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Diary of a Swanwicker

August 11, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-

Images taken by Allison Symes at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. One image adapted in Book Brush for the Feature Image. Many thanks to Julia Pattison for taking the image of me just after my editing workshop. One image directly from PIxabay.

It was with great pleasure I returned to The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick for that treasured time where I can be fully immersed in the world of writing. As ever, I’ve been looking forward to catching up with friends and making new ones. I did so within an hour of arriving at Derby Railway Station and got chatting to a fellow long term Swanwicker on the coach laid on to take us to the Hayes.

Tags: Allison Symes, am reading, am writing, Continuing Professional Development, creative writing, developing your writing, editing workshop, flash fiction, Open Poetry Mic Night, Open Prose Mic Night, Swanwick, The Writers' Summer School, workshops, writing courses, writing friends

Websites – Why A Writer Needs One

July 21, 2023 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

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

One key aspect to marketing for any writer is the author website. It is the writer’s “shop window” to the outside world.

The good news is they don’t have to be “all bells and whistles”. They do need to be interesting, varied, and updated regularly. There needs to be material on the website which will draw people back to it time and time again.

Tags: am reading, am writing, author websites, blogs, marketing, website materials, why authors need websites

Review: Book Fair at The Hilt

July 14, 2023 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Image Credits:-

A huge thank you to Janet Williams for taking pictures of me at this event. Many thanks to Richard Hardie for taking some of me too. Always tricky doing your own for things like this! Many thanks to Vie Portland for the Book Fair poster image. Other photos are from me, Allison Symes. A real co-operative effort on the picture front this week! Some images created in Book Brush using one of my photos.

It was fabulous taking part in the Book Fair at the Hilt on 8th July. It was great to catch up with authors I know and to meet up with others for the first time. I was delighted there was a great turn out for this inaugural event.

The organisers counted 125 (and there were more. The organisers were sometimes supervising talks by some of the writers so literally could not count everyone!). I hope this bodes well for there being future events like this.

Tags: am reading, am writing, author event, Book Fair at The Hilt, book signings, books, creative writing, Vie Portland, volunteers, writer talks

Taking Part in the Book Fair at The Hilt – 8th July 2023

July 7, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-

Many thanks to Vie Portland for supplying the Book Fair poster. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Photo of me signing books at Chandler’s Ford Railway Station were taken by Janet Williams on my phone. Thanks, Janet. Many thanks to Jen Wilson for taking the shot of my signing my first book for Val Penny – this was back in 2017. Seems a world away now!

And I would like to say the much missed Fiona Park, whom I knew from The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, took the picture of me signing books there with my handbag slung across my shoulder. Fiona was a lovely soul and she left this world far too early.

Facebook – Events page for the Book Fair

I’m so pleased to be taking part in the Book Fair at The Hilt tomorrow, 8th July 2023. There is, of course, the obvious reason of being an author with books to sell. But the best reason is it is fantastic to see book fairs up and running again after the pandemic. It is even better having one right on our doorstep, pretty much. The books are coming to you, folks!

Tags: Allison Symes, am reading, am writing, author book signing, author events, Book Fair at The Hilt, books on your doorstep, local authors, networking, supporting local authors

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

July 1, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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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Tags: am reading, am writing, authors, book event, Book Fair, Book Fair at The Hilt, book signings, local authors

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

June 30, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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!).

Tags: am reading, am writing, book launch, changing writing directions, dual timelines in a novel, Gail Aldwin, outlining, psychological suspense, The Secret Life of Carolyn Russell, Twitter book launch, writing journey

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

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

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

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

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 Reading

March 24, 2023 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

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.

[Read more…] about Purposes of Reading

Tags: am reading, am writing, benefits of reading, books, non-fiction, reading for writers, stories

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

Classic Stories

January 27, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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

What would you define as a classic story? Do you define it by age or by how often it can stand being re-read? Or do you define it by its word count where you have a story where you can’t imagine another word being added and/or words being taken out of it?).

Of course, your answer can be any of the above, maybe all of them! For me, though, the age of a story is irrelevant. If it is classic, it is because it is a fabulous tale, not because of its antiquity (or lack of same).

[Read more…] about Classic Stories

Tags: am reading, am writing, characters, classic stories, classic themes, quality of stories, repeated reading, test of time

Author Interview: June Webber – Publication: Never Too Late

January 20, 2023 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Image Credits:-

Many thanks to June Webber for supplying author pictures and book cover photos. The Best of CafeLit 11 images come from Bridge House Publishing so many thanks to them for those. Images from The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick were taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images (with one image directly from Pixabay).

It is with great pleasure I welcome friend and fellow Swanwicker, June Webber, to Chandler’s Ford Today. June and I first met at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick back in 2016 when I was a “white badger” (first time attendee). June, Val Penny, and I regularly meet up on Zoom.

Tags: am reading, am writing, author interview, creativity, fiction, June Webber, publication, short stories, Swanwick Writers' Summer School, The Best of CafeLit 11

Diaries and Letters

January 6, 2023 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos (with one image directly from Pixabay). Book cover images from Chapeltown Books.

Have you ever kept a diary? Did you use to/still do enjoy writing and receiving letters in the post? The answer to both those questions is yes from me.

I keep a diary to help me stay on track of what I write when (and to remind me to get my author newsletter out, note down workshop dates etc). I also keep, as part of the same diary, notes on how my writing is going and whether I was pleased or not with the previous day’s writing efforts.

[Read more…] about Diaries and Letters

Tags: am reading, am writing, creating characters, creative writing, diaries, letters, writing advice, writing formats

Crossing Paths with Jenny Sanders – Flash Fiction, Devotionals, and Short Stories- Part 2

November 25, 2022 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Image Credits: Many thanks to Jenny Sanders for author and book cover pics. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Some images directly from Pixabay.

It was a joy to welcome Jenny Sanders to Chandler’s Ford Today last week. She and I have crossed paths many times thanks to our connections via the Association of Christian Writers, online magazine Mom’s Favorite Reads, and flash fiction.

This week, Jenny tells us more about her writing journey, including how she discovered flash fiction, and shares her thoughts on the most challenging aspects of creating a story or an article. Plenty to learn from here so, once more, over to Jenny.

Tags: am reading, am writing, children's stories, creative writing, devotional writing, flash fiction, humorous writing, Jenny Sanders, Mom's Favorite Reads, non-fiction, short form writing, short stories, teaching creative writing, writing advice, writing journey

Crossing Paths with Jenny Sanders – Part 1

November 18, 2022 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits:

Many thanks to Jenny Sanders for supplying author, book, and other pictures. Other images have been created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Some images are directly from Pixabay. Photos from the ACW Golden Jubilee weekend were taken by me, Allison Symes.

One of the great joys of the writing life is meeting and befriending other writers. You learn from each other. You talk with others who understand the drive to write and who have their fair share of the ups and downs of trying to get work published. Often you’ll come across the same writer in different ways and this is true for me with regard to Jenny Sanders, my interviewee.

Tags: am reading, am writing, Association of Christian Writers, books, creative writing, flash fiction, Jenny Sanders, Mom's Favorite Reads magazine, putting stories together, TVS

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Image Credits:-

Images taken by Allison Symes at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. One image adapted in Book Brush for the Feature Image. Many thanks to Julia Pattison for taking the image of me just after my editing workshop. One image directly from PIxabay.

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

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And I would like to say the much missed Fiona Park, whom I knew from The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, took the picture of me signing books there with my handbag slung across my shoulder. Fiona was a lovely soul and she left this world far too early.

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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

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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.

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

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

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

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Image Credits:-

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

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Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos (with one image directly from Pixabay). Book cover images from Chapeltown Books.

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Image Credits: Many thanks to Jenny Sanders for author and book cover pics. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Some images directly from Pixabay.

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Image Credits:

Many thanks to Jenny Sanders for supplying author, book, and other pictures. Other images have been created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Some images are directly from Pixabay. Photos from the ACW Golden Jubilee weekend were taken by me, Allison Symes.

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