SYLVIA KENT'S READING & WRITING FORUM

A history and lifestyle journal www.swwj.co.uk

Sunday, March 17, 2024

LAUNCH DAY FOR ESSEX NOVELIST SHEILA NORTON

 


Saturday, March 16, 2024

BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS - THOUSANDS OF THEM TO BE FOUND AT CHELMSFORD'S COMMUNITY BOOKSHOP

In this world of money-making projects, I applaud so many of the hardworking charitable folk I come across who beaver away raising funds in so many different and imaginative ways (including, of course, our very own John Baron's Fun Walk). More later!

It takes a lot of energy, time and hard work to make many of these charity projects successful.  My recent trip to to our Essex city brought me in touch with Brian Poole, manager of Chelmsford's Community Bookshop in Market Road (pictured with Jean Steward).

Here, I discovered the most wonderful selection of books, jigsaw puzzles, ordnance survey maps and masses of other interesting items. Could have stayed all day!

One of the amazing things was that Brian and his cheerful team are all volunteers.  So, it was a pleasure to meet Brian, Jean Steward and Pauline Stimson (recently) on duty, who were able to tell me more about this magical, brilliant  bookshop which started life in March 2011. Long may it continue!

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THE COMMUNITY BOOKSHOP

There is a wide range of books available with most subjects covered. Fiction books are set out alphabetically by author and non-fiction according to subject matter.

We offer great value for money on all our books with the vast majority of books under £1. Special editions or very expensive to produce books are individually priced but still remain better value than you could pay elsewhere.

Special offers are always available in the shop. Come in and see us.

Like us and follow us on Facebook Chelmsford Community Bookshop.





Wednesday, March 13, 2024

WELCOME TO DEE GORDON (A PROLIFIC AND WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR FROM SOUTHEND)

FAMOUS ESSEX AUTHORS (That you have never heard of)

(With over 40 illustrations plus a fold-out Essex author map)

Admittedly, there are some names within these pages that you will know already, but there are literally dozens of names that have been, sadly, forgotten over time. You may recognise some book titles, however (The French Lieutenant’s Woman? One Hundred and One Dalmatians?)

Some of the romance writers featured may not have famous names or even famous “titles” but they were so prolific and popular that they deserve to be foregrounded for their contribution to the world of books.

These earlier generations of writers set the stage for those current Essex writers that feature on the bestseller lists. It has also been important for Essex to include big guns such as Austen, Shakespeare and Dickens, however tenuous the links in such cases!

ISBN 9781739931629, RRP Price £12.99 Stock item at Gardners Books. www.essex100.com ask@essex100.com


Saturday, March 09, 2024

CERTAINLY A YEAR FOR ANNIVERSARIES - MANY MORE TO COME - METHODIST CHURCH, BILLERICAY

Billericay Methodist Church 2024


Didn't I mention last autumn how many anniversary celebrations were being planned for this year?!  

Well, since l January, we have enjoyed a couple of anniversaries already, and Sunday's centenary of Billericay's Methodist Church was lovely and such a pleasure to meet lots of old friends in this super little town. I took along one of my earliest books written over twenty years ago (and still selling), where I outline (among numerous stories of people I've interviewed), the history of the town's Methodist Church, how it was started, by whom, and with lots of photographs of some of the town's earliest inhabitants. 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

SHOWCASING THE CITY OF CHELMSFORD ESSEX

 It was interesting last autumn, when in Chelmsford, Essex,  to come across a busy film crew preparing to access the fabulous old Shire Hall in the city centre.  Of course I wanted to know what project they were concentrating on, but no one was going to spill the beans. Never mind, this week I realised they were  filming The Jury which has been screening every night this week with last episode of The Jury to be shown later this evening (9.pm). 




Saturday, February 24, 2024

SUPER DAISY GOODWIN ON RADIO RIGHT NOW!


So good to hear best-selling novelist Daisy Goodwin on BBC Radio 4 this morning.  I met Daisy many years ago at the Groucho Club - she was our speaker at the time and was so funny, but informative to our group of writers and journalists.  Gave her a copy of my book which had just been published The Woman Writer and some of the BBC team who were sitting in the audience.   Must read her book DIVA when time permits.

Monday, February 19, 2024

NEW BOOKS - NEW AUTHOR FROM ESSEX - D S JOHNSON-MILLS - PHOENIXFM - BRENTWOOD WRITERS CIRCLE


It's always a great pleasure to meet new writers in our successful writers' circle meetings in London (www.swwj.co.uk)  and Essex (www.brentwoodwriterscircle.com. Alongside many new authors who are busily writing their first books, we often invite some into our PhoenixFM radio programmes, presented by musician and singer, Michelle Ward at the PhoenixFM studio every month. 
This is our fourteenth year of Michelle's popular morning programme (Eat My Brunch) and listeners certainly enjoy her music and repartee.  

So, last Thursday was a red-letter day for us with the introduction of Denise Johnson-Mills who was invited to talk about her debut best-selling book CHOOSING ME.  We always learn something new from our guests and Denise certainly gave us some great ideas, as well as outlining her own fabulous life.  And... yep, there's a second book about to be published.  Check out her excellent website: 

D.S.johnson-mills


Story line:

Dylan is a young Bostonian embracing her newfound freedom in the bustling streets of London. Alongside her best friend, Toby, they indulge in a life filled with joy and carefree moments, evading the lurking shadows threatening their cheerful facade. But when he reunites with his old friend Markus, he inadvertently sets the wheel in motion for three lives to be turned upside down. Dylan is instantly attracted to Markus, a dangerously intoxicating stranger whose touch sets her world aflame and crumbles her carefully crafted defences. But every touch exposes the fractures of a past she's fought so hard to forget, threatening to drown out the allure of a budding romance. As her heart teeters between love and old shadows, Dylan stands at a crossroads: face the shadows that chase her, or risk losing the life and love she's only just begun to discover.