Chandler's Ford Today

Wendy H Jones

A Right Cozy Christmas Crime with Wendy H Jones – Author Interview

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Wendy H Jones and Lynsey Adams from Reading Between The Lines Book Vlog for supplying book cover and poster/promo pictures. Many thanks to the other authors in A Right Cozy Christmas Crime for supplying their author head shots. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images or those supplied by Wendy H Jones/Lynsey Adams.

One of the joys of the Christmas season is having extra reading time! Okay, you may have to wait until after the big day itself but isn’t having new books to enjoy something to relish for that period between Christmas and New Year? It is for me!

Also, as we all know, books are perfect presents and easy to wrap or put in festive gift bags. But, of course, the lead up to the season is the biggest in the publishing world because of this. What I like is amongst the many new novels, there are plenty of anthologies coming out too.

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Welcome to Writers’ Narrative Magazine – Interview with Wendy H Jones

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to all at Writers’ Narrative for sending me their fabulous author photos. Many thanks to Wendy H Jones for the publicity shots for Writers’ Narrative magazine. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images, one taken directly from Pixabay, and one of Wendy’s shots adapted in Book Brush for the Feature Image. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

I mentioned in my most recent round-up of what I’ve been up to, writing wise, Mom’s Favorite Reads had come to an end but a new monthly online magazine, Writers’ Narrative, was coming out. I’m pleased to say the first issue of this (the August 2023) edition has just been released (25th July 2023). A free subscribe link is included below.

The same editorial team, including me, is on board for Writers’ Narrative and its editor in chief is Wendy H Jones. It is a magazine by writers for writers.

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Festive Flash and Other News

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Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Many thanks to Hannah Kate from North Manchester FM for kind permission to use the Three Minute Santas photo. Book covers of Evergreen – an Anthology and The Best of CafeLit 11 are from Bridge House Publishing. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. The Merry Christmas image is from CFT archives.

My, how does the time fly! It’s time for some festive flash fiction and news about my writing year. It’s been a busy but fun one.

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Deadly Traditions – Interview with Wendy H Jones

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Wendy H Jones for supplying author and book cover pictures. Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Some images directly from Pixabay.

It is lovely to welcome Wendy H Jones back to Chandler’s Ford Today with news of her latest publication. It is another departure from Wendy’s usual line of work too. This time, Wendy has a short story in Deadly Traditions, which is a crime and Christmas anthology.

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Out with the Old?

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Image Credits:- Video and  most photos created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Other photos from Pixabay/Pexels. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Images of Wendy H Jones and Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion for Writing kindly supplied by Wendy H Jones for an earlier CFT post.

Happy New Year!

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Creativity Matters – Wendy H. Jones – A New Direction

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Image Credit:-

Book cover image and author picture kindly supplied by Wendy H. Jones.

Some images created in Book Brush by both Wendy H Jones and Allison Symes. Other images from Pixabay.

I am pleased and proud to be taking part in Wendy H Jones’ new book – Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion for Writing. This came out earlier this week (1st September 2021).

Naturally I’m talking about flash fiction and short story writing. It will be my first venture in non-fiction in print and I hope to do more of this in the future.

Feature Image – Creativity Matters – A New Direction

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Local Author News – Allison Symes – Crossing Fiction and Non-Fiction

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Image Credits:–

Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Many thanks to Wendy H Jones for supplying the book cover credits for Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion for Writing.

Many thanks to Gill James at Chapeltown Books for the cover pictures for The Best of CafeLit 10.

Screenshots of Mom’s Favorite Reads, Friday Flash Fiction, and new ACW Flash Fiction Group details were taken by me, Allison Symes.

This summer, I have been kept busy with more Zoom talks. I spoke again to the Dundee City Writers on 19th July and am due to speak to another Scottish group, Byre Writers, right at the end of the month.

This is made possible thanks to the wonders of Zoom and a huge thank you to both writing groups (as I know here and now Byre Writers will make me very welcome!).

I had a lovely time talking about short story writing to Dundee City Writers. I am looking forward to talking about flash fiction writing with the Byre Writers. And there has been plenty else going on too.

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Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 1

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Judging a book by its cover is a well known saying. We do judge by looks, even when we know we shouldn’t.There is one realm where the saying is 100% accurate and 100% justified and that is for book covers.

For writers, a book cover is crucial to get right. We all want the best cover possible to showcase our stories.

A good book cover draws people in to read the book.

A bad book cover – people are unlikely to pick the book up to even see if the blurb might be of interest.

Feature Image – Part 1 Judging a Book by its Cover. Image created in Book Brush using Pixabay photo.

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Local Author News – Allison Symes – Summits, Talks, and Interviews

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For once I’ve summed up my news in my title! January and February have been incredibly busy but fun.

One thing all writers want is to build on what has gone before so we move forward. Those moves forward can be in big steps, little ones, or anything in between. Often one thing leads to another. It is the way of the writing life a lot happens over a comparatively short period and then nothing for a while. A bit like London buses – three turn up near enough at once! But you get used to that.

Feature Image – Summits, Talks and Interviews, Image created in Book Brush by Allison Symes using Pixabay image.

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Launches In Lockdown – Part 2

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Welcome to Part 2 of my new series. I’m talking to various authors about the challenges they’ve faced launching books in lockdown.

As well as sharing my experiences (see last week’s post), I’ve talked with writers from the Association of Christian Writers, Authors Reach, Swanwick Writers’ Summer School, and Bridge House Publishing/CafeLit/Chapeltown Books.

Everyone agrees 2020 was extraordinarily challenging!

But books still needed to be launched.

Feature Image – Launches in Lockdown Part 2. Image created in Book Brush (using image from Pixabay)

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New Year 2021 – Apprehension or Hope?

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Did you see the New Year in? I don’t bother these days, to be honest. I treasure my sleep more but I must admit I’m not sorry to see the back of 2020. Along with the majority of the world’s population I would’ve thought!

Having said that, and despite cancelled author events etc., 2020 was a good year for me professionally. It is funny how things can work out.

Feature Image – New Year 2021 – Apprehension or Hope. Image created on Book Brush by Allison Symes.

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The Power of Why – Wendy H Jones in conversation with Allison Symes

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Sometimes writers can feel as if they’ve “caught something” in the air and definitely not Covid-19! We refer to the zeitgeist where we subconsciously pick up on a bubbling mood which then does come to the surface and grabs public attention.

For me, and for many writers recently, that bubbling mood has been about changing direction with our writing. This has manifested itself in two distinct ways. Firstly, this has been in taking on new roles which are likely to be permanent (editing for me). Secondly, the other change has been in writing something different from what we are usually known for (as I’ve recently discussed with Val Penny and will be again soon with Jennifer C Wilson).

This week, I invite Scottish crime writer, Wendy H Jones, back to Chandler’s Ford Today as her new venture is something very special indeed. Wendy is the only UK writer in the The Power of Why (see Amazon link). There are 23 stories in this collection of women from around the globe who have taken steps to change their lives by starting their own businesses.

Wendy H Jones. Image kindly supplied by her.

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Part 3 – The Writing Game – and What to Watch For

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For the final part of this series, I would like to say a big thank you to my wonderful guests for their excellent contributions. Please find the links to Part 1 and Part 2 here.

Writing is the fulfilment of many people’s dreams (and being published even more so) but, as with any other area of life, there are those prepared to make money out of your dreams and rip you off doing so. When you start out, it is knowing what to look out for that can be tricky. Also, where do you go for advice? (Answer: The Society of Authors, The Alliance of Independent Authors, and talk to other writers. Word does get out about scams and the like).

Scams happen in creative writing too, image via Pixabay
Scams happen in creative writing too, image via Pixabay

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Local Author News – Allison Symes – Podcast Interview by Wendy H. Jones

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Further to my CFT post about Interviews on Friday, I am delighted to share the link with a podcast interview of yours truly by Scottish crime writer, Wendy H Jones.

WendyHJones2018
WendyHJones2018 – image kindly supplied by her.

Wendy has started a new podcast called The Writing and Marketing Show and it does exactly what it says on the tin, so to speak. (Her podcast host is Buzzsprout – love that name!).

Naturally I am talking about my great love, flash fiction. I also share some thoughts on competitions and other tips I hope will prove useful to people.  I’m Episode 4 – How to Write Flash Fiction – but do check the other episodes out. If you want insights into the writing world, this show is a great place for that. The link at the end of this post will take you straight into the Flash Fiction episode but there is an All Episodes link on the top left hand corner of that page to take you to the others.

Episodes come out on Wednesdays. I use Stitcher for listening to podcasts, which is something new to me, but, given I’ve always loved radio, is a natural progression.  I’m mainly using a phone app for this but have used it on my PC too. I always like flexibility of form!

Allison Symes and published works
Allison Symes and published works. Image by Adrian Symes

A big thank you to Wendy for inviting me on to her show. It was my first experience of being interviewed for a podcast and it was great fun to take part, though both of us were afflicted by the dreaded lurgy. Still as the old saying goes, the show must go on!

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Episode 4 – How to Write Flash Fiction

Related Post:-

Interviews

 

Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.

Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.

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