SYLVIA KENT'S READING & WRITING FORUM

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

Sunday, October 23, 2016

BEST SELLING ESSEX NOVELIST MARTINA COLE LAUNCHES HER NEW BOOK AT OUR NEW FOYLES OF CHELMSFORD

Best selling Essex novelist Martina Cole's new book BETRAYAL was launched at the brand new Foyles bookshop in Bond Street, Chelmsford on Saturday. 

Hundreds of Martina's fans were there to buy her new title and she spent several hours signing books for them. Martina has been friends with us all at Brentwood Writers' Circle over the years since her first book 'Dangerous Lady' was published in 1992 and our paths have often crossed since she came to Brentwood's Ursuline School to outline how her writing career started. 


Martina was also a member of our Society of Women Writers and Journalists and is known for encouraging and helping young writers.

Do visit us at www.swwj.co.uk and also the new Foyles book store where you can also enjoy coffee and cake in their little cafe area. Friendly staff and super sales team. twitter @swwj #swwj 
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Friday, October 21, 2016

FABULOUS NEW BOOK FOR CHILDREN - AN ALPHABET OF AWFUL ANIMALS FOR ADULTS

Author George Courtauld and artist John Holder have produced this superbly illustrated book for children just in time for Christmas. Both are grandfathers and their book jacket gives us some intriguing information on their history.  George is already a well known writer whose "Fat Bulldog' trilogy concerning his life as a Queen's Messenger, travelling 3,500,000 miles world-wide, has brought him great success.

John Holder is also well known for his work in the classic tradition of humorous illustration, dating back to Victorian times. In 2012 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Anglia Ruskin University for his lifetime contribution to illustration and drawing at Cambridge School of Art. 

John's drawings are wonderful.  Wait till you see how cleverly he has illustrated the animals in this book with snippets of verse from nearly 80 creatures from A for Aardvark to Z for Zoo-keeper, via a huge variety of creatures both mythical and extant, such as a gargoyle, the Jellyfish and a Witchetty Grub - lots of fun and, as the above gentleman have suggested, perfect for the loo bookcase, as well as the bedside table.      

Friday, October 14, 2016

WRITING CONNECTIONS - SOME OF MY EDITORS

I am currently working on a feature which involves some of my earlier magazine editors.  Here we have a picture of Comfort Smith, Editor at Large of Sa'adia, the first national magazine of Botswana. On meeting her in London some years ago, I snapped her with that ever-youthful horticultural expert Bob Flowerdew, and yes, I also wrote about gardening and winemaking for her.  

I still write about winemaking for HOME FARMER, which is one of the most popular British magazines at present, one that covers all kinds of practical self-sufficiency in garden, allotment and, of course, the kitchen.  Love making preserves and my wine. I know my favourite magazine is sold widely in the UK, and now in my local W H Smith store. . 


Tuesday, October 11, 2016

WORLD PREMIER OF UNDER THE RADAR FROM RED STABLE FILMS

At the end of last month, friends and family of Mike Edmonds, actor and Simon J Frith film producer with his team, all congregated at the Institute of Contemporary Art in The Mall in London.  This was the long awaited evening of the screening of  UNDER THE RADAR, a wonderful film about the life and times of Mike whose acting career has taken him all over the world. 













Saturday, October 08, 2016

STUART WALLACE'S NEW ARTWORK




I've just discovered the unusual and brilliant artwork of Stuart Wallace in Denver.
Take a moment and look at his wonderful designs 
 http://stuartwallace.wixsite.com/artwork





kStuart Wallace's photo.

Friday, October 07, 2016

STARTING OFF SOME NEW COUNTRY WINE FOR THE GREAT MAGAZINE HOME FARMER




























When writing columns for magazines (and as a freelance writer, this is my fourteenth regular column) it's wise to plan ahead, sometimes months ahead and this is what I am doing this week.