MEETING OTHER AUTHORS - LISA HORNER

I do enjoy meeting other writers and learning how they first entered this strange writerly world of ours. So, it is with great pleasure that I introduce my followers to yet another of my author friends, Lisa Horner, who is an accomplished artist as well as being a published author of two best-selling books.  She is a familiar face at Billericay Library, where she works.

 

When interviewed recently, Lisa said:

'Writing is something I started later in life. Before this, fitting around family life, I worked through quite a few art courses, culminating in a Degree in Art and Design. I did find that the areas that I shone in on my degree course was writing and illustration. I have always been driven to find balance and to be able to give my family quality time, so it's natural that I've had more time to concentrate on art and writing later in life.'

Generally, many aspiring writers have great difficulty in finding a traditional publisher, but Lisa was surprised (and happy) when one of our top history publishers, Amberley Publishing, approached her to write a book about Basildon in Essex. A high honour indeed!

She was previously a contributing researcher to the late Frances Clamp, one of the county’s best-known authors; also the President of the Brentwood Writers' Circle for twenty years. Lisa had worked with Frances on the book Basildon, Our Heritage.  Lisa’s first title was Basildon Through Time, which was published in 2014. This was followed by Lost Basildon in 2019. With so much research material available, she included the Geraldine Evans's family story about The Barge in Vange in the book, and also a more detailed article, which was published in the Essex Life Magazine in 2020.

As an author, Lisa has given talks and appeared on the Phoenix FM radio station and on other radio stations. In 2023 she joined the Basildon Writers' Group, where her story was featured in their successful second anthology, It Happened in Essex 2: Tall Tales from the Basildon Writers' Group.  All proceeds went to Basildon Hospital Radio (BHR 87.7). The author commented: 

'I'm very proud that my story based around the great North Sea flood of 1953 - the worst natural disaster in modern British history - was included in the fund-raising book. My story focuses on the Canvey area.’

Lisa’s writer's website: https://www.lisajhorner.com/

Lisa’s art website: https://lisajanehorner.wixsite.com/artportfolio

ANOTHER PHOENIX BOOK CLUB WITH NEW GUEST AUTHOR LISA HORNER

Always a great pleasure to visit Phoenix 98fm radio studio in Brentwood, Essex. This morning our favourite presenter Michelle Ward welcomed author Lisa Horner first time to Book Club. Lisa's new book published by Amberley gives readers fascinating glimpses of Basildon as it was in 1949, when it was once regarded as one of the country's 'new towns'.  Celebrations have been going on during Basildon's 70th anniversary and Lisa's newly published book Lost Basildon with many spectacular unseen images, is a great read which will undoubtedly bring back poignant memories to those Essex folk who watched it grow from a small, mainly agricultural area, to its present huge diverse town. 

Originally a collection of villages in Essex, Basildon was developed as a new town after the Second World War in 1949. The last seventy years have seen incredible changes take place. New residents started to move in during the 1950s as the first homes were completed and, alongside the new housing, the town attracted businesses to its industrial parks, many of them household names such as Ford, Gordon’s gin and GEC Marconi, as well as leading the way in new retailing with the largest covered shopping centre in Europe when it was built in the 1980s. Further regeneration of the town is planned, and the town retains traces of its historical past, as well as green, open spaces.

Lost Basildon presents a portrait of this town in Essex, showing not just the buildings, streets and industries that have gone or changed, but also a way of life that is no longer. This fascinating photographic history of lost Basildon will appeal to all those who live in the town or know it well, as well as those who remember it from previous decades.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY- CELEBRATING IN BILLERICAY - MY CONTRIBUTION WITH THANKS TO LIBRARY

 How I love our Essex Libraries and, in particular, Billericay Library, which is one of the busiest and most welcoming libraries in this area.  

Yours truly and Lisa Horner on International Women's Day 8 March

So happy to meet one of their librarians Lisa Horner (herself a popular author (more about her in next missive), but such fun to be interviewed by her recently. She wanted news of my latest writing projects connected to the world's most famous women's writing organisation - The Society of Women Writers and Journalists (founded in 1894) and my current traditionally published books (12), my features (4,000+), eight anthologies and an update on my own interviews with the famous and (frankly notorious) characters over the last 33 years.  

A FAVOURITE SPOT IN BILLERICAY HIGH STREET IN WHICH TO READ MY NEW BOOK?

Slipped Discs and Brown Sugar at 57/59 High Street  is one of Billericay's most popular places, established in one of the town's oldest buildings and it is certainly one of my favourites.

Visitors love its relaxed atmosphere, where a great cup of coffee can enjoyed and a chance to listen to some of the best music around. Now, you can also buy a copy of some of our local authors' new books, including my new book title Brentwood in 50 Buildings and Lisa Horner's book Lost Basildon.

And I should add, their reputation for lovely sandwiches and home-made cakes is well known. Why not pop in, relax and enjoy a really pleasant half hour?
Oh, and well-behaved dogs are allowed on the patio around the back of the building. 

Beverley with some of her gorgeous cakes

Lisa Horner celebrating the release of her latest books

MAY I INTRODUCE COLIN TAYLOR, AUTHOR, STAND-UP & STORY TELLER?

 On Saturday, novelist Colin Taylor and the super Lisa Horner, author and librarian, presented their 'Starting to Write' session in Billericay Library and surprises were in store for those present.  Colin provided a great afternoon, packed with answers to questions and queries about taking that first gentle step into our often strange world of writing, with more than a little help from Lisa, who is also a talented artist.  

More information can be found on websites www.colintaylortales.com and www.lisajhorner.com (not forgetting our own Brentwood Writers' Circle website), which is also a fascinating place to visit to discover more information about one of the UK's oldest and most successful writing circles.  www.brentwoodwriterscircle.comasing art or want to commission me. 

lisajanehorner(at)yahoo.co.u