, Fryern Recreation Ground, fundraising, local interest, Methodist Church, review, social

How To Guides

April 28, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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

Tags: am reading, am writing, books, Continuing Professional Development, creative writing books, how to guides, non-fiction, the Mslexia Indie Press Guide, the Writers and Artists Yearbook, writing advice, writing career advice

Getting Ready for the Coronation of King Charles III?

April 24, 2023 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

The Coronation of King Charles III is fast approaching. Are you getting ready yet? Any street parties, tea parties… in Chandler’s Ford?

We have found these pretty knitted dolls on Bournemouth Road.

The Coronation of King Charles III 2023 — Very creative way of celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III

Tags: celebrations, Chandler's Ford, community, event, Hiltingbury, history, local interest

Book Recommendations

April 21, 2023 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

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

Tags: am reading, am writing, book recommendations, criteria for book recommendations, fiction, genre fiction, Goodreads, non-fiction, reading well, writing well

Using Time For Fiction

April 14, 2023 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

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.

Tags: am writing, blogging, creative writing, deadlines, planning writing time, productivity, spontaneous writing, taking your writing seriously, Time as a character, using time in fiction, writing exercises, Zoom workshops

Days to Treasure: Faith and Literature

April 13, 2023 By Christine Clark Leave a Comment

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!)”

What’s in a (road) name?

April 8, 2023 By chippy minton 10 Comments

Following my recent discovery of Lordswood Lane and Chilworth Drove – bridleways that used to be more important routes – I had a look at a map and found that there are more of these than you might think. Or more than I thought.

For example, White Lane runs from Twyford in the vague direction of St Catherine’s Hill, and Silkstead Lane and Shepherd’s Lane can be found near Compton and Otterbourne. Even the pathways that lead through Boyatt Wood may follow routes that predate the houses. The footbridge over the railway at the end of Archers Road may even be a legacy of an access route that is older than the railway.

Tags: Bournemouth Road, local history, local interest

Author Interview: Gill James – Build A Book Workshop

April 7, 2023 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

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

Tags: Build A Book Workshop book, creative writing, encouraging writing, Gill James, non-fiction, publishing, sharing writing skills

Anthologies

March 31, 2023 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

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

Tags: am reading, am writing, anthologies, benefits of writing for anthologies, Bridge House Publishing, creative writing, independent press

Purposes of Creative Writing by Allison Symes

March 17, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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

What would you say were the purposes of creative writing?

Tags: am reading, am writing, benefits of creative writing, creative writing, finding your creativity, show and not tell, stories

Catching Up – Local Author News – Allison Symes

March 10, 2023 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits:-

Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Book cover images from Bridge House Publishing/CafeLit.

It has been a brisk start to the first quarter of 2023 for me, I’m glad to say.

Tags: Allison Symes, am reading, am writing, blogging, flash fiction, Mom's Favorite Reads, professional development, updates, workshops, writing news, writing submissions

Magical Mystery Tour

March 7, 2023 By chippy minton 5 Comments

One of the joys of cycling is the ability it gives to explore an area in more detail than by car, but more quickly than by walking. On a bicycle, you travel at a pace fast enough to make progress, yet slow enough to stop and look at anything interesting along the way.

When I go for a bike ride, I usually have a destination in mind, but am more than happy to venture off-piste if an interesting-looking path crops up. Even more exciting if I don’t consult a map, and so have no idea where I am going – a proper mystery tour. After all, isn’t it more rewarding to travel than to arrive, and doesn’t every path lead somewhere? Even if “somewhere” turns out to be unknown and/or where you don’t want to be and/or back where you started. [Read more…] about Magical Mystery Tour

Tags: cycling, exercise, Hampshire countryside, nature

Chandler’s Ford u3a Celebrating 25th Anniversary

March 5, 2023 By SO53 News 3 Comments

Knitted postbox toppers are appearing around Chandler’s Ford. Have you seen them? These have brought a lot of smiles.

Chandler’s Ford u3a is celebrating its 25th Anniversary by erecting 25 toppers in Chandler’s Ford. Thank you Jill Mayes for sharing these photos.

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, Dovetail Centre, entertainment, event, good neighbours, learning, local interest, Methodist Church, u3a

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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.

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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.

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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!

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

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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.

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

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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).

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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.

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

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Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Book cover images from Bridge House Publishing/CafeLit.

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