A Poetry Competition with a Difference

Grace Dieu Writers' Circle is helping to promote a Poetry Competition and we'd be grateful if you could distribute this information to your fellow writers. There is only one prize and the amount of prize money isn't that great, but importantly all proceeds of the competition will be donated to The Campbell Burns Metabolic Trust.

Campbell Robert John Burns was born on 24th January 2012. When Campbell was nine weeks, he was diagnosed with Leigh’s Disease. This is a rare metabolic disorder which affects the mitochondria in every cell in the body. It meant that Campbell could not produce energy properly. 

Campbell tragically lost his battle against Leigh’s Disease on 28^th September 2012.

Rebecca and Mark , Campbell’s parents, have set up The Campbell Burns Metabolic Trust to provide funds to help other families with children who suffer from Leigh’s disease.

Please give your support by entering the Trust's first poetry competition.

A downloadable entry form and competition details can be found at http://campbellburns.wordpress.com/poetry-competition-2013/ or from the Grace Dieu website at www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk  I have also attached a leaflet which can be printed.

Tony Gutteridge
Grace Dieu Writers' Circle

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MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON TUESDAY 16th JULY 2012

FELIXSTOWE SCRIBBLERS MEETING REPORT FROM THE ROOM AT THE TOP, FELIXSTOWE LIBRARY.

Apologies were received from Martin, Beryl, Barry M, Mai, Suzy and Susan.

Those present were Dave, Barry D, Les, Dick, Liliane, Carolyn, Tony, Clive and myself.

We were very pleased to welcome a new member this evening Clive Wilson. We hope he enjoyed the first of many evenings with us.

It is with a heavy heart that we say farewell to Barry, at least for the time being, as he is taking a back seat for personal reasons. We hope very much that we’ll see Barry return to the fold in the near future.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his continued support and hard work for the Scribblers, we all appreciate it very much indeed. Thank you Barry, from us all.

Barry on the right, overseeing his Scribblers.

Tonight was a critique evening with Carolyn and Les the ‘volunteers’ for feedback.

CAROLYN – started the evening by reading part of her Memoir ‘Paris by Hearts’ of a journey to Paris alone, after losing her husband Gary. A thirty hour flight from Sidney, with the discomfort of her knees bumping the seat in front, obviously not designed for tall people. She spoke of her loss, and of the man who has since come into her life. Arriving in Paris she decided that walking to her apartment would keep her awake.  Despite the smell of sweat and burnt rubber invading her nostrils she loved Paris with its sloping gardens and the Eiffel Tower. Shimmering cool and gentle. Thinking too of her son, of twenty with their close mother/son bond. 

As the evening closed in wanting nothing more than to get to the apartment after walking past a children’s play area that brought memories of a childhood gift from her Father for a ‘good job buddy’ in the school play. Arriving at the apartment and seeing the elderly neighbour with grey hair over her eyes. Rising anticipation walking through the foyer and. exhaling with pleasure to see the Queen sized bed.  The cleaning could wait till morning.  Longing for a soak in hot water and trying without success to ignite the water heater.  Raising aching arms to try and ignite the pilot light but nothing. Several attempts later but still nothing.  Blinking back tears pacing the floor and deciding to step out in search of food. 

Long shadows accompanied her to the supermarket, purchasing pate, tomatoes, red wine, espresso coffee, baguette and croissants, for the morning. Rinsed out the wine glass and tried the water heater one more time and it burst into a thunderous roar and the pilot light at last was alight. I raise a toast to ‘you sweetie’.  Putting a thick layer of sweet butter on baguette and washing it down with more wine - sated.  Second glass of wine giving a soft glow to the floor and ceilings.  Now thoughts of the last trip to Paris and the years she envisioned the apartment her heart aching with all the memories.  Deeply happy to be there, love and loss intermingled.  The city means so much to her. Simple but complex memories of a lifetime of love.  Finally a hot bath before bed, giving thanks to God for all she does have.

LES – YET ANOTHER LIFE         First a little verse.  Some true facts of life after five years of being treated like children.  First days on a budget.  Joan a dress maker and me a stone cleaner £8.16 per month to pay the mortgage and other bills A struggle? Not really, it was wonderful – paradise.  Joan had lived with parents who were always at war.  A controlling mother who ruined our courtship, or tried to.  A Victorian slum, outside toilet. But then we were Iiving, in our own home, no luxuries needed just each other. 

Her Mother started her orders when she came to visit. “Don’t let him drink.” but Joan’s instincts were good without any help. Both Joan’s parents had a bath when they visited us once a week.  Although a cloud had been put over our courting days we were two young people making our lives together with joy and love.  Our house was very old, very damp, hidden behind the panels. A great list of jobs that needed doing.  Working and earning, Joan dress making – me working anywhere in London. Parish Churches, Norman Churches 1,000 years old.  Three pairs of working clothes one to wear, one to wash and one airing.    

Our mortgage hung over us but we were enjoying a fabulous married life but decided our transport we would buy a motorbike AJS 250cc so paid a deposit. Didn’t have it long and it was either hit a car or swerve round it.  Came to grief and hit the deck. My Dad was on pillion and he claimed off the driver. Dad got £1,200. So Dad could pay me for my bike but he never did.  Two years later a cheap car, £90. An upturned bucket on wheels. No self starter, no compression, had to take foot off accelerator so that windscreen wipers worked.  We had two years of fun and sold it to a man and spent that money on a deposit for a new car. 

We had a dog too called ‘Smudger’ Smith a right character he was. Ran into a brook one day with no water in it.  He would sit beside the cooker and one day he looked guilty and he was, had eaten all the chocolate decks off the Christmas tree.  I got some timber, cheap of course, to build a kitchen cupboard and within a few seconds he had demolished what took me eight hours to build. I tried some plumbing too but Joan never let me forget my DIY cock-ups.

I wanted to build an urban space for plants and a garage when we could afford it. A huge task in the bottom of the garden, so much earth to shift. Ordered sections for pre-fab garage to be delivered in a fortnight. How hard could it be to bolt sides and asbestos roof on?.  I didn’t help by drilling holes where none were needed.  A light hearted celebration even though the car only went in there three or four times at the most.

We all then had the opportunity to critique Carolyn and Les’s pieces and give positive feedback on a thoroughly interesting evening, enjoyed by all.

It’s a three week gap to our next meeting which will be held on Tuesday 6^th August in The Room at the Top in the Library. The homework assignment of a maximum 1,000 word limit is on the theme of ‘Pebbles’.

Hope to see you all there in the meantime please Keep Scribbling.

Caz Wilkinson

(Joint Secretary)

Tonight's meeting...

Thanks tonight to Carolyn and Les who both produced long extracts from their ongoing work on family memories and their struggles to overcome life's major hurdles.

Another interesting critique meeting that gave the authors plenty of reading time and lots of positive feedback. Hopefully they will both accomplish their wonderful stories and achieve publication success.

Tonight we welcomed Clive for the first time who enjoyed the meeting and offered plenty of feedback.

Later our secretary Barry said he is stepping back for a little while so will miss a number of meetings. Hopefully we'll see him back again very soon. Thanks to him for all he has done for the group - so far - but come back soon, there's plenty more to do!

Our next meeting is in three weeks time on Tuesday 6th August when the 1,000 word homework assignment is on "PEBBLES". Until then...

Keep Scribbling!!!

Ipswich Writers' Cafe

Here are details of the next Ipswich Writer’s Cafe that Mai has mentioned:-

 

Sunday 6th October 2013 - 7pm (7.30pm start) at Costa Coffee, Queen Street.  People can bring a piece of no more than five minutes to read aloud.  If you want to read, she would recommend getting there before 7pm as it’s very popular.

 

This and other writing events can be found at this website:-

 

http://www.ip-lit.co.uk/

 

Tuesday's meeting

Our next meeting will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 16th July, in The Room at the Top in the library. There is no homework assignment this time round as it is our Critique meeting for two members with ongoing work. They are Les with extracts from part two of his life story and Carolyn with extracts from her own story.

These meetings are very good and provide lots of comment and positive feedback. Hope to see you there!

Keep Scribbling!

MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON TUESDAY 2nd JULY 2012

Apologies were received from Martin, Dick, Barry D and Carolyn,

Those present for the evening were Dave, Barry, Liliane, Susie, Ray, Tony, Les, Mai and Caz.

Ray’s story the 294^th is being published in the Shoebox Anthology for Operation Shoebox for the troops in Afghanistan.  More good news is that Ray has now had his books returned that disappeared from the Scribblers display at the Library. Ray’s book The Fourth Horseman was listed as suggested reading in the ‘Write A Western In Thirty Days’competition.

Dave has appeared on Felixstowe TV.

Barry D organised a nice article and pictures in this month’s SUFFOLK magazine.

Let’s hope the coverage will help to attract one or two new members.

The four words were drawn and the 20 minutes writing commenced:

CAZ :  RADIO – RIBEYE STEAK – STOCKING TOPS - COAL MINE

Andrea worked as a volunteer at her local Radio Station hoping to be asked out by one of the ‘dishy’ Presenters. It was a dream that kept her amused until the tall, blonde Robert Coalminer with the bluest eyes she had ever seen, was standing there asking her to lunch?  She accepted but went to freshen up, wishing she’d worn a summer dress and her fancy stockings with their embroidered tops, instead of leggings and a mustard jumper. Robert chose an intimate restaurant, and selected a Ribeye Steak, whilst Andrea had a simple salad but washed down with a tasty, fruit, white Chablis.... 

LES :  LUSTFUL – TURBULANCE – OUTRAGEOUS - ENSLAVED

A story about two cats called Red and Ready.  There was lustful turbulence as the cats wailed their complaints against their outrageous enslavement..

MAI : SPECTACLES – PROWLING – ORGANIZED - COALSCUTTLE.

Doctor Andrews removed his spectacles that covered his dark brown eyes.  He didn’t ramble on but was prepared and organized. and  gave clear deliveries. He knew prowling the streets was not the way forward but Public speaking was the way ahead. Suddenly his maid entered the room to fill the coal scuttle which put his teeth on edge. 

        

LILIANE :  GOODNESS – CONTINENT- COMPETENT – SOCK

A spaceship hovered over an unknown continent where it wanted to land on.  The competent Commander had explored the landmark.  New earth full of unpolluted, goodness where nothing was spoiled; where trees, flowers, grasses flourished. One crew member lost his pink sock but who would wear such a thing? Not even a female crew member.

BARRY M:  BLOOD – SUPERSTITIOUS – TAKE-AWAY – TANDEM

“FISH AND CHIPS”

Robert and Mary had ridden their tandem up the hill for a spectacular view across the fields.  When remounted to go down the hill they got faster and faster with Robert steering. Not superstitious he thought ‘you only live once’ and raced to have take-away fish and chips for their lunch.  Travelling too fast they crashed into the hedge and brambles causing much blood to flow.  Mary hit a tree ending up in hospital. Was it an accident caused by a black cat crossing their path, or for the insurance?

TONY : POINT – JUDAS – UNDERSTANDING  - TAXIDERMIST

“Broccoli”

 At it again – bloody vampire in the vegetable garden.  Count all the garrotted broccoli. Lord Longford was a Taxidermist, a Judas and a veggie vampire.  Hunting for medium rare steaks. When steaks are cooked we’ll cook his goose! The point is understanding.  There was a long winding road to the castle with moving folk. At the gates to the castle potatoes were 60p a kilo.  Search out the veggie vampires until the cursed coffin was found.

  

SUE :  DEFIANCE – INCONTINENT – INCOMPETENT – REBIRTH

“PUNCHING THE AIR”

Joshua – Beethoven, Laura giggled, not listening in defiance.  We want no disturbances here!  Joshua sit down!  Then told to come to me again. What would you like to be doing?  Astro Physics?  Let me see if you feel Mannery Road School teachers are incompetent.  Don’t let me see you again, close the door quietly.  He knew he was destined to be reborn as a World expert he just knew it.  There was unusual damp warmth in his trousers; Incontinent. He still had a lot to learn

RAY : GRADE – EXPENSIVE – OBLIVIOUS – CONFUSING.

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

There was a time when conveyance clerks, no matter how expensive the fares, went all over the country.  Oblivious to what was going on and confusing though there was a fair warning of what was to come. A lovely grade of soothing music. The Little Drummer Boy re-ignited the buried memory of the killing of Lesley Ann Downing.  The killing was recreational as if it had happened for fun.

.

DAVE : THRILLING – STATISTIC – REBELLION –SUFFOCATED

“CRUSH”

Her thrilling body and statistics led to the rebellion that caused the fiasco with fire exits locked. Crushed, trampled and suffocated. At the inquiry beautiful Amanda Lovelace was a lustful American beauty. Tommy used to crowds. The one person, he had admired was her with her fulsome, enticing lips. He.managed to get to the front, but the crowd were agitated and escape routes blocked. Management stopped people entering by locking the fire doors.  They had to take full responsibility.

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 16th July 2013 in The Room at the Top in the library. There is no homework as it will be Critique meeting for two members with ongoing work. These will be Les and Carolyn (subject to confirmation).

Hope to see you all there, in the meantime ‘keep dancing’ sorry! Writing ...

Caz Wilkinson

Joint Secretary

The 294th... by Ray

Recently we heard about one of Ray's stories being included in an anthology for Operation Shoebox which some Scribblers may recall from the Bill Budner Trophy. We thought we'd like to find out a little more about it so we asked Ray who kindly obliged:

A while back there was an invite from United Press promoting a competition with a short story or poem. The winners would be incorporated into an anthology of stories that was being edited by Chris Ryan. This was for Operation Shoebox.

Operation Shoebox is a charity that sends a shoebox filled with bits and pieces to the forces in Afghanistan.

I wrote to United Press with a copy of my story 'The 294th' but made a point that I was not entering the competition. Simply, if they wanted to use the story then they were welcome to use it. 

Jon was the most irritating and annoying kid I have ever met - yet was admired and cared about. He had those qualities that endeared himself to the family as a whole. Every soldier who died in Iraq and Afghanistan have a story - this is just one.

The story itself was about Jon Monk, my son Jack's best friend, who was killed in Afghanistan. In fact the story was one that I submitted a while back for the Bill Budner Trophy. Although told from Jon's point of view it told of friendship, mischief and mayhem but the ending is a touch chilling and gory. Death by IEDs is not a pretty sight - it shreds.

When Jon's coffin came home they wouldn't let the family see his body - it was unrecognisable. So, the end of the story is about as accurate as I could get.

 Ray

A valuable website

The members of writers' groups will undoubtedly be aware of the costs involved purchasing writer’s yearbooks for submitting work to publishers.

I own a website www.myperfectpitch.com which contains a free database of over 1000 traditional book publishers who are currently accepting submissions. This isn’t just a general publishers list. Each link leads directly to the submissions page. I have publishers worldwide covering all genres. The site is completely free and doesn’t contain any self-publishing or vanity companies.

I’m trying to get a bit of help to publicise the site. Would you consider passing this information to your members and fellow writers? This could either be in the form of a link on your site or by simply forwarding my URL in your newsletter or at a meeting. 

As a published author myself (Little, Brown Group - Authors G) I know I would have appreciated a resource like this when I was first looking for a book deal. Have a look at my site and decide!

Brian Grove

An interview with...

...Ray under his pen name Jack Giles. A nice insight into his world which can be viewed here.

Just one of his many westerns.

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She downed the last of her double whisky like water, licked her lips and savored the last drop of Bowmore. She sent his frame one last detailed assessment. He worked out. Corded forearms became biceps hinted at, but refusing to be defined by the midnight blue dress shirt. His shoulder span was decent, and although she was unable to see his thighs to make a more accurate assessment, her gut instinct was confident in his having a body worthy of the night ahead.
For the first time in decades, longer than she cared to consider, she felt she had met her match. Brooding, intense, hazel eyes offered her a raised brow in question. The silent knowing passed between two bodies already drawn and pulling toward each other like an impending lightning strike. Static electricity charged the air as he offered her a cheeky wink, finished his drink and sauntered toward the exit.
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Creative Writing evening

A healthy attendance at the Scribblers meeting for the four word creative writing evening. Always  a popular and interesting event on the calendar, the meeting proved to be another eclectic evening.

The stories formed from twenty minutes of writing leaves one amazed at the standard of creativity our writers produce. A good night for all!

Keep Scribbling!!!