SYLVIA KENT'S READING & WRITING FORUM

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

Sunday, September 27, 2015

RETURN VISIT TO PHOENIX 98FM AND MICHELLE WARD'S BOOK CLUB

Its always a great pleasure to come into the Phoenix 98fm Studio at the Brentwood Leisure Centre and chat on air about our local world of writers and, of course, readers.  Essex has hundreds of book clubs and they always support our great Essex Book Festival held every spring in venues around the county.  Our local Billericay Library reading group has been going for more than 15 years and some of our members have been with us from the start.

For those listening to Thursday's programme with Michelle Ward, they will know that Brentwood Writers' Circle members are looking forward to meeting Karen Bowman, a popular historical author who will be talking about her latest books Essex Girls and Essex Boys.  I loved both titles and now we have her very latest book  Corsets & Codpieces which promises to be a riveting read.  Karen is also a valued member of the Society of Women Writers & Journalists and we hope to meet many of the Essex contingent at our Christmas party on 2 December in London's National Liberal Club. See www.swwj.co.uk for further detail.  

Brentwood Writers' Circle's venue is the Ursuline Convent in Queens Road, Brentwood; the date is Saturday 3 October and we kick off the afternoon at 2.30pm.  Visitors welcome.




Thursday, September 17, 2015

MEET OUR AUTHORS AT BILLERICAY LIBRARY 19 SEPTEMBER 10.00AM


So generous of radio presenter Tony Fisher on BBC Essex to talk today about our upcoming Book Sale at Billericay Library, on Saturday 19 September 10.00-12 noon. We also appreciate Phoenix 98fm radio, BBC Essex radio, Havering Hospital radio, Basildon and  Hospital radio who have also spread the word. What would we do without such lovely, supportive friends! 

Local history authors will be happy to sign and sell their books relating to Brentwood, Billericay and surrounding towns - all at much reduced prices.  And Saturday we will remember Donald Wallace who was such a wonderful inspiration with his help and advice on how to create a history book.
 
At the book sale, visitors will have an opportunity to talk about writing and publishing with members of our Brentwood Writers’ Circle and their president, Frances Clamp, along with local well known novelist, Elizabeth Lord (aka Maggie Ford) and other authors.
 
The Marie Curie Charity will receive a donation following the sale.  Everyone is invited.  For more detail, www.sylviakent.blogspot.com


A little signing session of my own at Waterstones in Romford last week. We really need more supersonic booksellers like Dionne!
 

 

Sunday, September 13, 2015

SPREADING THE WORD - HAVERING STYLE

With such an inquisitive (nosey) nature and life-time interest in film and radio, I'm always happy to  visit yet another of the numerous radio stations around Essex.  There's invariably a warm welcome and I'm intrigued with the people who voluntarily give their time to produce continuous  programmes throughout the week and who very often make a dawn start at weekends. 

So, what a treat to visit the Queens Hospital in Havering to meet the Bedrock Hospital Radio team and talk about my favourite topic - writing - and in particular, my latest book Barking & Dagenham from Old Photographs.


Mat, Simon, Beverley and Keith holding my latest book, subject was my topic @ Bedrock
 





There to greet me last week was Beverley Stroud, who
nterviews studio guests,  Keith Dunn who has been working with Bedrock for two years and, of course, the chairman of the Bedrock Radio, Mat Watson pictured here with the super Simon - all volunteers bringing their expertise and special programmes to the folk of Havering. Not forgetting Ruth, with the lovely smile, who looks after the Bedrock books. Eventually, last week's programme will be available to all listeners on the web.

Ruth, another lovely volunteer providing reading matter via  Bedrock



Thursday, September 10, 2015

THANKS GAZETTE SERIES FOR SOME WELCOME PRESS ACTIVITY FOR 19 SEPTEMBER


Sunday, September 06, 2015

A BUMPER GROUP OF ESSEX WRITERS - WHY NOT COME TO MEET THEM?

 
 


BWC Secreetary Ena and Chairman Helen 
 
What a great  bevy of talented writers pictured here, all members of the Brentwood Writers' Circle (celebrating 75 years in 2016) .  True, the pic is a few years' old, but demonstrates how lucky we are to have at least sixty keen writers, many of whom have dozens of books published. Most turned up at our AGM yesterday afternoon; the new committee was voted in and a super workshop followed with members reading out their latest work.   Books, articles, radio shows and non-stop writing activity emanates from them all.

You may have a chance to meet some of them at our local history book sale which is gathering press momentum.  The date is Saturday 19 September, the venue Billericay Library, High Street, Billericay and the timing is 10.00am until noon.   

Many authors will be appearing at Billericay Library on Saturday 19 September  10.00-12 noon and their fans can meet them, talk about writing, buy their books (at very reduced prices) and our authors will sign them - making an interesting Christmas gift.  The Marie Curie charity will benefit at the end of the sale.