OUT AND ABOUT IN WESTMINSTER

Party season approaching. Lovely to meet up with many writers from other national organisations (I’m a member of the Society of Women Writers & Journalists) and am already enjoying pre-Christmas celebrations. On Wednesday last, I renewed friendship with members of the Romantic Novelists Association who met at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at Number One Birdcage Walk in London’s Westminster – a beautiful building. My host was novelist Elizabeth Lord, a keen member of the RNA whose 21 books are selling well. Her latest book, A SECRET INHERITANCE published by Severn House is an intriguing tale, one I hope to read soon. All Elizabeth's books can be found in major bookshops and libraries in Britain and across the US. In addition to family sagas, Elizabeth also writes historical fiction. Few pictures here taken at last week's RNA show Elizabeth and her literary agent, Teresa Chris.

SARAH BANHAM INTRODUCES HER NEW BOOK

Fellow writer, Sarah Banham launches her third book "Guardian Angel"on Thursday 20th November at 7pm at Waterstone’s Bookshop, 76 High Street, Chelmsford. Book price is £6.99 and she will post it to you for £1.50 (£3.50 overseas),

Guardian Angel looks as interesting as “Dicing with Danger” and “Jenna’s Dad”, both of which are selling well. Sarah’s website is below – check her out – an industrious and fascinating author.

www.sjbanhamauthor.co.uk
Mob 07875 490 420

JANET'S SUCCESS

KIDDIWALKS IN KENT by Janet Cameron

Kiddiwalks in Kent - Super book by our friend, Janet. Enthusiasm abounds on every page. It is clearly illustrated by words, pictures and maps. Children will love walking and exploring the woods and trails explained so well.

The historical outline for each area adds a touch of mystery and magic. Nothing like the walk to school - you will hear them say so! It is certainly a book to get us back on our feet, whether we are children, mums, dads or grandparents. The walks are not too daunting for old legs as well as younger ones.

Each walk includes a heading: 'Fun Things to See and Do'. Kiddiwalks in Kent gives everyone an excellent opportunity to watch for birds, discover hiding places in the undergrowth where pheasants and hares linger. See a lighthouse, a working windmill, a Viking ship, a chance to paddle in shallow streams, to throw bread to chuckling ducks on Goudhurst's lovely pond, to gather interesting pebbles and shells, listen for the marsh frog, maybe a ride on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway. Such exciting adventures with plenty of information regarding food and comfort stops. Even buggies can be accommodated on some of the walks. What more can one ask? These walks are very suitable for children and accompanying adults.

Not sure who, in the SWWJ. wrote this book review, but it does sum up Janet's latest book. Nice picture here of an earlier event when Janet won an award for her monologue. Princess Michael came along to present her prize.

ELIZABETH'S BOOKS

Elizabeth's latest book is selling wonderfully well, both in Denver Colorado and her home county of Essex, CHRISTMAS PAST IN ESSEX production run sold out last year by lst December. Elizabeth lectures both in Denver and England and is one of our longest-standing members of the Society of Women Writers & Journalists - overseas branch. Liz is currently working hard on her latest book,an intriguing work of fiction. This will be published in the States next year. More information later.

MIKE EDMONDS IN PANTOMIME

Panto time again and our friend, actor Mike Edmonds is rehearsing for Snow White at the Regent Theatre Stoke On Trent. He opens on Thursday 11 December through to 11 January. Mike - who was one of the Star Wars film heroes and theatre regulars, travels the world, appearing at Star War Conventions and performing in theatre work. Interesting photo of him with the Goodies and a few more with his friends and fans at book signings.

GRAHAM SMITH AUTHOR

One of Waterstone's best selling authors, Graham Smith, will be speaking at their 76 High Street store in Chelmsford on Thursday 13 November at 7pm. I show you the front of one of his earlier books - ESSEX AIRFIELDS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR - just one of many books in his series. Now his fans have a chance to listen to him talking about his very latest book HEROES OF BOMBER COMMAND SUFFOLK. Graham is a superb speaker and an authority on his subject, so do go along. The coffee's good, too! Tickets cost £2 from Waterstone's 01245 268737.

A LITTLE MAGIC IN BILLERICAY

MAGIC MOMENTS ON SATURDAY, 15th

Leave that huge television and come along to the Reading Rooms in Billericay High Street on Saturday at 7pm to experience what Victorian families used to enjoy - a Magic Lantern Show. Friends of the Cater Museum will be there to help John Alexander present his own slides and those of the Museum. Do come - gorgeous home made cakes and refreshments will be there, too! Tickets £4 can be ordered from the Cater Museum 01277 622023. More detail in this week's Billericay Weekly News.

JOYCE AND MICK FITCH

Writers are all around us and what a pleasure to meet these super people from Hatfield Peverel at 'Parky's' booksigning last week in Chelmsford's Waterstone's. Joyce's books outlining the history of her town Hatfield Peverel have long since sold out, but we can still read them in Essex Libraries. Super lady!

DOREEN FRIEND

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!
My pal, journalist and playwright, Doreen Friend who is much involved with the arts in Waltham Forest, is hard at work on her new play, Eddy's Revenge. This will be presented in March 2009 in the Waltham Forest Festival. Doreen, who was formerly editor of the SWWJ's prestigious WOMAN WRITER journal, is now enthusiastic about her latest project, a new magazine/newsletter mentioned on www.applauseapplause.co.uk. It's well worth a visit and promises to provide theatrical information concerning entertainment, early publicity on upcoming productions occurring in East London. The area is still proud of its fine theatres including the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford. Check out the classes, events and productions lined up. I'm sure they would appreciate comments and contributions covering this interesting part of London.

SWWJ TRIO

Latest meeting of the Society of Women Writers & Journalists on Monday brought a trio of lovely new Council members to our gathering at the Swedenborg Centre in Holborn. Here we have Samantha Pearce from Essex, Silja Swaby from Surrey and Penny Legg from Hampshire. More about them another time, but here’s a picture celebrating their first meeting.

SIR MICHAEL PARKINSON

Busy day today - managed to meet up with a super lady and write up the interview with her for an Essex journal then off to Chelmsford to take pictures of Sir Michael Parkinson. He was signing copies of his autobiography - Parky. Queue of more than a hundred outside Waterstone's - but all came in quickly and met Parky and had their books signed. Met the usual journos and some nice new photographers, so the resulting snaps will be in the local press as of tomorrow. The publishing team and staff - headed by Vicky at Waterstone's - were highly organised and coped well with streams of people wanting to get into the store, not an easy task. He has been busy on a whistle stop tour around Britain signing the book and his new DVD containing the best of his interviews – a nice Christmas stocking filler.

LAST CHANCE TO SEE JAMES AND JOANNA

Last chance for folk to see this great play and there are two tickets for one today -TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER - just bring this email with you (pay on the door)

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

"The Superb Myriad Productions" - Sylvia Kent, NEWSQUEST
http://www.myriadtheatreproductions.com/news1.html



A taut new adaptation of Dostoyevsky's classic tale of murder, guilt and redemption is coming to Barons Court Theatre in November.



Crime and Punishment is one of the most gripping and claustrophobic works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, a writer with an uncanny ability to transcribe the mental contortions and shifting uncertainties of characters on the edge of madness. (He was himself an epileptic in a time when the condition was little understood, and a chronic gambler.)



Myriad Productions promise a thoroughly transporting night of high drama and, quite simply, a rollicking good story. Don’t miss it!



Venue: Baron's Court Theatre, The Curtain's Up Pub

28A Comeragh Road London W14 9HR.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747 baronstheatre@hotmail.com



Admission: £12 (£10 concessions)

Running time: 2 hours 40 (including a 20 minute interval)



Tubes: Barons Court (zone 2, Piccadilly, District), West Kensington (zone 2, District).

Buses: 9 & 10 to Hammersmith, 391 to West Kensington

Hammersmith Bus Station is served by a number of night buses

BR Station: Kensington Olympia

This venue has disabled access – please contact the venue directly for specific details