WW spring 2017

The

Woman

Writer

Issue 85

Spring 2017

Members’ news Spring Prize Giving report Marketing & Fiction focus John Walter Salver competition

www.swwj.co.uk

Who’s who The

Woman

Writer

Issue 85

Patrons:

Spring 2017

The Woman Writer is published by The Society of Women Writers & Journalists

Editor & Chairman: Barbara Field-Holmes BIGG-in Words Ltd Room 2, Aileen McHugo Building Westmore Green, Tatsfield Westerham, Kent TN16 2AG Tel: 01959 575031 (Wk) Tel: 01959 575936 (Home) Mob: 07814 738894 swwj@bigginwords.co.uk Assistant Editor/ Vice Chairman/ Press/PR/Newsletter: Doreen Friend Tel: 020 8505 2476 doreen.friend@swwj.co.uk Production assistant: Carol Cannavan

Hon. Treasurer: Benita Cullingford Tel: 01727 857388 b.cullingford@btinternet.com Hon. Secretary: Vacancy

Minutes Secretary: Celia Pyke Tel: 01708 220150 Celpyke@aol.com

Membership Secretary/Events: Valerie Dunmore Tel: 01737 557936 swwjval@aol.com

Speakers: Pamela Payne Tel: 01730 892413 pamela@thebeach.com

Book Reviews: Patricia Pound Tel: 01277 222446 patricia.pound@googlemail.com

Competitions/ Manuscript Appraisal: Vivien Hampshire Tel: 01895 254453 vivienhampshire@btinternet.com Drama Co-ordinator: Martin Cort Tel: 020 7582 5839 mcort1@talktalk.net

Website: Gywneth Box Tel: 07986 613437 hello@gwynethbox.com

Archivist: Sylvia Kent Tel: 01277 651062 skent32@tiscali.co.uk

Chawton Liaison: Pamela Birley Tel: 020 7351 6377 bra33@btinternet.com

Twitter & Facebook: Sue Avery Tel: 01743 365195 suebodily@icloud.com Consultants: Patrick Forsyth Martin Cort

Printed by TandC Printers, Bromley, Kent BR1 3PU

SWWJ website: www.swwj.co.uk 2

Lady Howard, Lord Quirk, Sir Tim Rice, The Earl of Stockton, Simon Brett OBE

Hon Life President:

The Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe DSG

Vice Presidents:

Doris Corti,Valerie Dunmore, Joyce Elsden, Jocelyn Glegg, Sylvia Kent, Jennie Lisney, Jean Morris, Mary Rensten, Jean Marian Stevens

Welfare/Benevolent Fund

If any member requires help, please contact Jennie Lisney on 01444 412087 or write to: 4 Larch Way, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3TY. Email: jennielisney@gmail.com Donations to benefit our members in times of illness or hardship should be made out to SWWJ Benevolent Fund.

The Woman Writer Advertising Rates

The Woman Writer is published quarterly.

Quarter page (60mm x 90mm) £38 Half page (128mm x 90mm) £75 Full page (128mm x 184mm) £145 (Series discounts available.)

PDF format preferred. For further details please contact the Editor.

Members can post events and items for sale and any other advertisements at £2 per line.

SWWJ members have the right to express their opinions in The Woman Writer. These opinions are not necessarily those of the Council or Editor. Neither the Editor nor the Society accepts responsibility for errors in articles. The Editor reserves the right to amend articles submitted.

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

From the Editor

Contents 4

From the Chair

5

Letters

6-9

By Barbara Field-Holmes.

Members’ views and comments.

Society news

Including: SWWJ welcomes new members; Creative writing workshop; Do you need a writing mentor? Calling all writers and Chawton House Library visit.

10 - 11 Members’ news 12 13

A round-up of news and successes.

Obituary

Dorothy Allan – 1921-2017.

From the archives

By Sylvia Kent.

14 - 15 SWWJ Spring Gathering & Prize Giving

By Sylvia Kent.

16 - 18 Drama 18

Our extended drama column from Patricia Jones and Martin Cort.

Poets’ corner

Welcome to the Spring issue of The Woman Writer.

This is quite a difficult Editor’s welcome for me to write as it will be my last for a while.

There are so many things that need my attention as Chairman that I have decided to hand over the editorship of The Woman Writer to Carol Cannavan.

Some of you will remember that Carol was Editor prior to my appointment, so I know I will be leaving the WW in very capable hands. She will be taking over from the Summer issue and will edit the magazine for at least the next year. Emails to editor@swwj.co.uk will be forwarded to Carol’s own email address. Full contact details for Carol will appear in the next issue.

Best regards

Poetry from Helen Shay.

19 - 21 SWWJ AGM & Summer Gathering

Biography of our Guest Speaker, Owen Atkinson CEO of ALCS, followed by our AGM Agenda and application form.

22 - 23 SWWJ Competition

Biography of Judge Janet Gover, tips on entering SWWJ competitions and the John Walter Salver Competition 2017.

24 - 25 Fiction focus

By Vivien Hampshire.

26 - 27 Special feature: Sandra Howard – from fashion to fiction

By Sylvia Kent.

27 - 28 Around the regions 29

Hello everyone!

Report on the Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset meeting, plus news from Moonraker Country.

When I was not on this page...

By Doreen Friend.

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

Barbara

30 - 31 Marketing: Local radio

By Patrick Forsyth.

32 - 34 Markets

By Carol Cannavan.

35 - 37 Book reviews 38 SWWJ Subscription renewal application form

39

Dates for your diary 2017

Front cover picture: :

The

Woman

Writer

Issue 85

Spring 2017

Our main picture is from the Shutterstock Library. Inset, Judge Doris Corti (left) pictured with winner of the Elizabeth Longford Rose Bowl Poetry Competition, Finola Holliday.

See pages 14 - 15.

M em b er s’ ne w s S p ri ng P r i ze G i vi ng r ep o rt M ar ke t i ng & Fi c t i on f oc u s J o h n Wa l t e r S a l v e r c o m p e t i t i o n

www.swwj.co.uk

3

From the Chair Chair types...

by Barbara Field-Holmes, Chairman In the Editor’s welcome I announced that I am passing over the editorship of The Woman Writer to Carol Cannavan from the Summer issue. I would like to expand on this a little here.

When I took up the Chair in June 2015 I knew I had a few tough challenges ahead, having lost some key members from the Council during the previous two years, alongside the more general changes taking place in the wide world of media and writing. Social media has been developing at a fast pace, and self-publishing has been carving its own niche in the publishing world.

These are two substantial changes that the Society and its members have had to come to grips with.

A growing number of members are using self-publishing and when a potential new member has submitted an application form, and their main form of publishing has been self-publishing of some kind, Council have needed to adopt new criteria for assessing whether or not the applicant is suitable for membership. Our presence on social media, with our Facebook and Twitter accounts, has been growing, thanks to the hard work of Sue Avery, and thanks to members (and nonmembers) who kindly like, share and retweet our news and messages.

Following the members’ survey we ran last year, we have acted on the findings and have introduced more competitions; we now have

Change of address

Will members please ensure you notify the Membership Secretary of your change of address, telephone number or email address so that we can keep our records up to date.

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the email Newsletter, and we have introduced a fourth annual event in the form of the Spring Gathering and Prize Giving. The first of these took place last month and was very successful – see our report on pages 14 and 15.

We are also planning a new workshop in the autumn, and this will be the first of many more. The first is on Creative Writing and will be run by Sue Moorcroft (see page 6).

Our successful Drama Workshop, run by Martin Cort, is continuing to flourish, and we are looking at introducing others covering other topics.

Last year we welcomed our new Hon Life President, The Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe DSG, and we are currently looking at potential candidates for the role of President to replace the Late Victoria Wood.

And there are many more tasks that Council have to work on, such as growing the membership, increasing general publicity about the Society and it’s benefits, planning for our 125th Anniversary (not that long away now), and much, much more.

This brings me full circle to my opening paragraph, the reason I made the decision to hand over the WW to Carol. Both roles, that of Chairman and Editor, are demanding and often require my undivided attention.

With so much needing to be done ‘at the top’, I feel it is time to concentrate on my duties as your Chairman. Please give Carol your full support.

Subscription renewals

Membership renewals are now underway, so if you haven’t already sent in your subs for 2017/18, there is a renewal form on page 38 Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Letters of this issue. Please note, subscription fees have slightly increased – the first increase for a number of years. Full membership is now £50 (Overseas £40 sterling); Male Associate £45 (Overseas £35 sterling); Friend £25. There are a number of ways you can pay your subscription: STO, IBAN/BIC, and for Overseas by PayPal. Please contact Valerie Dunmore for details on swwjval@aol.com Cheques are also still accepted, made payable to SWWJ. Please make sure you identify yourself with your name and membership number on the reverse of the cheque, especially if we have you listed under your pseudonym.

Finally...

We still need to recruit members to Council. There are several key roles that need filling, and while the saying “your Council needs you” might sound rather corny, it is true. There are too few members trying to do the work of two or three people each! Some of our Council members have undertaken their duties for a good number of years and deserve to be able to step down. Some of the main roles carry an honorarium payment, and the benefits of being on Council are many. The first role we are advertising is Hon Secretary (see page 7). If you are interested in this, or another role, please contact me for further details. Without a strong team to lead you, we cannot move forward!

Barbara Field-Holmes

Write to us

Come on members, let’s hear from you.

This is your opportunity to have your say, so write or send us an email. There is a lot going on at the moment, as well as the items in this issue that you could comment on. Send your views to the Editor (see page 2 for contact details).

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

Letters to our Competitions Co-ordinator, Vivien Hampshire, following our Spring Gathering and Prize Giving event, held on 15th March.

Thank you for a great time

Just a quick word to let you know how much I enjoyed the event yesterday (15th March). Great company, great venue, so thank you for inviting me to be Judge and Speaker.

I am sure it must have been a lot of work for you and your team.

Solange Hando

Excellent meeting

I would like to say thank you for all your kindness in looking after me and making me welcome. I thought the meeting was excellent, one of the best! All went slickly.

The tea was excellent and meeting up with friends, old and new, was great.

Doris Corti

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN The Woman Writer PLEASE EMAIL THE EDITOR AT editor@swwj.co.uk OR CALL 01959 575031

FOR ADVERTISING RATES SEE PAGE 2 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @SWWJ

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Society news SWWJ welcomes new members

The Society of Women Writers & Journalists welcomes new members who have joined in recent months. There are several more in the pipeline.

FULL MEMBERSHIP Dawn Knox, Brentwood, Essex.

Membership number: 744 Dawn’s main interests are drama. She has had a number of plays published and produced. Scripts include The Sons of Three Countries Remembered, a dramatisation performed by DOT Productions on 6th December 2014 in Basildon, Essex. The play was performed in Heiligenhaus, Germany on 8th November 2015 and in Meaux, France on 5th November 2016. It will be performed in Basildon, Essex on 11th November 2017. Also in 2016, A Fair Hearing dramatisation was performed in Beauchamps High School, Wickford, Essex.

Dawn’s work also includes a wide range of short stories published as e-book anthologies and printed anthologies, covering horror, speculative fiction, sci-fi and historical fiction, as well as romance stories published in popular magazines including The People’s Friend and My Weekly, with more to follow later this year.

This is just a sample of Dawn’s work. More can e seen on her website: www.dawnknox.com FULL OVERSEAS Michelle Cox, Illinois, USA. Membership number: 733 Michelle currently has her first novel, A Girl Like You published and selling well. Her second novel, A Ring of Truth is due out in a few weeks time.

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Creative writing workshop

The SWWJ has organised a new Creative Writing Workshop to be held on 19th October, 12pm to 4pm at the ALCS offices at Barnard’s Inn, 86 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1AD. The topic for the workshop is ‘Writing Commercial Fiction’ and the tutor is Sue Moorcroft.

The commercial fiction market is the financial backbone of contemporary publishing, but finding your way into it may seem a steep learning curve. If you’re interested in finding a publisher for your novel, short story or serial, Sue Moorcroft can provide insight into how to enter the world of commercial fiction by arming you with an understanding of the market.

With ample time for your questions to be answered, the aim of this friendly, open and interactive session is to help you approach the market with professionalism and focus.

Best-selling author Sue Moorcroft writes contemporary women’s fiction with occasionally unexpected themes. As well as novels, Sue writes short stories, serials, articles and writing ‘how to’ including creative writing courses for the London School of Journalism. Her workshops and courses have been welcomed everywhere from writing groups to universities.

Sue has won a Readers’ Best Romantic Read Award and the Katie Fforde Bursary. Her last book, The Christmas Promise, rose to number one in the Amazon Kindle chart. www.suemoorcroft.com Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Society news THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY DEFINES A SECRETARY AS: An official of a society or other organisation who conducts its correspondence and keeps its records.

A secretary isn’t just a person who answers the phone, manages the diary and arranges meetings, a secretary is an extremely important component, which very few organisations, people, writers and well-run societies can do without. The SWWJ is no exception.

The position of Secretary is vacant and we are seeking a dynamic, wellorganised, lively, out-going person to fulfil this vital role. The work is not arduous and a great deal of it can be carried out from your home or office. The Secretary would be expected to attend Council meetings (four or five per year) and a number of the events such as the AGM, and the Spring and Summer/Autumn gathering where required. Council meetings take place from 12 noon to 4pm at the ALCS offices in Fetter Lane, Central London, and usually on a Monday.

The honorarium is £350 per year. Travel expenses are paid along with any other expenses involved, such as postage and stationery.

If you are interested in the post please contact the Society’s Chairman, Barbara Field-Holmes swwj@bigginwords.co.uk

Do you need a writing mentor?

Someone to point you in the right direction?

by Vivien Hampshire

Whether you are an established writer or a keen beginner, a full member of the SWWJ or you’ve simply picked up this magazine at a writers’ group or library or borrowed it from a friend, there may well come a time when you feel you need a little help to get your writing project heading along the right path. If you are struggling with your poetry, play, characters or plot, you keep getting rejections from magazine editors, agents or publishers, or you’ve written yourself into a corner and don’t know how to get out again, the Society’s manuscript appraisal service could be just what you need.

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

Available not only to SWWJ members, but to anyone who writes, our service will always be individually tailored to your needs – answering your questions, producing an honest critique, or offering advice and guidance about polishing and placing your work.

Just go to our website www.swwj.co.uk and click on Manuscript Appraisal Service in the About Us tab, where you can meet our experienced team, select the person you feel will be best able to help you and get in touch for a free initial chat. Your exact requirements, expectations, and the fee you pay are all fully negotiable with your chosen mentor, with no hidden charges and no obligation to proceed, and everything is done simply and quickly by email.

Continued on page 8

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Society news Continued from page 7 And if you don’t need us yourself, you may well know someone who does. Members, please help us to spread the word among your writing friends. Writers at all levels and working in all genres are welcome to apply!

Calling all writers

by Doreen Friend

How do you feel when you sell an article, have a story or poem published and your novel accepted by a publisher?

You feel proud of your achievement, you want to shout it to the world and you are absolutely right to do so.

Congratulations to you!

If you feel reticent talking about yourself you might be pleased to know that publicity SWWJ-style costs nothing more than a few minutes to email news of your success to

Facebook, Twitter, press relations and The Woman Writer.

Simply send one or two lines, or a few paragraphs about your published work, including a photo of your book cover, magazine or yourself if possible, and leave the rest to us.

Contact Sue Avery for Facebook and Twitter posts, Doreen Friend for press/publicity and Carol Cannavan for The Woman Writer.

If you are unsure what to say, email me (Doreen) and we can work the wording between us.

Sue Avery suebodilly@icloud.com Doreen Friend doreen.friend@swwj.co.uk Carol Cannavan editor@swwj.co.uk Use the SWWJ to impress your friends, neighbours, boss or publisher and remember, the publicity we provide for our members is free.

COPY DATE FOR SUMMER 2017 ISSUE

The deadline for the next issue of The Woman Writer is 30th May 2017.

Please ensure that all copy and images are sent to the Editor, Carol Cannavan, on editor@swwj.co.uk using Microsoft Word or pasting the text into an email. Always use the prefix **WW in the subject line (for example, **WWsuccesses). Please do not send copy as ‘read only’ pdf files.

Copy can also be sent by post to the Editor, 10 Dury Falls Close, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 3AX United Kingdom, but should be typed rather than handwritten.

Images should be high resolution (300 dpi) and a good size. Photographs are acceptable but not photocopies of book covers.

* NB: These deadlines cannot be changed and any late copy will be published in the email Newsletter or held over for the Autumn 2017 issue of The Woman Writer, deadline Monday 4th September 2017.

Items for the email Newsletter should be sent to Doreen Friend on doreen.friend@swwj.co.uk

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Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Society news

C

Chawton House Library Chawton, Alton Hants GU34 1SJ Wednesday 9th August 2017

TO ALL JANE AUSTEN ADMIRERS

hawton House, once owned by *Jane Austen’s brother Edward, invites you to travel back in time, and discover the delights of a manor house steeped in Elizabethan and Jacobean history while strolling through the many beautifully restored rooms, which once played host to Jane and her family.

Now a charitable Study Centre and Library concentrating on education and heritage, Chawton House Library contains a unique collection of women’s literature from 1600 to 1830, and further information regarding the library can be obtained from the website www.chawtonhouse.org The library and all the public rooms will be open for your visit, and as most of the floors are wooden, visitors are advised to wear flat shoes with, if possible, rubber soles. Our

Curator’s tour will commence at 2.00pm and last approximately an hour; after which a delicious cream tea will be served in the Old Kitchen tearoom. Afterwards, anyone wishing to do so, can stroll through the carefully tended and extensive grounds, which stretch for some acres beyond the house. There is limited parking within the grounds and also along the lane leading to the house.

The charge, to include both tour and cream tea, will be £16 per person.

* As the Jane Austen Museum is only a few minutes walk along the lane from Chawton House, visitors might like to visit the museum first, before joining us all at the house.

CHAWTON HOUSE LIBRARY VISIT APPLICATION (you may photocopy this form) Name/s: ................................................................................................ Membership No: ...............

Address or email: ...............................................................................................................................

Enclosed cheque payable to ‘SWWJ’: ......................... *Form of transport…………………

Please forward to: P. Birley, Flat D, 49 Christchurch Street, London SW3 4AS (tel: 020 7351 6377)

*The nearest railway station is Alton (from Waterloo Station if travelling from London) and it is hoped that we can arrange for train travellers to share taxis (3to a cab) from Alton Station to Chawton House and return.

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

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Members’ news My World Book Day(s)

H

by Beatrice Holloway

ow exciting – an invitation to give six talks, over three days about my books and writing, to children at the local primary school. I had a few weeks to prepare and was confident I was as ready as I’d ever be. I have often been told that I was well organised, so...

Late, very late, the evening before the first day, I went to my bathroom to prepare for bed. The room was awash. What to do? I turned off the water at the mains and thought of my neighbour always willing to rescue me – but he had gone to bed. So, in desperation I called my son, also in bed. He turned out and made sure I wouldn’t be flooded further during the night.

After an anxious night with little sleep, my neighbour called and did this and that with spanners etc. When he had finished I had thirty-odd minutes to shower and get to the school. I stood in front of the first class all clamouring with questions that I didn’t quite hear. I turned to the teacher and said, “Some children have soft voices and as I have a hearing problem perhaps you could interpret sometimes?” I touched my ear to point out my hearing aid – and it wasn’t there! I’d taken it out to shower. I didn’t confess and got through that day fairly well.

The second day was equally as frustrating. I left my house, checked I had my bag of books etc. my hearing aid of course, glasses and was satisfied. I arrived at the car park and found a motorbike had been parked in the space allocated to me beside the Head’s parking space. These were sideways on to a very narrow gap that I thought I could squeeze into, so began backing in. Like all good drivers in a likewise position, I got out of the car to make sure I really did have enough space either side to back in. I was 10

greeted by a gang on men high on scaffolding watching my performance, all calling down offers of help. I was fine, I could manage, but they insisted. Two raced down the ladder and ran over to me, the first got to the car then turned to me and said, “Oh, I haven’t got a driving licence.” This was greeted with cheers from the onlookers.

Having been safely parked I entered the classroom and began introducing myself and began my talk – the beginning I know off by heart – whilst I fished out my notes. They were not in my bag! I had to ad lib through the two sessions booked for that day.

Added to that, the scaffolders were working outside the classroom and there was lots of noise and an occasional grin. My granddaughter was giving an assembly on World Book Day and we had been exchanging notes the evening before and I had not returned them to the bag.

Thankfully, the third and last day went smoothly.

At the end of each session I allowed the children to ask personal questions. Always the first question was, “How old are you?”

By the end of the third session I had my answers ready. “Six months older than my teeth,” caused much puzzlement. The other answer was twenty one and a bit! The children then asked questions like, “When did you start writing?” and “How old were you when you retired?” – trying to work out the answer of my age.

The good news is that I sold a substantial number of books and was invited to become the school’s Author in Residence, so the talks must have been a success after all!

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Members’ news Thrilled about Lily Alone

by Vivien Hampshire

I am thrilled to report that the first novel I have written under my ‘real’ name of Vivien Brown will not only be published

by Harper Collins in e-book format in June, but will also be coming out in paperback in October! Lily Alone is being billed as a ‘gripping and emotional drama’ – a new genre for me – and I can’t wait to see it on the bookshop (and hopefully supermarket) shelves. My secret dream ever since I first started to write has always been to spot someone on a train or beach reading a book I have written. Maybe now it will actually happen!

Successes

Roberta Grieve reports that The Midnight Dancers (originally a My Weekly Pocket Novel) will be published in large print on 1st May. Several of Roberta’s backlist have also recently been published by Books We Love, the most recent being More Precious Than Jewels (originally published as The Rising Tide). It was a featured promotion on Kindle on April 15th.

SCRIPTORA

The Society’s assisted-publishing facility, will be considering new submissions from 1st June.

Please email Mary Rensten at scriptora.publ@btinternet.com for an Application Form and Notes.

Mary Rensten

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

Margaret Mounsdon has several successes to report: Hungry For Love has be sold to People’s Friend Pocket Novels, large print rights for Love will Find A Way have been sold to Thorpe, and High Jinks With Handmaiden Hepezebah, a short story, has sold to My Weekly, due to be published w/e 5th May 2017. Details of Margaret’s blog can be found at margaretsromanceworld.blogspot.com Beryl Fleming has won 1st Prize in the West Sussex Gazette Poetry Competition with her poem ‘Threads’. This was the Gazette’s first poetry competition for many years and there were several sections, including one for children. It is hoped the competition will become an annual event.

Beryl was also short-listed in another section.

Further to her news about appearing on the Books that Made Britain show, BBC television (The Woman Writer Winter issue, page 9), which included a new writing project that she participated in, called The South Downs Alphabet, Mari Wallace is pleased to report that she attended the book launch on 21st March. At the launch Mari was invited to read out her ditty, along with three other people who represented the range of contributors to the project.

“What fun it was,” say Mari.

Send us your news

Have you done anything interesting lately, had something accepted for publication, a book published or organised a book signing?

Write to The Woman Writer and share your experiences and successes.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @SWWJ

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Obituary

I

Dorothy Allan – 1921-2017

by Pamela Payne

t is with a heavy heart that I write to tell you that my darling mother, Dorothy, died on 12th January.

Many of you will remember her from our past events when she came as my guest, thereafter I rarely attended a function where one or more of you didn’t ask, “How’s your mother?” I thank you all for that, it always warmed my heart, especially in her last distressing years. She also came with us on several SWWJ holidays in France, in fact it was whilst in Paris some seven years ago that I came to realise that she was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

Mum occasionally wrote good poetry and was an avid reader, often getting through three or four books a week. She very much enjoyed coming to our luncheons to hear the famous authors speak – especially Penny Vincenzi. I love this happy photograph of them together and she was very proud of it.

Dorothy’s second favourite author was Maeve Binchy and when we took her to Dublin for the weekend we visited Maeve in her little house in Dalkey. It was certainly the highlight of the trip for us both and we were very sad to learn of Maeve’s death.

For the past 18 months she was living just

NOTE TO MEMBERS:

The next two meetings of Council will be on 19th June 2017 and 11th September 2017.

If there are any issues you would like to raise for discussion, please contact the Chairman, Barbara Field-Holmes, or any Council member.

See page 2 for contact details.

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Above: Author Penny Vincenzi (left) with Pamela Payne’s mother Dorothy Allan at one of the SWWJ functions.

down the hill from me in a superb care home so I saw her almost daily. She died peacefully at 95-years-old.

I mentioned her affection for the SWWJ in my tribute at her funeral and I thank all those members who offered her the hand of friendship, especially Pamela Birley who never forgot her birthday and came to her funeral. Dorothy certainly enjoyed meeting you all – I should have got her to join the SWWJ!

Follow the SWWJ on FACEBOOK

Members are invited to ‘socialise’ on the Society FACEBOOK page. Check out swwj.facebook and ask everyone to ‘like’ the page. Send your items to: suebodilly@icloud.com

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

From the archives

Reading and writing matters

by Sylvia Kent

In our last edition we recalled the work involved in the preparations for our Society’s centenary in 1994. Our Vice President Mary Rensten was then Council Chairman and members were geared up for the busy year ahead with events planned for every month of our ‘Centenary Year’.

Children’s literacy and its poor state in the UK and overseas had concerned our members during our first 100 years. It was – and still is – a vexed problem. Despite the billions spent on education, many young people were leaving school hardly able to read and write.

Our former President, Joyce Grenfell had been a patron of the 1963 Campaign for Education. It was through her that members had enjoyed meeting distinguished educators and people concerned with education. The award-winning screen writer, Robert Bolt took great interest in the projects planned by our Society and during his visit in 1963, spoke of his pleasure of having an opportunity of talking to our members on what he considered as the most vital subject of education, stating that modern society's negative attitude could prove a national disaster for the future state of education.

Marking that 1994 Centenary Year, two of our distinguished members, the late Dr Joyce Morris OBE and Christabel Burniston MBE were invited to submit written suggestions for a Literacy Campaign. Their report appeared in our Spring 1993 edition of WW. Joyce and Christabel’s report is paraphrased in our history The Woman The Woman Writer Spring 2017

Writer, published in 2009 – ISBN 978-07524-5159-6 (copies available from Sylvia Kent).

We readily accepted the invitation because we believe that the SWWJ should have a voice in the ongoing debate about literacy standards and how to improve them. After all, professional writers need proficient, enthusiastic readers like themselves, and who is better equipped to focus attention on the essential ingredients of effective writing of various kinds?

Following their carefully monitored survey, which they launched asking members for their opinions on this controversial subject, the Literacy Seminar took place on 10th March 1994. It was a successful event, attracting widespread press coverage.

The panel of seven distinguished speakers included the Rt. Hon John Patten MA, MP, Secretary of State for Education; eminent novelist Baroness P D James OBE and the well-known English scholar Professor Sir Randolph Quirk CBE. The panel also included Elizabeth Henderson MA, whose publications include the video Early Recognition of Dyslexia and Jennifer Chew MA, an expert on the teaching of reading.

December 1994 saw the publication of The Yellow Book report entitled Professional Writers Support the Cause of Literacy, prefaced by our then Honorary Life President, Lady Elizabeth Longford. It was a comprehensive compilation of views from 200 members resident in England and 15 more living in other countries.

Sadly, in 1994 we said goodbye to Jocelyn Glegg who retired from her work of 17 years as Editor of The Woman Journalist, but on the whole, 1994 was rather a special year!

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SWWJ Spring Gathering & Prize Giving

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High standards

Sylvia Kent reports from the SWWJ Spring Gathering and Prize Giving

lessed with lovely sunshine on the 15th March, our new Spring Gathering heralded the start of an exciting year ahead and brought new faces to the impressive meeting room at the National Liberal Club in London’s Whitehall Place.

Our Chairman, Barbara Field-Holmes welcomed us all, making special mention of new members visiting us for the first time.

It was a pleasure to meet our friend and Guest Speaker, travel journalist Solange Hando, who judged our John Walter Salver ‘Travel’ Competition. Over the past 20 years, Solange has visited more than 80

countries around the world and her prizewinning features have been published in numerous travel magazines. Solange’s book, Be a Travel Writer, Live your Dreams, Sell your Features, is available in major bookstores and on Amazon.

Alongside Solange, our Competition Co-ordinator, Vivien Hampshire introduced the other judges of our recent writing competitions.

Well-published short story author, Edwina McPherson was the adjudicator of the ‘Winner Takes All’ competition. Margaret Mounsdon’s clever short story Weeping

Above left: ‘Winner Takes All’ Judge, Edwina McPherson (left) presents the winner, Margaret Mounsdon with her cheque. Above middle: Beryl Fleming took first place in The John Walter Salver competition. Above right: Martin Cort, accepting second prize for The John Walter Salver competition from Judge Solange Hando, on behalf of Mary Rensten.

Right: Doris Corti (left), Judge for the Elizabeth Longford Rose Bowl poetry competition, presents winner Finola Holliday with the Rose Bowl. Far right: Sylvia Goodman (left) Highly Commended in the Elizabeth Longford Rose Bowl poetry competition.

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Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

SWWJ Spring Gathering & Prize Giving Willow won first prize and much appreciative applause from those present.

Judge of the Elizabeth Longford Rose Bowl poetry competition was Doris Corti, who chose Finola Holliday’s Trees in Winter as first prize, and Mary Rothwell took second prize with Whale Island. Finola also took third place with The Accident.

The beautiful John Walter Salver was presented by Solange to Beryl Fleming for her superb travel article entitled White Silence.

The adjudicators commented on the high standard of the contributions received, and said how much they had enjoyed reading them.

After the prizes were presented a scrumptious tea was enjoyed by those present before settling down to listen to Solange’s fascinating talk about her career as a travel writer.

Our next event

Our next London event will be the SWWJ AGM and Summer Gathering. Details of the AGM Agenda and an application form for both AGM and the Summer Gathering, can be found on pages 20 and 21, while a biography of our Guest Speaker, Owen Atkinson CEO of ALCS, can be found on page 19.

Pictured left, pic 1: L to r, Doris Corti; Judge for the Elizabeth Longford Rose Bowl poetry competition, Competitions Co-ordinator Vivien Hampshire, Edwina McPherson, Judge for the ‘Winner Takes All’ competition, Solange Hando, Judge for the John Walter Salver competition and our Guest Speaker; and SWWJ Chairman Barbara Field-Holmes.

Pic 2: Competition Co-ordinator Vivien Hampshire

(left) and Vice President & Archivist Sylvia Kent.

Pic 3, 4 & 5: Members and guests enjoying the Spring Gathering.

Pic 6: Chairman Barbara Field-Holmes (left) with member Rebecca Harding.

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

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Drama Happenstance

by Patricia Jones, guest writer for our Drama feature.

A chance meeting at a SWWJ Christmas Tea Party led to a February of exciting incidents, experience and reminiscence.

One of Mary Rensten’s guests was professional actor Norma Cohen.

Norma’s career has been varied and had included cabaret, stand-up comedy, play writing and writing novels. A delightful conversation ensued about the current production Two Sisters by Gail Louw, in which she was involved playing opposite Anne Kavanagh who I recalled seeing in Dancing at Lughnasa at the National Theatre, and in a harrowing production of The Grapes of Wrath at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

When Norma explained that the play was set in a Kibbutz, I exclaimed that “I had been on a Kibbutz!” Rika, one of the sisters in the story, was visiting her sister for her 80th birthday celebrations. The subtitle of the play is Sisters, Secrets and Lies, which turns out to be apt as the sisters bicker and laugh over their reminiscences of past rivalries, politics, aspirations, loves and loneliness. As Anna’s character, Edith talked of life on a Kibbutz with their communal dining rooms, shared responsibility for child care and above all, a strong work ethic, I was taken back to my own experience in 1966.

With 20 other British students, I picked apples, pruned vines and worked in the communal kitchen. We were taken on trips to Nazareth, the sea of Galilee and Halifa in the back of an old Army lorry. We joined in the singing of folk songs and learned to dance the Horah and other traditional dances. One of the highlights of 16

Norma Cohen

my stay was when a neighbouring Kibbutz put on a production of The Crucible, directed by the novelist Lynne Reid-Banks to celebrate the opening of their new dining room. I had recently read the play, which was to my advantage as it was performed in Hebrew.

As a result of our conversation Norma and Anne came to stay with us in Weybridge, which was not far from the Mill Studio in Guildford where their play was being performed. At home we recalled more of our memories of the Kibbutz, especially the much appreciated breakfasts. We worked from 5.30am until 7.30am when we broke for a repast of yoghurt, cheese, hard boiled eggs, juicy tomatoes, fresh bread and sweet halva, all eaten under the apple trees.

I am not Jewish, nor a political person and know that Israel has changed since those halcyon days, however, my memories enhanced my enjoyment of the wonderful performance of Two Sisters and my friendship with the talented Norma Cohen and Anna Kavanagh.

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

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Writers create a mirror reflection of life

Drama

Martin Cort reports on the recent Drama Workshop held in London in February.

he SWWJ team of writers and actors had a discussion on the modern usage of bad language in theatre and on television, also the increasing appearance of naked actors on our screens. It was deemed necessary that our writing should show modern life in its basic and natural state when it was necessary to enhance the intention of a drama. However, gratuitous blasphemy and nudity should not be encouraged.

The first play read, The Unexpected Garden by June Walker possessed none of these aspects, delighting the audience with its humour. Dorothea Phillips and Annie Rutter lead a cast that included Martin Cort, Kenneth Michaels, Peter Stenson, Terence Perkins and Mansel David as the Vicar, in a well constructed garden romp.

Martin explained that as in previous workshops, specifically to assist lone SWWJ novelists, it had been decided to offer the opportunity to have excerpts of their ‘workin-progress’ read aloud by our professional

Above:Terry Perkins devised sound to enhance the story of Peter and Emily.

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

actors. Mary Rensten’s Thatcher’s Child read

by Kenneth Michaels was the first during this workshop. Her leading character, Barry Wade’s rummage through his deceased Grandfather’s attic and what he found made us all encourage Mary to continue with this, her third full blown novel. Benita Cullingford returned with her short play Full Frontal from the last workshop to review its changes. The reading by Annie Dodd as Virginia Wolf and Wendy McNeilly as her sister,Vanessa Bell was well received. Martin directed the amusing scene to exploit the humour during the meeting of these two famous ghost sisters at Charleston House between tourist opening hours.

Just before lunch break there was another reading of a ‘work-in-progress’, this time titled Threads of Life by Patricia Jones. At the end of the excerpt we were left with an appreciation of the well-drawn characters in Patricia’s story and a positive inquisitiveness about the fate of the proposed tapestry depicting village life in Wainbridge. The splendid reading was by Rosemary Mcvie.

Refreshed, the workshop continued with a lively reading of Fest of Saint Joan by Jennifer Pulling. Prior to the workshop Terry Perkins devised some sound to enhance the story of a middle aged couple on holiday in Spain.

Early on in the tale it becomes clear that all is not a ‘bed of roses’ in the marriage of Peter (read by Peter Stenson) and Emily (read by Annie Rutter) Slarck. More concerned about his UK Fancy Goods business Peter, ignores his wife’s needs, which leads to a dangerous separation during the festivities. The drama was Continued on page 18 17

Drama/Poets’ corner Continued from page 17

lightened by the amusing characterisation of Marco the Spanish barman by Kenneth Michaels.

It was suggested that any future radio plays should be sent to Martin with as much time as possible to allow Terry to record the appropriate sounds, which can be difficult to capture. Jennifer’s play was well received and all good wishes given that it should be presented to a broadcasting company for further development.

The last two items in the workshop were both read by Martin. The first a poem, Love in Bloom by Doreen Friend who regretfully could not attend the meeting, and the latest excerpt from Martin’s book in progress, I should have been a Doctor Who Ice Soldier.

NEXT DRAMA WORKSHOP The next Drama Workshop will be at11am on Saturday 3rd June 2017.

The Reference Library Leicester Square, 35 St Martin’s Street, London WC2H 7HP Please note it is St Martin’s Street not Lane. The Librarian is Rossella Black.

Do remember that scripts must be sent to Martin Cort in good time to be considered for reading on the day.

Send your scripts to Martin at: Flat F Kingston Mansions, 147 Clapham Road, London SW9 0HP at least 10 days prior to the Workshop.

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Poets’ corner

This issue we have a delightful poem from Helen Shay.

Brolly Left in your room.

Forgotten in that farewell.

But please keep it.

I can find another And you may need it.

It holds the scent Of all my past rainfalls And is guaranteed to give you Shelter from the storm.

It stands in blue folds In the corner, its panes loose, slender-stemmed But once opened Displaying its roundness, Becoming smooth not a crease, every inch Of its skin stretched out To protect and preserve you safe.

Whenever you are under its canopy It will shield, incubate you with sound Of raindrops, Falling like tears Of one who can’t be there.

Helen Shay

Poets’ corner

We hope you have been enjoying the poems in recent issues. We need more of your poems, so please send them to the Editor – editor@swwj.co.uk – for consideration.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @SWWJ and

Facebook: swwj.facebook and visit us online:

www.swwj.co.uk

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

SWWJ AGM & Summer Gathering

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AGM & Summer Gathering

29th June 2017 at 12.45pm at The National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2HE

Guest Speaker – Owen Atkinson CEO of ALCS

am delighted to announce that Owen Atkinson, CEO of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society is to be our Speaker at the tea party, following the Annual General Meeting on 29th June 2017 at the National Liberal Club, London.

Most of us are members of the ALCS but few of us knows exactly how this organisation works and, more importantly, how the latest innovations can benefit us.

Come to our AGM and Tea, listen and learn – it could well be to your benefit!

Owen joined ALCS in 1997 having previously spent 10 years working in Hong Kong in IT consultancy developing bespoke solutions for the publishing and book industry.

Owen was initially responsible for the design and development of a new bespoke royalties system which was successfully implemented in 1999. He became Head of Operations in 2000 and has overseen the doubling of royalties collected and paid to authors over the past eight years. He became Deputy CEO in 2004 and CEO in 2006.

During this time he has been involved in The Woman Writer Spring 2017

Above: Owen Atkinson CEO of ALCS.

international projects regarding information and repertoire exchange as well as working with data standards groups on the development of identifiers. He is also involved in lobbying and campaigning in support of authors’ rights, raising the profile of writers in both the UK and EU and issues with ministers and MPs on the value of creators to the Creative Economy.

Owen is married with two lively children and lives in Surrey.

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SWWJ AGM & Summer Gathering

SWWJ Annual General Meeting Thursday 29th June 2017 at 12.45pm To be held at The National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, London, WC1 2HE (Please arrive from 12.15pm for a prompt start at 12.45pm.)

AGENDA 1.

2.

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9.

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Welcome to Members Apologies for Absence Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 30th June 2016 Matters arising Chairman's Report Treasurer's Report Appointment of Auditors Election of Council Officers 2017/2018 Officers offering themselves for election Honorary Secretary VACANT Honorary Treasurer Benita Cullingford Election of Council Members 2017/2018 Agreeing to stand for election for a period of one year: Sue Avery Pamela Birley Barbara Field-Holmes Doreen Friend Vivien Hampshire Sylvia Kent Pamela Payne Patricia Pound Celia Pyke Co-opted only: Gwyneth Box Web site Martin Cort Drama Co-ordinator Patrick Forsyth Marketing Consultant Carol Cannavan Editor, The Woman Writer Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

SWWJ AGM & Summer Gathering 10.

11.

Resolution: That Item 3d, para 1 of the SWWJ Constitution the last sentence is deleted.

That Item 3d, para 2 be changed to read as follows: “Honorary and Friends memberships carry the right to participate in all social activities of the Society, excluding SWWJ competitions. Such members may attend the Annual General Meeting but are not eligible to vote.”

Any Other Business By order of the Council NB: Attendance at AGM is free to all members. If you are staying for the Summer Gathering, there is a charge – please fill in and return the application form below:

Annual General Meeting & Summer Gathering 29th June, 2017 at 12.45pm at The National Liberal Club, London SW1A 2HE ENTRY APPLICATION (can be photocopied) Name ………………………………………………............................

Membership No. ……………

Address ……………………………………………………………………………................................................ …........................................................................................................

Postcode: .................................. .

No @£18.50 members …..…. @£19.50 guests …..…… Cheque amount ………..................

Name of Guest(s) ……………………………………………………………….............................................. …………………………………………………………………………………….......................................................

Any dietary requests ………………………………………………………………........................................

BOOKINGS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 22nd June: There can be no refunds after this date. Please send completed form with any dietary requests, together with a cheque made payable to SWWJ to: Benita Cullingford, 5 Cunningham Avenue St. Albans, Herts AL1 1JJ. Receipts are available on the day. Tickets are not being issued.

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

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SWWJ Competition

John Walter Salver Competition 2017 – Meet our Judge – Janet Gover

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he grew up in a small Queensland country town, surrounded by books. After studying at Queensland University she became a television journalist, first in Australia, then in Asia and Europe. During her career Janet saw and did a lot of unusual things. She has met one Pope, a few movie stars and is on first name terms with a dolphin.

She now works with television technology and travels extensively with her job, including some unusual destinations such as Iraq, Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of Lesotho. While living in Hong Kong, she met an Englishman, whom she subsequently married. She now lives in West London.

Her first fiction was published in 2002 – a short story inspired by a holiday in Wales. Her first novel was published in 2009.

She now has eight published novels, with numbers nine and 10 on the way. If asked, she would say her stories mostly revolve Janet Gover – an award-winning around women taking control of their lives again. And if there’s a author of both novels and bit of romance along the way, so much the better. short stories.

She has won or been shortlisted for awards in the UK, Australia and the US. She is a well-regarded speaker at writing conferences, and leads writing workshops and retreats. Her work has been translated into six languages. www.janetgover.com https://www.facebook.com/janetgoverbooks/

A few tips about entering SWWJ competitions It’s lovely to receive so many entries to our competitions, but there are a few problems that seem to crop up often, so here are some simple tips to make everything run as smoothly as possible:

1. Big envelopes need ‘large letter’ postage stamps. Please remember to attach the correct postage so I don’t have to visit the sorting office and/or pay excess charges. Just folding your pages in half can often mean a smaller envelope and a standard stamp will do. Weigh it and measure it before you mail it.

2. It is no longer necessary to send two copies of your entry. I scan everything before sending

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it on to the judge, so possible loss in the post after it leaves me is not an issue and I don’t need to retain an extra paper copy.

3. Unlike cheques, cash lost in the post cannot be cancelled or recovered, so please don’t take the risk by sending your fees in bank notes.

4. I seem to receive the vast majority of competition entries in the final few days, and often on the closing date itself. I cannot accept anything after the official closing date, so please don’t risk being eliminated from the competition. Write your entry – and post it – in plenty of time.

Thank you, and good luck!

Vivien Hampshire Competitions Co-ordinator Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

SWWJ Competition

SWWJ John Walter Salver Competition 2017 This year’s competition is for an unpublished SHORT STORY Theme: The weather

You can write in any style or genre but some aspect of the weather must feature prominently in the storyline Maximum length: 1500 words Judge: Janet Gover First prize: £100

Second prize: £50; Third prize: £25 Entry fee: £5 for one entry or £12 for three entries Awards will be presented at a special prize-giving event in London in Spring 2018 Send your entries to: Vivien Hampshire, 16 Abingdon Close, Uxbridge, UB10 0BU Closing date: 31st August 2017

Please make sure that you check the RULES below before you submit your entry SWWJ COMPETITION RULES Please read these rules carefully. Failure to comply could lead to your entry being invalidated.

1. SWWJ competitions are open to Full and Associate Members only. Unless specifically stated, Friends of the Society and non-members are not eligible to enter.

2. Please ensure that any maximum word or line length set for the competition is strictly adhered to.

3. Your membership number (NOT your name) and the title of your work should appear on every page of your entry. Please number the pages.

4. Please type or print on one side of plain white A4 paper only. No handwritten entries please.

5. Please use double spacing for all prose entries. Poems may be spaced as the poet requires.

6. Every entry must have a detachable cover sheet showing the title, your name, membership number, address, and email address and/or phone number so we can contact you.

7. Entries must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. Cheques to be made payable to SWWJ. A maximum of three entries per person to each competition is allowed. Sending cash is discouraged.

8. Entries received after the closing date may be disregarded with no return of fee.

9. If you would like to receive a copy of the judge’s report, please also enclose a self-addressed envelope of suitable size and bearing the correct postage.

10. Entries MUST NOT be previously published or have been read or performed in any public domain up to the closing date. They should not be currently entered into any other competition.

11. Please do not send your entry by recorded/special delivery or registered post. Enclose a stamped self-addressed postcard if you wish us to acknowledge its safe receipt.

12. Keep a copy of your work as the Society cannot be held responsible for the loss of your entry, in the post or otherwise. Manuscripts will not be returned after judging.

13. Cash prizes for winners and runners-up vary per competition and will be as advertised.

14. In the event of a large number of entries, or if the judge requests it, the Society reserves the right to appoint a shortlisting panel.

15. Please keep the prize-giving date free in your diary and book a ticket to attend if at all possible. If you are a winner, we would like to congratulate you and present your prize to you in person!

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

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Fiction focus

As one door closes...

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Vivien Hampshire explores the fiction market for women’s magazines and asks the question: Is there a future in it?

hen I first started writing short stories in the late 1990s, I had a pretty good choice of women’s magazines to send them to. There were many popular weeklies back then, including Woman,Woman’s Own, Woman’s Weekly, Woman’s Realm, Best, Bella, My Weekly, The Lady, The Weekly News and the good old People’s Friend, which were selling well and included at least one short story, often more, in every issue. Add to the list various monthly and specialist titles that also carried regular or occasional fiction (and even a few writing competitions) and there was a good and varied market out there for new and established fiction writers alike.

But things change and, sadly, for both readers and writers, the changes over the last twenty years have not all been good.

More and more magazines are focussing on fashion, celebrity gossip and real-life stories; many (including Woman, Woman’s Own, Bella and The Lady) have dropped their regular fiction slot; and some have disappeared from the shelves altogether. Goodbye, Woman’s Realm!

Fiction editors are very busy. Some may look after other areas of the magazine too. Some are working alone, without an assistant, and I know of at least one who works part-time and from home. On top of that, they’re swamped by submissions they can’t easily keep up with, especially without any sort of filtering system to weed out the poorly written or totally unsuitable submissions from would-be writers who haven’t taken the time to research their requirements, or just aren’t up to the necessary standard.

So, which magazines are left, and which are still happy to receive and publish fiction?

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Unfortunately, not many. Unsurprisingly, those that do are tightening their rules and their submission guidelines, in some cases to the total exclusion of new writers.

Take a Break’s Fiction Feast is newer to the fiction scene but has been a fantastic market for a long while now, publishing around 20 stories or more in every monthly issue. It’s known among writers as one of the best payers, with rates starting at £200 for a one-page story and rising by the page. A few months ago all that changed. A new fiction editor, a new pay structure, new rules… Now they use stories from their own preferred list of writers only and there is no way onto the list unless you have already sold them a lot of stories in the past. It’s a similar story at My Weekly, who now work only with a list of selected tried-and-trusted writers, issue them with regular updates as to the exact type and length of story they need and will look at only one story per writer per month.

Another door closed!

It’s better news for writers at The Weekly News. Looking more like a newspaper than a magazine, it’s not always easy to find in the shops, but it still uses two or three stories a week. Its mixed male and female readership means that straight romances are unlikely to hit the mark, but it’s still a good market for general stories, often with a little humour or a twist ending. Yours is still around too.

This one is aimed at readers over 50 and, although only one story gets published per fortnightly issue, it’s still a paying market you might like to investigate.

Next, there’s monthly magazine, Prima.

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Fiction focus Mainly a fashion, beauty and recipes/diets title, the fiction here is advertised as an ongoing reader competition with a £100 prize. One winning short story of around 800 words appears in every issue, along with a photo and short biog of the reader who submitted it. Where that leaves the professional writer (who may well read the magazine too) is anyone’s guess!

It’s over the sea to Ireland next. Ireland’s Own is another weekly aimed at readers of both sexes and uses one or two short stories in every issue. I think it helps to give the story an ‘Irish feel’, using an Irish setting or names, but it’s not compulsory and humour works well. There are also opportunities to send your work further afield too, with many UK writers finding success with magazines in English-speaking countries like Australia and South Africa, or in the Swedish magazine Allas – if they like a story, they are happy to translate it.

I have left the shining stars of the woman’s magazine world until last. Woman’s Weekly and The People’s Friend each employ a small fiction editorial ‘team’ and are not only publishing fiction but actively encouraging submissions, from new writers as well as the more established. Both produce weekly magazines but also regular ‘Specials’ packed with a wonderful selection of fiction – romance, family stories, historical, crime, twist in the tale, humour, mystery and even the occasional ghost – in all lengths from around 800 to 4000 words and longer serials too. Both run extremely popular day-long workshops in London and around the country, where writers can hone their skills and learn more about what the editors are looking for. Just one story sale will cover the cost, so it’s well worth considering! Woman’s Weekly are the better payer of the two, but their story styles and themes are quite different, and the ‘Friend’ is actively moving away from its old-fashioned and The Woman Writer Spring 2017

rather prudish image these days, so do read a few issues to get a feel before you submit.

Of course, there are always anomalies. A short story may appear in Your Cat or Best magazine, for example, but when you look you can’t find any submission guidelines. Or you may see a story in one of the Sunday newspaper supplement magazines.

In these cases, the editor is probably not actively seeking stories from Joe Public. So what’s going on?

Sometimes a story is specially commissioned from a well-known author, where quality is more or less guaranteed, and perhaps to tie in with a recently published novel. Novelists Sue Moorcroft, Victoria Connelly and Julie Cohen, for example, have all been spotted in the weekend supplements writing short stories. SWWJ member Elaine Everest has recently been asked by My Weekly to write a short story using the same setting and characters that feature in her new novel, The Butlins Girls, which will appear around the same time the book is published in May. And lastly, a word about contracts. Most of the magazines, when they accept a story from a writer for the first time, will ask you to sign a contract. Read it thoroughly. It may well restrict how and when you can use or re-sell your story elsewhere after its initial UK publication. It may also mean that the magazine can use it again, or produce a digital or audio version, with no further payment to the writer. Make sure you understand what rights you are giving them.

But the bottom line is: If you don’t sign, they won’t buy!

For more information, current magazine fiction guidelines, submission details, general questions and chat, I would recommend the ‘womagwriter’ blog, run by writer Patsy Collins. www.womagwriter.blogspot.co.uk

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Special feature: Interview with Sandra Howard

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Sandra Howard – from fashion to fiction

by Sylvia Kent

’ve always been intrigued with stories of how people, who have been very successful in one career, manage to embrace another completely different calling later in life. When researching the life of our Patron, Sandra Howard (Baroness Howard of Lympne), I’ve been reminded of London’s fashion world of the 1960s.

Although her parents were university graduates, her mother an Oxford scholar, Sandra had persuaded them to let her do a three-week ‘charm course’ at the Lucy Clayton Modelling Agency instead of trying for Oxbridge. “I think it was an age when they felt it wasn’t so necessary and they were rather fascinated by the idea of modelling,” she recalls. As Sandra Paul she became one of Clayton’s top models and experienced a

hectic working life in ‘swinging London’.

“I was lucky enough to work with the most famous fashion photographers of the time including David Bailey and Norman Parkinson, whose picture of me, my very first, was featured in Vogue. My career took off overnight,” she adds. At the age of eighteen, Sandra married her first husband, jazz pianist Robin Douglas-Home, nephew of the former Prime Minister, Alec Douglas-Home. When they were staying with the British Ambassador, David Ormsby-Gore in America, they were invited to the White House and met President Kennedy.

They also met many Hollywood stars including Frank Sinatra.

"Frank had invited us to California, since when we met him in London, Robin had asked to write a book about his music. We were with him much of the next three months and it was Frank who introduced us to Marilyn Monroe."

Above: Sandra Howard, Patron to the SWWJ, pictured at the Society’s 2016 AGM with her book Tell the Girl.

Left: Sandra pictured with Frank Sinatra.

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Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Around the regions Sandra married twice more before meeting a ‘brilliant barrister’ named Michael Howard at a Red Cross Ball. He wooed her by sending her a copy of F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel Tender is the Night. They married in 1975 and he became an MP eight years later.

The Howards have enjoyed a happy marriage for 42 years. They have two children, Nicholas and Larissa. “Michael has always been terrifically close to my son Sholto from my first marriage. When he phoned from school, he would ask to speak to Michael before me,” she smiles.

A new career begins

A dozen years ago, Sandra embarked on her new career. She’d worked as a freelance journalist for several newspapers when one of her light-hearted features – about her husband being out of government and working from home – brought praise and an enquiry from a literary agent. Had she ever thought of writing a novel? It was an irresistible challenge. A new direction beckoned! Working exceedingly hard, Sandra’s first novel Glass Houses was published by Simon & Schuster in 2006. The storyline was set against a backdrop of politics, journalism and romance – a winning trio and her excellent book sales have proved that this heady mix is what her readers want.

Since her writing debut, Sandra has produced four more novels: Ursula’s Story, Ex-Wives, A Matter of Loyalty and Tell the Girl.

Her previous reviews are excellent and her sixth book The Consequence of Love, which is a ‘stand alone’ sequel to A Matter of Loyalty, is due for publication soon. Sandra has already begun work on her next novel. Set mainly in East Africa it is based on the true story of a wartime marriage and the couples’ love letters. Watch this space!

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset meeting

by Ester Davies

The first event will take place in The New Forest at The Filly Inn, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7UF, on Thursday 27th April at 12.30pm for a buffet lunch at 1.15pm. Lunch will be £15 and will include a selection of delicious dishes that will also cater for vegetarians. Tea, coffee and cake will also be included. Payment will be required in advance by 10th April in order to confirm numbers, so please book early to secure your place.

Teacher, author and playwright, Brian Woolland, will be our guest speaker sharing his experiences on ‘Playwriting and Perseverance’. Brian has had nine plays commissioned and produced professionally. He has taught theatre and creative writing workshops throughout the UK, Europe and in the Middle East and Australia. His plays have received critical acclaim.

‘The Flesh is Mine’ and ‘When Nobody Returns’, based on Homer’s lliad and Odyssey respectively, were staged in London in October - November 2016, as part of a season entitled ‘Plays of Love and War’, co-produced by London-based Border Crossings and Ashtar Theatre from Ramallah. Each play explored themes relating to the current conflicts in the Middle East.

For further details, directions and to reserve a place, please email Ester Davies at esterdavies@yahoo.com or call on: 01425 618747, text: 07920 106002. The second regional event will be held in the autumn with the details appearing in the Summer issue of The Woman Writer.

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Around the regions News from Moonraker Country

by Dee La Vardera

Just like buses – you're waiting for your book to be published and lo and behold another one hoves into view! I shouldn't complain, of course, two books coming along together but it's difficult to give both my full attention. I've had talks booked a year in advance for The Road to Civitella I944: the Captain, the Chaplain and the Massacre but I can't lose the opportunity to plug the other book as well. It's called Piggyback Publicity.

The History Press has brought out a paperback edition of Survivor of the Long March, Five Years as POW, 1940-1945, Charles Waite's story, which I helped him write. I added another chapter about Charles's death in February 2012, a month after the book came out, his legacy and memorials and some additional photos.

Talking of two things coming along together, another bit of luck. I've been researching WW1 auxiliary hospitals in Calne for new display boards at our Heritage Centre. I know there was one at Bowood House set up by the Marchioness of Lansdowne just after her younger son was killed in action near Ypres, but not the other – the Red Cross Hospital, The Pavilion, Anchor Road. I know the site, which houses playing fields, tennis courts, a bowling green and pavilion, now the social club. I thought I'd pop over and see if there was a plaque mentioning its previous use.

I accosted an old boy who was just opening up the bar and asked him if he knew anything about the WW1 hospital.

He said there might be a picture on the 28

Above: Dee La Vardera with The Pavilion Hospital photographs.

wall opposite. He got a ladder, climbed up and brought down two large dusty framed pictures – one a group photo of staff and patients; the other an illuminated certificate from The Army Council thanking “those who have rendered to it [the building] this valuable and patriotic assistance in the hour of its emergency”.

Now I'm on a winning streak what else is coming my way? I've just pitched two features to The People’s Friend. Fingers crossed.

rget!

Don’t fo the Summer

r riter y date fo The cop f The Woman W ue o 2017 iss 0th May 2017. may is 3 ate er this d eived aft pear in the c re y p o C ble to ap will be t not be a issue, bu Summer r inclusion in the d fo considere llowing fo r. ewslette SWWJ N

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

When I was not on this page...

Keep calm and drink tea...

Doreen Friend takes a trip down memory lane and recalls one of the ‘perks’ of being a journalist.

M

onday mornings were always very busy. As a staff reporter on an east London newspaper it was my job to discover what had happened on my patch during the weekend.

My vast patch included the emergency services; my first port of call was the local ambulance station where I was looking for any incidents involving injury such as road traffic accidents, or other problems where an ambulance and crew were needed.

As a regular visitor to the station I was offered a cup of tea, which was very welcome as I often missed my morning cuppa at home. Notes taken and tea drunk, I made my way to the first of two police stations in the area that had a small contingent of officers who, albeit very helpful, had very limited facilities when it came to making ‘The Press’ a cuppa. Yet they managed somehow. Tea brewed in a police station urn has a most unique flavour. The same applied to the smaller of the two fire stations on my patch, which was often very quiet if the Watch were on a shout or on a tea break.

Emergency crews seem to have the knack of squeezing just one more cuppa out of the pot and how could I refuse such hospitality?

Cleanliness and training were a part of fire crews duties and heaven help The Woman Writer Spring 2017

anyone who answered an emergency call in a mucky Rig. By the time I drove into the second, much larger fire station, my mouth watered. This was not due to the abundance of water in the station yard, I was led on by the smell of toast. The cop shop brew was tasty, but it didn’t have patch on the hot steaming liquid provided by the brigade cook of the day. Naturally, a mug of the ‘firecrews’ brew had to be accompanied by one or two slices of toast. Hot buttered with the right amount of crispness is simply irresistible.

With a notebook full of stories (tape recording was not allowed) and five cups of tea under my belt, my last call of the morning was to the main police station where I waited in line with good guys, bad guys, and frightened members of the public until the DI could see me. If he (the DI usually was a man) was busy I was escorted to the canteen by any available officer, usually one that I knew. I am not an expert in anything but it seems to me that saying yes to another cup of tea and a cake (usually stale), helps break the ice with the boys in blue.

I had picked up quite a few stories, some would make headline news, but with six mugs of tea sloshing about inside of me my priority was the little girl’s room.

Coat off, bag and notebook on the desk, I was just in time for the tea round. Oh no...

29

Marketing And my guest today is...

Your book needs all the publicity it can get, maybe you should use local radio. Patrick Forsyth investigates the possibilities.

H

ere’s a promotional opportunity not to neglect. Local radio has a large, and loyal audience. Some stations are primarily music led, others, certainly the BBC stations, present an eclectic mix of news and views. Operating throughout the day, they have a voracious appetite for material and a great deal of time to fill, so maybe – though competition is strong – they present an opportunity for you Do not reject them as too grand, all sorts of people appear on radio, and the advantages can be considerable. First, there is direct impact on potential purchasers: your book is mentioned in some way and some listeners make a note and go out and buy a copy.

Further, there are ancillary effects: you, and your publisher, can use the fact – featured on BBC radio – on other announcements, press releases and so on; it also provides back up evidence for your publisher’s representatives to mention as they sell your title to bookshops. Looking ahead, because publishers like an author who does contribute to publicity, and thus help generate sales, it may even make it easier to obtain a contract for another book.

Being on radio can mean a number of things.

Sometimes it is simply a mention or news item, but it can be an interview – and some of those can give the author significant time.

For example, BBC Essex is a typical station (and my local one) and makes a point of having writers as guests regularly; allowing for other announcements this can give the interviewee maybe 15 minutes or more of chat. Provided an interesting item transpires, some of those invited may find 30

return visits easier to confirm. This is not chance. In the case of BBC Essex, who like all such stations research their audiences carefully, it is deliberate policy. Here I was told: “We broadcast primarily to an audience from 50 to dead. Listeners are interested in things local – like using local services including the library – they are volunteers, they have grown up families; and we know they love books. Especially when there is a ‘people aspect’ to their story and when they, or their book, relates to something local.”

So the station sees writers and books as a regular part of their content. This may help a local history book, or a book set in a specific region, but it may also just mean that the author lives locally. The station supports the Essex Book Festival, an annual event, and presents a mix of items, from book reviews to interviews with authors and humaninterest stories. They also like to give books away as competition prizes, so anyone aiming to be featured may want to persuade their publisher to make a few copies available. Smaller community radio stations, of which there are many, often have similar policies.

How do you organise to appear on local radio? Well, it may take some work, but it is possible, though initially it may take more than one contact (perhaps from both author and publisher). In the first instance, it is best to send a written announcement of some sort (as both an email and hard copy), then follow up two or three times over a period Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Marketing of 7-10 days, writing or telephoning; or both.

If what is sent is newsy, and it should be, then judge carefully when you send it: too far ahead and it may be put aside and become buried, even if it prompted initial interest. Too much last minute and it may be rejected because schedules are full short term.

While an approach that rings bells and is newsy in some way can prompt attention regardless of the broadcasting experience of a writer, it makes sense for the writer to act appropriately. You should not make demands, you should respect the station’s policy and practice and, just like editors, those involved in producing programmes are busy people – deal with them efficiently and they will like it. Any approach, whether letter/email or press release, should be carefully written and aim to say something striking in a memorable way.

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

If and when an invitation comes, be sure to turn up on time if you go to the studio (though you could be interviewed over the telephone) and respect the medium. For example, most radio items are short and interaction between interviewer and interviewee needs to be maintained. When the first question comes, resist the temptation to see it as an opportunity to pontificate at length.

What works best is a number of short answers, rather than something that begins: “Well, I suppose there are three key messages in the book”, and then attempt to fill 10 or 15 minutes uninterrupted. Speaking on radio is special and some study is recommended.

An invitation is a real opportunity to promote you and your book, and there is nothing quite like hearing the host say: “Our next guest is the writer …”

31

Markets

Writing opportunities

by Carol Cannavan

Here’s a round-up of markets and writing competitions to keep you busy in 2017!

Although every effort is made to gather correct information, it is best to contact individual publications and ask for the current writing guidelines.

It’s very important to study your market, it can make all the difference between acceptance and rejection.

UK Markets

Hertfordshire Countryside is a monthly magazine – they are happy to accept articles for consideration. Subject matter can include people, history, wildlife, architecture, folklore, curiousities, activities, leisure, arts & crafts, towns and villages, but it must be connected to Hertfordshire.

Ideally manuscripts should be 1,000-1,250 words (Word documents) with suitable illustrations if possible. Payment for accepted work on publication.

Email: martin@hertscountryside.co.uk Website: www.martinsmallhcsm.wix.com

Travel Writing 101 has six travel websites with a combined annual readership of over five million. Travel articles should be orginal and unique, between 800-1,500 words long. Payment for published articles is £50-£100 depending on length and complexity. Find out more information on their website.

Email: mark@101holidays.co.uk Website: www.101holidays.co.uk/writefor-us/ 32

Best Magazine is a weekly and they accept short stories between 900 and 1,200 words in length. Your plot must be strong and convincing, its situations modern, relevant and believable. Characters must be believable, too, and people with whom readers can identify. In almost all stories they print, the main character is a woman.

Payment £150 per story.

Email: best@natmags.co.uk Address: Fiction Editor, BEST, 33 Broadwick St London W1F 0DQ.

Fiction Feast is a monthly publication packed full of short stories. Payment rates are: 700 words – £200, 1,200 words – £250, 2,000 words – £325 to £400. All stories must be from an original idea, all your own work, not previously published in the UK and not currently on offer to any other magazine or publisher. It can take 6-8 weeks for a decision to be made on Fiction Feast stories, so please be patient.

Address: Norah McGrath, Fiction Editor, Take a Break’s Fiction Feast, Academic House, 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DT. Woman’s Weekly is looking for fiction showing originality and a wide variety of themes and moods, such as mystery, humour, relationships and family issues, with warmth still an important factor. Try to be subtle in your writing and remember the maxim: ‘Show don't tell’.

They want short stories of 1,000 and 2,000 words, Serials in three or four parts of 3,300 words each. For Fiction Special (At least 20 stories 12 times a year): Stories of 1,000 to 8,000 words.

Address: Fiction Department, Woman's Weekly, IPC Media, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU. Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Markets & Competitions Overseas Markets

The Wayward Post is seeking submissions for original, unpublished work that will appeal to socially conscious travellers with mid-range to upmarket budgets. In a few, quick sentences, please pitch your story and tell them why their audience will love it.

Please also include relevant links to your websites, social media and past work. To be considered, please submit your pitch online or email your pitch directly to

Email: editor@thewaywardpost.com Website: www.wanderlust.co.uk

Delta Sky – this airline magazine seeks stories about travel, lifestyle and business.

They have a 4-month lead-time. Features range from 600–2,000 words. They include very small 100-word pieces to longer 500word columns. If your pitch is accepted, please remember to include sources for fact-checking.

Email: edit@deltaskymag.com Website: www.deltaskymag.com

Resurrection House is keen on previously unpublished novel-length works of science fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy, and noir mystery with a tinge of otherworldliness and the occasional bit of horror. They are looking for character-driven pieces, but don't mind being kept up late due to a tightly wound, plot-driven book. Their interest is piqued by material that is not strictly beholden to the history of and/or culture of Western European civilization.

Email: submissions@resurrectionhouse.com Website: www.resurrectionhouse.com

Competitions

Win Your Way to Swanwick 2017

Closing date: 30th April 2017 Prizes: 1st – a fully inclusive week at the 2017 Summer School for the winner in each category; 2nd – Writing Magazine manuscript appraisal; 3rd – a copy of the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2017.

Entry fee: £5 for each piece of work entered. Theme for all entries this year is 'Escape'. The categories are: A poem up to 40 lines; a short story up to 1,000 words and children's fiction up to 1,000 words.

Swanwick Summer School runs from 12th18th August. It is a week-long programme for writers of all ages, abilities and genres.

It offers a full programme of courses, workshops, speakers, panels and optional one-to-one sessions.

Closing date: 30th April 2017

Website: swanwickwritersschool.org.uk/ win-a-place.html

Writers’ Forum – this is an ongoing competition published in each issue of Writers’ Forum. There are three great prizes every issue: 1st £300, 2nd £150, 3rd £100.

All types of short story are welcome, be it crime, comedy, romance, horror, science fiction, etc. Stories must be between 1,000 and 3,000 words.

Entry fee is £6 or just £3 for subscribers.

Cheques (sterling only) should be made payable to ‘Select Publisher Services’.

If you are shortlisted you will be notified and asked to send a Word-compatible electronic version of your story (if you entered by post), plus a brief biography and a photo.

Visit their website for further details.

Closing date: Rolling deadline

Website: www.writers-forum.com The Woman Writer Spring 2017

Continued on page 34 33

Markets & Competitions Continued from page 33 Frome Festival Short Story

Prizes: £300, £150, £75, extra prizes for local entrants, winning entrants published on the website and may be sent to Womens Weekly and/or Frame FM for consideration. Entry fee: £5.

Looking for: Short stories, 1,000-2,200 words, any theme. Visit their website for further information.

Closing date: 31st May 2017 Email: fromefestivalshortstorycomp@ gmail.com Website: www.fromeshortstorycompetition.co.uk Yeovil Literary Prize

Prizes: For novels, £1,000, £250 and £100; for each of poems and short stories, £500, £200 and £100; for writing without restrictions £200, £100 and £50.

Entry fee: £11 for novels; £6 for short stories; £6 for one poem, £11 for three; writing without restrictions £5.

Looking for: Novels (opening chapters and synopsis, up to 15,000 words), short stories (max 2,000 words, poems (up to 40 lines), and writing without restrictions.

Closing date: 31st May 2017

Website: www.yeovilprize.co.uk

Writers Bureau Spring Flash Fiction

Prizes: £300, £200, £100 plus Writers Bureau course worth over £349. Entry fee: £5, £10 for three.

Looking for: Stories up to 500 words on an open theme. Visit their website for further information.

Closing date: 31st May 2017

Email: studentservices@writersbureau.com Website: www.wbcompetition.com 34

Writers & Artists – Crime and Thriller writers

This is a new competition dedicated exclusively to crime and thriller writing.

Whether you have a polished manuscript sitting at home, have just completed your first draft or are only a few thousand words in, they want you to submit up to the first 2,000 words of your page-turner.

This is your chance to get your work in front of a literary agent and receive expert feedback to help you on your journey towards publication.

To enter the competition and be in with the chance of winning brilliant prizes, all you have to do is enter up to the first 2,000 words of a crime/thriller manuscript (for adults) and email it with ‘Killer fiction competition’ as the subject line.

Prizes include: A pair of tickets to their Writing Crime & Thriller Fiction event on Saturday 19th September – with talks from literary agents, bestselling authors and creative writing tutors – the latest edition of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and a book bundle including all four of Thomas Mogford’s Spike Sanguinetti mysteries, plus other books. Most importantly, you’ll receive direct feedback from a literary agent on your work. Two runners-up will receive a copy of the W&A Companion Guide to Novel Writing and the W&A Companion Guide to Crime and Thriller Writing.

The closing date is midnight on Friday 31st July 2017. The winners of the competition will be announced on the W&A website in August 2017. You have to register on the website before submitting your entry, or it will not be valid.

Closing date: 31st July 2017

Email: crimecomp@bloomsbury.com

Website: www.writersandartists.co.uk

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Book reviews Murder on Tyneside

by Eileen Thornton Published by: Creativia Price: £1.99 (Amazon Kindle); £11.99 (PB) ISBN: 978-1541244399 Reviewed by Valerie Dunmore This is an excellent murder mystery which keeps you reading with many unexpected incidents twisting the story.

Our heroine, Agnes Lockwood, has returned to her childhood haunts in Newcastle-on-Tyne, after the death of her much-loved husband. Her marriage had taken her far afield and so much had changed since she left. Even the hotel in which she was staying had become truly upmarket.

On the first night she overhears an argument which reveals that one of the other guests has been robbed of some precious and sentimental jewellery. The wife insists on the police being called. The chief inspector Alan Johnson turns out to be an old school friend of Agnes, who had always fancied her and he invites her out to dinner.

Returning after their meal, they are confronted with a corpse on the pavement.

As she is a witness to this murder and present following the jewellery theft, Agnes insists on being involved in the investigations.

This turns out to be most useful since she is remarkably observant and loves people watching. Then there follow quite a few more jewellery thefts and another murder, leaving Agnes feeling truly vulnerable.

As a consequence, she notices that another guest from the hotel appears to be following her as she wanders around the city, familiarising herself with all her old haunts.

During this time Alan becomes truly The Woman Writer Spring 2017

enamoured with her and would like her to stay out of things for safety. But she comes up with so many valuable solutions he lets her stay.

The ending is worth all the suspense. A good read.

Jack in the Wallows

by Shalbey Bellaman Published by: Crystal Pear Publishing Price: £6.99 (PB); £2.45 (Amazon Kindle) ISBN: 978-0-9935279-0-6 Reviewed by Celia Pyke

Jack thinks his cousin Katie is fanciful when she talks about her Magical Tree, which is an old oak at the bottom of the garden. She claims there are little folk who frequent the surrounding bushes etc, but he thinks she’s making it up. Then one day they are confronted by a fractious leprechaun who tells them he’s Hieronymus Seamus O’Kneedle, but instructs them to call him Hero for short. He shows them Beribis, his magic wand, taps them with it, and promptly reduces their size to his. He leads them through a hidden door in the oak tree and from there, down into another land beneath the soil. Kindling is a fantasy kingdom and he explains he needs their help to save it from being overtaken by deadly invaders known as Gangrals.

They encounter a variety of creatures during their struggle to protect Kindling, some mystical and charming, some intimidating and cold, but none of them are like the humans they’re used to. Fortunately for everybody the book has a happy ending. Children will relish following the cousins through this fantasy, and enjoy this well-written book.

Continued on page 36

35

Book reviews Continued from page 35

Least Said

by Pamela Fudge Published by: Endeavour Press Price: £2.99 (Amazon Kindle) (PB £5.99) ASIN: B01LVYZ1AY Reviewed by Patricia Pound Jon and Wendy met in tragic circumstances when both their parents are killed in a coach crash. This book relates the story of a perfect match, a true love story when they marry. In their marriage the need for a baby to complete their happiness becomes a paramount issue. After medical investigations this will not be easily achieved. It causes a rift between them that cannot be readily resolved.

Their happy marriage is now approaching a rocky future. Try as they might, things become complicated. Reading a text on her husband’s mobile phone causes outrage as his wife misinterprets the message. He leaves for a weekend business conference.

She, shocked and confused, attends the wedding of a friend. Wrapped in pain, anguish and thoughts of revenge, strictly out of character she responds to temptation with a guest at the wedding party, an unknown stranger.

We all make mistakes and Mrs Wendy Hammond made the worst mistake of her life, an act that haunts and shames her with regret for years ahead. Overwhelmed to discover she is pregnant, with no certainty regarding who the father of this so longedfor child she is carrying is, a decision is needed. Eventually the marriage continues with no question of the paternity of the child. Young William is the most beautiful and good natured son they could 36

have wished for. The years passed as they devoted themselves to the welfare of the child, her secret remaining untold.

All is well until one day the 'other man' enters into her life again. Rightly or wrongly, she panics, and with lost control imagines he wants to be involved with the child, now aged seven years. Nearly out of her mind with worry as her anxiety builds, she confides in her best friend. An overheard telephone conversation finally shatters her world. She does not think her own happy family can ever be restored. She is beyond help it seems and will try anything to protect her son, the innocent victim in this adult drama. Can there ever be forgiveness and a happy ending? Can what was a true love story, ever be revived? More unfolds before the ending. It is worth reading to find all the answers.

Be a Travel Writer, Live Your Dreams, Sell Your Features: Travel Writing Step

by Step

by Solange Hando Published by: Compass Books Price: £9.99 ISBN: 978-1-78099-944-9 Reviewed by Patrick Forsyth

All those who heard Solange Hando speak at the SWWJ Spring Gathering would have had no doubt of her enthusiasm for her chosen field of writing. She made both the life it gave her and the process of actually writing and submitting work seem highly attractive. She mentioned (as you do!) her book and I subsequently read it and am pleased to draw it to the attention of members.

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

Book reviews We have probably all read ‘how-to-write’ books of one sort or another; some are good, some are less good. This is simply excellent. The advice it gives: write for a market, find the right angle, get the detail right, use your senses and more is practical, sound, proven and no-nonsense. That is useful enough, but it is the way it is written that makes the book special. Upbeat seems the right word for the style and yet is inadequate at the same time. Whether she is addressing planning what you do (and the book is half way through before she allows the reader to think about actually writing anything) or creating ideas, finding the right hook and tailoring a piece to a particular market, she makes the way forward sound sensible, possible and fun. She tackles a wide range of topics taking in everything from taking and submitting photographs to taking advantage of the many inspection visits that take place each year and much more. The way she works on a writing trip, maximising every moment and every opportunity is an object lesson.

The market for travel writing is substantial, from travel magazines and in-flight magazines to a host of other outlets which have travel features; and, as she says, such stretches across 80 countries where English is the first language (Solange, incidentally, is French so does all this in her second language!).

Travel writing is something I have done, but I certainly had plenty to learn from this book and I would recommended it highly.

Please send all books for review to:

Patricia Pound Apple Tree Cottage 15 South Weald Road Brentwood CM14 4QZ Tel: 01277 222446

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

A word about book reviews

If you want your book reviewed in the WW, please ask your publisher to send a hard copy only to: Patricia Pound, Apple Tree Cottage, 15 South Weald Road, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4QZ. PDFs or entries sent by computer will NOT be accepted. The hard copy of the book is the only payment for their services that the reviewer receives, so please do not ask for the book to be returned.

Send an image of the cover of your book to the main office at Tatsfield (see page 2) or ask your publisher to email a high resolution image of the cover photo to: editor@swwj.co.uk Please be patient. The review of your book will be in the WW, but sometimes there is a backlog. Also, we are unable to review a trilogy or series of books at one time and books submitted should be recently or newly published.

A copy of the WW containing the review will be sent to the publisher, unless the book is self-published or the publisher doesn’t give a postal address on their website.

How to review a book:

1. Don’t attack the author. Just say what you like or don’t like about the book.

Does the cover do the book justice? Do you like the title? Is the font size readable, etc?

2. Don’t give away the plot of the book and only provide 200-250 words, as space in the WW is limited.

3. Please send the review to Patricia Pound at patricia.pound@googlemail.com who will forward it to the Editor for publication.

37

SWWJ Subscription renewal application

: swwjval@aol.com

,

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38

Spring 2017 The Woman Writer

27th April: 1st May:

30th May:

31st May:

3rd June:

19th June:

29th June:

9th August:

31st August:

4th September:

11th September:

21st September:

19th October:

27th November:

30th November:

7th December:

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2017

Diary dates

Dorset/Hants/Wilts Regional Meeting to be held at The Filly Inn, Lymington Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire. More details on page 26.

Subscription renewals due.

Copy date for Summer 2017 issue of The Woman Writer.

Closing date for the Writing for Children Competition. For details see page 29.

Drama Workshop held at The Reference Library, Leicester Square, St Martin’s Street, London. For more details see page 18.

SWWJ Council Meeting, London.

SWWJ AGM and Summer Gathering (Tea), National Liberal Club, London.

Visit to Chawton House Library, Alton, Hampshire. For details see page 9.

Closing date for the SWWJ John Walter Salver Competition.

For details, see page 23.

Copy date for Autumn 2017 issue of The Woman Writer.

SWWJ Council Meeting, London.

SWWJ Autumn Lunch, National Liberal Club, London.

Training Workshop, London. Details to follow in the Spring issue.

SWWJ Council Meeting, London.

Copy date for Winter 2018 issue of The Woman Writer.

SWWJ Christmas Gathering (Tea), National Liberal Club, London.

The Woman Writer is published four times a year in Winter (January), Spring (April), Summer (July) and Autumn (October). Copy dates are listed above.

Send your copy to editor@swwj.co.uk The SWWJ Newsletter is published four times a year towards the end of February, May, August and November. Copy that misses the WW copy dates will be passed to Doreen Friend for the Newsletter on doreen.friend@swwj.co.uk To receive the Newsletter, please make sure we have your current email address.

Regional meetings take place at the advertised venues. Council meetings are held at ALCS new offices – Barnard’s Inn, 86 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1AD.

The Woman Writer Spring 2017

39

www.swwj.co.uk

Farnborough Parish Magazine June 2013

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