Maggie Cobbett

The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley…

Never was a truer word written. The run up to Christmas was going well for me, if we discount the heavy cold and touch of sinusitis that kept me in bed for a whole weekend.

Last Tuesday evening saw Ripon Writers’ Group’s Christmas event at The Old Deanery, which was as much fun as ever, especially when the pudding spoon turned out to be too large to fit into the glass of chocolate gunk and then got stuck. Despite feeling a little blurry, I managed to take my turn at reading out a limerick composed for the occasion. OK, so it would make Robert Burns cringe, but here you are:

It’s the month Santa’s reindeer all dread,
Being hitched up to that great heavy sled.
“Take a break,” they all whine,
 “And use snail mail this time,
Then we can spend Christmas in bed.”

There were many better contributions to the evening’s entertainment, including an ‘easy peasy quiz’ that turned out to be anything but. Link to RWG’s website on the right if you’d like to know more about it all.

An equally cheery gathering two days later at the same venue introduced me to members of the U3A Book Group, whose choice for January 2016 is my novel ‘Shadows of the Past’. This is the second year that they and the Spanish group, who meet on the same day of the week, have got together for Christmas lunch and long may it continue!

Nemesis caught up with me on Friday. Insanely happy to have thrown off the cold, although still feeling that someone may have karate chopped the bridge of my nose, I set off for York. My main aim was to have lunch with a fellow member of York Writers, but I thought I could also knock a few items off my Christmas shopping list. All went well until I was strolling down Goodramgate – not hastening, STROLLING – when my left foot twisted on the wet road surface and I crashed to the ground. Shopping went one way, handbag another, both to be rescued by a kind couple who picked me up and stayed with me until assured that no bones were broken. I made it to King’s Square to meet my lunch companion and eventually home, although it was definitely a case of mind over matter as the foot I’d twisted was very painful. The reason for this was revealed later on when I took off my boot to inspect the comprehensive bruising, which was mirrored by that all up the side onto which I fell.Another weekend in bed followed and I’m only just beginning to get back to something resembling normal. One big regret is having to miss the annual Ripon Activity Project party on Saturday, but at least it seems to have gone very well without my input!

14 December, 2015 - Make the first comment on this story

Tis the season to be jolly!

Yes indeed, although someone needs to tell that to the folk at the Met Office. OK, so it isn’t really their fault that we’re having dark skies and far more than our share of rain at the moment, but someone has to be blamed! I’m not ready for Christmas yet, but my mannequin friend Caroline is getting there. I just wish that I could replace her Victoria Beckham style stare with a cheery smile!

So far this month, I’ve been to two very different Christmas celebrations. The first was for York Writers and took place in the upstairs room of Brigantes on Micklegate.

There was a good turn out and choice of food and I particularly enjoyed the Black Forest trifle. Afterwards, we all slumped over our full stomachs to hear Tracy Rees bring us up to date on what she’s been doing since winning the Richard & Judy first novel award last year for Amy Snow. As a former member of YW, Tracy knows how proud we all are of her achievement and she obviously took pleasure in telling us a little about her new novel, details of which are still largely under wraps.

On Thursday evening, I was in The Golden Lion in Ripon for the Oxfam shop volunteers’ Christmas dinner. About 30 of us sat down to a three course meal followed by a Power Point presentation about the Oxfam Unwrapped scheme and the benefits it provides to communities in different parts of the world.

Next week, I have three functions to look forward to, two of them at The Old Deanery opposite Ripon Cathedral. The first is for Ripon Writers and I have yet to think up a couple of seasonal limericks to read out before the meal. The second is a joint meal for the Ripon U3A Spanish and Book groups and promises to be good fun.

In between, I’ve got two days ‘on set’ in a certain fictional Yorkshire village, so I’m going to be rather tired by next Saturday, especially if I don’t manage to throw off a very inconvenient cold! That will be just in time for the Ripon Activity Project’s Christmas party and RAP’s Got Talent competition at the Bowling Club. Yikes!

5 December, 2015 - Make the first comment on this story

Well worth the aching feet!

What a week this has been! It began last Friday evening with the traditional Strictly Salsa party to celebrate Halloween. The costumes get better every year and 2015 saw as gruesome a bunch of individuals as you’d ever hope to meet – or not! See if you can spot me.

The weekend was family time with a visiting cousin and her husband from the other side of the Pennines. Fountains Abbey beckoned and we hoofed it all the way from the Visitors’ Centre car park to the far end of the Seven Bridges Walk – and back. The following day was devoted to a whistle stop tour of Ripon and they’re looking forward to getting to know our little city better on their next visit.

Tuesday saw me with a friend at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle to attend the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition. It was fabulous, but I was even more captivated by the 18th century musical automaton of the Silver Swan. The crowd that gathered round to see it in action – only once a day now at 2 p.m. – was proof that I’m not alone in that. The whole performance only lasts about 30 seconds or so but is very well worth the wait.

To quote from the Museum’s website:

How The Silver Swan Works

The swan is life-size and is controlled by three separate clockwork mechanisms. The Silver Swan rests on a stream made of twisted glass rods interspersed with silver fish. When the mechanism is wound up, the glass rods rotate, the music begins, and the Swan twists its head to the left and right and appears to preen its back. It then appears to sight a fish in the water below and bends down to catch it, which it then swallows as the music stops and it resumes its upright position.

6 November, 2015 - Make the first comment on this story

Short Story Writing Workshop in York

Photograph: Copyright D.C.Thomson

Many Yorkshire based writers have been frustrated by the fact that ‘how to’ workshops run by popular magazines are generally based hundreds of miles away from their homes. Well, Thursday 22nd October was serendipity for some of us. The People’s Friend came to York.

From 10 o’clock in the morning until half past four in the afternoon, the time just whizzed by. We were greeted by Fiction Editor Shirley Blair who spoke at length about how to write a story suitable for TPF and laid many misconceptions to rest. She explained how the magazine, while remaining family friendly, aims to reflects life as it is today, albeit with the edges rubbed off. While its stories will never be edgy or risqué, they will continue to push the boundaries. Prolific writer Kate Blackadder shared with us how she finds inspiration and structures her stories.

With its weekly magazine, fiction specials and annual, TPF accepts 600 stories a year, far more than any other magazine, and every one is carefully considered. Feedback always aims to be constructive and that has certainly been my experience.

Both ladies set us exercises and the whole room was buzzing with ideas as we scribbled furiously in our new notebooks. By the time I left, I had at least half a dozen ideas in my head for plots and could hardly wait to get back home to my computer. Thank you, Shirley and Kate, for a most stimulating day.

I can’t finish this post without saying how much I enjoyed meeting so many fellow writers, none of whom were known to me ‘in the flesh’ before. Networking is always a pleasure and I’m sure that we’ll keep in touch.

26 October, 2015 - Make the first comment on this story

Up, Up And Away!

With most of my focus lately being on my first novel, short stories have taken something of a back seat. However, this thinly disguised account of my one and only ride in a hot air balloon is in the latest Fiction Special (No. 113) issued by The People’s Friend.

11 October, 2015 - Make the first comment on this story

Guesting on Iain Pattison’s blog

It’s always an honour to appear as a guest on another writer’s blog and I was particularly pleased to accept Iain Pattison’s invitation.

Our paths first crossed when  Iain, as a highly respected competition judge, was a main speaker at the Writers’ Summer School (Swanwick). I now know him also as a prolific writer of short stories who can never resist a good (or even a bad) pun.

Iain asked me to write about my recent transition from short story writer to novelist and TO MAKE IT FUNNY. I hope that I’ve fulfilled my brief  with ‘From a hundred-metre dash to a marathon’, but you can judge for yourself by cutting and pasting  http://www.iainpattison.co.uk/give-a-warm-welcome-to-my-first-guest-blogger/#more-469

It begins with a few of Iain’s own words:

I’m off on holiday – what, I hear you cry, another one! And it’s not that I don’t trust you, but I’m wary of leaving my blog unguarded for just any passing scribbler to wander into and start posting. So good friend Maggie Cobbett has offered to keep an eye on the place and water the dogs and take the plants for a walk.Thanks Maggie – help yourself to anything in the fridge, but I’d avoid the cheese. It wasn’t that colour when we bought it!

In this guest blog she talks about the challenges of making the leap from short story writer to debut novelist and reveals how a rather bizarre teenage holiday in France provided her with loads of memorable, if slightly disturbing, material. Over to you, Maggie…

8 October, 2015 - Make the first comment on this story

OAPSchat

A website dedicated to people ‘of a certain age’ has offered me the opportunity to share the origins of my recently published novel with its members.  By cutting and pasting the address below, you will be able to read what I have written about it and see some previously unpublished photographs:

http://www.oapschat.co.uk/10-lifestyle/hobbies/714-shadows-of-the-past

In return for this opportunity, I have been more than happy to donate a signed copy of Shadows of the Past as a raffle prize and very much hope that the winner enjoys it.

6 October, 2015 - Make the first comment on this story

‘Shadows’ featured in Writing Magazine (November 2015)

Delighted to see this. I’ve been a subscriber to this invaluable magazine for many a long year.

28 September, 2015 - There are 2 comments on this story

Adjudication for Harrogate Writers’ Circle

I doubt if I’m alone in finding the role of an adjudicator demanding and sometimes quite stressful, especially when I know that some of the entrants will be familiar faces. However, I try to put that thought behind me when reading the manuscripts and aim to give as balanced a judgement as possible. It’s a real pleasure to discover from the local paper that I gave satisfaction  on this occasion.

24 September, 2015 - Make the first comment on this story

A royal approach to book signing

I went along to a talk by Princess Michael of Kent without much idea of what to expect. Her account of life in early 15th century France, as described in her Anjou trilogy, was fascinating and I was very impressed with the graceful way in which she handled problems with her laptop and the sound system.

HRH’s approach to taking questions from the audience was an interesting one, though. At the end of her talk, even when prompted by one of the organisers, she declined to answer any there and then but said that they’d be welcome from individuals as she signed their books!

I suspect that non-royal authors might have met with a dusty response to that.

23 September, 2015 - There are 2 comments on this story