Jonathan Posner's Blog, page 3
October 20, 2024
Dartmouth Book Festival
Keith Rossiter and Jonathan Posner of Writing at the Edge gave a Creative Writing Workshop at the Dartmouth Book Festival (September 2024).
L to R: Keith Rossiter, Jonathan Posner
The workshop introduced eleven new writers to the craft of creative writing, and over the two hour session, they worked in small teams to write a short story. Prompts were given to help them craft each part of the story during fifteen minute writing sprints, followed by progress reviews and feedback.
Keith and Jonathan are both published authors, and as part of Writing at the Edge, they are keen to help new writers learn the skills of writing.
Writing at the Edge is a collective of authors, journalists and marketing professionals who have built up knowledge and experience of publishing over their writing careers. The aim of the collective is to share this learning and help other authors. It means pushing authors to the edge – and beyond – challenging them to become the best they can be at their craft. So whether you plan to query or to self-publish, Writing at the Edge aims to be an invaluable help and support in your writing journey.
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September 20, 2024
The Thursday Book Club – Sep 24
The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 19th September 2024 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining host Jonathan Posner was Su Bristow and Cathie Hartigan. Click the names to find out more about them, and use the audio bar below to listen to the full show.
We reviewed The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams.
Our discussion was on Is it ever OK to change history in a historical novel?
The next show is at 2pm on the 17th October. We’ll be reviewing Sewing Sequins On My Straight Jacket by Sharon Cook. Read along with us and send us your thoughts on the book – either through the Contact page, or via the Facebook page, and we may well read them out on air.
NEWSIn the News section, we announced books by local authors and local news:
Kate Kelly has just released a dark fantasy, called Dragons of Dunmoray . According to the blurb Dragons have always been part of our world – from the cloud dragons of the storm to the fire dragons of an erupting volcano – only most of us cannot see them. Alba MacGregor can see the dragons. She thinks she is alone in this, or that maybe they are all in her head. But when she meets Al she realises, not only that the dragons are real, but that there are others like her, spread across the world. The dragons are stirring. There’s a war coming. A war that has been ongoing for millennia. Only Alba can break this cycle, but to do so she must first defeat a foe much closer to home and far more human. Available on Amazon.Cheryl Dummer says her first book, originally published last November, is now on Prime reading and is shooting up the rankings! It’s called I’m no Shakespeare: Walking the South West Coast Path , and is the unlikely but perfectly true story of how a nosey menopausal linguist threw away her pills, pulled on a backpack, and accidentally wrote a best seller. She walked for 630 miles, with her life on her back, her heart on her sleeve, and a wickedly sharpened pencil behind her ear.
Denise Smith’s second crime novel Never Let Her Go , part of a series set in Lincolnshire (though she says she is based in Devon now!) will be released on Amazon on 1st October. The first in the series, Never Forget, Never Forgive is already available.
Eclipse is an anthology of short stories and flash fiction, set mainly in the West Country. It’s a collaboration between local authors Anne Thomson, Tony Rea and John McKenna, and is available online and at The Ivybridge Bookshop. The official launch is on Thursday 10th October at 5:30pm at The Ivybridge Bookshop and kicks off the third South Hams Literary Festival.
Talking of the South Hams Literary Festival , it runs from 10th to 13th October, in Ivybridge. There’s lots of events for adults and children to enjoy, and for both readers and writers. These include a Meet the Authors event at the bookshop, a fancy dress competition and a Brian the Bear Children’s Event with Mark Blackburn, who’ll also be doing the author advice session (which Jonathan will be at too). There’s a book fair, plus a writing workshop being run by our regular guests on this programme, Keith Rossiter and Jason Mann. There’s lots more – you can see the full programme at southhamsauthors.co.uk. Tickets are at ivybridgewatermark.co.uk.
Acclaimed author and Britain’s foremost folklore expert, Mark Norman, is launching his book at Dartington on September 28th. It’s called, Zoinks! The Spooky Folklore behind Scooby-Doo , and Mark will be taking us on a guided tour through the myths and legends that the show’s writers have drawn on to deliver the wealth of memorable villains we’ve seen over the years. Don’t miss this very special event, and learn about how real-world folklore has influenced the show’s portrayals of ghosts, witches, monsters, and more. Go to dartington.org and click on What’s On, then Talks and Tours. The event will be followed by a book signing.
Staying on the subject of festivals, here’s a heads-up for the Blandford Literary Festival , coming in mid-November. There’s info at blandfordliteraryfestival.co.uk, but I’m sure we’ll be saying more about it in next month’s show.
Murder in the Countryside by Helena Dixon is set in Stoke Gabriel and was released on September 4th. It’s book 17 of the Miss Underhay cozy mystery series, and it’s available on Amazon, as well as the Ivybridge bookshop, who have signed copies of all of the Miss Underhay series.
Lily Style’s new biography of George Matcham, dubbed the most unsettled man alive, came out in July. George Matcham was born in East India controlled Bombay, and undertook three epic overland treks between Asia and England before marrying the favourite sister of the not yet famous Horatio Nelson. Intimate details about George’s life have been preserved because of his close relationship with Nelson and his famous paramour Emma Hamilton, whose rise and fall he observed first-hand. The book is called A Most Unsettled Man: A Biography – the Triumphs and Travails of George Matcham and is available on Amazon. It provides an unprecedented glimpse into the private life of a modest 18th century English gentleman, as well retelling the enduring love story of Nelson and Emma from an entirely new perspective.
Then Time Stands Still by Mary Georgina de Grey is set around Zaragoza in northern Spain. English archaeologist Dr. Amancia Harding has looked after her family for five years. Now it’s time to take care of herself, and leading a team on a dig in Spain is the perfect way to propel her career forward. Her good intentions are threatened when she meets vineyard owner Max Serrano. The book was published yesterday and can be ordered on Amazon.
We mentioned this last month, but wanted to raise it again. A new resource for writers is being launched called Writing at the Edge . It’s a collective of authors, journalists and marketing professionals who have built up knowledge and experience of publishing over their writing careers. The aim of the collective is to share this learning and help other authors. It means pushing authors to the edge – and beyond – challenging them to become the best they can be at their craft. So whether you plan to query or to self-publish, Writing at the Edge aims to be an invaluable help and support in your writing journey. There will be a series of FREE webinars, starting on October 3rd with ‘Pitch Perfect’ A great pitch is essential for a novel. How do you craft a compelling message that will sell your story? How do you pitch your new novel – to agents, to publishers – and of course – to readers? It’s on Thursday 3 Oct 2024 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM BST. The booking link is here.
Elizabeth Ducie’s new thriller Retribution! came out on 1st September. Fourth in the Jones Sisters thrillers, it starts out in Devon but travels all over the world, with cameo appearances from some of the main players in the rest of the series. Available on Amazon. More info at http://elizabethducieauthor.co.uk.
Fresh Fiction TRAVEL is a short story show which takes place on September 27th. Writers, Liz Delo, Lara Dagnell, Helen Frances, Pippa Marriott, Stuart Nuttall, Paul Toolan, Grace Palmer and Helen Williams are taking part. It’s at the David Hall in South Petherton, and tickets are at www.thedavidhall.com. More info at www.novelnights.co.uk.
Here’s one we missed on the show: Reason and Rebellion is a book on women’s fight for the vote in Devon – written by Pamela Vass. It will be out this autumn. Do you have any anecdotes about suffragettes locally? Pamela would love to hear them. More at www.boundstonebooks.co.uk
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August 19, 2024
The River of Fire
The new Mary Fox adventure is cooking nicely – I am getting close to completing the first draft. I’m still planning to get it out in time for Christmas – so watch this space!
Mary’s new adventure, The River of Fire, takes her down through Europe; crossing the Swiss Alps and getting caught up in Florentine politics in 1537. There are more villains for her to battle – including two who are real historical people!
And the erruption of Monte Nuovo in 1538 plays a major role in the climactic scenes…
I’ll be announcing when the pre-order goes live via my newsletter – so if you’re not already on the mailing list, sign up here.
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August 18, 2024
The Thursday Book Club – Aug 24
The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 15th August 2024 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining host Jonathan Posner was Angie Wooldridge. Click the names to find out more about them, and use the audio bar below to listen to the full show.
We reviewed The Outlaw’s Ransom by Jennifer Ash.
Our discussion was on The first act of a novel – what makes it work?
https://jonathanposnerauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TBC-Show-12-15-08-24.mp3The next show is at 2pm on the 19th September. We’ll be reviewing The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. Read along with us and send us your thoughts on the book – either through the Contact page, or via the Facebook page, and we may well read them out on air.
NEWSIn the News section, we announced books by local authors and local news:
Merchants and Mayors: The Chappell Family in Tudor Exeter by Margaret A. Rice tells the story of two brothers, William and Thomas, and their cousin, John, who each became mayor of Exeter during the 16th century. The launch will be by invitation only, with the current Lord Mayor of Exeter in attendance, at Tuckers Hall, Fore Street Exeter on 12th September. Then there will be two further launch events on the 13th of September also at Tuckers Hall. These will be at 11:30am until 12:30 and 2:00pm until 3:00. The author will give an illustrated talk about the book and will then be available for questions and to sign books. We’re not certain how you get tickets, but it might be that you turn up on the day (but please don’t quote me on this!!)We have been advised that there are the first two novels in a thriller/suspense trilogy, with a local connection. In Illicit Deception by Jack Lench, Robin Ashurst is the manager of a run-down hotel, who unwittingly gets caught up in a world of espionage, international subterfuge and exposing government secrets. It’s set in a picturesque fishing village on the South Devon coast, and features the cursed French blue diamond necklace once worn by Marie Antoinette of France. There’s also a dangerous terrorist organisation who will stop at nothing to achieve their objectives. Essentially, the book is about people not being who they say they are. If you enjoy that, the second book is called Running Flush . Both books are available on Amazon.
Last month we reviewed Exe on the Beach by local author Suzy Bussell. Her new book came out on 1st August. Called Haunted High Tea and Homicide , it features Mystery, ghosts and gowns. Here’s the blurb: In the charming Regency seaside town of Sidmouth, Devon, Trinity Bishop is thrilled to open her Jane Austen-themed tearoom on the picturesque seafront. However, the grand opening takes a dark turn when a guest is found murdered shortly after the festivities begin. After the chaos, a mysterious package arrives at Trinity’s door containing a ring that uncannily resembles one owned by Jane Austen herself. When Trinity slips it on, five ghosts materialize, bearing a striking resemblance to characters from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice .
With her spectral companions by her side, Trinity delves into the mystery surrounding the murder. They discover the quaint town of Sidmouth harbours many secrets. Can Trinity and her ghostly friends solve the murder and help the ghosts move on to the afterlife?
A quick search on Amazon confirms that’s where you can find it!Flora McGowan has just republished her cozy romantic suspense book set in Sicily Playing With Fire from the ‘Carrie and Keith Mystery’ series (although Keith does not feature in this one!). Originally published in 2020, this second edition has extra content. It’s available from Amazon as well as other outlets.
Gill McEvoy says her recently published book of Poetry, Selected Poems , (published by Hedgehog Press) has been nominated for the T S Eliot award. Congratulations Gill, from all of us at The Thursday Book Club! Selected Poems is available from Amazon. According to Amazon, Selected Poems shows a genius for finding the beauty in the everyday, and a perspective entirely her own. This is a masterful collection of work covering twenty years of the career of a poet that is truly unique.
Retribution! the fourth part of Elizabeth Ducie’s Jones Sisters thrillers series is launching on 1st September. The ebook is available to pre-order now; and she’s also taking orders for signed copies of the paperback.
Framed for murder on the day of her wedding, Charlie Jones is living a nightmare. While her sister, Suzanne, and their friends search for the true killer, Charlie is forced to confront her past: a past she’s kept hidden for more than three decades. Can Charlie save herself without losing everyone she loves. And who is the man in the black jacket?
Full details on Elizabeth’s website: https://elizabethducieauthor.co.uk/book/retribution/A new resource for writers is being launched. Called Writing at the Edge . It’s a collective of authors, journalists and marketing professionals who have built up knowledge and experience of publishing over their writing careers. The aim of the collective is to share this learning and help other authors. It means pushing authors to the edge – and beyond – challenging them to become the best they can be at their craft. So whether you plan to query or to self-publish, Writing at the Edge aims to be an invaluable help and support in your writing journey. There will be a series of FREE webinars, starting on October 3rd with ‘Pitch Perfect.’ Here’s the… er… pitch: A great pitch is essential for a novel. How do you craft a compelling message that will sell your story? How do you pitch your new novel – to agents, to publishers – and of course – to readers?
It’s on Thursday 3 Oct 2024 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM BST. The booking link is here.Here’s a reminder about another book we mentioned in the April news section: Return to Xanthos – a romance, with a twist by John McKenna. It’s set on a fictional and idyllic Greek Island and describes the intertwined lives of the expats and locals. Return to Xanthos is a compelling and unusual love story, with a twist – set amongst the golden beaches, olive groves and pine clad mountains of a stunning Greek Island. It includes a cast of colourful and charismatic characters – and will appeal to fans of the Greek Islands and lovers of romance – who like a sprinkling of spirituality. Find it on Amazon.
Last month we featured a news item about Word Kitchen , a group who organise open mic readings in poetry and prose. They were scheduled to be in the Phoenix Exeter on the 10th September, but this event has been re-scheduled – with the new date yet to be advised.
Exeter City of Literature is holding the Silent Book Club . It’s on Tuesday 20th August at 6pm at the Hourglass Pub. Come with a book and read! More info here.
The day of the show saw the launch of Sharon Cook’s Sewing Sequins on My Straightjacket : a mother’s heartwarming memoir about living through her child having cancer. Find it on Amazon.
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August 11, 2024
Lights Up! Radio Show
The Lights Up! show on 11th August featured a whole week in just two hours! Well, it had songs with each day of the week in the title, or the artist…
We had songs from Hello Dolly, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Simon and Garfunkel to name just a few.
Listen again using the bar below:
https://jonathanposnerauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-08-11-Sun-1600.mp3The post Lights Up! Radio Show appeared first on Jonathan Posner.
July 19, 2024
The Thursday Book Club – July 24
The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 18th July 2024 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining host Jonathan Posner were Su Bristow and Jason Mann. Click the names to find out more about them, and use the audio bar below to listen to the full show.
https://jonathanposnerauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TBC-Show-11-18-07-24.mp3
We reviewed two books: Saltblood by Francesca de Torres and our book by a local author was Exe on the Beach by Suzy Bussell.
In the News section, we announced books by local authors and local news:
Devon author Liz Shakespeare will be attending a number of events this summer to meet her readers and sign copies of her books. Liz has written seven books set in Devon, bringing to life the stories she finds in old newspapers, on gravestones and in parish records. Her most recent book, The Ordeal of Miss Lucy Jones , tells the true story of a 19th century Torrington scandal. Liz will be signing copies of all her books at the charity craft fair at Clovelly Parish Hall on this Saturday, July 20, then at the Clovelly Maritime Festival on Sunday, July 21, the Launceston Show on July 25 and in the Magpie Marquee at the Mid-Devon Show on July 27. In August she will be at a number of events: check the listen-again feature for the full list. In September she will be at the Appledore Book Festival on September 19th.You can find Liz’s full schedule here.
And if you can’t make it to any of these, you can always get hold of her books or find out more about Liz at www.lizshakespeare.co.uk.Alice Allan’s new book, The Whispering Trees is now out. Exclusive to UK bookshops it has an advance review from none other than Robert Macfarlane who describes it as ‘a terrific book’. It is in stock in half a dozen bookshops already and can be ordered in any others. It is deliberately not being offered on Amazon as a way of helping to support local businesses.
Jonathan recently met up with Rosemary Griggs at the Tuckers Hall in Exeter, as part of the Henry VIII tour in June. Rosemary has two books set in Tudor England, in her Daughters of Devon Series; A Woman of Noble Wit and The Dartington Bride . Both books are available on Amazon.
I was there – I think is by Biku Ghosh. It’s a collection of short stories of lives with dementia, other disabilities and inequalities from around the world. This book has been out for a couple of years, but Biku has asked us to mention it, as all proceeds go to Alzheimer’s Society. “Memory is the diary we all carry with us,” Oscar Wilde wrote. But unlike photography and a written diary, memory does not ‘capture’ the past and sometimes disappears for unknown reasons. “As you get older, three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two,” said Norman Wisdom. Look for I was there – I think on Amazon.
Word Kitchen is a group who organise open mic readings in poetry and prose. They are pausing their face-to-face events over the summer, and are back in the Phoenix Exeter on the 10th September, then on the 21st September they are in the Brook Kitchen Budleigh Salterton as part of the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival (see also below). Do come along and listen to great local authors reading from their works. More info is at https://www.wordkitchen.org.uk.
Karen Barrett is releasing her children’s rhyming board book for 0-5 years olds on the 13th August. It’s dedicated to David Attenborough and it’s about an adventurous panda bear who travels around the world learning about animals. This is book one in the series, called The Adventurous Panda visits Asia. There’s also a seek and find element throughout, and a lift the flap feature.
Local festivals coming up:
The Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival runs from Sept 18 to 22. Tickets go on sale to the general public next week (July 22).
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/budleigh-salterton-literary-festival
The Appledore Book Festival (tickets already available) – runs from Sept 13 to 22.
https://appledorebookfestival.littleboxoffice.com
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June 21, 2024
The Thursday Book Club – June 24
The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 20th May June 2024 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining host Jonathan Posner was Angela Wooldridge and Keith Rossiter. Click the names to find out more about them, and use the audio bar below to listen to the full show.
https://jonathanposnerauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TBC-Show-10-20-06-24.mp3
We reviewed Fifty Minutes by Carla Jenkins
NEWS
In the News section, we announced lots of books by local authors and local news:
Summer at Sea Glass Cove is the new book from local author Jenny Kane. Marine archaeologist Lauren Sunshine is used to life on the go. Her suitcase is always packed ready to explore the country’s underwater heritage so when a Tudor shipwreck is found off the Dorset coast, she is thrilled to be leading the excavation team. Philippa Silver, ‘Phil’ to the folk of Sea Glass Cove, has devoted her life to the Museum by the Sea. But funding is tight, and despite subletting half of the museum to her best friend Jules’s sea glass shop, she fears for the museum’s future. Phil hopes the wreck discovery could bring more visitors, but there’s a problem – the museum’s too small to house its treasures. Thankfully, new friend Lauren seems as determined as she is to save the museum. But, when Phil’s brother Ollie catches Lauren’s eye, she begins to wonder if she has more than one reason to be interested in life at Sea Glass Cove….It’s the newest heart-warming and uplifting book from Jenny Kane – a perfect read for Summer 2024!Di Castle has two books to tell us about. The first is Red House to Exodus , her memoir of growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, which comes out in September. The second is a novel called Sharing the Silence – about a hearing girl growing up with a deaf sister. We don’t currently have details as to when this comes out.
The Old Tin Can by Bryan J Mason which we mentioned last month is now out. It is the first in a new black comedy crime series based in Belfast during the Troubles. The cover says, ‘Not all murders are political. Some are personal.’ Described as ‘explosively witty’ it’s launching this week in Bristol and in Belfast in July. You can order on Amazon.
Steve Marson’s debut novel is out now on Amazon. This is The Girl On The Tram ; a cosy mystery crime tale based in Exeter and inspired by a real event. It’s 1910. Carrie Grey witnesses a fatal tram crash and, with the help of Sherlock Holmes’ voice in her head, decides to investigate. Meanwhile, two police detectives are also on the case, when a second tram crashes. Coincidence? Carrie thinks not.
The South Hams Author’s Network has an Open Mic Event on Wednesday 26th June from 7pm to 9pm. There’ll be prose and poetry readings of up to 10 minutes each. So if you’re keen to hear new writing by local authors, come along to the Imperial Inn, Ivybridge. It’s free, so get down there!
Here’s one we mentioned in April, originally planned for a July launch. But the good news is that the launch was brought forward so it’s out now. It’s Exe on the Beach and it’s book 6 in the Lockwood and Darrow Mysteries by Suzy Bussell. When a celebrity chef from Exmouth mysteriously disappears, private investigators Lockwood and Darrow are discreetly enlisted to investigate, keeping a step ahead of the relentless press. Though the chef’s known mental health struggles hint at a possible explanation, as the duo delve deeper, they unearth a tangled web of secrets that suggest a far darker narrative. The quest for truth threatens to have wide-ranging implications, placing them in the crosshairs of the town’s most dangerous secrets. The pair must work swiftly to expose the truth before the town’s underbelly consumes them. It’s available on Amazon.
Leslie Leggett has been in touch. Leslie owns indie bookstore First Draft Books in Bovey Tracey, and yesterday there was a local authors’ reading event called The Devon Anthology. Five local authors each read from one of their recent releases. These were Madeline Dyer, Rosemary Griggs (who Jonathan saw on Saturday at Tuckers Hall talking about Tudor costume), Alison Huntingford from the South Hams Authors Network (who we have interviewed on this programme), Abigail Yardimci, whose book Murder at the Pirate Festival we featured back in April, and E.I. Parr. If you went along to that event, I hope you had a good time. Leslie Leggett promises to keep us updated on author news from the shop going forward – visits, signings, talks, releases, etc. First Draft Books is an independent bookshop for curious readers, based in Bovey Tracey & popping up around South Devon. Through their shop & events, they support discovery, exploration & connection through the joy of reading. First Draft Books is an independent bookshop for curious readers, based in Bovey Tracey & popping up around South Devon. Through their shop & events, they support discovery, exploration & connection through the joy of reading.
On the subject of Open Mic events, Jonathan read at one himself at the Phoenix Arts Centre in Exeter on Tuesday 11th. One of the other readers was a local author called Richard Frost. Richard has two novellas published and available on Amazon or from his website. These are Looking to Move On and Living the Difference from his Eastwood Story series. These two novellas are stories of hope over adversity. With a third book on the way, they are written partly with the reader in mind. Richard says that sometimes it’s helpful to reflect on our own lives in relation to fiction – and of course poets and novelists have done that for years. His website is at richardfrostauthor.com.
The Dark Taal by Dean G. E. Matthews is an enthralling, engaging, adventure set in a world of magic, and bizarre magical creatures. Now with a new cover, and a new added chapter, the book will excite and intrigue all those who love fantasy/fiction, and leave the reader on the edge of their seats as they discover an ordinary family drawn into a titanic conflict not of their choosing.
Eclipse is a new anthology of short and flash fiction stories – set mainly in the West Country, by Tony Rea, Anne Thomson and John McKenna. It’s available on Amazon and in the Ivybridge bookshop.
The Call of the Nightingale is a historical fiction novel by Kathryn Barnett. Alice is a typist living with her dying mother in the 1950s. Her sheltered upbringing is no match when Cupid comes calling and she and her new boss, Behrooz Azadi fall in love. They throw convention to the wind and marry, just before her mother sadly passes away. Alone except for her husband, Alice must follow him when he is called to return to his native Persia, later to become Iran. By this time Alice is a mother at the tender age of nineteen, stepping into an unknown world steeped in history and where females should be subservient to their husbands. Against a backdrop of political unrest and intrigue which involves her own husband’s family, Alice must somehow fight for her own personal freedom, for the right to bring up her four daughters in a way that will enable them to move forward in a fast changing and frightening Iran. At times, this means striking out for women’s rights and later clashing with her own daughters when they embrace Islam. Will Alice be able to accept and embrace the changes her now beloved Iran is facing? Will bending be enough before something breaks? The eBook is available to buy now on Amazon, and the paperback comes out on 28th June.
Explore the mysteries of mortality in D is for Death , as Sophie Duffy takes you on an unforgettable alphabetical journey through life’s ultimate enigma. From accidents and bodies to contagion and ghosts, each letter unveils a new facet of our shared human experience with death. Reflect on the impact of climate change, explore the significance of war and ponder the mysteries that defy explanation. Learn the secrets of the ancient yew tree and celebrate death’s place in cultures around the world. D is for Death is not just a book: it’s a captivating and thought-provoking adventure that challenges perceptions and leaves you with a profound appreciation for the one certainty that binds us all – the journey from A to Z, where death becomes a quirky guide through life’s mysteries.
The Exeter Writers Short Story prize winning stories are up on the Exeter Writers website. Check them out (they’re very good) at https://www.exeterwriters.org.uk/ .
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May 20, 2024
The Thursday Book Club – May 16
The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 16th May2024 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining host Jonathan Posner was Cathie Hartigan and Keith Rossiter. Click the names to find out more about them, and use the audio bar below to listen to the full show.
Send your review of Fifty Minutes to jo******@jo******************.com by 20th June
NEWS
In the News section, we announced lots of books by local authors:
Carla Jenkins’ debut novel, Fifty Minutes, will be published by Hachette as one of their key titles in May 2024, with her second novel due for publication the year after.
Here’s the description:
Therapy was meant to solve her problems, not make them worse…
Smart twenty-year-old Dani is desperate to overcome her eating disorder, leave her dead-end job and return to her hard-won place at university. Using her limited earnings, she decides to start seeing a psychotherapist.
Richard Goode is educated, sophisticated and worldly – everything Dani aspires to be. As he intuitively unpicks her self-loathing, Dani assumes the fantasies she’s developing about him live only in her head. That is, until things take a shocking turn…
Descending into a maelstrom of twisted desire, manipulation and mistrust, the power struggle between Dani and Richard escalates until she’s forced to make a decision that might finally give her the freedom she deserves.
Billed as a ‘thrilling, page-turning debut novel perfect for Summer’, Fifty Minutes is out today!
South Hams – East Prawle to Bantham – A Swim, Walk & History Guide by Simon Tozer came out on April 19th. This is Simon’s personal guide to the South Hams Coastline between East Prawle and Bantham. The guide gives you more information on the area; the history, the legends, the swims, the walks and even a poem for each.
Swim – Where are the best places to swim? What are the currents like? How busy does it get? Is the water likely to be polluted?
Walk – how do I get there? Is there a good walk I can enjoy and what are the details?
History – Read about ancient hillforts, smugglers, shipwrecks, WWII outposts and how the area became popular with tourists.
More information about Simon and his books is at devonauthor.co.uk.
Talking of walking in the South west, It’s no Danube: Walking the Tamara Coast to Coast Way by Cheryl Dummer has just been published. It recounts the tales and trials of a seven day through-hike of the eighty seven mile Tamara Coast to Coast Way, as the river Tamar weaves in and out of Devon and Cornwall. With humour, poignancy, and honesty, the author follows both the meanders of the Tamar, from its estuary to its source … and the wanderings of her own mind.
Murder on the French Riviera by Helena Dixon comes out on 28th This is book 16 of the Miss Underhay Mysteries – so if you’re a fan of a cozy murder mystery beneath the palm trees, this is definitely one to check out.
Late spring, 1936. As Kitty Underhay steps onto the sun-drenched station platform in Nice, on orders from Whitehall to track down a missing man, she hopes there will still be time to lie by the pool, preferably with a cocktail in hand. But when she and her husband Matt take a brief evening stroll, instead of finding a perfect croissant, they stumble across a body…
Jo’s Hidden Secret by Emma-Louise James came out on April 26th. This is a true life story about Jo, who as a seven year-old, was racing after her older sister when she fell and cracked her head on a railway sleeper. From that moment on, her world and the world of all those around her changed. The fall had caused her to develop epilepsy.
Jo tells us her story – how she coped as a child and how it has affected her as an adult. Jo’s Hidden Secret is essential reading for anyone who wants to go deeper in trying to understand what it is like for someone with such a multiplicity of problems. Emma-Louise has written this not only as a way to cope herself, but to bring hope to other people going through similar traumas. Helping others and winning their appreciation is her best medicine. She has found a way though the darkness and she wants others to find it too.
Author Karen Barrett has recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to help publish her illustrated children’s book, The Adventurous Panda Bear Visits Asia. This is a children’s soft-learning board book about a brave and curious panda bear who visits Asia to learn about tigers, rhinos, orangutans, slow lorises, red pandas, and snub-nosed monkeys. The Adventurous Panda Bear was created as a symbol of curiosity, courage, and kindness, to encourage; a love of learning, trying new things, and a future in which we live in harmony with nature. It was inspired by Karen’s many cosy nights watching David Attenborough documentaries with her children. Her dream is that this book and its future collection will inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of David Attenboroughs!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/karen-barrett/the-adventurous-panda-bear-visits-asia
The Girl With The Imagination Of Wizards by Gary Miles came out last month. Aimed at 14-18 year-olds, this is a story about the imagination, where dream has become entangled with reality.
The Old Tin Can by Bryan J Mason comes out on May 30th. It is the first in a new black comedy crime series based in Belfast during the Troubles. The cover says, ‘Not all murders are political. Some are personal.’ You can pre-order on Amazon.
Festival News
Ilminster Literary Festival – May 30 to June 6;
Clevedon LitFest – June 5 to 9;
Falmouth Fringe Book Festival – Oct 18 to 20;
Bridport Literary Festival – Nov 3 to 9.
The post The Thursday Book Club – May 16 appeared first on Jonathan Posner.
April 30, 2024
The Foreman’s Other Diary
Day 3
The men are quiet now. Panic has faded, replaced by acceptance of a long wait. But we have faith we will be saved. We work as teams, searching for escape; rationing out the emergency supplies; sorting out the sanitation. We try to keep too busy to think. But when we rest, the scene replays in many minds: a crack of stone, a groan of splitting timbers, a warning shout, far too late, and then the roar of falling rocks. The cloud of dust choked our nostrils and we were blind for many hours. The noise seemed eternal, although it lasted just seconds. A deep silence followed, until José started wailing. Such bad luck that his first day’s work might well be his last.
My darling Sofia, I cannot bear the thought that we parted in such a way. In the three days I’ve been trapped here, my anger has cooled in the darkness but still I struggle to understand. Why do you want me to give up this job that makes me what I am? You were proud of your Mario when he first became foreman. ‘My Mario is so good to the men,’ you would say. So why should I stop while I still have the strength to earn money to feed my family?
Day 10
All thirty-three men are healthy, although their spirits fail at times. There’s been no sign that rescue is possible. Is anyone even looking for us? Some talk about the company’s safety record: too many accidents, too many deaths. Why were there no ladders in the ventilation shafts? But it’s my duty to keep them strong. Today we made a shrine in one of the passageways. Some of the men scoff; but others need a place to pray. Young José spends a lot of time in there.
Dearest Sofia, do you think badly of me? When I reached the corner that day, after we argued, I looked back as always, but for the first time, you were not there to wave me on my way and I realised I had not kissed you goodbye. Maybe you’re tired of me, of this body, no longer as straight and tall as when we met. Do you regret the years you’ve spent with me, washing my soiled clothes, watching me sleep in the chair by the fire each night? I wish I could talk to you and be sure you still love me.
Day 17
The humming which has been with us for days finally became a roar today as the drill from the surface broke through. There were tears, there was laughter; hope returned to our little band, two days after the rations finally ran out. We had a service at the shrine and thanked the Virgin Mary for keeping us safe this long. We gave José the honour of writing the note we taped to the drill bit. It’s the first time I’ve seen him smile since we left the surface.
Sofia, my love, it is killing me: the thought that you are so close and yet we cannot touch. I imagine you waiting with the other women, your arms crossed, holding yourself tightly against the cool of the dawn and your fear. Or are you there at all? Has your anger turned you against me? My darling, I would give anything to be back with you, watching the sun go down over the Atacama Desert as we did when we were young. It seems so long ago.
Day 40
As the wait continues, our health suffers: toothache, irritations of the eye; a case of pneumonia. We are all skinny, dirty, shirtless and unshaven in the heat and humidity. But the tedium is worse. The excitement of the drill appearing, more than a month ago, has now waned. Even the joy of the rosaries from His Holiness has dimmed. Someone pointed out today that Our Blessed Lord only spent forty days and nights in the desert. They tell us we could be here another month at least. José has been running backgammon tournaments to pass the hours away.
Dearest Sofia, I’m so tired. I have to be strong for the men; they look to me to give them comfort and tell them it’ll be alright. But all I really want to do is crawl into your arms and weep, and sleep. What joy I felt to get your letter and to know our silly fight is forgiven and forgotten. It gives me strength to whisper that you could be right, as so many times you have been.
Day 65
The capsule is here. Our plans are made. God willing, tomorrow we will leave our underground prison and return to our homes once more. The sick will go first, and then one by one, the rest according to the lots they drew. I will go last, like the captain of a ship, not sinking but rising to the surface, and carrying the Virgin’s statue. José refused to join the draw. He insists he will go just before me; keeping me company to the end. He will make a fine leader, that young man.
Sofia, my darling, there’s just a few hours left until I hold you in my arms once more. And tomorrow I’ll be sixty-five. I’ve never cared about birthdays, since I was a child, but you always make a fuss of mine, the children’s and your own. We will party this year like never before; and there will be thirty-two other guests of honour. I do not know what your gift to me will be, but this time I have a gift for you. I’ve worked here in the dark, since my father took me down the copper mine when I was just fifteen. This is not an old man’s life. It’s time I came back into the light and began to live my life with you, my love.
© Elizabeth Ducie 2024. All Rights Reserved.
The post The Foreman’s Other Diary appeared first on Jonathan Posner.
April 29, 2024
One Summer – a free short story
The strong sunshine streamed in from the French windows at one end of the hospital ward, giving it a bright, airy feeling.
The young duty nurse had just finished taking a patient’s temperature and writing it up on his chart, when there was a gentle knock on the French window. She turned. A man was standing there, silhouetted against the strong sunlight. She could see he was wearing a white coat, but that was all she could see.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“Yes.” The voice was warm and friendly. “Is this the recovery ward for GI surgery? I’ve got an endoscopy follow-up. A Mr Phillips?”
“Third bed from the end.”
The man entered, walked past her, then turned back. “Thanks, Nurse…?”
“Davies. Natalia Davies.”
“Dr Warden.” He studied her a moment, then gave a boyish smile that lit up his face. “But you can call me Mike.”
She looked him up and down. She put him in his mid 20’s – newly qualified, and with all the charm that came from youthful confidence rather than experience.
“I’m sure ‘Dr Warden’ is just fine,” she answered, putting just a touch of frost on the edge of her voice. He might be tall, broad-shouldered with bright blue eyes, floppy blond hair and big smile, but she wasn’t the kind of girl to allow such familiarity on a first meeting.
“Mr Phillips, was it? Third bed from the end?” He was still smiling at her, with an added look of slight concern.
She suddenly became aware she had been staring up at him for maybe a bit too long.
“Mr Phillips. Yes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do.”
She turned with the most annoying squeak of her shoe that she could manage and marched down the ward to the kitchen area, where she busied herself rearranging teabags until she saw him out of the corner of her eye leaving through the French windows.
She made a cup of tea for Mr Phillips – extra milky and not too hot, after his gastroscopy. He was sitting up in bed; a small man in his late forties, balding with a moustache. Natalia had decided he looked like a typical accountant, although she’d not actually asked him.
“There you are, Mr Phillips. Nice cuppa.”
“Thank-you Nurse.”
Natalia put the tea down on the bedside table and perched on the bed for a moment. “Everything all right with the new doctor?” she asked, casually.
“Yes, he says I have a mild Barrett’s Oesophagus – but not to worry.”
“That’s fine then.”
“But he did seem a bit preoccupied. He kept calling me Mr Davies.
Natalia smiled. “He probably had a lot on his mind,” she said.
“Yes. Probably.” Mr Phillips looked up at her, concern showing in his eyes. “What’s Barrett’s Oesophagus?”
“It’s just a mild scarring of your gullet” she said reassuringly. “If Dr Warden isn’t worried, you shouldn’t be, either.”
“Oh good.” He took a swig of his tea, put it down and settled back into the pillow with his eyes closed. “If it’s good enough for Barrett, it’s good enough for me.” He opened his eyes and fixed her with a small smile. “Thanks Nurse.”
“No problem.” She checked his bedding was properly tucked in and that he had a glass of water by the bed, then turned and walked straight into Dr Mike Warden.
“Oh!” she gasped. “Just how long have you been standing there?”
“Only a moment.”
“I didn’t hear you.”
“I guessed.”
“Sneaking up on me.”
“Yes.” He stopped, and looked unsure what to say next. “I thought I’d pop back… I wanted to ask you… something…”
“Ask me what?”
“Well, the thing is…”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mr Phillips lean forward to catch what Mike was going to say, as did Mr Harrison and Mr Patel, the two men in the beds on either side.
Mike cleared his throat. “I know we’ve only just met, but we’re colleagues, and as we’re going to be working together I was wondering if you’d like… to have a drink with me tonight?” He rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, gave a small smile and suddenly looked rather vulnerable, like a puppy hoping for a treat. “If you’re not too busy that is?”
“Dr Warden…” she began rather sternly, preparing to come out with something about him being too forward; they had indeed ‘only just met’ and actually, as work colleagues, they couldn’t possibly do such a thing – when she heard a cough from Mr Phillips and glanced round Mike’s shoulder.
Mr Phillips did seem to have heard everything and was staring at her wide eyed, clearly horrified that she was going to say ‘no’. He was mouthing ‘go on!’ at her.
Natalia turned slowly and looked at Mr Harrison. He was making a small movement with his hands that could only be a sign to accept.
Her gaze moved to Mr Patel on the other side. He was raising his eyes to the ceiling and shaking his head in exasperation.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’d love to.”
Mr Phillips, Mr Harrison and Mr Patel all smiled and clapped their hands.
Later that evening, as the deep orange sun was lengthening the shadows across West London, Natalia walked out onto the terrace of a pub overlooking the Thames. She half expected that Mike would not be waiting for her, that maybe the whole thing had been a put-up job by her fellow nurses – but then she saw him sitting at the far end of the terrace, holding a pint as he watched four middle-aged men battling upstream in a long, slim rowing boat.
She sat down next to him. “Dr Warden.”
“Nurse Davies.”
He pointed at the rowers in their boat and she watched a moment as they struggled up the river. “The bow man is squaring his blade too late. Number two is over-reaching. Three is out of time.” He paused. “The stroke man’s OK, though.”
“I’m so glad.”
“Why?”
“Well, it’s not a total disaster, then. At least one of them is OK.”
He laughed. “Yes, well, at least one of them is OK. So that’s all right then.” He looked into her eyes and became serious. “Look, I hope you don’t think I’m usually this forward; asking you for a drink when we’d only just met? It’s just…”
“Yes?”
“When I saw you rearranging the teabags…”
“Oh”
“…I thought I have to get to know a girl who takes such care in her job.” He looked even more serious. “I mean, if we’re going to be colleagues, we need to know how we both tick, and you seemed so concerned about the teabags…”
“I didn’t think you saw,” said Natalia. “And anyway, what am I to make of a man who sneaks up on people and scares the heck out of them?”
The strain of holding his serious face seemed to get too much for Mike and he laughed out loud.
“Be prepared. That’s what my old Scout master used to say.”
“You were a scout?”
“Sure.”
“All scabby knees and tousled hair?”
“Probably.”
“And wonky woggle?”
“Definitely.” He paused a moment. “And I used to hunt rabbits in the woods. Just me and my trusty catapult.”
“Did the rabbits make it?”
“Without exception. My aim was appalling.”
“Lucky for the rabbits.”
“Indeed.”
“Should have been better prepared.”
“Sure.”
There was a silence. Another rowing boat went past and they watched it go.
“All OK,” said Mike, reassuringly, as the rowers’ blades went in and out of the water. “Good timing, squaring early, fast hands.”
“I’m so pleased.”
“You need to be kept informed,” he said.
“And thirsty,” she observed, with a raised eyebrow. “Do I need to be kept thirsty?”
“Oh God, I’m so sorry!” he exclaimed, jumping up. “I haven’t got you a drink! You were distracting me with all your chatter about rowers! What are you having?”
—0—
The car in front of Natalia’s Ford finally moved a few feet forward, giving some small hope that the evening traffic jam might be starting to clear. She shook her head, forcing herself to focus again on driving and trying to dismiss the vivid memory of meeting Mike that first time in the pub in the summer.
She let out the clutch and the little car crept forward, just as the car in front stopped again. Whoever called it the ‘rush hour’ had clearly never tried to get home to Hammersmith on a wet Wednesday evening in September.
She could see that none of the cars in front were moving – the jam was solid. With a sigh she switched off her engine.
The memories of the summer came crowding back…
…she and Mike cycling together in the bright sunshine for a Saturday breakfast at a cafe by Eton Bridge; sitting outside with the many middle-aged cyclists dressed in over-tight lycra, and thinking how great Mike looked in his old khaki shorts and torn t-shirt…
…meeting Mike’s parents and realising that his father was the silver-haired old charmer that Mike would one day become – and giggling with his mother over old photo albums showing Mike as a toddler, as a schoolboy and as a gangly teenager…
…sitting in the corner of the pub watching Mike and his rowing mates singing drinking songs and seeing the over made-up blonde at the bar following him ceaselessly with adoring eyes – and thinking ‘sorry, dear, he’s all mine…’
…lying in bed stroking his head as he lay asleep on her chest, watching the rise and fall of his ribs as he breathed – and loving him; loving him with all her heart, with all her body, with all her soul…
The car behind her beeped his horn.
A space had opened up in front – one car-length; two at the most. She glanced in the mirror and could see an elderly man with a red face mouthing at her and making a rude gesture with his hand. She started her engine and crept forward to fill the space in front, then glanced in the mirror again. The man now had his eyes raised and his hands spread wide, presumably in some form of ironic congratulation that she knew how to drive, then he moved forward as well. Natalia sighed. The man seemed to be living proof that normal, sane people can turn into brainless morons when faced with a traffic jam. Always assuming of course, that he was a normal, sane person in the first place.
The traffic cleared again, and this time it kept moving, even if slowly.
Eventually she got round the Hammersmith roundabout and was soon reversing into her space outside the imposing and rather austere block of flats where she lived.
She let herself into the flat and kicked off her shoes, then padded into the kitchen. She opened the fridge door and peered in for half a minute without really being aware of what she was looking for. She closed the fridge and tried the food cupboard instead. This revealed an old tin of rice pudding, which she ate with an open pot of marmalade, dipping the spoon alternately into each to mix things up a bit, while curled up on the sofa in front of a film she’d seen a thousand times before. Then she changed into an old t-shirt and climbed into bed.
But she didn’t sleep. She couldn’t sleep. Like most nights she just sat up in bed, clasping her knees to her chest, staring at the wall, and despite her best efforts, her mind once again played out those final, terrible scenes of a few weeks ago.
…noticing that Mike was late to work one morning, but thinking he must have overslept…
…the grapevine whisper around the wards that one of the doctors had had a bad accident on the motorway and had been rushed to A&E…
…running down endless corridors with a sick dread in her stomach that it could only be Mike…
…the howl of agony as she saw him stretched out on a body board with his head held between two stiff blocks, immobile and unconscious…
…the hours spent holding his hand and talking to him, begging him, willing him, ordering him – to wake up and smile at her with his bright, heart-warming, life-affirming smile…
…hugging his mother as they shared the vigil over his silent, still body, with only the sound of his breath rasping past the tube in his nose and the reassuring beep of the monitor telling them that he was still alive, and that while the monitor was beeping there was still hope; that he could open his eyes at any second…
…and then…
…and then the cold still night when she sat alone with him and heard the laboured breathing get even slower, and the beep of the monitor falter, and as she stood to look at him, the sound she had dreaded the most – the sound of the monitor beep becoming one continuous, final, terrible tone…
…then a confused jumble of sights and sounds – doctors and nurses rushing in; defibrillators thumping; voices shouting – and in the middle, that still, quiet body that once had loved her, now unresponsive, unfeeling, and gone forever…
—0—
Natalia struggled out of bed and peered through the curtains at the autumn sky. It was as grey and overcast as the last few mornings had been.
She showered, dressed and breakfasted, all on autopilot.
She had just grabbed her keys and phone from the hall table and was about to leave, when suddenly the flat began to spin and shake as if it was in the middle of a violent earthquake.
Natalia grabbed at the hall table to try and steady herself, but missed completely and found herself falling to the floor.
For a moment she lay on her side watching the legs of the hall table spinning like a cooling fan, then she took a deep breath and struggled to her feet.
This was ridiculous – earthquakes don’t happen in Hammersmith…
She grabbed again at the table and this time managed to hang on.
But the table felt totally solid and stable under her hands. It was only when she looked at it, it seemed to be moving.
Which meant it wasn’t an earthquake at all – it was her.
This realisation brought on a massive wave of nausea.
She just made it to the loo before she was violently sick. Hunched over the bowl, she retched again and again until she was totally and utterly empty.
Just how out-of-date had that rice pudding been?
Or maybe…?
Frantically she wrenched open the bathroom cabinet and found the pregnancy testing kit she’d once bought in a panic but in the end didn’t use…
—0—
Half an hour later, Natalia was sitting on the loo, still staring open-mouthed at the little blue line.
Such a little blue line.
But a little blue line that meant Mike wasn’t gone completely.
She shook her head in wonder. A little blue line that meant a part of him was still alive and was now growing inside her.
A gap suddenly opened up in the grey clouds, sending down a bright beam of sunlight that lit up the trees outside her bathroom window in a riot of warm, golden, autumn colours.
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