ENID BLYTON - MY BRUSHES WITH A FEW FAMOUS FOLK - MANY MORE TO COME - KEEP VISITING!

Enid Mary Blyton was an English children's writer whose books have been among the world's best-sellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Blyton's books are still enormously popular, and have been translated into many  languages. She died on this day in 1968.

Yesterday, I became the newest member of the Enid Blyton Fan Club, yes really, as I am probably only one of a few who had actually met this author, along with many other young Brownies at the Central Hall, Westminster, London. At the time, I was a keen reader and just loved her 'Sunny Stories' before starting on the compilation below.

I always wondered where did Enid get all her ideas from? An article by Anita Bensoussane provides some valuable insight into her writing methods. How did she become a writer? How did she write her books? Did she plan her books in advance or make them up as she went along? And which characters were based on real people? More than fifty years after her death, the author of The Famous Five and Noddy still rules the hearts of millions of children!

Banc-y-Gwyngoed, near Tregaron, Ceredigion - AMAZING TRIP THANKS TO ROBERT GLADSTONE

At c1,456ft, Banc-y-Gwyngoed is a little lower than its near neighbour Bryn Rhudd, rising more-or-less due east. That being said, there is no corresponding lack of stature when considering its own Bronze Age cairn. Yeah, despite having been altered somewhat - according to the landowner arriving on site late in the day, way before living memory - to serve as a sheep shelter, this remains one significant monument. A brief visit from the landowner notwithstanding, my only companions during an extended, peaceful visit were the local honey bees. OK, they may have objected to my presence upon their home, but, to be fair, were quite happy with The Citizen Cairn hanging out beside, enjoying the far-reaching views.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY GREETINGS TO ALL OUR OVERSEAS FRIENDS

We know that this special day is celebrated by many friends and certainly family members living in America. I am currently writing about the Mayflower ship that took some of our Billericay antecedents to America in 1620. Last year our town had planned a wonderful programme of events to mark this once in a lifetime commemoration, and we did, in fact, manage to take part in a few events just before the covid epidemic changed so many of our carefully planned gatherings, but nevertheless, our thoughts were with our American friends. 

The story leading up to the Thanksgiving tradition has interesting connections with our town of Billericay in Essex. It was from our community on 6 September 1620 that a group of local residents joined the contingent of Puritan emigrants who boarded the Mayflower ship at Plymouth. Christopher Martin, who is believed to have lived at the Chantry House at 57-61 High Street (pictured) was the ship’s governor who supplied the food for the voyage, including flour ground at the Bell Hill windmill. The Chantry House building still stands, but looks a little different these days, having been considerably altered over the years and is now a restaurant.

 

PEN TO PRINT - OUR LATEST GUESTS ON PHOENIX98FM BOOK CLUB - PRESENTED BY MICHELLE WARD

Michelle Ward

It's always a great experience being interviewed by Michelle
Ward on Phoenix98fm

Michelle was joined for this month's Book Club by Lisa Roullier and Lena Smith from Pen to Print. This amazing organisation helps all types of aspiring writers in supporting their first steps of seeing their work in print and building their confidence in this often challenging craft. Check out the excellent Pen To Print – What’s Your Story? website and learn how writers can benefit from a super team of folk who care about writing people. Lena Smith and Lisa Roullier below.

As usual, I kicked off the Book Club programme talking about our Billericay reading group, Brentwood Writers' Circle (currently celebrating our 80th birthday and lovely anthology), our wonderful Society of Women Writers and Journalists and (for me) the challenge of presenting 60 Seconds of Brentwood History. 

Ford Motor Company at Eagle Way, Warley, Brentwood

This month I concentrated on the demise of the famous Ford Motor Company iconic building at Warley, which is  still an impressive address, but will change its use very shortly to lovely apartments, with a fabulous view on upper floors of scenic views over this very green part of Essex. I am hoping that I will be invited to take a tour of the building just as I did in August 1964 when it first opened its doors.  

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY AT LONDON'S CENOTAPH, WHITEHALL

For the first time since we arrived in Billericay so many years ago, we missed Sunday's service around our own town's war memorial. However, we managed to catch the televised service at the Cenotaph at Whitehall (familiar, as it is close to our regular meeting venue), and as this was our one hundredth anniversary year for many of the organisations on parade, it was very special. Loved seeing the Chelsea Pensioners and members of Scotty's Little Soldiers, and members of the royal family.  Had hoped to see our Queen, but understood she was ill.  

Lovely, though, to see Prince William and Kate doing a great job the evening before at The Albert Hall!

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE AUTHORS DAWN KNOX WHO NEVER FAILS TO SURPRISE ME

 

I enjoy reading all kinds of books on a wide variety of topics and appreciate the work that goes into the business of research and writing to a prescribed number of words. So, it's a double pleasure when I actually know the author of some of the titles on my bedside table.

 Recently, during my monthly Phoenix radio Book Club programmes (presented by Michelle Ward), I mentioned the work of one of the members of Brentwood Writers' Circle and the Society of Women Writers & Journalists - Dawn Knox.  Dawn has produced numerous superb books over the last five years.

One, in particular, is linked to Bletchley Park during 1940 and is based on the life and times of this famous building in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, which I visited a couple of years back. Loved learning more about Alan Turing and the clever way in which Dawn has incorporated various Bletchley characters into her compelling story.

Alan Turing as a young man

To learn more about Dawn Knox, do pop over to her website at:

www.knox box of miscellany 

You can also find her on:
Facebook as @DawnKnoxWriter
Twitter as @SunriseCalls
Instagram as SunriseCalls
Amazon Author Page Dawn Knox

There is also a list of Dawn's books on her Books page here . If you’re interested in her Romance books, please click here and if you’d like to see her My Weekly Pocket Novels, please click here.

   

THE START OF THE NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH - 50,000 WORDS - KEEP THOSE FINGERS TAPPING

 

November has begun, which means it's officially National Novel Writing Month!

I enjoyed taking part in this NaNoWriMo a year or so ago and eventually finished my 50,000 word project linked to the history of the county of  Essex, England.  Writing this length in such a short time (30 days) can  seem like a daunting project—especially when lots of other important things are vying for your attention.

But sometimes, if all you think about is the insurmountable amount of work, you'll never reach your goals. So don't think about all those scary 50,000 words yet: just think about the first word. And then the one after that. And then the one after that. Pretty soon you'll have a sentence, then a paragraph, then a page. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to finishing your novel.  

If you haven't started writing yet, don't worry! There's plenty of time this month to take a creative break and immerse yourself in your story. We’re here for you if you want to spend time this month writing with us. 

Announce your NaNoWriMo 2021 novel.

Have questions? Take a look at our FAQs!

 

Pep Talk Advice from Anna-Marie McLemore

Every year, we get a team of incredible authors to share writing advice and encouragement in the form of Pep Talks. This week's Pep Talker, author Anna-Marie McLemore, has some tips on beginning a new project:

"Whether you finish this draft just a few trees away from where your story belongs, or on the other side of the forest, this is your starting point. This is your way in."

Read Anna-Marie's Pep Talk.

View our Pep Talk archive.

SAD NEWS TODAY FROM MR 'BEANZ MEANZ HEINZ' - OUR FRIEND MAURICE WHO PASSED AWAY TODAY

Having met Maurice Drake many years ago when he paid a visit to our Brentwood Writers' Circle - living as he did in Brentwood at the time - how sad it is that I wasn't able to interview him as planned, due to covid. We had planned a visit from me to his Brighton nursing home in the spring and I appreciated the help from his friends. 

In an industry that is so reliant on words and trends - even sixty years ago - it was Maurice who thought up the slogan 'Beanz meanz Heinz' when he worked for that famous advertising agency Young & Rubicam.  Maurice was an author, too, and I managed to glimpse the title of his book 'Hollering Up a Tree', which he brought with him to Brentwood, plus some other features and, recently was privileged to read part of his memoir.  Our warm thoughts go out to his proud family.