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Jane Austen

Catching Up with Ruth Leigh – The Further Adventures of Isabella M Smugge

September 20, 2024 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Ruth Leigh for supplying author pic and book cover images. Images from the British Christian Writing Conference were kindly supplied by Social Shapes. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images were created in Book Brush using Pixabay images and/or book cover shots from Ruth. Some images are directly from Pixabay.

I’m pleased to welcome back Ruth Leigh to Chandler’s Ford Today. Ruth and I are members of the Association of Christian Writers. Last time we talked, Ruth had three books out in her funny and touching Isabella M Smugge series.

Today, 20th September 2024, will see the release of her fourth novel featuring her heroine – The Further Adventures of Isabella M Smugge. Congratulations, Ruth. Little beats the buzz of being published.

[Read more…] about Catching Up with Ruth Leigh – The Further Adventures of Isabella M Smugge

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Tags: am writing, Association of Christian Writers, author interview, book launch tips, British Christian Writers Conference, Christian fiction, creative writing, fiction, humorous fiction, independent publishing, Instant Apostle, Jane Austen, Resolute Books, Ruth Leigh, series fiction, The Further Adventures of Isabella M Smugge, writing advice

Getting Lines Right

September 15, 2023 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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

Writers are often advised, rightly so, to study renowned books with famous opening lines. The idea is to demonstrate an excellent opening line which will hook the reader with an intriguing premise, an interesting character and/or setting, and so the reader will read on to find out what happens.

[Read more…] about Getting Lines Right

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Tags: 1984, A Tale of Two Cities, am writing, Charles Dickens, creative writing, dilemmas and questions as starting points, encouraging readers, fiction, George Orwell, getting lines right, Jane Austen, opening lines, Pride and Prejudice, rehearsals, The Chameleon Theatre Group

Favourite Lines

May 7, 2021 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

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

Do you have favourite lines from books, films etc? I do and I can learn a reasonable amount from them to apply to my own writing. (They also show you what really works in prose. Lines you can recall some time after you originally came across them demonstrate the staying power of well chosen words).

[Read more…] about Favourite Lines

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Tags: books, catchphrases, editing, favourite lines, films, Jane Austen, opening lines, P.G. Wodehouse, repetition, Terry Pratchett, TV

Books That Should Have Been Written – Allison Symes

August 17, 2018 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Books That Should Have Been Written

I thought a lighthearted post would be appropriate as we head rapidly through August.

By the time this goes up, I will be on my way back from the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School, having had good opportunities to learn, meet old friends, make new ones, and come back buzzing with ideas and even more enthuasism for the projects I’ve got in mind over the next few months or so. [Read more…] about Books That Should Have Been Written – Allison Symes

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Tags: books, humour, Jane Austen, reading, writing

In the Footsteps of Jane Austen and Sarah Siddons by Allison Symes

February 10, 2017 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Feature Image - Jane Austen and Sarah Siddons. Image via Flickr by Kevin Ryder

JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL AND THE  SARAH SIDDONS FAN CLUB

One of my favourite authors is going to have a Festival in Southampton in 2017 thanks to the Sarah Siddons Fan Club winning a Heritage Lottery Grant to co-ordinate such an event. [Read more…] about In the Footsteps of Jane Austen and Sarah Siddons by Allison Symes

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Tags: acting, books, culture, event, Jane Austen, local interest, theatre

Away Days: Bath by Allison Symes

September 30, 2016 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

Feature Image - Away Days, Bath

One place that is always a joy to visit is beautiful Bath, which is an UNESCO Heritage site.

The trip from our station gets you to Romsey in just over 5 minutes and from there the Romsey to Bath journey takes about an hour and twenty minutes. [Read more…] about Away Days: Bath by Allison Symes

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Tags: culture, days out, history, Information, Jane Austen, travel

Why Visit Hampshire?

August 6, 2015 By Ben Williams 1 Comment

In my 15 years of living in Hampshire (since birth), I have seen enough interesting places in this humble county in the South of the UK to call it a great place to be.

There is so much history and exotic locations, some of which are very important to the country’s history. Here are some reasons why Hampshire is an important and must see British location. [Read more…] about Why Visit Hampshire?

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, days out, education, Hampshire, history, Jane Austen, local interest, travel, Winchester, Winchester Cathedral

Jane Austen: An Appreciation by Allison Symes

March 6, 2015 By Allison Symes 17 Comments

Jane Austen appreciation by Allison Symes.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Pride and Prejudice is the greatest of all Jane Austen’s works.

It is a blueprint for romantic comedy and Elizabeth Bennet remains one of my favourite literary heroines, being quick witted and intelligent at a time when that was not particularly welcomed. (It isn’t always welcomed now in some places, unfortunately). [Read more…] about Jane Austen: An Appreciation by Allison Symes

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Tags: books, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, community, days out, education, history, Jane Austen, library, literature, local interest, reading, review, storytelling, travel, Winchester, Winchester Cathedral, writing

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

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