Hello, and thank you for visiting my site. I hope that you'll return often and always find something of interest about my world and what inspires me to pick up a pen. (This is a figure of speech, unfortunately. My handwriting is terrible!) Here's what I've been up to recently...
Autumn ramblings
Where have the last couple of months gone? It seems only last week that I was having tea on the lawn with my Swanwick friends and visiting York Maze before the maize was harvested. Now we’re in mid-October.There’s a lot to be said for this time of year, especially when living in a glorious part of the world like North Yorkshire. I consider myself particularly fortunate to have Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal on the doorstep. When Antonia Hodgson was researching her novel A Death At Fountains Abbey, she had to rent a cottage. I live a four mile drive away – less if I choose to walk and cut through the fields – and have my favourite bench. There is nowhere better to sit, pen in hand, when wrestling with a tricky piece of writing.
The trees had just started to turn when another solitary soul and I took up temporary residence by the Moon Pond in the Water Gardens. By now the autumn foliage will be glorious and I plan to return very soon.
Different aspects of my life came together when I was asked to speak to the Rotary Club of Ripon Rowels about what makes working as a television/film extra an ideal job for a writer. The answer to that question is twofold; the inspiration I get from all the interesting people I meet and plenty of time to write during the long hours waiting to be called onto the set.
In common with many writers known to me, I find promoting my books harder work than writing them in the first place. However, last Sunday I was doing just that at the Ryedale Book Festival in Malton.
Another aspect of a writer’s life can – and maybe should – be passing on expertise to others. I’ve run workshops for adults before but this creative writing session for visiting French pupils was the first time for many years that I’ve taken on a group of teenagers. I’m very happy to report that they were a great bunch of young people and everything went swimmingly! With Halloween not far away, I took as my theme the ghostly Roman soldiers in the Treasurer’s House.
The workshop came about following a request to York Writers and fellow member David Dale, whose novel Night Witch was published this year, ran a parallel group. David chose to focus on Guy Fawkes, arguably York’s most famous – or notorious, depending on your point of view – former resident.
The feedback from both groups was very positive and David and I wish the youngsters every success with their own writing.
13 October, 2016 - Make the first comment on this story
Happy New Year!
“Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” Mark Twain
All right, so we’re already halfway through January, but last month’s accident (see below) has slowed me down considerably. Still not able to get back to dancing for the foreseeable future, I’m nevertheless determined to regain my mojo and keep to my own new year’s resolution. What is it? Whenever something particularly unpleasant needs to be done, do it straight away. The day will immediately feel much better!
Sales of my novel Shadows of the Past continue to go well and I was delighted to give a talk about the inspiration behind it to Ripon U3A Book Group on Thursday. One lady made a very valid point about the blurb on the back, which I shall certainly bear in mind for the next edition. Otherwise, all the comments were favourable and I left the session in a happy glow.
Pride comes before a fall, though, and my first short story submission of 2016 was rejected in the shortest space of time ever. Bloody but unbowed, I must admit that the fiction editor’s criticism that too large chunks were told not shown was justified, although I didn’t agree with all her other comments. However, she is the keeper of the door through which so many of us compete to pass, so I shall take them on the chin as usual and try again. Past acceptances have proved that I CAN reach the standard she requires.
Back to the drawing board now. Another story is brewing!
17 January, 2016 - There are 2 comments on this story
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
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
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