Chandler's Ford Today

publishing

Published – My Debut Flash Fiction Collection

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I am thrilled to announce my debut flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again, has now been published by Chapeltown Books. It is available in paperback and in Kindle format via Amazon and, of course, directly from me but more on that later.

The stories range from 100 words tales to 500 words to 750 and there are one or two which just creep in as flash fiction, being just under the 1000 words limit. This is generally recognized as the cutting off point between flash and standard short story lengths. [Read more…] about Published – My Debut Flash Fiction Collection

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Christmas Books and Local Settings

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Once upon a time almost every child found an annual under the tree or in their stocking and I have one given to me when I was about seven – The Christmas Stocking.

We carried on this tradition with our children who always opened their annuals at bedtime on Christmas Eve so they had something to keep them happy until morning. I always hoped they’d lie in bed and read instead of getting up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning, but it didn’t work!
[Read more…] about Christmas Books and Local Settings

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Local Author News: Richard Hardie

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Christmas is, for authors and publishers, the most important time of the year for selling books and is a major lifeline for our bookshops.

With so few independent bookshops around now, it is nice to be able to share news of one that is not only continuing to do well but is also stocking local author Richard Hardie’s Young Adult novels, Leap of Faith and Trouble With Swords.
[Read more…] about Local Author News: Richard Hardie

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Introducing Myself – Nicola Slade

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I write mystery novels set in and around Winchester – and sometimes even in Chandler’s Ford!

Chandler’s Ford has been home since 1981 when we moved here from Surrey for my husband’s new job. I come originally from Poole and my husband comes from Oxfordshire. When we moved here our son was twelve and went to Thornden, followed in due course by his sisters: our elder daughter who was ten when we moved here and went into the top year at Hiltingbury Juniors, and the younger one, who was five, who started school at Hiltingbury Infants. [Read more…] about Introducing Myself – Nicola Slade

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Chandler’s Ford Today Community Website – New Design, Great Content

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You may be surprised to find Chandler’s Ford Today website has a new design today.

The colour is now much toned down.

The improvement today has made Chandler’s Ford Today a mobile friendly website. If you read this site using mobile phones or a tablet, you may find the site is now easier to navigate and read. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Today Community Website – New Design, Great Content

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The Writer’s Journey: Allison Symes

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It is typical there is no Local Author News for ages, then there are two at once!

I am delighted to bring you news of my latest publications, including the production of my first book, From Light to Dark and Back Again, which is a flash fiction collection being published by independent press, Chapeltown Books. [Read more…] about The Writer’s Journey: Allison Symes

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The Japanese Red Cross at Netley, 1915-16

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One hundred years ago a group of Japanese Red Cross nurses travelled from their Far Eastern homeland to offer their services at Royal Victoria Military Hospital in Netley in Eastleigh, at the height of World War 1.

The 20-strong team, many of whom had never travelled outside of Japan, spent a year at the Netley hospital, supporting their British counterparts, to attend to the thousands of soldiers wounded in the bloody battles of the war.
[Read more…] about The Japanese Red Cross at Netley, 1915-16

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The Writing Life – Barbara Large, Part 1

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I had the great joy of meeting Barbara Large at the Winchester Writing Conference (as it was known) many moons ago. Now known as the Winchester Writers’ Festival, this three day writing event was started by Barbara in 1980. She led the conference until 2013.

Barbara is as busy as ever and runs workshops. [Read more…] about The Writing Life – Barbara Large, Part 1

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A Peek into My Writing World – Tools and Inspirations

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Have you tried writing Flash Fiction?

Yesterday I wrote a brief introduction to Flash Fiction and shared one of my flash stories as an example. Do you have a favourite Flash Fiction story to share with us? [Read more…] about A Peek into My Writing World – Tools and Inspirations

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The Art of Crime at Chandler’s Ford Library: 14th Sep 2016 7pm

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Chandler s Ford Library is hosting an event to look at the dark art of crime writing, on Wednesday 14th September 2016 at 7pm.

The special guests are Portsmouth’s partners in crime, novelists Diana Bretherick and William Sutton. [Read more…] about The Art of Crime at Chandler’s Ford Library: 14th Sep 2016 7pm

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Barbara Large: NEW Creative Writing Classes in Chandler’s Ford

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Barbara Large will be running creative writing classes at the Dovetail Centre in Chandler’s Ford from 21st September 2016.

This is great news for any writer who is looking for the mutual support creative writing classes can give and who want to develop their skills. [Read more…] about Barbara Large: NEW Creative Writing Classes in Chandler’s Ford

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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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How to Spot a Real Writing Competition

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I thought a post about writing competitions could fit well with my recent mini-series about scams. Much of what follows will apply to non-writing competitions too.

Every industry/profession has its charlatans. Sadly even the Church hasn’t been exempt. Neither is publishing/creative writing. And while we remain fallible human beings, this will remain the case. There will always be the artist. There will always be the con artist too. [Read more…] about How to Spot a Real Writing Competition

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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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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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