CHRISTMAS PREZZIES - GREAT FEED FOR MY BLOGGO - THE LITERARY COMPANION

 

I am lucky in meeting many folk in the literary world, some prolific authors and many who are just entering this fascinating, but often difficult industry. Inevitably, I have piles of books to read and review. One Christmas gift was this little book The Literary Companion edited by Emma Jones. I've found the content is great and in numerous sections, really funny.  It certainly answers some of the questions our writing societies have received over the past year or two.

BRENTWOOD'S LOCAL RADIO PRESENTER MICHELLE WARD INTERVIEWS DEBUT NOVELIST CHERRY BURROUGHS

 13th YEAR OF BOOK CLUB! PHOENIX 98FM December with Sylvia Kent & Guest Author, Cherry Burroughs

Written by Michelle Ward in Eat My Brunch 316

Thursday 22 December 2022, 8.48am

Its the 13th Year of Book Club! I cant believe it! Every month Sylvia invites interesting writers, journalists, actors, museum curators, Essex Book Festival guests, magazine editors and more fabulous guests for me to interview. Sylvia’s 60 Seconds of History feature has been a new edition this year. She has written many books on history, so when I suggested the feature I knew it was going to be a welcome addition to the format.

Thank you to Sylvia for sourcing all the wonderful guests and for another year of THE BOOK CLUB. Sylvia works hard all year to promote writers, continues writing for magazines, journals and is President of Brentwood Writers' Circle 

For the last Book Club of the month, I was joined by Sylvia Kent and guest author, Cherry Burroughs.

‘The Farmer and the Fury’ is Cherry’s debut novel. Cherry was asked about her start in writing, her inspirations and of course about her debut novel.

We also caught up with Brentwood Writers, Billericay Readers, Society of Women Journalists and Writers plus 60 Second of History from Sylvia Kent.

 ‘The Farmer and the Fury’ by Cherry Burroughs

What was important to me when I wrote this book was to respect the historical event but to weave a story that made connections and resonated with the reader. ‘The Farmer and the Fury’ does that on many levels.

The great North Sea flood of 1953 was an event which is embodied in our local history, not just because of the tragic loss of lives but also because it reminds all of us of our own vulnerabilities when faced with the power of nature. It is a theme that is as important today as it was in 1953.

 

INTERVIEW – CHERRY BURROUGHS

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www.cherryburroughs.co.uk

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS TO JENNI'S POOR LITTLE BAGPUSS

 

MICHELLE WARD - OUR LOCAL AWARD-WINNING PRESENTER AT PHOENIX FM

As  friends and colleagues will know, I enjoy working as a freelance writer with regular contacts with several Essex based radio stations, including the BBC. I've been lucky in knowing some great presenters during those years. One of my favourites is Phoenix FM, based at the Brentwood Centre, where Michelle Ward, an award-winning presenter, has worked since 2009, presenting her morning show from 10am till 1.00pm (Eat my Brunch).

Michelle is one of Phoenix's most well-known presenters, a popular singer and entertainer across Essex. She has written and recorded her own lyrics and music for several years, interviewing many interesting guests during her morning programme. This includes, every month the Book Club programme, where a guest writer/journalist  or entertainer is invited to talk about their latest book or project.

Recently, Michelle was recording acoustic versions of songs in the studio and was videoed along with Ed Rome and  The Condriacs (who have 90k followers on Facebook and a massive fan base). The Condriacs include two local musicians from Billericay, Peter Spicer and Tony Slaven. Ed Rome is also from Billericay and has around ten albums to his name and lots of high-profile Radio Show plays. All are gifted. Michelle feels she is lucky to have them working with her. She now wants to concentrate on maybe the radio show history to current date and then the exciting EP Directions.

 

The EP is called DIRECTIONS and the lead track is TRY

Michelle's socials are here michellewardmusic | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree.   That has Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Music, Band Camp and Amazing Radio. Physical CDs are now available.  

The track TRY is being played on a lot of stations worldwide and the EP DIRECTIONS is her debut,  and she is  delighted with her 59K views.   

DAWN'S NEW NOVEL IS CLIMBING THE WRITING CHARTS

One of my favourite fellow writer members at both Brentwood Writers' Circle and London's SWWJ is Dawn Knox, whose work is constantly published in many different magazines and e-zines. Here are details of her latest book title and, happily, news is arriving that her reading rates are climbing, particularly in America and Australia.  Do take a peek at The Pearl of Aphrodite 

The fifth part in the Lady Amelia Saga was published at the end of October 2022 and is now out as paperback, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited on Amazon, here https://mybook.to/ThePearlOfAphrodite

The first parts are ‘The Duchess of Sydney’ which you can read about here, ‘The Finding of Eden’ here, ‘The Other Place’, here and ‘The Dolphin’s Kiss’ here. An honest heart is no protection against the lies and deceit of friends.

In 1790, three-year-old Charlotte Jackson is transported with her convict mother from London to Sydney. Twenty-one years later, Charlotte is offered the chance of a new life in London by the mysterious and brash Ruth Bellamy. Charlotte yearns to belong. A new start in a new country might be just what she needs.

On the perilous voyage, she falls for handsome Alexander Melford, also seeking betterment in London. Fate throws them together. But the deceit of those they trust threatens to tear them apart. Will they ever escape the lies and finally be free to love? Previously published as a My Weekly Pocket Novel under the title ‘Aphrodite’s Pearl’.

Cover designer Paul Burridge of PublishingBuddy designed a super new cover for the book and the manuscript was edited by Wendy Ogilvie of Wendy Ogilvie Editorial.

You can find the all the books in the saga on Amazon:

The Duchess of Sydney – https://mybook.to/TheDuchessOfSydney
The Finding of Eden – https://mybook.to/TheFindingOfEden
The Other Place – https://mybook.to/TheOtherPlace
The Dolphin’s Kiss – https://mybook.to/TheDolphinsKiss
The Pearl of Aphrodite – https://mybook.to/ThePearlOfAphrodite

GOATS IN ESSEX? - CHECK OUT THE BBC ESSEX THURSDAY MORNING PROGRAMME - GREAT MEMORIES OF BILLERICAY SCHOOL

 

Arthur Lingard  Mary Snowden Stuart Broomhead and Adam Henderson 

                   

It may be twenty years since I met them all, but it was fun to listen to Ben Fryer presenting the BBC Essex morning programme featuring Adam Henderson who ran the Billericay School Farm for many years. Adam and his colleagues, including Headteacher  Mr Arthur Lingard all paid a visit here for a cuppa when I was writing the history of The Billericay School.  Shame the school farm closed so many years ago, but is still, obviously, remembered by former pupils.  

Cover Photograph courtesy:  Mike Shelley (centre row left) and Billericay School photographic archive.

Luckily, my book -The Billericay School - (Images of England)  just one of my twelve commissioned titles, is still in print via Tempus Publishing (now The History Press) and is available from Waterstones, WH Smith and all good bookshops. Also signed copies from me via kentsylvia5@gmail.com 

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS HAVE STARTED IN OUR SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS & JOURNALISTS

 

Yours truly and SWWJ Chair Barbara 

Against expectations, my trip to London yesterday was smooth and uneventful and it was lovely to be almost the first of our Council at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall to arrive early to meet so many of our super members. Also, a joy to meet a  number of guests and brand new members. London is glowing with Christmas colour at the moment,  and our venue, the National Liberal Club was beautifully decorated.

Christina Lamb OBE

Our guest speaker, the war correspondent Christina Lamb OBE, who is one of Britain's leading foreign correspondents and a best-selling author was introduced. Christina has reported from most of the world's hot spots and delivered a powerful and fascinating talk, outlining her work in Afghanistan and in other dangerous war zones. Her latest book which will certainly be a best seller was signed and all copies were sold out. 

It was also a pleasure to introduce a new novelist to our SWWJ members - the talented Cherry Twydell (who writes under her pen-name Cherry Burroughs).  Her debut book The Farmer and the Fury is also new on the block and she is due to appear soon on Essex radio programmes and a series of book signing debuts and talks in Essex. www.cherryburroughs.co.uk 

Cherry Twydell

CALLING ALL CAT LOVERS WHO LIVE NEAR PAIGNTON, DEVON