LET'S EXPORE THE HERITAGE OF YOUR TOWN

Members of the Billericay Community Archive will be happy to help history lovers  learn more about this fascinating town. Save the date on Saturday 5 October and meet us at Billericay Library from 10.00am-4.00pm.  Free talks and displays are on the menu and a chance to meet some enthusiastic and knowledgeable folk from various local organisations and buildings in Billericay.  A warm welcome awaits!

SIGNING MY NEW BOOK AT BRENTWOOD'S OKTOBERFEST TODAY

Pictured with Dawn Knox (l) and her lovely mum, Pat (r)

LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW'S OKTOBERFEST IN BRENTWOOD - LOVELY GERMAN BEER AND FOOD, PLUS A CHANCE TO CHAT ABOUT BOOKS AND MY NEWEST TITLE

Friday, September 20, 2019

LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW'S OKTOBERFEST IN BRENTWOOD - LOVELY GERMAN BEER AND FOOD, PLUS A CHANCE TO CHAT ABOUT BOOKS AND MY NEWEST TITLE

As all writers know, their first big signing-day after years diligently writing their latest  book, is a red letter day.  So, on Saturday 28 September, I will be delighted to meet the organisers of our Town Twinning Association and Brentwood Brewery directors Roland Kannor and team who have kindly invited me to sign my 12th book at the lovely farm 

BRENTWOOD IN 50          BUILDINGS 

CALCOTT HALL FARM, Ongar Road, Brentwood on Saturday 28 September. Fingers crossed that the rain holds off, but the day promises to be fun and full of surprises.
Here is a little background to Roland's enterprising business.

Brentwood Brewery is an award-winning micro brewery in Essex run by a family with a passion for making and drinking the finest craft beer.  A wide range of quality real ales in cask, keg and bottles is available online and from the Brewery Shop as well as tours, brewery experience days and beer festival services.

Brentwood Beer is now gluten free and bottled ales are Vegan-friendly.

Visitors to the brewery’s bar, The Tap Room, can expect a warm welcome and a choice of draught beers.

Brentwood Brewing Company is among just 2% of UK breweries to hold the quality accreditation SALSA plus Beer certification.

Keen to be green, the brewery recycles its spent grain and hops.  Hops go to local allotment holders as soil improver.  Spent grain goes to local farmers as cattle feed and is also used to produce luxury, hand-made dog biscuits which are sold in the Brewery Shop.

Great tasting Brentwood Beer is available locally in Brentwood, throughout Essex, London and the UK, particularly the South East of England.  It is also being exported across the globe.

Love Beer, Love Brentwood

MY CURRENT WRITING PROGRAMME

Currently writing short fiction in a more leisurely fashion than racing to meet editors' deadlines (several!) for my regular columns. I do love twisty endings to my short stories. However, here is my 22nd column within this popular magazine covering September-October 2019 for Enjoy Brentwood More!  Inside, you will find my article about Peter Elgar, a friend and superb photographer who has won many national photographic awards and continues his creative work in his chosen town of Brentwood, Essex.

ALEX RUSHTON'S NEW NOVEL 'THE GIRL AT CONWAY PLACE'

Here is a pic taken at last week's annual general meeting of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists which took place in the House of Lords. Currently an exciting time for member Alex Rushton who is looking forward to signing her new  novel THE GIRL AT CONWAY PLACE on Friday 20th September. The venue is Pier Road Coffee Art, Littlehampton, West Sussex.

Alex describes her new book as a dark romance and this, her second book has been

published by SCRIPTORA in association with the SWWJ. More information on www.facebook.cm/pierroadcoffeeart and author website: alexrushton.co.uk 
This excellent review of ‘The Girl at Conway Place’ was written by SWWJ colleague and popular author, Pat Jones.  

"Although set in 1986 - remember no emails, texts or google - The Girl at Conway Place is really topical as the theme to the novel a woman trapped in a controlling, domineering, abusive relationships just as relevant today. Cathy's need for a father for her son makes her blind to Simon's changes in mood and temperament. The end is satisfying on one hand but shocking on the other. An interesting and page tuning novel. I'm looking forward to more from Alex Rushton."

Details about The Girl at Conway Place, a dark romance.

Alex Rushton and presenter during a recent radio appearance

Brief synopsis:

1986. Cathy Simpson is a single mother with a young son,

Jason, living in a flat in Conway Place, north London.

Desperate to provide her boy with a father figure, she

joins a dating agency and meets the charming and

attentive Simon Scott, who forms a strong bond with

Jason. Although Simon and Cathy marry she can never

forget the man who was Jason’s father. Cathy’s best friend,

Holly, takes it upon herself to discover his whereabouts, a

task which has unexpected consequences for everyone.

ANOTHER GOOD READ FROM THE SWWJ MEMBERSHIP - JANE CORRY

Another thrilling novel from one of our tremendously successful SWWJ friends and member, Jane Corry, a regular name on the Sunday Times best-seller writer list. I Looked Away is the story of Ellie, married  unhappily to former University lecturer Roger with an eye for his attractive students.  They have two children and Ellie's darling grandson,Josh.  Into the tale comes Jo, a Big Issue seller who has no home and seemingly, no future. We follow both women's stories in chapters that alternate between the two characters. Neither woman is happy and we learn that Ellie's step-mother is not all she seems to be. Poor Jo drifts into some difficult situations in her homeless state and the the reader feels sympathy for these unhappy women. Although carefully looked after, Ellie's grandson has a tragic accident and life becomes unbearable. However, there are heart-warming and amusing moments for both women. 

This is an intriguing book with well-rounded characters, believable situations and the reader works quickly through the pages wanting to know more.  A super read with an unexpected ending.  This book is being turned into a film in due course.   

This novel, I LOOKED AWAY by Jane Corry has ISBN  0241984637 and her publisher is  Penguin.

R E A C H The charity specialising in equine assisted therapy

With thanks to Rick, super Brentwood  photographer who covered our annual Charity Walk last week in Billericay

Crown Farm Stables, Crown Road, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood, Essex CM14 5TB, GB | REACH.Hippotherapy@gmail.com

BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS - LOVED THEM ALL - PREPARE FOR THE FIRST REVIEW

After a solid year of writing about social history - wonderful subject though it is - and with a new book BRENTWOOD IN 50 BUILDINGS by Amberley Publishing of Stroud about to be published, I've enjoyed taking life a little easier this week by enjoying reading some recently published  books written by some of my colleagues in the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. 

So, here is the first, which I thoroughly enjoyed and which I was able to identify with, both from the author's chosen time-frame and story line.  

FIVE UNFORGIVABLE THINGS written by Vivien Brown is a gripping tale covering forty years of life of our protagonist Kate, her husband Dan and their family. Gradually, we learn about their intimate secrets and the author's line-up of characters is varied and intriguing.

This prolific writer really knows her stuff when it comes to handling emotional topics. A little of her back blurb:

After years of struggling, she was finally pregnant following pioneering IVF. But the dream came at a cost. Neither Kate nor her husband Dan could have known the price they would have to pay to fulfil their cherished wish of having their own family. Now, years later, their daughter Natalie is getting married and is fulfilling her own dream of marrying her childhood sweetheart. Natalie knows she won’t be like most brides as she travels down the aisle in her wheelchair, but it’s the fact her father won’t be there to walk beside her that breaks her heart. Her siblings, Ollie, Beth and Jenny, gather around Natalie, but it isn’t just their father who is missing from their lives… as the secrets that have fractured the family rise to the surface, can they learn to forgive each other before it’s too late?

Vivien's career as a successful creative short story writer with work appearing in many top magazines, has spanned twenty years, and she has an enthusiastic following of readers who can't wait for her next book. 

FIVE UNFORGIVABLE THINGS 
Published by Harper Impulse 
ISBN  978-O-O-825214-4

FULL MOON RISING (with thanks to WillCoForests)

A full moon will be visible this Friday the 13th

For the first time since October 2000, this month's full moon coincides with Friday the 13th. The moon will officially be full early Saturday morning, but in many parts of the world, it will be visible on Friday.Photo via @WillCoForests

 

SPECIAL DAY AT WESTMINSTER PALACE, HOUSE OF LORDS FOR SWWJ MEMBERS

Memorable day with some of our SWWJ members courtesy of  Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham 

HOT OFF THE PRESS - TODAY'S CHARITY FUN WALK

Happy band of walkers all ready for that charity walk

Such a happy annual charity fun walk was enjoyed by thousands of Essex folk walking for their respective charities at  Barleylands Farm meadows today near Billericay. Started in 2002 by John Baron MP and his fabulous team, we haven't missed one event and it was wonderful to meet up with representatives of so many charity organisations, clubs and fund-raising teams all very happy to 'walk the walk' and receive their well-deserved medals at the end of the afternoon. Grateful thanks to all taking part and to photographer Rick of Brentwood. 

BRENTWOOD TOWN HALL OPENS ITS DOORS

Newly refurbished Brentwood Town Hall 

Spent many hours visiting the town of Brentwood, Essex today, mainly to attend AGM of our brilliant Brentwood Writers' Circle, meeting friends and family and generally taking more photos of the town about which over the last twelve months I've been researching, interviewing  and writing. My new book BRENTWOOD IN 50 BUILDINGS will be in main bookshops after 15 September. My publisher this time is Amberley of Stroud and this is my twelfth book mainly linked to history.

A LITTLE ENGLISH GRAMMAR COURTESY OF GRAMMAR CHECK