Chandler's Ford Today

books

Interview: Jacci Gooding – Adventures in Self Publishing

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One of the things I love about writing for Chandler’s Ford Today has been the chance to interview fellow authors, to share news from the publishing world and so on.

Today I talk to Jacci Gooding, who I met at the Winchester Writers’ Festival. As well as learning a great deal from talks at conferences like this one, the other big joy has been making friends with other writers and knowing you are not alone out there. Mike Sedgwick touched on this theme recently with his post about the Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford anthology. [Read more…] about Interview: Jacci Gooding – Adventures in Self Publishing

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Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford

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It is not solitude, loneliness and seclusion that makes a writer. It is a great social life. They often start their careers in a Creative Writing Class. So it happened that four writers met in Chandler’s Ford writing group a few years ago. [Read more…] about Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford

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Interview Kate Day: Chocolate Muffin Publishing

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One of the strange but nice things about dementia is the way arts can help retain memories. Singing, for example, seems to affect the brain in a way that can put patients on a level playing field with those without that awful disease.

Why? Because singing helps retain memories for all who take part, singing makes all feel good and can be a social event for all.  [Read more…] about Interview Kate Day: Chocolate Muffin Publishing

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The Historic Gardens of England: Hampshire

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Bury Court Barn, in Bentley near Farnham, was chosen for the launch of a new book called The Historic Gardens of England: Hampshire. Co-written by Timothy Mowl and Jane Whitaker this is the latest in a series of books by Timothy Mowl which look at the development of gardens within the context of an individual county.

In Hampshire there is an abundance of riches. [Read more…] about The Historic Gardens of England: Hampshire

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World Book Night 2016 and the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare

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World Book Night is on 23rd April each year, this being the date of William Shakespeare’s birth and his death.

World Book Night also links to the day of the death of Cervantes (author of Don Quixote), Spain’s literary hero, St. George’s Day and UNESCO’s Day of the Book (which I think is a fantastic title). [Read more…] about World Book Night 2016 and the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare

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Watching the Detectives

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I had the great joy last week of going to see An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley with a friend at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.

My friend had seen the film which was why she was keen to see the play version. I love detective fiction and thought seeing one in a play format would be interesting. I was right – it was!
[Read more…] about Watching the Detectives

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Coffee vs Discount in Eastleigh

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I had an eye test appointment last week in Eastleigh. This was the only reason I needed to go to the town centre, but while I was there I visited one of the many coffee shops for refreshment.

As I sipped my Americano I wondered why. Why had I decided to spend over £2 on a coffee that I didn’t really need when I was only a five-minute walk from home where I could have one for nothing. Why is a coffee stop now regularly included in a routine shopping trip? Why do we need so many coffee shops? [Read more…] about Coffee vs Discount in Eastleigh

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Writing as Therapy: Introducing Chocolate Muffin Publishing

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I’m a great believer in the arts being good for the soul, that the arts are therapeutic and are something we need despite there not being an obvious biological need for them.

Writing helps me unwind and it is a lot of fun creating articles for Chandler’s Ford Today as well as my short stories and novels. And I’m definitely not the only one to believe this. [Read more…] about Writing as Therapy: Introducing Chocolate Muffin Publishing

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Producing a Local Legend: Sir Bevis of Hampton

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I love history. Always have done. Always will do. I suppose this is because history is another form of storytelling. It tells the story of where we come from.

I believe there is a great deal of truth in the saying that a nation which forgets its history is destined to relive it.

Stories can be told in many ways to reach differing audiences and this is true for history too.  I’ve recently heard of a new comic book (Blood and Valour) and play (The Legends of Sir Bevis) about local mythical medieval hero, Sir Bevis of Hampton. [Read more…] about Producing a Local Legend: Sir Bevis of Hampton

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How Have Your Reading Habits Changed?

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The natural follow up to my recent post about favourite forms of writing is about my favourite forms of reading in all its forms – non-fiction, fiction, poetry, books, magazines, e-books, newspapers.

It also takes a brief look at reading habits given it is not just a question of print media any more for sources of reading material. [Read more…] about How Have Your Reading Habits Changed?

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Writing, Blogging, Social Media…What’s Your Favourite Forms of Writing?

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What are your favourite forms of writing? Fiction? Non-fiction? Poetry?

Do you ever think when you pick up a pen or put fingers to keyboard we are all following a tradition going back thousands of years? Or appreciate how important writing, in all its forms, is for cultural reasons? Or how dangerous writing can be? [Read more…] about Writing, Blogging, Social Media…What’s Your Favourite Forms of Writing?

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Sharing the Joy of Libraries

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I love the word serendipity. It has a lovely meaning and a great sound.

This post, I think, can be thought of as being a case of serendipity.

I was planning a post about the joy of libraries for some time and then read Mike’s wonderful article from Sri Lanka about renovating the school library, which confirmed to me I should go ahead with this now. [Read more…] about Sharing the Joy of Libraries

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Hampshire Library Consultation: Have your Say

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In the days before Google, people used to call their librarians with questions.

“What kind of an apple did Eve eat?”

“Why do 18th century English paintings have so many squirrels in them, and how did they tame them so that they wouldn’t bite the painter?” [Read more…] about Hampshire Library Consultation: Have your Say

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Journey to Sri Lanka: Creating a Local Library for 1,000 Girls

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On the main road into Kandy there is a narrow doorway leading to Dharmawickrama, a school for 1,000 girls.

My wife Brenda arranged to visit to see what a state school is like. The contrasts within were striking. The building was poorly maintained and conditions were crowded and there were few facilities, no play area, squatter toilets, builder’s rubble in some corridors. [Read more…] about Journey to Sri Lanka: Creating a Local Library for 1,000 Girls

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Meet the Author Claire Fuller at Chandler’s Ford Library

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Claire Fuller, an author from Winchester, will be meeting book lovers at Chandler’s Ford Library on Wednesday 3rd February 2016 from 7pm to 8pm.

Claire Fuller is a novelist and an artist. She is the author of two books: Our Endless Numbered Days, and Swimming Lessons (forthcoming from Fig Tree / Penguin).

[Read more…] about Meet the Author Claire Fuller at Chandler’s Ford Library

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Read Bill Bryson’s Portrayal of Eastleigh Town. Do You Agree?

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This Christmas I spent an enormous amount of time doing something rather strange.

I found myself ‘defending Eastleigh’ a lot to my family.

The problem was that I started reading Bill Bryson’s new book, The Road to Little Dribbling, on Christmas day, after gift-giving, and before mother-in-law’s turkey was ready. This book has now topped the UK hardback charts for the third week. [Read more…] about Read Bill Bryson’s Portrayal of Eastleigh Town. Do You Agree?

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My Year-End Review and Book Launch

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I went to London on 5th December 2015 for the Bridge House Publishing/Cafelit joint book launch celebration. Naturally I left from Chandler’s Ford Station!

Though Bridge House published my first story in print, A Helping Hand in their Alternative Renditions anthology, this year I was going because my short story, The Magic Flute, is in The Best of Cafelit 4.

This was one of the books being launched, the other being Bridge House’s anthology for 2015 called Snowflakes. [Read more…] about My Year-End Review and Book Launch

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Adventures of a Fantasy Author – Richard Hardie Interview Part 2

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Further to last week’s post, when Chandler’s Ford author, Richard Hardie of the Temporal Detective Agency fame, shared what signings and other events have occupied him recently, this continuation shares some of his further news as well as tips for fellow writers.
[Read more…] about Adventures of a Fantasy Author – Richard Hardie Interview Part 2

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Further Adventures of a Fantasy Author

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One of my earliest posts for Chandler’s Ford Today was an interview I conducted with local author, and fellow dog walker, Richard Hardie, who had not long released The Trouble With Swords, his second book in his Temporal Detective series and follow up to the marvellous Leap of Faith. [Read more…] about Further Adventures of a Fantasy Author

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Hampshire County Library Strategy: Needs Your Views

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Hampshire County Council have issued a Draft Strategy for the Library Service. This Strategy includes an online questionnaire, actively seeking the public’s views on the proposals. [Read more…] about Hampshire County Library Strategy: Needs Your Views

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