VISITING TWO OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKSHOPS IN THE CITY OF CHELMSFORD, ESSEX

 

I enjoyed a visit to Chelmsford city yesterday and made sure I popped into Waterstones and WHSmith where some of my latest books are being displayed. I am usually asked to sign a stock of my books when I turn up and yesterday, I found the latest book written by my colleague at Brentwood Writers' Circle, Jim Reeve alongside as part of their Local Book Collection.

Of course, our books are sold in other bookstores, many of which have newly opened in this part of Essex, England.  

It was a huge pleasure was to meet Edith Miller in The Art Place (within the Meadows Shopping Centre) in Chelmsford city.  I was so impressed by, not only the book section, but a veritable emporium of every form of creative art. Certainly worth a visit but remember to allow enough time to absorb so much colour and wonderful artwork. The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable and you can see their work displayed all around The Art Place. 

BBC ESSEX RADIO SHOW CURRENTLY PLAYING - 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EAST COAST FLOODS

A few weeks ago, I appeared on our local radio station PhoenixFM based at the Brentwood Centre. This year is our 13th for Michelle Ward, supersonic presenter of Book Club. Our guest in December was my friend and colleague Cherry Twydell, who spoke about her debut novel The Farmer and the Fury’. Her pen name is Cherry Burroughs. 

Today, Cherry is guest on the Steve and Ian show currently playing on BBC Essex.  10.00am - 2.00pm. She will be talking about the  ghastly tidal surge in 1953 which inspired her to research and create her excellent book. 

On her earlier show for Phoenix98fm, she said:

What was important to me when I wrote this book was to respect the historical event and  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.

 

DAWN KNOX DOES IT AGAIN! DAWN'S NEW SAGA THE DUCHESS OF SYDNEY RECEIVES TOP AWARD.

 Betrayed, maliciously accused and transported. Will she ever be free? Dawn Knox's latest book is Number One on Amazon and receiving great reviews.

Betrayed by her family and convicted of a crime she did not commit, Georgiana is sent halfway around the world to the penal colony of Sydney, New South Wales. Aboard the transport ship, the Lady Amelia, Lieutenant Francis Brooks, the ship’s agent becomes her protector, taking her as his “sea-wife”, not because he has any interest in her but because he has been tasked with the duty.

Despite their mutual distrust, the attraction between them grows. But life has not played fair with Georgiana. She is bound by family secrets and lies. Will she ever be free again – free to be herself and free to love?

Previously published as a My Weekly Pocket Novel and a large print paperback by Ulverscroft Ltd under the same title.

Dawn Knox

WELCOME SIGHTS IN OUR ESSEX GARDENS

During this cold and rather bleak winter, the sight of the little white bells of the snowdrop, poking their heads above the snow and frost are symbols of hope that spring is not really that far away.  Snowdrops can be seen in our English gardens from now until March (for later varieties), but the exact timing depends on the weather, of course, and whereabouts in the country you live. I've been told that batches have already been flowering well before Christmas and even as early as mid  December, so it's never too soon to start looking! 

OUR FRIEND RONALD BLYTHE CBE DIED YESTERDAY - I NOW HAVE THE PLEASURE OF READING HIS LAST BOOK

So very sad to hear that our wonderful friend Ronald Blythe CBE  - probably the best known and greatest English author, winning countless awards during his one hundred years - died yesterday.  Ronald's work includes Akenfield (a Penguin 20th Century Classic and a feature film), and numerous other titles. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and spent nearly all of his life in his beloved Suffolk. The New York Times enjoyed publishing Ronald's essays and his gardening contributions and stories were classics. 

During the 1970s and '80s, our Brentwood Writers' Circle was honoured when Ronald became our President and often visited us, with return visits to his home in Wormingford. His great friend Eileen Huckbody introduced Ronald to our team at Brentwood and I often had the pleasure of a chat on the telephone.  

Ronald's last book Next to Nature was recently published by John Murray and is a fabulous testament to his extraordinary life and times.

 

LET'S GET WRITING - JOIN YOUR LOCAL WRITERS' CIRCLE IN THIS NEW YEAR

 An urge to write is present in many of us. For some, it’s an obsession – there’s even a label for it, ‘hypergraphia’. Lewis Carroll is said to have suffered from this in later life, writing almost 100,000 letters. Both Vincent van Gogh and Fyodor Dostoevsky are also believed to have been affected, and the Reverend Robert Shields famously maintained his passion for writing his diaries at five-minute intervals, from 1972 until a stroke disabled him in 1997. The resulting 25 years of chronicles packed into 94 boxes were estimated to have contained around 38 million words.

Writing a Regular Diary

My own early writing life also started in the form of diary-keeping, though not as prodigiously as Rev Shields. Many teenagers pour their feelings into their diary and this is now regarded as useful therapy. Some of that early writing set amongst 1950s’ austerity, then later descriptions of London’s business life during ‘60s, early married life, raising a family, moving house, returning to full-time work during the ‘70s to a bewildering, technologically-controlled business world – makes a useful hoard of material. The diaries are often raided for livening up one's copy..

The Freelance Challenge

Whether you intend taking a sabbatical to write that novel, concentrate on selling short stories to magazines or are contracted to supply a weekly newspaper column, it is worth learning the hard facts about commercial writing and going solo. Working from Home working from one's own home does not suit every writer. Leaving a well-structured lively business fraternity to live the solitary life with maybe just the cat for company is often difficult. With more than 200,000 books being published annually in the UK, there has never been more competition for writing work.

Develop a Contact Base

With an already established contact base and membership of a couple of media agencies, writers will be that little way ahead of amateur writers taking his first steps into the business. But these skills can be acquired by using the many guides, such as the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook, Writers’ Digest and subscribing to current Writing Magazines. Learn how to access the many search engines on the Internet to glean the best information. 

Joining a Local Writer's Club There are numerous writing circles in every county and generally, members are there to help and inspire.

Take a look at our local group    www.brentwoodwriterscircle.com

Just some of our members in an earlier anniversary party

WOMEN'S WRITING - SAD NEWS RE NOVELIST FAY WELDON

Fay pictured at our SWWJ lunch in London 2000 - 

 How sad to hear the news today about the demise of Fay Weldon, who often came to our Society of Women Writers and Journalists' lunches in London during the 1990s.  She was always funny and enjoyed being with us, often writing some humorous notes when signing her books at signing events. 

WELCOMING IN A BRAND NEW YEAR!

 

1. 2022 has been quite a year for all of us, and now it's time to welcome a brand new one - let's hope it will be a safe, happy, healthy time ahead.
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3. One of the first places to welcome the new year was Kiritimati Island in the central Pacific Ocean and Auckland in New Zealand became the first major city to start celebrations welcoming in 2023, with fireworks launched from the city's Sky Tower. 
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5. Sydney also entered the new year with the city's fabulous fireworks launched from its Harbour Bridge, Opera House and barges in its famous harbour.  Warmest wishes to our lovely Kiwi friends.