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writers

Zooming Around and Cyberlaunch Tips

May 8, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

I trust everyone is keeping well. One aspect of the lockdown I hadn’t expected was finding the video conferencing app, Zoom, and wonder how I’ve not discovered its usefulness before. I’ve been on Skype and What’s App for a while but Zoom has come into its own. For more info do click on this link.

 

The little boxes here remind me of what you see on Zoom. Pixabay

[Read more…] about Zooming Around and Cyberlaunch Tips

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Tags: cyberlaunch tips, cyberlaunches, From Light to, social media, technology, video conferencing, writers, Zoom

What Books Mean To Me – Part 1

October 4, 2019 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

Feature Image - What Books Mean To Me - Part 1

Any writer will say to write well, you must read well (and widely). Every writer I know is as happy to talk about the latest great book they’ve read as well as what they’re working on. Why would you write if you didn’t love books and stories in the first place? There are two sides to this coin.

Image Credit:  A big thanks to my guests for supplying photos. Unless otherwise stated, the book and library pictures come, as always, from those magnificent people at Pixabay.

[Read more…] about What Books Mean To Me – Part 1

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Tags: books, creative writing, fiction, reading, writers

Meet Local Author Claire Gradidge at the Curious Café on 20th September

September 15, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

On Friday 20th September, the Curious Café (at The Dovetail Centre, Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church) will be hosting Claire Gradidge, local author and winner of the Richard and Judy “Search for a Bestseller Competition 2019”. [Read more…] about Meet Local Author Claire Gradidge at the Curious Café on 20th September

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Tags: creative writing, Dovetail Centre, event, Information, inspiration, literature, publishing, storytelling, writers

Murphy’s Law

July 19, 2019 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

Feature Image - Murphy's Law

I’m a great believer in Murphy’s Law. “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”. Why? Because humans have such a wonderful creative capacity and, simultaneously, an equally wonderful capacity to muck things up. (It’s just wonderful in a different direction, that’s all!). [Read more…] about Murphy’s Law

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Tags: creative writing, entertainment, humour, Murphy's Law, writers

Val Penny – Her Writing Journey Part 2 – Allison Symes

February 9, 2018 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Feature Image - Val Penny Interview Part 2

Following on from Part 1 of my interview with the lovely Val Penny last week, here comes Part 2!  I first met Val at the Swanwick Summer Writers’ School in 2016. I’m delighted to say since then Val has come south and discovered the joys of the Winchester Writers’ Festival, but more on that a little later. [Read more…] about Val Penny – Her Writing Journey Part 2 – Allison Symes

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Tags: book promoting, books, creative writing, writers, writing

Hunting Out a Career in Crime Fiction – Allison Symes interviews Val Penny

February 2, 2018 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Val Penny - Her Writing Journey Part 1

I met Val Penny at the same Swanwick Summer Writers’ School as when I met Jennifer C Wilson, who I interviewed last year over her paranormal historic fiction.

Val saw one lost looking author (me!) wondering which way to turn out of Derby Railway Station to find the coach to go to Swanwick and promptly took me under her wing! [Read more…] about Hunting Out a Career in Crime Fiction – Allison Symes interviews Val Penny

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Tags: book promoting, books, creative writing, literature, writers

Keeping it Local – Community and Writers

November 17, 2017 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Local Communities and Writers

On the face of it, times have not been good recently at Fryern. Grovers the Butchers has closed as has our branch of the Nat West. I’m always sorry to see an independent firm go, some history goes with them I feel, but, to my mind, the bank branch closure is a stupid decision. It’s not as if the bank wasn’t busy! [Read more…] about Keeping it Local – Community and Writers

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Tags: Age Concern Centre, Book Fair, books, Chandler's Ford Library, Chandler's Ford Railway Station, children's poetry competition, community, Fryern Arcade, writers

How was the Book Fair for You?

November 3, 2017 By Allison Symes 11 Comments

Feature Image - How Was the Book Fair For You

The first Chandler’s Ford Book Fair was on Saturday, 28th October 2017 between 10 am and 12 noon at the Age Concern Centre in Brownhill Road. I hope it will be the beginning of many Book Fairs here.

Many of us miss The Arcade Bookshop which had been our lovely independent book store for decades.  Those behind the Fair hoped it would provide a place for local people to browse and buy books with the bonus they were written by regional writers (and many of them local to Chandler’s Ford specifically). [Read more…] about How was the Book Fair for You?

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Tags: Book Fair, book promoting, book signing, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, fiction, flash fiction, non-fiction, writers, writers' co-operatives

REMINDER: Book Fair – 28th October 2017

October 27, 2017 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

This is just a quick reminder about the Chandler’s Ford Book Fair happening this coming Saturday, 28th October at the Age Concern Centre in Brownhill Road. The Fair will be open from 10 am to 12 noon and there will be a wide range of authors and genres represented.  [Read more…] about REMINDER: Book Fair – 28th October 2017

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Tags: Age Concern Centre, Book Fair, creative writing, fiction, flash fiction, non-fiction, writers

Writers at Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017

September 14, 2017 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Feature Image - Writers at Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017. Image by Allison Symes

Meet the Authors at Hiltingbury Extravaganza

Don’t forget the Hiltingbury Extravaganza is this Sunday, 17th September from 12 noon to 5 pm. Let’s hope for good weather and that all who go along to the Recreation Ground for this lively event have a wonderful time!  [Read more…] about Writers at Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017

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Tags: children's poetry competition, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Extravaganza, writers

Writer Co-operatives

July 28, 2017 By Allison Symes 14 Comments

Feature Image - Writer Co-operatives (image via Pixabay)

Given publishing is a tough business and it is the hardest it has ever been for a writer to find a publisher and/or agent, why on earth would writers want to form groups? Surely they should focus on their own books?

Ironically, it is because the world of publishing is so tough, that writers forming co-operatives is (a) becoming more common and (b) a fantastically sensible thing to do. [Read more…] about Writer Co-operatives

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Tags: book promoting, Chapeltown Books, creative writing, fiction, writers, writers' co-operatives

Why have Book Signings? Report from the Station – Allison Symes

July 14, 2017 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

Feature Image - Why have Book Signings?

Image Credit:  Many thanks to Janet Williams for taking the signing photos at the railway station.  Like many women, I can multi task but there is a limit and even I couldn’t take a picture of myself signing a book!

Many thanks to all who came to my book signing at our lovely railway station on Saturday 8th July. Particular thanks go to Mark Miller and Nick Farthing of the Three Rivers Rail Community Partnership, Hilary Stone for “manning” the drinks and snacks bar, Janet Williams, Richard Hardie and Daniel Symes.
[Read more…] about Why have Book Signings? Report from the Station – Allison Symes

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Tags: book launch, book promoting, book signing, Chandler's Ford Railway Station, Chapeltown Books, event, From Light to Dark and Back Again, local interest, writers

Jottings from the Trans-Siberian Railway – Part 2: Martin Kyrle interview

March 31, 2017 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Feature Image Part 2 of MK Interview

My post last week was the first part of my interview with Martin Kryle, former local Liberal Democrat councillor and published author. His book Jottings from the Trans-Siberian Railway, edited by Barbara Large , is now out.

Reviews are crucial for all writers and one for this book reads:- [Read more…] about Jottings from the Trans-Siberian Railway – Part 2: Martin Kyrle interview

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Tags: adventure, advice, publishing, writers, writing

What is a Cyber Launch? by Allison Symes

March 30, 2017 By Allison Symes 8 Comments

Cyberlaunch Image - image supplied by Allison Symes and Chapeltown Books

A cyber launch is basically a Facebook online party celebrating the publication of your book and promoting it. There are usually quizzes with prizes, giveaways, special offers and so on.  The only requirement is to be logged on to Facebook at the time of the event. [Read more…] about What is a Cyber Launch? by Allison Symes

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Tags: advice, book launch, Chapeltown Books, communication, From Light to Dark and Back Again, Information, literature, publishing, writers, writing

The Joy of Interviews by Allison Symes

March 10, 2017 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - The Joy of Interviews - image via Pixabay

I love interviewing authors and reading interviews in publications like Writing Magazine. There is always something to learn from how other writers work.

One interesting comment about my recent joy of radio post came from Chippy when he discussed Desert Island Discs and felt it was a good show because it wasn’t just about people plugging things. The best interviews are those that encourage the interviewee to reveal more about what motivates them. [Read more…] about The Joy of Interviews by Allison Symes

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Tags: advice, communication, writers

What I Like (and Dislike) about Christmas

December 23, 2016 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

I love Christmas, most of it anyway. I would love to see more goodwill being shown by the Christmas shopping crowds as we all try to buy presents and so on but that’s another story.

Being a Christian, the Christmas story and services have special resonance of course, though I know all would welcome the idea of goodwill to all men being practised by ourselves at all times of year (despite mankind failing on this count miserably so often, just look at the news for the proof, but the goodwill idea is a sound one and we shouldn’t give up on it. I don’t think it’s been given a long enough trial period!). [Read more…] about What I Like (and Dislike) about Christmas

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Tags: charity, Christmas, good neighbours, storytelling, tradition, viewpoint, writers

Christmas Books and Local Settings

December 21, 2016 By Nicola Slade Leave a Comment

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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Tags: books, Chandler's Ford, Christmas, Hampshire, Otterbourne, publishing, reading, Winchester, writers, writing

Local Author News: Richard Hardie

December 16, 2016 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

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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Tags: books, Chandler's Ford, publishing, reading, storytelling, Winchester, Winchester Writers' Festival, writers, writing

What Makes a Good Writing Conference?

October 7, 2016 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

I regularly attend the Winchester Writers’ Festival, which was originally the Winchester Writing Conference started by Barbara Large, MBE.

I am glad to say I will be interviewing Barbara soon. Her help and encouragement to so many writers over the years, including me, has been phenomenal and much appreciated. [Read more…] about What Makes a Good Writing Conference?

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Tags: advice, books, creative writing, Information, inspiration, reading, writers, writing

Reminder: Creative Writing Classes at The Dovetail Centre

September 2, 2016 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Barbara Large New Creative Writing Classes Image

Just a quick reminder that Barbara Large’s new creative writing workshops start later this month at The Dovetail Centre.

Further details below. [Read more…] about Reminder: Creative Writing Classes at The Dovetail Centre

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Tags: advice, creative writing, Dovetail Centre, event, Information, inspiration, literature, publishing, storytelling, writers
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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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Reviews of local performances and places

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