The Woman Writer – Autumn Issue 2019

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swwj society of women writers and journalists

Issue 95

AUTUMN 2019

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AGM at the House of Lords Christmas Tea Party Book Reviews Report on Chawton House Visit www.swwj.co.uk

Who’s who Printed by TandC Printers, Bromley, Kent BR1 3PU Issue 95

Editor: Carol Cannavan 10 Dury Falls Close, Hornchurch Essex RM11 3AX Tel: 01708 459376 Mob: 07947 133509 carol@aspire-editorial.co.uk Chairman: Rebecca Harding Highfield, 46 Park Avenue North Northampton NN3 2JE Mob: 07966 459080 rebecca@saltwhistle.com Vice Chairman/ Speakers: Pamela Payne Tel: 01730 892413 pamela@thebeach.com

Autumn 2019

Marketing Coordinator: Michelle Harriman Mob: 07894 703717 Michelle@dotiprojects.co.uk Competitions/Social Media/Manuscript Appraisal: Vivien Brown Tel: 01895 254453 vivienhampshire@btinternet.com Archivist: Sylvia Kent Tel: 01277 651062 skent32@tiscali.co.uk

Book Reviews/ Chawton House Liaison: Pamela Birley Tel: 020 7351 6377 Communications Coordinator/Newsletter: bra33@btinternet.com Barbara Field-Holmes Website: Tel: 01959 575031 (Wk) Gywneth Box Tel: 01959 575936 (Home) Mob: 07986 613437 Mob: 07814 738894 hello@gwynethbox.com swwj@bigginwords.co.uk Minutes Secretary: Hon Treasurer: Vacancy Benita Cullingford Tel: 01727 857388 Council Support: b.cullingford@btinternet.com Katherine Bolton Manager, Writer’s Debut Mob: 07834 954993 benitaswwj@btinternet.com katherineindevon@gmail.com Hon Secretary/Events: Janice Grande Tel: 01268 451547 Mob: 07951 671498 grandewords@yahoo.com Overseas: Doreen Friend Tel: 020 8505 2476 doreen.friend@swwj.co.uk SCRIPTORA: Mary Rensten maryrensten@btinternet.com

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The Woman Writer is published by The Society of Women Writers & Journalists www.swwj.co.uk

Patrons: Lady Howard, Sir Tim Rice, The Earl of Stockton, Simon Brett OBE

President: The Rt Hon Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham OBE DL

Vice Presidents: Pamela Birley, Doris Corti,Valerie Dunmore, Joyce Elsden, Barbara Field-Holmes, 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.

Membership Secretary: Valerie Dunmore Tel: 01737 557936 swwjval@aol.com Consultants: Martin Cort (Drama) Tel: 020 7582 5839 mcort1@talktalk.net Patrick Forsyth (Marketing) patrick@touchstone28.com Vivien Brown (Proofreader)

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.

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

From the Editor

Contents 4

From the Chair

By Rebecca Harding.

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Letters The latest news and views.

6-9

Society news Discover what is happening in the SWWJ.

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Members’ news A round-up of news and successes.

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Drama Report on the Drama Workshop.

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From the archive

By Sylvia Kent.

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Chain of office History of the SWWJ pendant.

14 - 15 SWWJ trip Report on a visit to Chawton House.

16 - 18 Overseas members Doreen Friend shares the news.

18 - 19 Outgoing Chairman’s report

By Barbara Field-Holmes.

Hi everyone!

I’m trying to think of the words to describe our day at the House of Lords, when we recently held our AGM ...

The first that comes to mind is WOW!!!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious also fits the bill. It certainly was, in my opinion, the most memorable AGM that I have ever attended. Before I get carried away, it’s probably best that you read my report on page 20.

This has been a fantastic anniversary year for the Society, and it’s not over yet.

Don’t forget to book your place at our Christmas Tea Party on 5th December – see page 6 for full details. Pamela Payne, who organises speakers for our events, has invited Ex-Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Malton to give us an insight into the darker side of society. At the moment she is appearing in The Real Prime Suspect, a true crime series broadcast by CBS Reality. I hope to see many of you there – it’s a great way to kick off the festive season!

20 - 22 Report on AGM AGM at the House of Lords.

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SWWJ Competition The Elizabeth Longford Poetry comp.

carol@aspire-editorial.co.uk

24 - 25 Poets’ corner

By Doris Corti.

32 - 33 Markets & Competitions

26 - 27 Finding your genre

By Laura Burkin.

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Christmas Tea booking form

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Diary dates for 2019 - 2020

28 - 29 Marketing A few words can go a long way.

34 - 37 Book reviews

Front cover picture 125

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When I was not upon this page Going to court, with Doreen Friend.

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Around the regions News from Moonraker Country.

swwj society of women writers and journalists

Issue 95

AUTUMN 2019

House of Lords by Carol Cannavan.

Inset: Rebecca Harding,The Rt Hon Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham OBE DL and Barbara Field-Holmes.

• AGM at the House of Lords • Christmas Tea Party • Book Reviews • Report on Chawton House Visit www.swwj.co.uk

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

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From the Chair Chair types...

by Rebecca Harding, Chairman I was thrilled to become Chairman of the Society in September. Barbara has done an amazing job and I am pleased that she will still be there to support and guide me as I take up the new role. The Council members are dedicated and hard-working individuals, and I will be there to serve and assist them in their volunteer roles. We are very lucky indeed to have them all.

We have exciting new projects on the agenda to ensure that we remain relevant and active for our members, as well as making an impact in the external world to improve the situation of women writers and journalists.

We will be developing a formal manifesto for the Society, outlining the areas where we wish to lobby and protect the rights of our members. We have had much success in the last six months developing contacts further within parliament, and we are now to respond to the All Party Publishing Group and All Party Writers’ Group consultations.

We are working to improve our relationships further with other writing societies in order to increase strength and influence for women. The active Chawton House foundation, at Jane Austen’s family home, promotes women writers and we will be developing a programme with them for next year. They are keen to support us. Our international influence through our members, and through Chawton House and their international contacts is another area we can progress.

We want to develop a members’ area on the website with advice and resources from agents and writers, develop our agents events programme further and recruit creative writing and journalism students, so that they flow through into full membership.

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It is essential that we increase the number of young people so we can underpin the long term future of the Society.

We want to increase the number of Friends, which will also help us to increase our influence.

However, it is clear that for the Society to progress over the next few years we are going to need more support from our friends and members. The more members I meet the more I realise what a capable and resourceful group the Society is. We want to set up project or steering groups concentrating on particular areas, such as developing membership, marketing, publicity, website, events, etc. Much of the work could be done online, led by one of the Council members. If you were willing to give us two hours per month of your time to help we would be delighted to hear from you. If you can give us more that would be wonderful!

If you have any comments, wish to offer your time or have further ideas as to what you would like the Society to provide or do for you, then please let me know.

The future is as exciting as our heritage has been, and we still have much work to do, but we have the advantage of being able to build on the solid and impressive foundations set down by those who went before us. rebecca@saltwhistle.com

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.

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Letters Write to us Come on members, let’s hear from you.

This is your opportunity to have your say. Send your views to the Editor (see page 2 for contact details).

Tech speak...

When I started to write the second volume of my travel series, From Stalbridge to Nepal and Other Places, I realised that my arthritic fingers were getting much worse. Was there a way to avoid typing every single letter I wondered? I asked my computer guru and he replied: “There’s the Dragon Naturally Speaking system, but I haven’t put it in for a very long time.”

He put it in, and once I got used to the system it worked very well. I speak into a microphone and it types what I say, or at least it types what it thought I said. This volume started with Canada and a visit to Toronto, so every time I said “Niagara Falls” it typed Viagra. Perhaps it was trying to show me how up-to-date it still is.

Hilary Townsend PS. The first volume is called From Stalbridge to Siberia and Other Places.

Unique day...

I am sure I speak for all members who attended the AGM at the House of Lords on 9th September. This unique and wonderfully entertaining event was hosted by our President, Baroness Floella Benjamin who was charming, friendly and informative throughout. After our AGM we enjoyed a splendid tea – with wine included – then dispersed into small guided groups for our tour.

This beautiful building surely echoes with the voices of countless characters, famous and infamous, who have walked its hallowed halls and plotted in its intriguing chambers...

Ghosts of the past were doubtless watching and listening as we meandered through endless corridors, listening to our informed guides. Thank you to ‘our Baroness Floella’, to our organisers within the SWWJ (especially our retiring Chairman, Barbara Field-Holmes) and to our genial guides on the day. A memorable occasion and a splendid ‘launch’ for our new Chairman, Rebecca Harding.

Beryl Fleming (Worthing)

On tour in the historic House of Lords. Beryl is standing next to Baroness Benjamin on the right, at the front.

Minutes Secretary required We are looking for someone to take minutes at our SWWJ Council meetings, which take place five times a year at The National Liberal Club, London. Your travel expenses will be covered and you will receive an honorarium of £100. The meetings start around 11.30am and usually finish by 4pm. If you would like more information, please contact Rebecca Harding.

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Society news Our guest speaker...

SWWJ Christmas Tea Party!

Don’t miss out on this lovely, festive event, which takes place at The National Liberal Club, London, on Thursday 5th December.

There’s nothing better than catching up with old friends (and making new ones) in the festive season. The SWWJ’s Christmas Tea Party gives you the opportunity to network and to have a very enjoyable afternoon. You can bring books to sell at this event, so that must be a bonus. There will of course be a raffle (offerings appreciated) and a ‘bring and buy’ table to help boost Society funds.

A ‘pay’ bar will be set up in the room, for that little bit of extra Christmas spirit. On top of that, there will be a scrummy selection of sandwiches, cakes and pastries.

Our guest speaker, ex-Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Malton will have you riveted to your seats with tales from the murder squad. It doesn’t get much better than this!

The application form is on page 38.

See you there!

Ex-Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Malton is our guest speaker at this year’s Christmas Tea – our last event of the year. Jackie was the inspiration for Helen Mirren's lead role of DCI Jane Tennison in the multi award-winning drama series, Prime Suspect, written by Lynda La Plante.

Born in 195l, the daughter of an Associated Newspapers Executive, Jackie grew up in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. She was fascinated by Elizabeth Fry, the prison reformer; this inspired her to join the Leicestershire police force. She worked in the macho world of the Murder Squad, Fraud Squad and the Flying Squad – where she was the only woman among 40 men.

After 15 years' work with La Plante, and her retirement from the Met in 1997, Jackie has gone on to pursue a successful career as a script consultant and has worked on a number of television crime drama series including: The Bill, Cracker, Band of Gold, and more recently the documentaries of Dark Son and The Real Prime Suspect. Linda La Plant said of her: "Jackie Malton is the most important woman I have ever met," and the late Claire Raynor once declared, "Jackie is a crime writer's dream.”

This is a great opportunity to hear about crime fiction from an expert. It’s also your chance to ask questions about police procedure.

Invite your friends!

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Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Society news

Calling all members!

See yourself on our website The Society is always working hard to improve its website; if you haven’t had a look recently now is the time to visit www.swwj.co.uk and check out our diary page of upcoming events. You’ll find all the latest news, including details of current competitions, photos of prize-giving events and the names of some past winners and runners-up.

The website also gives us all the chance to tell other members and the wider public a little about ourselves and our work.

Under the ‘About Us’ tab, you will find an alphabetical listing of some of our current members, with profiles and photographs.

If you would like to be included (it’s completely free), please write a short and relevant biography (in third person please) and send it to Vivien Brown at vivienhampshire@btinternet.com along with a photograph and any social media/ website links. The site is updated at least once a month, so you could very soon be seeing yourself there!

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

Photos from the AGM

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Society news

SWWJ welcomes new members

Photos from the House of Lords Tour

FULL MEMBERSHIP Dawn Cawley, Plymstock Devon Dawn’s Publications include: The Old Fact’s Guide to Survival and Alone Again – Coping with the loss of a partner. She appears regularly on Radio Devon and is a weekly presenter on Hospital Radio Plymouth.

Valerie Penny, West Kilbride, Scotland Valerie has three books published with another in the pipeline. She also lectured at Swanwick on ‘Promoting Your Work’.

Wendy Pike, Billericay Wendy is a freelance print and broadcast journalist who has worked with the BBC and ITV Anglia. She has also worked as a lecturer at Havering College, teaching journalism.

Helen Bartlett (Ella Cook), Warwickshire Helen is a professional writer specialising in securing funding for education substance misuse, child care and family services. She has also completed two novels and has an interest in writing short stories, poetry and plays.

OVERSEAS Mary ‘Corky’ Thompson, Colorado USA Mary has three books published – a memoir, a children’s book and one on local history.

She also has experience as a magazine editor.

FRIENDS Helen Collett, Maidenhead Anne Maguire, High Wycombe 8

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Society news Talk by Vaseem Khan

by Carol Cannavan On a glorious July evening, a group of SWWJ members and friends met up at the offices of Grant Thornton, situated in Finsbury Square, London. This is the second time that the accountancy firm has generously allowed us to use their conference room. On this occasion, the guest speaker was Vaseem Khan, author of the ‘Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation’ series.

Rebecca Harding, who had arranged the event, welcomed everyone and introduced Vaseem. The author did a brilliant job of describing the time he had spent in India and how it had influenced his writing. He said his aim was ‘to take readers on a journey to the heart of modern India, the most vibrant, conflicted, and supercharged place on earth’.

The Baby Ganesh series is set in Mumbai and the lead protagonist is Inspector Chopra, who was forced into early retirement from the Mumbai police force.

He is determined to continue pursuing

Rebecca Harding

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

Vaseem Khan

justice, whilst also struggling with the dilemma of taking in a one-year-old baby elephant sent to him by his enigmatic uncle.

Vaseem gave tips on writing a novel, and took part in a question and answer session.

While everyone enjoyed wine and canapés, Vaseem was happy to sign books and answer further questions about his writing.

It was a great evening and special thanks go to Grant Thornton for the use of their facilities and their friendly staff.

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Members’ news

Success!

Great news!

Margaret Mounsdon has sold the large print rights to Ulverscroft for her pocket novel, The Jade Turtle.

Congratulations!

Fay Marshall has won a prestigious prize.

She came second in the Ware Poets Open Competition 2019, which attracted over 1,200 entries. Her inspiring and very timely sonnet, The School Strikers, is below:

A Little Secret Ann Evans recently won two awards for her reluctant reader book, A Little Secret (published by Badger Learning). It took top spot in the Coventry Inspiration Book Awards, Rapid Reads category, and won the award of ‘Most Borrowed Book’ in Leicester Reading Rampage competition. She was delighted to attend two special award ceremonies within two weeks where she got the chance to meet many of the students who voted for her book. Her latest book for Badger Learning came out in September and is called Message Alert.

Also, this year she’s had magazine articles published in Collector’s Gazette, Dolls House & Miniature Scene, Diecast Collector, Best of British and online magazines. Ann is pictured below on the left, with Linda Clapham MBE, school librarian.

Have you recently been published?

Share your good news with us!

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The School Strikers

by Fay Marshall Water is lapping at the harbour wall, relentless sea encroaches on the shore; in desert lands new rain will never fall, and breath is choking on the smouldering moor.

The crops will fail, the forests disappear; tundras have melted and the ice-fields cracked; each day increases what we have to fear – the politicians talk, but fail to act.

Endangered species dwindle in our sight, part of a universal, broken, span.

Who can abide the coming of the night? – the last endangered species will be man.

Against the world’s indifference there stands a bunch of children holding up their hands.

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Drama SWWJ Drama Workshop

by Martin Cort Nine SWWJ writers were booked into the Drama Workshop on 7th September.

Unfortunately Mary Rensten was unable to attend – members sent good wishes for her ninetieth birthday. Congratulations were offered to our long-time supporting actor Dorothea Phillips for her ninety-first birthday. Further congratulations were extended to Trudy Lewis on the publication of her latest novel, also to Patricia Jones and Howard Schaverien who will have their plays performed at the Festival of Theatre at the Riverside Arts Centre, Walton on Thames (details in the next column).

There were ten plays to be read although The Wreckers Yard, written by Jane Fookes, was composed of six scenes, each of which was a complete story in itself. The twelve actors who had generously given their time and talent to perform for us were fully occupied during the day.

Jackie Mitchell’s Who Does Cares brought the topical subject of men taking more responsibility with family support. Mary Rensten’s The Anniversary showed what it might be like to live with a parent with Alzheimer’s who doesn’t realise that they are living with their children. There was a twist in the tale, as there often is with Howard Schaverien’s work. His monologue The Last Laugh kept us glued to Liz Felton’s reading to the end.

Trudy Lewis’ new novel was dramatised in Cambridge, a version of the first chapter, it left the audience with an “Oooow!” wanting more.

Benita Cullingford’s monologue Bravery was an economic re-telling of a play that was previously read some time ago. Edmund Dehn read Martin Cort’s light hearted The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

monologue on the observations of an old man on his birthday celebrations throughout his life.

The meeting ended with three short sketches by Doreen Friend, and as one member said, “No need to ask, who wrote those.” Doreen managed to provide three different views of Friday Night Dinners with three amusing sets of diners. Our next Workshop is planned for February. Details will be released on the website nearer the time – www.swwj.co.uk

Festival of Theatre Patricia Jones and Howard Shaverien, two of the SWWJ’s dramatists, have one-act plays being performed in The Riverhouse Arts Centre as part of the Sherriff Trust’s Festival of Theatre on Friday 18th – Sunday 19th October.

An Evening with Cecil Hepworth, by Patricia Jones, invites the audience to step back into time to the turn of the twentieth century, when the films produced alongside the River Thames were the envy of the world. Directed by Celia Andrews.

Lost and Found, by Howard Shaverien, depicts a woman’s grief at the loss of her parents; her emotional state is further strained when she finds a receipt among their files that leads her to question who she really is. At a meeting with a solicitor she learns the truth. Directed by Pete Allen.

Each evening comprises two one-act plays. Tickets for each evening £10.

The Riverhouse Arts Centre, Manor Rd, Walton-on-Thames KT12 2PF. Phone: 01932 253354 Website: www.thelittleboxoffice.com 11

From the archive Past anniversaries

by Sylvia Kent As a keen local historian, I enjoy collecting information and photographs about our present and past members. Following the Society’s recent 125th celebrations at our lovely Stationers’ Hall, long-standing members who were unable to attend made contact regarding our Past, Present and Future displays at the Hall. Several people remembered our 100th anniversary in 1994 and recalled some of the people who were present then, and at other celebrations at Stationers’ Hall for our 75th anniversary and House of Lords’ reception in 1969, which was attended by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth ll. How lovely that some of us in our present anniversary year were privileged to visit Westminster again, courtesy of our President, Baroness Benjamin.

Often – via our website – I will be sent an enquiry not only about our special Society events, but also regarding former members.

Then the search begins!

Just recently, I was asked to supply anniversary information concerning one of our former overseas members, Betty Ross, an American writer. This member, although perpetually busy travelling the world in her search for material for her feature articles in The New York Times, New York World and Philadelphia’s Public Ledger, always tried to arrive in London to celebrate our Society celebrations. She loved a 'gathering'. This intrepid American journalist, born in July 1900, enjoyed meeting other members and became a favourite and familiar member of our Society, always ready to contribute articles for our own publication at the time, Woman Journalist magazine.

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She is recorded as having travelled extensively through Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Russia during the 1920s, which provided copy used in her syndicated columns and articles. During these years, she interviewed such numerous famous literary, political, and religious personalities as Helen Fraser (a Liberal candidate for the British Parliament), author John Galsworthy, and Grand Rabbi Haim Nahoun of Egypt among other luminaries. Additionally, after profiling these men and women in print, Betty Ross was among the first journalists to conduct radio interviews, in a programme called Peeps at Celebrities.

When she eventually settled in London in 1939, she continued to write, becoming involved with the BBC, liaising in both radio and television. Her work on Mexican documentary films resulted in several publications, including With Cortez in Mexico, which was serialized by UNESCO. The Mexican government awarded Ross the Aztec Eagle, in recognition of her documentation of the country’s heritage.

Ross died in London, her home of twentyfive years, in December 1964.

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Chain of office The SWWJ pendant

by Doreen Friend Your help is wanted to track down the origins of the SWWJ chain of office.

It is almost a decade since the photo of this rather unusual looking necklace/pendant appeared in The Woman Writer. The date was September 2011, and the question asked then remains unanswered. Where did the necklace, or pendant come from?

The initials SWJ are embedded in the pendant along with what appears to be a pen mounted across the top, so lots of interesting clues there. As you can see from the photo the pendant boasts what appears to be an art nouveau design, Art nouveau is an ornamental style of art that flourished between 1890 and 1910 throughout Europe, which gives some idea of when the pendant was created.

In 2011, previous painstaking research by members of the council, former Presidents and Vice Presidents drew a blank, as did contacting BBC Antiques Roadshow expert John Benjamin who felt the badge could have been made somewhere between 1910 and 1920 as insignia for a guild or society.

Former Chair Zoe King, who set the ball rolling for the origins of the pendant commented during the previous search: “The brooch appears be made of a base metal, certainly not gold, and in places both the enamel and the plating are wearing off.

One more clue to its age was given when Mary Rensten contacted Gerrard the jeweller, unfortunately their records didn’t go back more than 60 years.

Archivist Sylvia Kent researched the provenance of the pendant when writing the Society history, but the only piece of information she discovered came from the British Library in a reference in 1910 mentioning a ‘Presidential Badge.’

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

The trail has gone cold. Should we try carbon dating of the object – would it work, would it be expensive, or would any members be able to shed come light on the mystery?

Traditionally the pendant is passed from the outgoing Chair when a new Chair takes office. This year Barbara Field-Holmes, who has been Chair for the last four years, handed the job on to Rebecca Harding. Take a good look at the photo, and if you are able to help solve this on-going mystery, contact me and together we will work at discovering the answer. doreen.friend@swwj.co.uk

Winner Takes All ‘Closing Door’ Competition Congratulations go to Beryl Brown for her entry ‘Lost at Sea’. Her prize will be presented at the Spring Tea on 19th March at The National Liberal Club in London.

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SWWJ trip

A visit to Chawton House

by Vivien Brown

O

ur trip to Chawton House on 3rd July did not start in quite the way we had expected. With a private visit booked for 11am (the same time the estate opens to the public) we thought we would be among the first visitors of the day.

Why then was the lane leading to Chawton choc-a-bloc with traffic, with a police car at the gate, men in suits all over the lawn, and the car park next to the house already full?

Because Jeremy Hunt had chosen Chawton as the latest stop on his leadership campaign trail and the press and security were out in force!

Our guide,Vee, met us at a side door and ushered our group of ten members and guests straight upstairs to the volunteers’ room, where we were given coffee and biscuits and a talk on the history of the house, while Jeremy and Co packed up and drove away.

With normality restored, our tour began.

Chawton is perhaps best known for its connection to Jane Austen, although it was never her home. Her brother Edward had been adopted by a wealthy but childless

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couple and inherited the estate, along with the surname of Knight, when they died. Jane settled in the village but often visited what she called ‘The Great House’ and, as we wandered around the rooms, it was easy to imagine her sitting quietly with a book and gazing out at the view. Very little of the original furniture is still in evidence, having been sold off at various times when money was tight, although the large dining room table is the one at which Jane dined, and many visitors have since taken a turn in each of the chairs in order to be sure to sit where she did!

The rooms are set up partly to show the history of the house and its inhabitants, and partly as a showcase for early women’s writing, with an exhibition of Jane’s reading material and an extensive library (the only room where photography was not allowed) containing shelf upon shelf of old books, all of which can be accessed on-site by the public for research purposes. We were amused by some of the outdated and highly non-pc titles, particularly one book on the subject of ‘old maids’ – and I don’t think they were talking about the servants!

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

SWWJ trip For me, as the Society’s competitions organiser, a highlight was seeing our silver trophies at home in their display cabinet.

Currently on show in the Tapestry Gallery, it is planned to move the cabinet to a more prominent position shortly, where we are also hoping to have a leaflets stand advertising the SWWJ and the benefits of membership. After all, many of Chawton’s visitors are bound to have an interest in writing.

Our house tour ended with a visit to the well-stocked gift shop. We had originally planned to have lunch in the village pub, but it was a beautiful sunny day and the Chawton gardens beckoned, so it did not take much persuasion for us to stay and eat in the

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

pretty flowerdecked courtyard, choosing baguettes, jacket potatoes or the ‘special of the day’, a delicious strawberry and goat’s cheese salad, from the Old Kitchen Tearoom menu.

The grounds are impressive, with vast green lawns, winding paths, a new walking trail marked out by plaques on cut-down tree trunks, a walled garden with exquisite roses, a physic and herb garden, and a ‘wilderness’ area. The visitor brochure promises resident hens, although we never encountered them.

We did however meet Toby, the ‘house dog’ who has accompanied his owner to work every day for the last ten years.

Louisa Carpenter, recently appointed Visitor Experience Manager, is actively trying to attract the general public as well as academic visitors, with summer fayres, Regency dress occasions, and more accessible literary talks and discussion panels, in which we hope the SWWJ will become involved.

Some of our group stayed on to visit Jane Austen’s house (now a museum) in the village or to explore the small church at the end of the drive, but I left early to try to beat the inevitable M25 hold-ups on my journey home to London. If you can’t face the traffic… there’s always the train!

The house and grounds are open every day from early March to mid-December. To find out more, visit www.Chawtonhouse.org With thanks to Pamela Birley for organising our trip and Pamela Payne for taking charge on the day.

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Overseas members Our overseas page has a very welcome new member from the USA. We look forward to hearing more about her in the future.

by Doreen Friend Corky Thompson lives in America and has some very interesting things to say about the SWWJ, England and her life as an extremely active woman, for whom there are hardly enough hours in the day.

✍

“The SWWJ is a fascinating and active group – I have loved reading the summer issue of The Woman Writer and am downloading it to my Kindle. I have found that digital reading fits my lifestyle well. I like to read in bed at night and my iPad is much easier to read in a bad light – I do a fair bit of traveling and I can carry many more books at a time that way.

“Lest you think England has a monopoly on funny weather, our last measurable snow storm was on May 20th – and it made driving impossible – about five wet, slippery inches in about two hours. On the Fourth of July, I hiked with my daughter and two sons to a glacier not too far from my house (about an hour or so away) where we saw snowboarders and skiers.

“My husband of 50+ years died four years ago, but I am a very active widow! As a matter of fact, it was after his death that Sylvia Kent’s sister Liz, who lives in my community here in Aurora, Colorado, got me interested in writing my first book, a memoir of two brothers. The history of a local candy company was next and both were published in my 75th year. I had always done a little essay writing and most of my jobs as an alumnae director, and executive director, had involved writing and editing, 16

and the last involved producing a monthly forty-page magazine.

“All of the above paved the way for my writing the novel, No Title Deeds, based on a story I had grown up hearing. My mother had spent much of her nineteenth year with a cousin whose husband had bought the estate Calehill in Kent in 1915. The house then had its hauntings, and research came up with the history of the house in the 18th century, which seemed to explain much. I am sending it out to agents in the hope that one will like it enough to take it on and find a publisher. My sisters and I spent ten days in London and Kent in 2015 and visited the property (only the chapel wing remains), but it was a wonderful way to soak up the atmosphere. That was my third trip to England.

“I spend a lot of my time working with women in the Colorado correctional system as well as advocating for changes in issues of social justice. My daughter who is a lawyer lives about a half hour from me. My two sons are on the east coast in Connecticut and Virginia and are both in education. I have seven grandchildren aged 12-18 whom I try to visit as frequently as possible. When I was asked how I wanted to celebrate my 80th birthday, I said, “together,” so we are all going to spend Christmas in Florida where two of my in-law children have family. It’s definitely a chance to kill two birds with one stone, and no family feels slighted.

“I live in a vibrant community with many opportunities for gatherings. I play bridge twice a week (had four tables last night and served a luscious chocolate mousse with a topping made from fresh cherries – I pitted two pounds). I belong to two book clubs, which meet monthly and a little dinner group of single ladies who vie to outdo each other with new recipes. Oh, yes, I moved to Colorado from Scarsdale, NY (17 miles from New York City) where I had lived all my life, Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Overseas members so when I go back east there is a lot of dining and partying. Sadly, I can’t play tennis any longer – the old neck balked at the effort.

“It’s time to go to the gym. Now off to brave a thunderstorm!”

All the best!

Corky Doreen: A truly amazing woman.

✍

Jenna Hines – France (August) “As you probably know it is extremely hot over here in France. Today it has reached a sweltering 42 degrees, so I have brought the donkeys back into their stable as it is nice and cool down there. I am praying for rain that will hopefully arrive tomorrow according to the forecast!

“I have been working hard finishing my latest novel, Stolen Moments, which is now available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback versions. Not my normal genre, but there is still a bit of romance threading through it.

Fingers crossed it does well.

“I am having a little break from writing, and returning to my 'proper job' as my clients are now keen to have their accounts finalised! Will keep you posted regarding my next project. I'm thinking about another children's book, but not certain yet.”

Best wishes,

Josephine Chia is spending time in Singapore doing what makes her happy while impressing people with her books.

✍

“Singapore is commemorating the two hundred years since Sir Stamford Raffles founded modern Singapore for the British.

There is a marvellous exhibition called the bicentennial exhibition. I went there with my son and two of my grandkids (below) and they were delighted to see that my book, Kampong Spirit was on display there. The volunteers too were so impressed, they asked for a photo with the author!

“The inaugural Peranakan Literary Festival took place on 20th & 21st July. I was pleased to be included on a panel and talked about my novel, When A Flower Dies. The Peranakan culture is a unique culture amongst the Chinese here as we are a hybrid race so our culture reflects our Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, Portuguese, Dutch roots.

“So I am happily busy doing what I love!

Wish I could have the Essex climate here and beauty of landscape. It’s so hot out here!”

Warmest, Phine

Jenna

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

17

Chairman’s report

Outgoing Chair’s speech

by Barbara Field-Holmes

G

ood afternoon everyone. I would like to wish you all a warm welcome to the 2019 AGM of the SWWJ, and to thank our President, Baroness Benjamin for hosting this year’s AGM at such a wonderful venue.

“In my first address at the 2015 AGM, I said what an honour and privilege it was for me to be standing as your new Chairman of Council. Today, I still feel extremely honoured and privileged to have been your Chairman for just over four years. The normal term of office for Chairman is two years, sometimes three, but I was happy to continue for a fourth term.

“Once again, the Society has had a positive year, with the main highlight being the celebration in May of our 125th Anniversary.

Held at Stationers’ Hall, home of The Worshipful Company of Stationers & Newspaper Makers, our celebratory lunch was a huge success. Members and guests “

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were able to view a snapshot of the Society’s rich and inspiring history with a mini exhibition following the theme of ‘Past, Present and Future’.

“Our Archivist, Sylvia Kent, displayed many copies of old journals, showing some of the famous and well-known writers who were members, which were complemented with a simple display board. Alongside this were photo-style albums showing samples of more recent issues of The Woman Writer, with a display board showing the work of some of our current members. We also had a display of some of the books published by our publishing arm, SCRIPTORA, while our final board gave some design ideas for taking the Society into the future. These are a ‘work in progress’ and over the next few weeks will be further developed to reflect the Society of the future.

“Last year Council promised to introduce further events to attract a younger audience and to grow our membership. Following last year’s successful event in London organised

by Rebecca Harding at the Savoy Tup, where a roomful of young writers gathered to listen to publishing agent Penny Holroyde talk about ‘Pitching your novel to an agent’, Rebecca recently organised another wonderful event in London. This time it was to hear the successful author Vaseem Khan talk about his series of ‘Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation’ books, and to offer tips on how to start writing a novel. These new, low cost events are the start of a new vibrant and forward-thinking Society.

“We also promised to start rebuilding our regional groups, and whilst this work is making slow progress, it is beginning to show new green shoots. Pamela Payne, who Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Chairman’s report does an excellent job finding our speakers, is also working with Roberta Grieve to develop our Southern Regional Group. They have organised a special regional 125th Anniversary Lunch to be held at the Chichester Yacht Club on 16th October.

“However, we are looking for a volunteer to come on board to help develop our regional groups in other areas as we are very aware that this is an area that still needs much work. Doreen Friend is now looking after our overseas members and she is making excellent progress communicating with them; hopefully you have noticed her reports in The Woman Writer.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rebecca, Pamela and Doreen for all their hard work with their various projects.

That leads me on to our communications in general. I would like to thank Carol Cannavan for her work on The Woman Writer, which just gets better and better all the time. She does an excellent job putting together issues that are packed to the brim with news and success stories, articles and helpful features. Complementing The Woman Writer is the Society’s E-Newsletter, produced by Doreen Friend, offering another source of news for our members.

And last but not least,Vivien Brown is doing a first class job with our social media – putting all our news and events on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And something some members may not realise, is that Vivien feeds our news and notices through to Gwyneth Box to keep our website up-to-date.

“There are one or two more people I would like to thank. Although Valerie Dunmore is not able to join us today, I would still like to officially thank her for her work with Membership. Val is one of those rare loyal and dedicated members who always steps in when something needs to be done, or a problem needs solving. When Jean Morris, The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

our previous Membership Secretary, stepped down from Council,Val stepped in and has done an excellent job. This year, however, she is stepping down, so we will shortly be appointing a new Membership Secretary.

“Another person who needs a special mention, and again, could not join us today, is Martin Cort for his work with organising and looking after our Drama Group. Last Christmas, he organised and directed our wonderful entertainment, directing a group of professional actors to perform a series of clever, entertaining and well written monologues, written by our talented Doreen Friend. So thank you to both Martin and Doreen for your input (pictured above).

“I want to take this opportunity to thank all of Council for their support during my time in the Chair. Last year, Rebecca volunteered to take on the role of Vice Chair, with a view to stepping into the Chairman’s seat today. I have every confidence that she will make an excellent Chairman, I know she has many plans of her own for taking the society forward in the next step of its journey.”

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Report on AGM

An AGM to remember!

by Carol Cannavan

O

n Monday 9th September the SWWJ held its AGM in one of the most iconic places in London, the House of Lords. The Society’s President, Baroness Benjamin, warmly welcomed members and gave us some fascinating insights into the history of the building and the traditions associated with it.

Before handing over to our Chairman, Barbara Field-Holmes, Floella said she was honoured to be part of the Society and that one of her dearest wishes is to have younger people join us; she wants to encourage diversity and spread creativity so that we can change others’ lives. ‘Inspire and motivate’ is the challenge; clearly something that is close to her heart.

After Barbara-Field Holmes gave apologies for absence and last year’s Minutes were approved, she read out her report (see page

18). Barbara finished by wishing her successor, Rebecca Harding, every success as she takes on the role.

Treasurer Benita Cullingford gave her report, and copies of the accounts were circulated. Her opening words were: “Brexit will not affect the Society!” She was pleased to report that visits and events had made some money for the SWWJ L to R: Barbara Field-Holmes, Baroness Benjamin, Benita Cullingford, in 2019, but the 125th Vivien Brown and Doreen Friend.

Anniversary Lunch had been a big drain on finances.

However, she assured everyone that by transferring money from the savings account the Society is in the black, but she would like to be in a position to build up the savings again. At that point, she asked that members consider leaving a bequest to the SWWJ in their wills.

Finally, it was agreed that Gilberts of St Albans be appointed once again as auditors.

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Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Report on AGM Election of Officers and Council Members Following on from the treasurer’s report, Janice Grande was re-elected as Honorary Secretary and Benita Cullingford was re-elected as Honorary Treasurer.

The following were re-elected as Council members: Pamela Birley, Vivien Brown, Carol Cannavan, Barbara Field-Holmes, Doreen Friend, Rececca Harding, Sylvia Kent, Michelle Harriman (Hon member).

It was noted that current membership secretary Valerie Dunmore was standing down.

Barbara passed the chain of office to Rebecca, who officially took over the position of Chairman. Her first duty was to announce the appointment of two new Vice Presidents: Pamela Birley and Barbara FieldHolmes. Both ladies were truly delighted and accepted the honour. Pamela Payne agreed to become Vice Chairman.

Rebecca gave a short speech setting out her plans and hopes for the future of the SWWJ. She intends to launch various new projects, which will increase the Society’s external impact and support the position and rights of women writers, many of whom still earn less than their male counterparts. A formal manifesto is to be written, which will require input from members. Rebecca has made contacts in Parliament, via the All Party Publishing and All Party Writers groups, and is pleased to have the ongoing advice and support of the Society’s president, Baroness Benjamin. She also hopes to build the Society’s relationships with other organisations such as The London Magazine, Women in Journalism and Chawton House, as she believes we can be more powerful when working together. She intends to improve the SWWJ website by introducing a The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

New Chairman Rebecca Harding (left) and Pamela Birley

members’ area, video clips, educational material and more.

Recruitment remains a high priority, especially attracting a more diverse membership, younger writers and those leaving universities. The flow of new younger members, she said, is what will keep our Society alive.

Rebecca also called for all members to share their own individual skills and expertise, and to each consider giving up just two hours of their time per month to Rebecca Harding presented Barbara Field-Holmes with a bouquet of flowers.

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Report on AGM contribute to and support projects, various admin tasks, recruitment, contacting universities, the website improvements, and several planned new steering groups. Much of this work can be done online and without the need to attend meetings in person.

Lastly, she expressed the need for the Society to find financial donations and patrons. If any members have suggestions or can offer their time and expertise, please get in touch.

After the AGM, trays of sandwiches and cakes were served, along with wine, tea and coffee. Following on from that, Floella and her husband Keith took groups of attendees on a tour of the House of Lords, which included listening in on part of a debate in the Lords’ Chamber. The whole event was a great experience.

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Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

SWWJ Competition

The Elizabeth Longford Poetry Competition 2020 Theme: Food Growing, cooking, eating, tasting, sharing… from picnics to banquets…

Poems in any form or style; maximum 40 lines

Judge: Kate Potts First prize: £100 – Second: £50 – Third: £25 Entry fee: £5 per entry or £12 for three entries. Awards will be presented at The Spring Prize-giving Tea in London on 19th March 2020 Send your entries to:Vivien Brown, 16 Abingdon Close, Uxbridge, UB10 0BU Cheques payable to SWWJ Closing date: 6th January 2020 – 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, Writer’s Debut members 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.

Shortlisted entrants may be asked to supply an electronic copy of their entry so word count can be verified before prizes are awarded.

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 Autumn 2019

23

Poets’ corner

Memories of a summer long ago

by Doris Corti

I

was pleased to be asked by Carol Cannavan to write something for poets.

Some of you may have heard that I have had a run in to my 90th birthday, well not exactly a run in as I am not athletic, but still a poet. It may be that my monthly feature in Writing Magazine is read by a few of you, and I still enjoy doing that. I also enjoy leading the Huddersfield U3A Writing Poetry group.

It has the title 'Writing Poetry' as there are two other groups called ‘Poetry Appreciation’.

It is my group that write, and under my breath I call the group 'writing poetry as an art form'. We meet weekly and I have class notes prepared but all done in an informal way, which makes it enjoyable both reading and writing the poems. So enjoyable that we have recently produced a professionallooking book of our work; this has 67 poems and some small illustrations and a cover designed by the leader of one of the U3A art groups. It is on sale on Amazon at present priced at £6 and is called: Poems from the Third Age: An Anthology – we have sold 200 copies.

Whilst producing this book I was asked by one of the other poetry groups to give a talk about my life as a poet. Of course, I go back

24

a long way, so that's where I started, telling them about being an evacuee aged 11 from London during the Second World War. It was whilst I was in my first billet in Cornwall that one of the family in the house saw me, one sunny afternoon, instead of playing outside, reading from a book I had found in their bookshelves. It was Palgrave's The Golden Treasury; she asked what I was reading and it was Keats’ On first looking into Chapman's Homer, and she asked 'are you enjoying it'? My reply was 'yes', but had to confess that 'I did not understand a word’.

She assured me that as I liked it so much without understanding it, I would always love poetry.

When I had to leave Cornwall, she gave me the book signed. I still have it, well used and re-covered in red velvet. Last December on my 90th birthday someone I hardly know gave me a wonderful gift, the current edition of The Golden Treasury. A coincidence? Yes, but bringing wonderful memories.

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Poets’ corner

Summer’s End I remember the long days, long, hot evermore days and the gathering of children after school, gangland games and trains under planked bridges that sighed smoke, as we peered through cracks.

The summer of gold days, edge-of-the-world heat-high days; railings that fenced our square and one straggling rose, that grew red in the dead of the dust, and the rabbit, pushing his nose through the cage on top of the shed, long Sunday mornings with the papers read – in the kitchen – windows steaming, myself dreaming, kneeling to look out at summer staying the same, and boys who were passing calling my name.

The end of the summer, evacuee time, with the long line of us weaving down to the train, and parents who came and cried, and summer’s end was a world that died. © Doris Corti

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

Poetry competition Anglica is running a free to enter poetry competition!

The poem should be metrical, and should be no longer than 100 lines, though extracts from longer work are permitted.

There are no formal or thematic restraints, and so long as it is written in a discernible metre (or several!), they encourage you to follow your fancy, whether that leads you to the outlandish, the passionate, or even the dull.

Should you need guidance on how to write a metric poem, they suggest, foremost, that you read their guide to prosody in their resources section. For inspiration, they think you can do no better than looking over the poems of John Milton or Shakespeare's sonnets.

The best poems will feature in their Journal, and in addition the winner shall receive a £50 prize, and one runner up shall receive a prize of £20.

Please email your submission (or questions, should you have any) to henry@anglica.co.uk by midnight on 1st of December.

The results shall be announced before Christmas.

For further information or a link to resources, please visit: www.anglica.co.uk/poetrycompetition/

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Writing styles

Finding your genre Laura Burkin urges writers to try something new

A

frequent question asked of a writer is: “What genre do you write in?”

While you may have the answer straight away, for me, the novel I am currently writing is historical fiction, but I also write short stories and there has been no set genre in those. I have covered everything from crime to comedy, romance to ghost stories.

When finding your feet as a writer, you often question what you are writing and where that fits. I once heard a writer say they feared they wouldn’t be published, because they didn’t know what genre they liked to write in – they had ideas for different stories all the time.

When you have written something for a certain market, does that mean you have to

26

always write in that genre? The answer is, of course, no.

Writing gives you the freedom to do just what you want with words, and there is no reason why you can’t switch from one category to another. Many authors use a pseudonym when switching genres, which solves the problem of not confusing readers who follow their range of books/stories.

Many authors know straight away the type of book they want to write, be it thriller, romance or science fiction, and will do so their entire writing career – or as a hobby.

Many of our SWWJ members are proof of the success of that, and are prolific authors in one genre.

But just as successful are those SWWJ members and other authors who have

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Writing styles

Photos from the House of Lords Tour

started in a certain genre and have switched because they wanted to try something else.

Authors can be approached by their current publisher to write something different too.

One example is an author who was successfully published in romantic comedy, with animals being in the stories but not central to them. Then an opportunity by their publisher to produce a series of books about a particular animal as the main character was offered, and it led to an unexpected success.

There are those writers who have changed genres by sheer chance and while initially thinking it wasn’t for them, tried it out and it was something that worked and something they enjoyed, much to their surprise.

I listened to such an author who wrote successfully in historical fiction and nonfiction. An opportunity with another writer led to them being asked if they would write a piece for the horror market. At first the author said no, as that is not what they wrote. In fact, it was not a genre they even liked to read. But then they thought, should I give it a go? Was there a reason as to why they couldn’t try? They did, and as a result the story was published.

The beauty of writing is finding a genre you enjoy and go on to be successful in.

Equally, there is always a door open to try something else when that out-of-the-blue idea comes into your head.

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

27

Marketing

Brevity is ...

Patrick Forsyth suggests that a few words can go a long way

L

et’s keep this column short. Ask many an author about their latest project and they will often wax lyrical about it for an hour or more. Perhaps they should be able to do so, but this is not what an editor wants. Shakespeare may have described brevity as the soul of wit, but a typical editor just wants the description applied to queries and suggestions kept short; though perhaps succinct is a better word for writers to bear in mind.

While this attitude doubtless reflects the editor’s workload, many of us love brevity: quotations, quips and descriptions of many sorts are all enhanced by being kept short.

Luckily the English language is well able to say a good deal in a few words. Such is not just to be used in communicating with

28

editors, but is often important to what is written for them too.

When you think about it the power here is amazing. Consider two examples: Isaac Asimov, the renowned science fiction and science writer was prolific, writing nearly 500 books. It is said that someone once asked him what he would do if told he had only six months to live. He thought for a moment and answered in two words, ‘type faster’. Yet those two words, which may have raised a smile, also say so much… about the man, his attitude to his work and his readers. Terse descriptions can add pleasure to the picture they paint by encapsulating a lot in a few words. One of my favourite fiction writers, American Timothy Hallinan, describes a villain as

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Marketing looking like ‘someone who had never found anything he liked to eat’. I love that (and might wish I was so thin!). A few words and there is surely nothing more you need to know. I am sure you can think of – or have written – other examples.

So brevity can be a virtue and, certainly here in the context of marketing, pitches should rarely, if ever, be ten pages long. Keep such things brief, and if necessary split them up, for example making a biographical note about you a separate item. If an editor reads one and likes it they may decide to invest a little more time and read something else. It may take longer to pare something down so that there are really no wasted words; it certainly needs some thought, but the power of the well-chosen succinct phrase and text can be considerable.

The following story makes a final point: long ago when Star Trek (the most financially successful of any TV/movie franchise), was a real novelty, it was pitched to unreceptive television executives, with lengthy description and explanation. After many rejections it was finally successfully sold by linking it to the most popular current programme of the time and describing it as ‘Wagon Train in space’.

Just a few well-chosen words may help secure your success.

Photos from the AGM

Don t forget!

The copy deadline for the New Year issue of The Woman Writer is 29th November!

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

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When I was not upon this page...

Going to court

by Doreen Friend When I was not upon the page I spent at least two mornings a week in court. I was not an habitual criminal constantly breaking the law; I sat at the press desk with my notebook and pen reporting on what lawbreakers had been up to.

I spent years listening to lawyers talking to the ‘bench’ about why their defendants became involved in the theft of cars and/or their contents; or motoring offences (drinking and driving, no insurance MOT/tax, speeding) and theft (mainly goods from shops), common assault and the occasional fraud and sexual allegation.

Staying alert was not always easy as cases were frequently adjourned, delayed or moved from court to court. Sitting still was not ideal, as was keeping quiet; members of the press were not allowed to speak.

There were some regulars: the middle-aged man who regularly stole a frozen chicken or leg of meat from the local supermarket; promising he wouldn’t do it again. The woman who was unable to afford her fines agreed to pay weekly to clear the ever increasing debt. One morning a man entered the dock accused of a sexual assault. I fled the courtroom; he was the father of a good friend. The man didn’t recognise me. I have never told my friend.

I sat with members of the probation service.

We used to chat (mainly about the TV), but never discussed a case. I soon knew all the ushers, the Clerks of the Court (trained barristers advising magistrates), the prosecution and defence/duty solicitors, and police.

Walking through the foyer scanning the visitors/defendants I picked out driving offences, shoplifters, burglars, and more.

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Sometimes I‘d see a man waiting to be called. Instinct suggested he could be a paedophile; I was right.

I was often tipped off about really ‘juicy’ cases; as this was in the pre-mobile phone days, any good story had to be filed over the phone as fast as possible.

Serious offences, rape, murder, manslaughter and more went to Crown Court once the initial plea had been taken.

I went to Crown Court to follow up specific cases from magistrates. Some were particularly harrowing: facing a man accused of taking an axe to his partner, plus a horrific paedophile. But Crown Court is not as exciting as it looks on the TV; the wigs are grubby, so are the judge’s robes and the seats are hard.

I will discover how much things have changed during the last decade when I do my first ever Jury Service in the autumn.

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Around the regions News from Moonraker Country

by Dee La Vardera “Little do ye know your own blessedness; for to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour.”

These words of Robert Louis Stevenson came to me recently on my drive down to the Duchess of Cornwall Inn in Poundbury, Dorchester to find out whether my shortlisted book was a winner in the Hall & Woodhouse DLF (DorchesterLitFest) Writing Award.

I suppose the travel analogy can apply to writing. We are always journeying in our minds and on paper; it’s the process of thinking, researching and putting the words down for the article, poem or book that is the reward. Publication should be celebrated, of course, and your work validated by winning prizes too.

I wasn’t disappointed when The Road to Civitella 1944: the Captain, the Chaplain and the Massacre didn’t win. Mine was the only non-fiction book out of seventy books entered for the competition. It was good to hear compliments about my book and a genuine interest in the subject by several people who spoke to me after the ceremony. I enjoyed meeting Minette

Follow the SWWJ on Facebook!

Members are invited to ‘socialise’ on the Society Facebook page.

Check out swwj.facebook and ‘like’ the page.

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

Walters, who hosted the event, and chaired the Q& A with each of us, and presented the prize. Emma Timpany’s Travelling in the Dark, fully deserved to win – having just finished reading it myself.

It was interesting talking to her and the other two authors about their experience of working for indie publishers.

It made me think about whom I might approach, when the time is right, for my current venture into fiction. Another journey I shall travel full of hope.

Photo: (left to right) Sponsor Anthony Woodhouse, Emma Timpany (winner Travelling in the Dark), Susmita Bhattacharya (Table Manners), Dee La Vardera, Maria Donovan (runner-up The Chicken Soup Murder), and Minette Walters, guest host.

Dee's website: www.dewfall-hawk.com

Follow the SWWJ on Twitter!

Find out about the latest news and events by following (and retweeting) @SWWJ. Help to spread the word about our Society!

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Markets & Competitions Writing opportunities

by Carol Cannavan Here’s a round-up of markets and writing competitions to keep you busy! Although every effort is made to gather correct information, it is down to you to contact individual publications/agencies and ask for their current writing guidelines and find out if any costs are involved. Good luck!

UK markets My Weekly is interested in receiving pitches for articles that would ‘wow’ them, and is in keeping with their brand, and reflects their positive outlook. The magazine is aimed at women in their sixties and is a mixture of lifestyle, entertainment and advice. The editor, Stuart Johnstone, advises potential contributors to get a comprehensive understanding of the magazine. Features tend to be 800 words across a double-page spread. Payment is between £200-£250.

Send your pitch to Stuart, or one of the feature editors at the address below.

Email: myweekly@dcthomson.co.uk Website: www.myweekly.co.uk

Overseas markets City Owl Press takes submissions from anywhere in the world. They are looking for adult or new adult romance and speculative fiction in the following sub-genres: Contemporary Romance • Historical Romance • Paranormal Romance • Sci Fi Romance • Romantic Suspense • Time Travel Romance • Dark Fantasy • Urban Fantasy Full details can be found on their website.

Competitions The Queen’s Knickers Award This annual prize is awarded to an outstanding children's original illustrated book for ages 0-7. Submissions must have been first published in the UK and Republic of Ireland between 1st September 2018 and 31st August 2019. See website for full details.

Prizes: £5,000, runner-up £1,000 Closing date: 15th November 2019 Entry fee: None Website: www.societyofauthors.org/Prizes/ Society-of-Authors-Awards/The-QueensKnickers-Award Bath Children’s Novel Award This is a prize for unpublished, self-published or independently published novelists. Novels should be for children who are able to read for themselves, or young adults. A full description of the rules for entry is on their website.

Prize: £2,500 Closing date: 17th November 2019 Entry fee: £25 Website: www.bathnovelaward.co.uk 2019 Shooter Poetry Competition Your poem can be in any style and on any topic. They are looking for sharply observed poetry with strong ideas and imaginative use of language and form.

Prizes: £150, runner-up £50 Closing date: 24th November 2019 Entry fee: £3 per poem Website: https://shooterlitmag.com/poetrycompetition/

Website: http://www.cityowlpress.com/p/ submissions.html 32

Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Markets & Competitions Writers Bureau Flash Fiction Competition Stories up to 500 words, on an open theme.

A full description of the rules for entry is on their website.

Prizes: £300, £200, £100 – Plus, the winner receives a Writers Bureau course of their choice worth over £374 Closing date: 30th November 2019 Entry fee: £5 or £10 for three entries Website: www.wbcompetition.com Ruth Rendell Short Story Competition Write a piece, in any genre, in no more than 1,000 words. The winner of the competition will write four further stories for InterAct Stroke Support over the course of one year.

Please visit the website for further details.

Prizes: £1,000 Closing date: 1st December 2019 Entry fee: £15 Website: www.interactstrokesupport.org /ssc2020 H E Bates Short Story Competition Stories up to 2,000 words, any topic. Rules and entry details are on their website.

Prizes: £500, £200, £100 Closing date: 9th December 2019 Entry fee: £6 for one entry or £10 for two.

Website: www.hebatescompetition.org.uk Ouen Press Short Story Competition The short story must be a work of fiction involving a gift of any type (a present, a capability) at any time (past, present, future) or in any place (this world or another) within its theme.

Prizes: £300, two runners-up £100 each Closing date: 31st December 2019 Entry fee: None Website: www.ouenpress.com/23.html

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

Moth Poetry Prize The Moth Poetry Prize is one of the biggest prizes in the world for a single unpublished poem. The prize is open to anyone as long as the poem is previously unpublished.

Prizes: £10,000, three runner-up at £1,000 Closing date: 31st December 2019 Entry fee: £15 Website: www.themothmagazine.com Arkbound Short Story Competition The theme is ‘hope’. They are looking for a story that imparts a sense of hope to the reader, whether it be a reflection on a personal journey or a work of entire fiction.

Word count:1,000. See website for details.

Prizes: £100, £50, £25 – Three runner-up prizes of £10 each Closing date: 31st December 2019 Entry fee: £3 Website: www.arkbound.com/writingcompetition/ Magic Oxygen Literary Prize Short Stories up to 4,000 words, excluding title. Poetry up to 50 lines, excluding title and lines between stanzas. The theme for short stories and poetry is open. Full entry details are on the website.

Prizes: £1,000, £300, £100 – two Highly Commended £50 prizes Closing date: 31st December 2019 Entry fee: £5 Website: www.magicoxygen.co.uk/molp/

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Book reviews Mystery on the Marsh

by Cecilia Pyke Published by: New Generation Publishing ISBN-978-1-78955-338-3 Reviewed by Val Dunmore This fascinating story for older children tells of a boy, Ned, and his dog who runs away from his home in the East End of London, and finds himself struggling to survive on the Essex marshes. He creates a makeshift home out of rubbish from a nearby dump for somewhere to sleep and tries to find some work in the local town.

Here he befriends shopkeepers and locals, and does part-time wood chopping at a local café in exchange for food and pocket money.

He makes friends with two local boys, one a son of the local pub owner and the other teaches him how to select items of value from the rubbish tip to sell.

However, during the night, from his shelter on the marsh, he hears voices and footsteps very close, and sometimes sounds of apparently heavy items being dragged up from the river. Stealth seems to be the keyword.

Convinced this is a smuggling operation, Ned and his friends start a covert operation to try to discover what is going on. They have many near misses at being found out and things don’t always go to plan.

This is an exciting and gripping story where the suspense is kept to the end. The book also contains a more mature use of language offering the older child some words for thought.

Please send all books for review to: Pamela Birley, Flat D, 49 Christchurch Street, London SW3 4AS. Tel: 020 7351 6377

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Poems from the Third Age: An Anthology With contributions by Janet Blackburn, Anne Broadbent, Eileen Chilvers, Doris Corti, Jackie Darnborough, Tony Hargreaves, Jacky Kennedy, Ruth Mawdsley, Gillian McHugh, Andrew Shephard, Jane Wilson Published by: Hilltop Communications ISBN-978-0-9932669-6-6 Reviewed by Claire Dyer In the introduction to this anthology, collated by members of Huddersfield U3A, together with tutor and Vice President of the SWWJ, Doris Corti, Andrew Shephard talks about the poets’ “consideration for each word, observation and imagination.

Every poem,” he continues, “reflects our enthusiasm for the magic that arises when a thought or feeling is successfully shared.”

It is this theme of sharing that I want to concentrate on initially. For me poems are gifts, they are offerings from the poet to the reader that say, ‘Here, take this thought, idea, feeling and do with it what you will. Read yourself into it, apply it to others, argue with it, take it to your heart’. And the poems in this anthology do precisely that. They are well-crafted in a variety of poetic forms, showcasing rhyme or free verse, but always illustrating what I see as the book’s main theme: connection.

Corti’s poems act like a spine through the book, like connective tissue almost, and the poems themselves steadfastly hint at connections: connections with people, with nature, with ageing, with beginnings and endings, with places, with conflict and discord, with time and with ourselves. It takes courage for poets to lay themselves bare in this way, and on occasions it’s what is said between the lines that’s as important as Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Book reviews what’s on the page. In Stag Night, Kennedy says: ‘A stag, chin raised, breath silvered.

Time motionless.

Unhurried the beast barks, muscles ripple into the wood.

Man and boy share the journey home’.

Leaving the reader to read in their own version of a meaning.

But there is also an agenda in these poems, a celebration of the poetic process, which has given us this polished, considered book. As Corti remarks in, In Between, the last poem in the anthology: ‘… comes the glimmer of words, suddenly almost, … here and there, beautiful.’

Terra Incognita

by Mary Rothwell Published by: SCRIPTORA ISBN-978-0-9500591-2-9 Reviewed by Jenny Cole This is an engaging collection with intriguing themes and much striking imagery. It is not the ‘unknown land’ of the cartographer; it explores how we see the changing world of past and present and what lies ahead of us all. Many of the poems nudge at what is unexplained and our response echoes her curiosity about the ways in which people and places shift from familiarity to strangeness. A townscape becomes outer worldly in the night rain. A winter hare at night shares a snowy landscape until it twitches and disappears. A strong man ‘Tall as a bear’ is leaving and a man whose voice is ‘deep with loving care’ lives in memory.

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

Perhaps it is the same man, perhaps not, but the feelings in her reflections are intense.

We all experience ‘Terra Incognita’.

These poems would benefit from being read aloud so that her generous use of alliteration, consonance and internal rhyme can be appreciated by the ear as well as the eye. ‘A swathe of sunset silk’, ‘a wayward path thin as a pin’, ‘sun-baked bladderwrack slowly brittled and cracked’ – colour, sound, shape and texture in a few phrases. This book holds many rich images such as these.

She writes of weather, the sea, rivers and the countryside; people meeting and parting; visions and recollections. In particular, her descriptions of light captured my interest: in the rain ‘gaslamps gather yellow light into heaps’; on a winter night ‘lamplight ... fell in pools of yellow silk’; and ‘... a piecemeal sun where birch leaves tremble on their precipice of time’, describes a hot afternoon remembered from childhood.

I enjoyed this book and I’d recommend it to anyone who finds value in recreating past perceptions and sharing their significance.

And wondering about ‘unknown lands’.

Tapestry: Collected Essays and Short Stories

by Guy Blythman Published by: New Generation Publishing ISBN-978-1-78955-2126 Reviewed by Laura Burkin When I read a book that says it is a collection of stories, I know that I will be reading something completely different in every piece, even if there is one theme.

Tapestry doesn’t have one theme but has a mixture – as the description says on the back of the book, it contains the funny, the macabre, the bawdy, the thought-provoking, 35

Book reviews the disturbing and the uplifting. Guy has gone into the very soul of his experiences and turned them into very readable stories.

C.B.A. Man for instance, is a story in which Guy writes about a character that he has encountered in life, travelling on the train or the bus. He describes C.B.A. Man as someone who distrusts anything which may not be true, which has not yet been proved to exist and for which there is according to current scientific knowledge, no evidence.

C.B.A Man is a practical person and thinks that life is a lot easier with such a philosophy as his, and he can’t for the life of him, understand why others don’t see that.

Another story has the main character, a police chief inspector, thinking back on his career as he prepares to retire. The police inspector holds court as he regals his experience to a crowd, including many young police officers just on the first step of their career ladder in the force. Of course they want to hear chapter and verse of the inspector’s tales, as they are in awe of him.

It is a platform on which the inspector is obviously comfortable with. Hearing of the soon-to-be-retired inspector’s tales, leads the new recruits on the hunt for finding out what happened in the missing bits of the inspector’s story, plus experiencing an adventure all of their own.

Media Heaven was another story that caught my eye, as it describes possibly how the end of the world could be covered by today’s media.

This is just a very small taste of what this book includes and I think Guy has taken a clever approach in putting together this collection – you can pick it up at any time and at any story and find something you like.

I Looked away

by Jane Corry Published by: Penguin ISBN-13: 978-0241984635 Reviewed by David Matthews I Looked Away would not normally be the first book I would pick off the shelves for my leisure-time reading, but having agreed to review it I approached the task with an open mind. I was not disappointed.

The author draws richly upon her own real life experience as a writer-in-residence of a high-security prison for men, plus her work with homeless charities. As a result the story covers a number of grim reality issues that affect the lives of countless people every day. In the well-written narrative we follow the stories of two women who have not had much luck in life other than bad.

There is Ellie who is married to exuniversity lecturer Roger and has two children and a young grandson named Josh.

Then there is Jo, who has no family and lives on the streets. We follow both women’s stories in short compelling chapters that alternate between the two characters and various timelines. As a result the story is a real page turner as you wonder how it is all going to end for these two mentally damaged women. Though the subject matter is downbeat there are enough heart-warming moments of generosity and kindness, which prevent the story from ever sinking in its own misery. The much anticipated ending, when it comes, has a surprising and unexpected twist. Highly recommended.

Please send all books for review to: Pamela Birley, Flat D, 49 Christchurch Street, London SW3 4AS. Tel: 020 7351 6377

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Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Book reviews

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: Pamela Birley, Flat D, 49 Christchurch Street, London SW3 4AS. Tel: 020 7351 6377 Email: bra33@btinternet.com 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 Carol Cannavan or ask your publisher to send the cover photo to: carol@aspire-editorial.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 should be submitted within four months of publication.

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.

To give everyone a better chance to have their review included, no more than 350 words please. Thank you.

The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

Photos from the AGM

Follow the SWWJ on INSTAGRAM They say every picture tells a story, so follow us on swwj_official and find out what the Society and its members are up to!

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Christmas Tea application form

Christmas Tea Thursday 5th December 2019 at The National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2HE Arrive 1pm for 1.30pm

Guest speaker: Jackie Malton (Application form can be photocopied) Name ……………………………………………….

Membership No. ……………

No. @£18.50 ...…..….

Cheque amount ………………

Guests @£19.50 .…..……

Name of guest(s) ………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………

Any dietary requests. (Please ensure you list all dietary requests. These cannot be provided without notice.) ……………………………………………………………………………………………

Receipts are available on the day. Tickets are not being issued. If you would like an acknowledgement please add your email address below.

Email ......................................................................................................................................................

BOOKINGS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 22nd NOVEMBER. 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:

Janice Grande, 4 Fraser Close, Laindon, Basildon, Essex SS15 6SU.

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Autumn 2019 The Woman Writer

Diary dates DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2019-2020

24th October:

SWWJ Poets’ Day at NLC

25th November:

SWWJ Council Meeting at NLC

29th November:

Copy deadline for the New Year issue of The Woman Writer

5th December:

Christmas Tea at NLC

2020 6th January:

Closing date for the Elizabeth Longford Poetry Competition

13th January:

SWWJ Council Meeting at NLC

28th February:

Copy deadline for the Spring issue of The Woman Writer

2nd March:

SWWJ Council Meeting at NLC

19th March:

SWWJ Prize-giving Spring Tea

22nd May:

Copy deadline for the Summer issue of The Woman Writer

8th June:

SWWJ Council Meeting at NLC

25th June:

SWWJ Summer Gathering and AGM

The Woman Writer is published four times a year: New Year (January), Spring (April), Summer (July) and Autumn (October). Copy dates are listed above. Send your copy to carol@aspire-editorial.co.uk The SWWJ Newsletter is published bi-monthly. Copy that misses the WW copy dates will be passed to Barbara Field-Holmes for the Newsletter at swwj@bigginwords.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 The National Liberal Club,1 Whitehall Place, Westminster, London SW1A 2HE. The Woman Writer Autumn 2019

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