With the bank holiday weekend upon us, I thought it time to mention our next meeting on Tuesday of next week (3rd May). Good heavens that's a third of the year gone already!

The assignment is to write up to 1,000 words on the subject of FELIXSTOWE. Why Felixstowe? Its a lovely place! Anyway this homework is to try and prepare for the Felixstowe Book Festival when your work - with your permission - may be either read out in our Sunday morning slot or included on our display boards or perhaps both.

Hoping for a far better attendance this time.

Here are three other things for your interest and, perhaps participation.

Tuesday 24 May 2016 at 2.30pm at Kesgrave Library. The Waveney Authors Group .

Are you interested in publishing your own work? Do you write in your spare time? Why not pop along to this free event and meet some of the authors from this group and hear all about how to get your work published. If you would like to attend, please ring the library on 01473 626103 to enable the library to cater for the numbers.

Closing date Friday 13 May 2016

The Felixstowe Book Festival short story competition. Details at  http://felixstowebookfestival.co.uk/story-comp

The next Ipswich Writers' Cafe (part of the BooksEast festival) is being held as follows:

* Monday 9th May, 7:30pm

* La Tour Cycle Cafe, 17 Tower Street, Ipswich IP1 3BE

We'll be round the back in the lounge. It's a lovely venue.

Take along a piece of creative writing that you'd like to read aloud. Could be a short story, poem, novel extract or monologue, but please try to stay within five minutes. Scribble your name, pop it into the hat and, when your name comes out, enjoy your five minutes of fame.

After each batch of five or six readers, we'll break to chat, exchange contact details and refill our cups.

No booking required. Free entry. Spectators welcome. See you there! http://bookseast.co.uk/

Have a great bank holiday and make the most of the weather!

Keep Scribbling!!!

Dates for your diary

Three things for your interest and, perhaps participation.

Tuesday 24 May 2016 at 2.30pm at Kesgrave Library. The Waveney Authors Group .

Are you interested in publishing your own work? Do you write in your spare time? Why not pop along to this free event and meet some of the authors from this group and hear all about how to get your work published. If you would like to attend, please ring the library on 01473 626103 to enable the library to cater for the numbers.

Closing date Friday 13 May 2016

The Felixstowe Book Festival short story competition. Details at  http://felixstowebookfestival.co.uk/story-comp

The next Ipswich Writers' Cafe (part of the BooksEast festival) is being held as follows:

* Monday 9th May, 7:30pm

* La Tour Cycle Cafe, 17 Tower Street, Ipswich IP1 3BE

We'll be round the back in the lounge. It's a lovely venue.

Take along a piece of creative writing that you'd like to read aloud. Could be a short story, poem, novel extract or monologue, but please try to stay within five minutes. Scribble your name, pop it into the hat and, when your name comes out, enjoy your five minutes of fame.

After each batch of five or six readers, we'll break to chat, exchange contact details and refill our cups.

No booking required. Free entry. Spectators welcome. See you there! http://bookseast.co.uk/

Jeanette's book launch...

Tonight was the book launch of Jeanette's Exclusion Zone at Stillwater Books in Felixstowe. Having arranged to go, I had a family member arrive and consequently that put the kibosh on my plans. I'm glad to say Jeanette had a wonderful evening - and plenty of sales I hope. Her book is a fantastic read so if you haven't got a copy then I thoroughly recommend that you buy one.

Ironically (or perhaps planned?) tonight's launch coincided with the thirtieth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster - and that is the setting for Jeanette's story.

I used to correspond with Vladimir Tsvonatzkij, a friend who lived in Novosibirsk and he wrote saying that he hadn't heard of the tragic incident until days afterwards. It's hard to believe that we in Suffolk were closer to Chernobyl than he was!

Anyway, glad Jeanette had a great evening.

Jeanette

Jeanette and Ruth

Remember...Keep Scribbling!!!

There's a new book coming out from Angela Petch

Called “Now and Then in Tuscany” -Angela's new book is due to be published in mid summer. 

It's worth noting that her previous publisher went bankrupt and so, to try and reclaim her ownership of her first book, 'Never Forget', Angela has edited and retitled it as 'Tuscan Roots'.

Meeting Report

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on Tuesday 19 April 2016

Present:  Mairead, Beryl, Liliane, Dick and Dave

Apologies: Jim, Jeanette, Caz, Richard, Hayley, Jane, Caroline, Tony and Cathy.

Business:

What a terribly disappointing night with the lowest attendance since I joined the Scribblers way back at the end of the 1990s. Just five of us attended which was especially upsetting for Dick who has masterminded the historical and geographical homework meetings for quite some time.

With changing membership, lack of time and perhaps interest in research, we may need to look at the structure of future meetings. There have always been opportunities to voice opinions about our programme content and if they need to be altered or changed then it can easily be arranged. 

Obviously personal circumstances affect attendances and tonight I learned from Cathy that her husband Nigel has been admitted to hospital with pneumonia so I am certain that we all send them our very best wishes and hope he has a speedy recovery.

Our newest member Jim is on holiday whilst Tony is acting once again with the Rushmere Players.

Sadly I have learned that two of our members are now unable to attend regularly which is a shame and I am certain their absences will be missed.

                                                                                    

Caz is busy with her dog walking and house sitting business and has been asked to be more involved with her grandchildren’s childcare meaning that she won’t be ‘coming back to Scribblers any time soon’. Behind the scenes Caz has always been a great help with various things and her decision could not have come at a worse time with the Felixstowe Book Festival looming up. We will eventually need to look at the committee of which she has been a stalwart.

Jeanette has also been in contact to say she was sorry she’d miss this week’s meeting. ‘Things are going a bit mad this end, since Exclusion Zone has come out I’ve been asked to do a lot of promo related things which I really need to do to keep my name ‘out there’. I’ve also arranged to Beta read for Ruth, and she’s doing the same for me for our respective next novels, so that’s another evening out! I hope you understand that my visits might become a bit sparse, but I do ask that you don’t forget me! I’m really working towards going part time at work and if this turns out to be possible I’ll have a lot more time! Do ensure that all of the Scribblers know they are very welcome to the launch next Tuesday! All my best, Jeanette.’

As a reminder, Jeanette’s book launch of her novel, ‘Exclusion Zone’ is on Tuesday 26 April at Stillwater Books, Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, from 6.30pm. It’s a ruddy good read!

Rushmere Players presentation of The Ladykillers is now running until Sat 23 April at the Sir John Mills Theatre in Ipswich. Details are shown on the weblog.

I recently spent an enjoyable morning with one time secretary Barry Darnell who sends on his best wishes. Barry was writing another novel before he resigned, and got to a complete stumbling block. He has revisited the story and has basically ended up in the same situation! I think many of us share that feeling of frustration!

We’ve had a note from Deborah (Wargate) who also wishes to be remembered to the group whilst we hear from Ally that she hopes to return to Scribblers soon. Fingers crossed!

Meanwhile, Ruth who is back in Felixstowe, has asked me to remind everyone about the Felixstowe Book Festival Short Story competition that has just a few weeks to go. The subject is ‘Gateways’ and should be up to a maximum of 1,000 words. The winner will be published in Suffolk Magazine. Cost of entry is £5 and details can be found on their website at http://felixstowebookfestival.co.uk/story-comp. It would be nice to see a strong Scribblers presence in the competition.

Meeting:

Just five historical entries:

Mairead: Ancient Greece: Socrates and the Acropolis.

Beryl: Tudor: The Coat of Arms.

Dick: The Stuarts: A Nocturnal Visitor.

Liliane: The Victorians: Victoria and Albert.

Dave: World War Two: Ipswich in War Time.

Later, Dave also read an extract from his railway ‘history’ which has been written for the Orwell Writers.

Not many of us but still a good meeting with plenty of discussion.

Next meeting:    Our next meeting is on Tuesday 3^rd May starting at 7.30pm. The homework theme is FELIXSTOWE and is in preparation for the Book Festival as work may possibly be read out and/or posted on our display boards.

Back to square one...

What a terribly disappointing night with the lowest attendance since I joined way back in last century. Just five of us and especially upsetting for Dick who has masterminded the historical and geographical homework meetings for a number of years.

With changing membership, lack of time and perhaps interest in research, we may need to look at the structure of  future meetings. There have always been opportunities to voice opinions on our programme content and if they need to be altered or changed then so be it. 

I have learned that two of our members are now unable to attend regularly and that might also mean an alteration to the make-up of our committee which could not have come at a worse time with the approach of the Book Festival. Some had other commitments tonight, a holiday whilst Cathy's husband was admitted to hospital. Despite the disappointing turn out, circumstances obviously played a big part.

The meeting itself had five excellent works each on a different era and therefore so very different from each other. Dave also shared some of his railway memories, (written for another group).

All in all we had a very small but nonetheless interesting gathering.

Next time the homework is set as 'Felixstowe' be it a true story, or fiction, the choice is yours. The object of this homework is to prepare for the Book Festival with some of the work either being read out or included on our display boards at the Orwell. Possibly even both! The meeting is in two weeks time on Tuesday 3rd May.

Hope to see you there...

Keep Scribbling!!!

The Scribe.

OUR NEXT MEETING and other items

Our annual historical meeting comes round on Tuesday next (19th April) when those who attended our last meeting drew out the period in history they are to write about. Don't forget that Dave has an envelope full of periods that he will gladly draw one out for anyone who was unable to attend last time. No cheating of course...

The object is to write up to 1,000 words on the selected period be it factual or fiction or a little bit of both! The meeting will start at 7.30 in The Room at the Top. Hope you can join us for what promises to be another awe-inspiring meeting.

Beneath are items that may interest you,

Until next time,

Keep Scribbling!

Dave

TONIGHT'S LOCAL NEWS:

Did you see the report on the fantastic 17,000 miles cycle ride by Callum Fairhurst to raise funds for the Liam Fairhurst Foundation. Liam had been a wonderful fund raiser for charity which had started after his friend and ours, Jack Wilkinson, passed away from cancer. Liam himself was a sufferer and also submitted to the dreadful disease. Both these young men are mentioned on our weblog. Callum is continuing the fund raising and, according to the TV tonight, has other challenges in mind. Well done Callum, a really wonderful tribute to your brother Liam and to our Jack.
 

IPSWICH WRITERS CAFE...

BooksEast, "East Anglia's newest book festival", is fast approaching:

http://bookseast.co.uk/

As part of that, we'll be holding the next Ipswich Writers' Cafe as follows:

* Monday 9th May, 7:30pm

* La Tour Cycle Cafe, 17 Tower Street, Ipswich IP1 3BE

We'll be round the back in the lounge. It's a lovely venue.

Bring along a piece of creative writing that you'd like to read aloud. Could be a short story, poem, novel extract or monologue, but please try to stay within five minutes. Scribble your name, pop it into the hat and, when your names comes out, enjoy your five minutes of fame.

After each batch of five or six readers, we'll break to chat, exchange contact details and refill our cups.

No booking required. Free entry. Spectators welcome. See you there!

Ed

PS Spread the word, please.

NEWS FROM FELIXSTOWE LIBRARY

Dear Friends of Felixstowe Library

This month we are celebrating 50 years since this library was built. Do drop by to see our exhibition about the history of libraries in the town.  We have a 1966 quiz running all this month too.  It costs £1 to enter and the money goes to support our library.  Simply pop by for a quiz sheet to take away with you, then return it to us. All correct entries will be put in a draw.   Prizes include a piece of art work by renowned local artist Naomi Brangwyn and Spa Pavilion tickets. 

To kick off our celebrations, on Saturday 23rd April between 11 and 12 noon, we are fortunate to have the Felixstowe Community Choir performing for us.   This is a free event.   We will have 60s music playing for the rest of the day and staff will be dressed in appropriate attire.  So there should be a good vibe!   Pay us a visit if you can; we would love to see you. 

And now,  reminders of two other forthcoming events:

Crime fiction writer Alison Bruce will be giving us a talk on Saturday 30 April at 2pm, doors open 1.30pm. Alison is the author of two non-fiction and six crime fiction books.  Her novels are set in Cambridge and feature DC Gary Goodhew.  Alison will be talking about her writing and signing copies of her books (which will be available to buy here).  Come if you can - I've heard Alison speak before so I know we're in for an interesting afternoon. Tickets are £5, including refreshments.

We still have a few tickets left for Billy Elliot (screening of the live performance) on Friday 20th May, at 7pm - doors open 6.30pm. Tickets are £7.50.  Refreshments available to purchase on the night.  Filmed in September 2014 at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London, this production stars Elliott Hanna, Deka Walmsley and Ruthie Henshall.  Set in a northern mining town during the 80s mining strike, this is the inspirational story of Billy Elliot, the young boy who discovers a passion for dance.  It features sensational dance and a score by Elton John.  Spectacular.

Tickets for the author talk and Billy Elliot are available in advance only, from Felixstowe Library.  Let me know if you would like me to put any aside for you to collect prior to the events.

Best wishes

Debra Rowe
Library and Information Advisor

Felixstowe Library, Crescent Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 7BY
01394 694880

debra.rowe@suffolklibraries.co.uk
www.facebook.com/FelixstoweLibrary
www.suffolklibraries.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SuffolkLibrary

Creativate National Writing Competition 2016: Call for Submissions

COMPETITION OBJECTIVES 

UK Creative Arts is delighted to announce the creation of a new competition for budding UK writers. In the UK, there are a number of talented authors who are aspiring to have their work published. The Creativate National Writing Competition has been launched by UK Creative Arts,  in order  to support those authors who have talent, but who haven't yet had the opportunity of demonstrating that talent to the industry. As part of UK Creative Arts' Youth Pledge, we will be donating a percentage of authors' entry fees to Book Trust, the largest reading charity in the UK. 

CATEGORIES 

The works must be original fiction, and can be either unpublished or self-published. There are six different categories for full length-novels: 

Category A: Fiction: YA 

Category B: Fiction: Drama / Historical Drama
Category C: Fiction: Romance
Category D: Fiction: Crime / Mystery 
Category E: Fiction: Science Fiction 
Category F: Fiction: Fantasy

PRIZES 

Prizes for winners and runners-up include cash prizes, and a writing course grant. The winners' biographies, and a sample of their work, will also be featured in the UK Creative Arts 2016 Annual Report, which is sent to companies and organisations in the creative arts industry, including the UK's principal agents and publishers. 

​ 

COST 

The entry fee is £15, of which a percentage will be donated to the charity Book Trust. 

CLOSING DATE 

All entries must be received by the 30th April 2016. 

HOW TO ENTER 

You can find more information and enter the competition by visiting the information page on the website of UK Creative Arts at   www.uk-arts.org/writing  , or by phoning the office on 020 3286 3544.  

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BOOK TRUST 

Book Trust is the largest reading charity in the UK. Book Trust programmes bring together specially selected books and resources, boosting confidence and skills, and ensuring that no child misses out on the life changing benefits of reading for pleasure. 

---------                                                                 

Received via Linkedin

Are you on Amazon Direct Publishing Europe? Jorge Olson Lessons From My Guardian Angel Book now on Amazon Hello Authors, I received a letter today from Europe. It said “Amazon” at the front of the size ten envelope. I looked closely at the stamp to see it was paid in Euros. “What could this be?” I thought turning the envelope looking for a clue. It was thick, probably had five or six folded pages. Thinking it was some sort of advertising I opened the envelope as fast as possible before throwing it away with the rest of my junk mail. The way you do when you have a stack of one-week-old mail to go through. As I ripped the envelope open I saw what looked like a telephone bill. I unfolded all the pages, five in all, and saw line item after line item of strange numbers I did not recognized. At the end of the report, there was not a final bill but a check made up to my name. “This is new!” I thought with delight. The strange numbers turned out to be book sales from different countries in Europe. The line item list didn’t have the names of my books, just codes. “It’s a good thing I remembered to list my last book on Amazon Europe,” I thought. When was the last time you logged to your Kindle Author account? You should log in at least every month and see the changes to payment structure or terms and conditions. It’s a also a good time to revise your description and test if you get more sales. You could also change your price, advertise, or do a campaign with a special price. If you have not done so, make sure you have your book available all over the world. For example, did you know Amazon Mexico just opened a few months ago? If you did not go into your account and offered your book for Mexico it will not sell in Mexico. Same goes for every new country. These are the current Amazon Direct Publishing Platforms: Amazon.com Amazon.com.uk Amazon.de Amazon.fr Amazon.es Amazon.it Amazon.nl Amazon.co.jp Amazon.br Amazon.ca Amazon.com.mx Amazon.com.au Amazon.in You have to check every country separately and assign a royalty structure. Do it today and start selling books all over the world. To start go to your account at: kdp.amazon.com Click on your book cover, edit your description if needed (I always test new descriptions and new keywords). Save and go to the second page, this is the Rights & Pricing page. This is where you’ll assign rights to sell your book in different countries. Save and finish. Congratulations. You are now an international author! Remember, You Should Be Writing! Jorge S. Olson Protagonist, Author & Geek Group Admin Promocave.com

Wigtown Book Festival Education Programme

Why is this enewsletter so short? We’ve just heard that Wigtown Festival Company has been  shortlisted in a national funding scheme run by RBS and  we’d love you to vote for us. Why is the public vote important? It’s like an additional, enthusiastic member of the judging  panel so the more votes we get, the better. What happens if you win? If our application is selected, we’ll receive funding towards  our Education Programme, which brings school pupils to  the book festival and takes authors out to schools across  the region. What do I have to do? Please vote online at  http://skillsandopportunitiesfund.rbs.co.uk/vote.html. It takes less than a minute and the deadline is  Friday 22nd April. Anything else? Please tell your friends and help us spread the word. If you’d like to Tweet about the public vote, here’s a  suggestion: Vote for @WigtownBookFest to receive funding from  RBS to bring pupils & children’s authors together.  Please RT. http://bit.ly/1TFPxXs And if you’d like to share it on Facebook, you could say  something like this: http://skillsandopportunitiesfund.rbs.co.uk/vote.html @WigtownBookFestival has been shortlisted to receive  funds from RBS. Please vote for their schools programme  to bring local school pupils and much-loved children’s  authors together. #wigtownforRBS We hope you’ll take the time to cast your vote in support  of Wigtown Book Festival and forward this email to your  family, friends and colleagues.   We would be incredibly grateful for your vote. Warmest wishes, All at Wigtown Festival Company

WINCHESTER POETRY PRIZE

We are pleased to be able to announce the first Winchester Poetry Prize.

Like the festival from which it springs Winchester Poetry Prize aims to surprise and delight.

First prize will be £1000, second prize £500 and third prize £250. 

In addition to receiving cash prizes winners will be invited to read at a special prize-giving event at Winchester Poetry Festival on Sunday 9 October 2016. Winning and commended poems will also be published in a competition anthology to be launched at the festival.

The prize will be judged by Mimi Khalvati who will read all the entries and will be present at the prize-giving event.

Festival chair, the poet Stephen Boyce said: “Thomas Gray, whose Elegy Written in a Country Churchyardis one of the most evocative and memorable poems in the English language described poetry as “thoughts that breathe, and words that burn”. In launching the Winchester Poetry Prize we are inviting poets from around the country – and further afield  – to send in their most inspired thoughts and incendiary words.” 

Winchester Poetry Festival aims to promote and foster the most exciting talent with this open award.

The competition is open to anyone aged 16 or over and may be on any subject in any form or style and no longer than 40 lines. Entry fee is £5 for the first poem and £4 for subsequent entries. 

Closing date is 31 July 2016. Full details of how to enter are on the Winchester Poetry Festival website. 

The Winchester Poetry Prize is run in partnership with Hampshire Cultural Trust.

Report of meeting

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on Tuesday 05 April 2016

Present:  Dave, Liliane, Mairead, Beryl, Jane, Hayley, Jim, Tony, Dick, Cathy,

Apologies: Caz, Jeanette, Gerry, Richard and Carolyn

Business:

FBF – Dave asked for volunteer readers for the Sunday morning slot, 10 – 10.30. Cathy, Beryl, Liliane and Mairead volunteered.

Our thanks went to Mairead, as ever, for the chocolate biscuit fix!

Upcoming events of interest.

1. On Saturday 16 April there is a talk at the Suffolk Record Office to launch Ray Whitehand's book launch 'Four Tenements and a Hay House'. Booking is necessary for this – contact the Record office. Ray is a well known local historian – his website for those interested is historicalsuffolk.com
2. On Tuesday 26 April our own Jeanette Hewitt has the launch and signing of her latest novel, Exclusion Zone, at Stillwater Books, Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, from 6.30pm.
3. Tony handed out flyers to advertise the Rushmere Players presentation of The Ladykillers, running from Weds 20 to Sat 23 April at the Sir John Mills theatre in Ipswich. Details of Rushmere Players 'Ladykillers' and are both shown on the weblog (see next item) . The cast of Ladykillers includes virtually all those who starred in The Lost Sock.  .

Meeting:

The readings were mixed – some of us had written to the ‘library’ theme, whilst others had brought along varied work.

Jim: Librarians

Some very famous people in history once worked as librarians and here Jim explains who they were and what their personal feeling were for libraries like Felixstowe. Mao Se-Tung, J Edgar Hoover, Giacamo Casanova and Philip Larkin were but a few in this hilarious work. Believable? Of course!!!

Dave: The golden anniversary of Felixstowe library

The library dates back to 1928 before moving to the Orwell Road premises in 1947. It was obvious the building wasn’t large enough but wasn’t until 1966 that the present Crescent Road building was opened. It became Felixstowe Scribblers ancestral home yet the Scribblers formation details still remain a mystery.

Hayley: A father’s face

Mairead: Fifty years and five generations at the Felixstowe library

Tony: Part of his novel

Dick: My first day blunder

Jane: Poem – Great Aunt Dolly goes green

Cathy: Oriental treasure

A museum visit leads to the unexpected discovery that an unappreciated heirloom is actually extremely valuable. Its owner may see it with new eyes now!

Beryl: The bowler hat

Liliane: 2003

As ever, all the work was tremendously varied, but always interesting. Special mention has to go to Jim, whose highly original take on the library theme was simply superb.

All in all another great meeting.

Next meeting:    Our next meeting is on Tuesday 19 April starting at 7.30pm. The homework theme is historical – and Dick kindly provided us with a ‘lucky dip’ of different eras to select from.

An enjoyable meeting this evening. Some really cracking words both on the Library's anniversary and with the open themed short stories and poetry. It was unfortunate not everyone could attend but such is life!

It was good to see Tony again and he took the opportunity to advertise the play he is featured in, The Ladykillers at Sir John Mills Theatre in Ipswich from Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd April. Apparently most of the Lost Sock actors are in the cast - except for Bill and Bert aka Dave and Dick! Tickets can be purchased form Eastern Angles Box Office.


There's also a book launch and talk taking place next door to the theatre in the Suffolk Record Office when Ray Whitehand will talk  about his new book 'Four Tenements and a Hay House' - all about Ipswich's workhouses. Tickets can be booked from the Suffolk Record Office, details on the poster.

Our next meeting is on 19th April when we hold our historical homework meeting. Historical periods were drawn by those present at this evening's meeting and for those who didn't attend and would like to participate then simply contact Dave who has an envelope full of historical periods to write about. Get him at scribblers.1@btinternet.com

Until next time,

Keep Scribbling!!!

Our meeting and information...

It's probably a good time to remind you about tomorrow's meeting (Tuesday 5th April) that takes place in the Room at the Top with a 7.30 start time.  Hope you can all make it together with either 1,000 words on the Library and it's 50 years celebration of its Crescent Road home, or a 1,000 on any subject of your choice.

Suzy, down there in Cornwall,has told me that the Jeremy Mogford Literary Prize for Food and Drink Writing of

2,500 words actually closed on 6th March with a prize of a mere £7,500. Now that is food for thought so maybe we should keep an eye open for the 2017 competition...

She also sent me this link to Linda Cleary and her website. Apparently Suzy has been on her courses in St Ives and rates them quite highly. So here's the link if you're interested: 

freewriterscentre.org/freewriterscentre/courses. And you get to see a couple of pictures of Suzy in the class!

Thanks Suzy!

Our details are listed on the new IPscene Directory under the Writing section of the Directory:http://ipscene.co.uk/directorycategory/writing/  IPscene is a really useful site and is worth checking out...

See you tomorrow I hope...

Until then, 

Keep Scribbling!!!

Dave