Summer Temptations

What a hectic summer! I am daily juggling deadlines, interviews and teaching while all the time resisting the temptation to recline before the sun’s rays and bring a smidgeon of warm tones to my English complexion. Yet writing responsibilities forever take precedence, of course.

So, first, I should report that my interviews with the astonishingly creative cake designer, Tracey Mann, and Olympic athlete, Greg Rutherford, have been featured in Buckinghamshire Life. But just to prove my eclectic affiliations, my book review of Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co was published in Hertfordshire Life and two further book reviews have appeared in The Lady. Oh, and I ventured over to the Ashmolean again in order to review the Stradivarius exhibition for the latter magazine, too. 

Meanwhile I have recently met and tutored some charmingly enthusiastic writers and only the other week my Regular Writing group overflowed with gusto after our session on plotting. 

This month’s Chiltern Writers meeting gave me the opportunity to catch up with speaker, Clare MacKintosh, whom I first encountered when running a workshop at the inaugural Chipping Norton Literary Festival. Apparently this year the event welcomed 3,000 visitors. Quite a success story and a stimulating evening from the effusive Clare.

Plans are already afoot for next year’s Berkhamsted Short Story Competition, by the way. Frankly, I can’t wait to read those entries and raise more money for the wonderful St Francis Hospice.

Now, please excuse me. I have pitches to chase and ideas to brainstorm. There again, the sunshine is tempting . . .

A Plethora of Features

I am freshly returned from walking the hound and eager to update my readers before working my laptop to a frenzy of literary activity.

My association with Buckinghamshire Life is such that the magazine includes an interview with the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in the May edition and a feature about SilverTree Therapies in the June issue. My work has also travelled further afield, however, with Hampshire Life this month including my interview with artist Simon Harmer. I have also undertaken further interviews and details of those features will be announced at the appropriate publication time. 

Networking is such a valuable commodity for a writer. Back in February I happened to be at a Guild of Security Professionals dinner in the Tower of London when I chanced upon a vivacious character who used to be in the Intelligence Corps. Not only that, she lives not too far away so, of course, I arranged to interview her about her latest venture, the Women’s Security Society. The editor of Professional Security magazine was only too pleased to accept the resulting article. 

Meanwhile a list of commissions rests aside my diary and a glance reminds me that I need to crack on with another couple of articles. So please excuse me, duty calls . . .

A Break from Duties

I am writing this during a brief break from Berkhamsted Writing Competition duties where the breadth of topic and style of the hundreds of entries leaves me quite breathless. Indeed, imagination is such a blessing. Not that I can say any more until the judging is complete so I must ask for your patience until the prize giving ceremony in June.

Yet numerous other duties and events have been occupying my attention of late. Only last week I attended a book launch where Chiltern Writers member, Teri Terry, talked about the second of her immensely successful trilogy, Fractured. She will be appearing at the June meeting of Chiltern Writers and anyone interested in writing for teenagers is welcome to come along.

On the subject of CW, I have now discharged my 3 year secondment as Chair and, with 6 years of Committee duties behind me, rescinded my responsibilities at the recent AGM. I confess, I’m rather looking forward to turning up to meetings without a care or forethought.

Now, what else? Oh yes, my feature about St Mary’s, Wendover, along with the delightful series of annual concerts, Wendover Music, was featured in the April edition of Buckinghamshire Life magazine. My blogs for Hertfordshire Life and Hampshire Life continue to offer a splattering of mirth and I have a number of imminent interviews. Actually, one is very imminent so please excuse me while I grab my notebook and a brace of HB’s . . .

From Hospice Fund Raising to Tate Modern

It may have been a couple of months since I last communicated via this blog, but the intervening weeks have been packed with literary based activity.

Where to begin? Oh yes, the Inspiration to Write workshop (mentioned previously) at St Francis Hospice was a huge success. An enthusiastic bunch of writers gave their all and, indeed, one has since joined my Regular Writing Group. Actually, I held another such workshop just this week and was delighted to inspire more writers whilst simultaneously raising money for the Hospice. And just to keep you up to date, I’m in talks with said establishment to begin a Caring Words group for patients but more on that, I hope, next time.

I also recently organised a fun packed evening for a few learners who attended my workshop at the Thame Arts and Literature Festival last year. This time we focussed on mirth and a jolly time was had by all.

I have, of course, been busy writing as well as teaching. Buckinghamshire Life carried my article about Chiltern Writers in their February issue and an interview with children’s author, Nick Halliday, featured in the March edition.

Not that I’ve been confined to the home since I last reported. For I spent another fascinating week at The Lady HQ producing the Daily Round Up of news for their website. In addition, they asked me to pop over to Tate Modern one morning to review the Lichtenstein retrospective and my write up appeared in the 1 March issue along with a financial piece I co wrote with their staff writer. And you thought I didn’t know about such high brow stuff, I bet.

Now it’s time to crack on. Though I should mention that if you fancy a titter, do check out Lady Margaret Gosworthy-Pringle’s latest missive. Tardy tenants and dishevelled shrubbery, no wonder she’s upset . . .

Seasonal News

Let me make it quite clear from the outset, there’s nothing that enthuses me more than seasonal weather. Snow, frost, blizzards: the harsher the better as far as I’m concerned. Yet although the wintry scene I currently view from my study window ticks all the right boxes, there’s also a drawback. You see, said climatic conditions have precluded my family from travelling to work / school. And the result? A plethora of interruptions: what am I writing, how long will it take, where are the homemade scones and did I realise that our missing Feline has been hiding in the loft?

So, quickly, before I’m disturbed yet again, here’s my latest news. 

No matter your faith or gender, please rush out (taking care on those icy roads, mind) and get hold of a copy of Sorted. It’s a men’s Christian magazine that’s packed with gutsy features and articles and I’m delighted the current issue includes my lengthy interview with Duncan Dyason who is devoting his life to helping the street children of Guatemala and Honduras. 

Closer to home, next week’s Inspiration to Write workshop (Wednesday, 30 January, 10.30am) which takes place at St Francis Hospice, Berkhamsted, still has a few places so do get in touch if you are interested in creative writing. It could be just the motivation you need.

What next? Oh, yes, did you know the Chiltern Open Air Museum is planning an Arts Festival during the first weekend of June? It’s an exciting venture and one in which I’ve been asked to take part. I’ll let you have more details as soon as they are finalised.

Also, Rebeccah Giltrow recently interviewed yours truly. If you care to click the link on my website, you can read browse my responses.

Finally, I’ve submitted two commissioned articles to Buckinghamshire Life. And if you fancy a moment of amusement please check out my A Write Life! blog on Hertfordshire Life's website and my alter ego, Lady Margaret Gosworthy-Pringle who blogs for Hampshire Life.

Now, before either my husband, daughter or pets interrupt me, I’ll just crack on with some writing . . .