Library and Reading Festival Broadcasts

From the Library: 
This is to let you know that we still have tickets to hear author Liz Trenow talk on Sat 18th Oct at 2.30pm.  Please let me know if you would like any put aside for you.  Liz will talk about her new book, The Poppy Factory.  Liz McCafferty of Felixstowe Reading Group has very kindly reviewed the book for us and it should be published in the Felixstowe supplement of the East Anglian Daily Times on Wednesday 1st October. In case you didn't know, Felixstowe Library has a regular slot in the EADT on the first Wednesday of every month.

 The Poppy Factory tells the story of Rose whose traumatised husband returns from the front at the end of the First World War.She discovers he is now a very different man to the one she married.Her story is echoed in that of her Great Grand-daughter, Jess, who returns from a final tour of Afghanistan plagued by nightmares of her ordeal.The book shows just how difficult it can be for people facing civilian life after the horrors of war. 

Fancy some cheese with a challenge?  Why not come along to a quiz and help us raise funds for the library?  It will take place on Friday 17th October at 7.30pm at the Labour Club.  Tickets are £7.50, payable on the night, to include a ploughman's supper.  You need 6-8 people in your team and all we need in advance is a name, phone number and rough idea of how many will be in your team.  If you can't find enough people come along anyway and we will team you up with others. So please let me know if you are interested.

 

Debra Rowe

Felixstowe Library

debra.rowe@suffolklibraries.co.uk

*************

SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL BROADCASTS
WED 01 October 1900-1930
Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm or via the internet.
Program 36
Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Oh whistle and I'll come to you my lad by M R James
You by Beryl Sabel


Performers: Debbie Coveney, Becci ClarkeSheila Martin David Miller ...
Tony Shearman. Alan Dix, Brian England

     
     FRI 19 September 1230 -1300  

Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) 105.7 FM. or via the internet
Program 28
Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol
A cage for your perfect Life by Susie Halsey


Performers: Su Steadman, Becci Clarke, Alan Dix, David Miller, Brian England
Sheila Martin, Ann Elizabeth Kearney, Angela Silburn, Tony Shearman
Alison Miller, Robin Saunders, Martin Jarvis, Susie Halsey

Hope you enjoy them.

Tony

Thanks from Caz...

JACK WILKINSON MEMORIAL WALK

Would just like to say a big 'thank you' to friends,, neighbours and radio Felixstowe presenters, who turned out for Jack's Walk today. It was really fantastic to see so many of you turn up, when you could have had a lie in on a Sunday Morning.. We are weary now but we had a beautiful day. We will always be grateful for your Love and support in memory of the short, but beautiful life of Jack. Thank you and Cancer Research UK will be better off by a few pounds too, which can't be bad!!xx Can I please thank all those volunteers who were placed around the 9 mile walk to make sure that we all arrived back safe and sound, without their time and patience we wouldn't be able to do the walk each year. xx

Update

Some of the walkers supporting Jack's memorial
walk. Photo published with kind permission of
Ann Kearney, Felixstowe Radio.

Didn't they have a lovely day for the Jack Wilkinson Memorial walk today in Felixstowe?  I have heard the walk was completed successfully and all those who were able to take part enjoyed themselves, some now resting with their feet up and a bottle of wine by their sides... 

I suspect a few of them will have been wearing walking boots... which, strangely enough is the subject for our next Scribblers meeting. Just a little reminder that there is no meeting this week, September having an extra Tuesday, so you still have time to research, buy, admire, dream about boots and then write about them! 

Our next meeting is on Tuesday October 7th in The Room at the Top, start time 7.30 as usual. Hope to see you there so...

Until then

Keep Scribbling!!!

Sunday's walk in memory of Jack

JACK WILKINSON MEMORIAL WALK ON SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2014

Jack Wilkinson Memorial Walk in Celebration of the beautiful life of Jack Henry Wilkinson (14.01.94 – 11.08.06.) All the monies raised, in sponsorship or donation on the day, will go to Cancer Research UK.

Jack's walk begins at 09.45 at The Foxgrove Residential Home, on High Road East Felixstowe.

There are three distances you can walk, either 1.5 miles, 5 miles or 9 miles. You can bring your dog too if you wish. Please come and join us and remember our special boy and raise money in a great cause.

We would love to see you there. 

Thank you.

Caz

The Jack Wilkinson Memorial Walk

A reminder about the Jack Wilkinson Memorial Walk which is being held this year on Sunday September 28th. Caz would love to see as many of you as possible, to raise some money for Cancer Research UK. Please ask Caz for a Registration Form, as it makes life easier for the organisers if they know beforehand how many are attending. Thankyou.

Meeting report for Tuesday 16th September 2014.

In attendance: Beryl, Dick, Caz, Les, Liliane, Aidan, Suzy, Barry, Richard, Derek, Hattie, Tom, Tony and Dave.

Apologies were received from Jane, Martin, Cathy, Mairéad and Kate.

Welcome: It was nice to see a new face join the group. Hattie has ambitions to gain the highest honours in creative writing possibly in Oxford. It was also nice to welcome Aidan and Derek back to the group after being unable to attend for a while.

Get Well Soon: Although Les made it to Scribblers last night, he was not feeling too well and returned home during the meeting. For Mairéad, she was unable to come along to the meeting and so we hope they both recover and feel well enough to attend next time. (Phoned Les Wednesday morning to find out how he was. He is resting at present so gave him our best wishes for a speedy recovery.)

Good news from Ray: He says ‘Thought that you might be interested to know that I have another short story published. Had to provide a bio - so this is what I wrote.

                          “I was born in North London (North Finchley) and now live in Kent. Reading has always been a passion and it followed that writing should become a hobby. During the past three years I have been with the Felixstowe Scribblers where their format for writing has been quite testing and loving a challenge I do believe that my skills have grown. The story in this anthology is one that I wrote during that time."

‘My thanks to the whole group. All the best, Ray.’

Ray’s story, 'A Hard Day's Night' is in 'Spectacular Tales: The Science Fiction And Fantasy Collection' from The Indie Collaboration. Download from Smashwords or book form via Amazon.

Other news: Cairns based friend Chris has sent me two very interesting looking books, both, of course, his own creation. One is called ‘My New Country’ about ‘Loving, Laughing and Learning to Live in Australia.’  The other is called ‘Never Let The Truth’ are stories from his imagination.

Whilst in Yorkshire Dave and his wife went to Haworth in Bronte country and met local resident and author Edward Evans whose fast moving thriller ‘For the Right Reasons’. It is set in East Germany prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The book is supporting Help the Heroes Charity for which £1 will be donated from each sale.

Tonight’s entries in the Bill Budner Trophy competition, read by Beryl and Dick, are:

Derek. My Dearest Sagarmatha: A lovely story in letter form to open our evening and one with a twist in its tail. ‘I know it is over between us, but I still have feelings for you. This is not begging reconciliation and a chance to see you once more for the man in the hospital white coat has advised me against it. I was attracted by your beauty in that centrefold, yet from further photographs I found you change from a welcoming lover to a dark stranger at a whim. I am disconcerted by your morals, happy to leave some heartbroken or worse. I thought you were unreachable, yet I came to see you, to touch and spend time with you. I will never forget our first meeting; you were looking down at me nor the memory of the rising sun of a November morning caressing your uppermost reaches. Now I have come to terms that I will not return to you. Goodbye and take care Mount Everest.’

Aidan. Finding Home: Flowing modern dialogue between two students returning home from Manchester Uni on the train to Ipswich. Jenny called Suffolk a God-forsaken place where her weirdo parents spent hours watching little birds in the mud. He declared he lived at Minsmere. Jenny practically grew up there, the place her parents spent all their time. They spoke of their homes, how he loved his home but his parents didn’t really want him back after Uni whilst she hated hers and didn’t know why her parents had asked her back. Then she understood their dilemma, ‘With me,’ she said, ‘I don’t have a home yet, but you do and are scared of losing it.’

Beryl. Too Clever For Your Own Good. Unusually a sci-fi work from Beryl. Freya slipped into the Flyboy, the meeting over though nothing had been resolved. The roof closed and the safety harness encased her. ‘Home,’ she commanded then viewed the console as they flew over where London used to be. ‘Minutes of meeting on population control, 16 September 2514.’ Since the great flood of 2084 which decimated the population, there had been a steady increase in numbers but now were declining rapidly. Her darling Jay offered her a welcoming bath, massage and Scotch followed by a fish meal. Freya said ‘We’ve been too clever. The human race.’ ‘Robotic engineering,’ he replied.  ‘People wanted humanoids to be more than servants and all my friends have humanoid partners. The consequence means there are fewer babies worldwide.’ ‘Can’t we have a baby Freya?’ ‘Babies grow. Humanoids are made. It can’t happen.’ Jay observed  ‘You humans have been too clever for your own good...’

Dick. The Final Gamble. A story of a bloodthirsty despot, President Gabriello whose lavish life style and gambling habits had nearly bankrupted his country. He ensured his military and air force were well equipped and fed whilst the nations population starved. A rebel army led by Ricardo fought and killed many of the President’s troops. His strong hold high in the mountains was discovered by air reconnaissance and the President’s army shelled the area until Garcia and his men were forced to withdraw, right into an ambush. Taken prisoner, Garcia was taken to the President who offered him a gamble, pick a white ball from a bag equally divided between white and black, would mean imprisonment but a black ball, the firing squad. To prove a point Gabriello drew a white ball then Garcia drew a black one and was marched away. The president had used a sleight of hand with a single white ball, all the rest in the bag were black.   

Dave. Last Night on the Prom. A dark story. It happened last night, out there on the prom. The experience left me nauseated, battered, bruised and violated. I felt and looked dreadful. There was no sense to what happened to me. When the thick sea fog rolled in I heard the small boat beaching and foreign voices shouting at each other. Then came a lot of scurried movement and from behind thudding steps. ‘Armed Police! Get down!’ A heavy hand hit me forcefully between the shoulder blades and I fell to the ground. Protesting my innocence I felt his boot on my back. Handcuffed, thrown into a police vehicle I was eventually questioned at the police station where they realised I had nothing to do with the drugs gang on the beach and released me without so much as an apology. They were pigs, the lot of them...

Liliane. The Ring. I was having another session with the hypnotist who wants to write a book on ‘life between life’. This was the part where you chose your next life and when ready you get sent to a special place like a big cinema. They call it the ring with all its three dimensional screens. There are lights and buttons to press to make your choice. It gives you all the possibilities available. Of course I’d once chosen life as a Roman soldier and faced mad barbarians or the Wild Wets where I was shot by Indians. I’ve tried lives as a woman, and also a Viking. I was offered London, Hong King, San Francisco but then I’ll choose carefully next time... just hope I have satisfied my would be writer.

Barry. The Full Moon. The full moon is out. It’s 11pm and the family are asleep. I walk slowly into the garden and gaze up at the moon. I feel it calling to my inner soul. My dressing gown drops to the ground and I bare my whole self to the moon and bathe in its glow. I whirl round and round in a frenzied dance, my hands reaching for the moon. ‘Very nice, dear,’ a voice breaks the spell. I am naked on a freezing December night and my father-in-law was staring at all of me. I grabbed my dressing gown and ducked back into the house as he sang Gracie Field’s ‘Sally’. I sat in the chair pretending to be asleep as my husband went out to his Dad and helped him back in the house. Then he helped me up to bed. I couldn’t sleep, wondering why the full moon had such a profound effect on me. The need to bare all and dance is so strong and I resolve to tell him about my frolics in the morning. Roll on the next full moon.

Caz. In the Beginning. We’d been going out for three months. I would often watch as Robin tinkered with my Escort’s handbrake or did maintenance under the bonnet. I was besotted with him and he could only do right in my eyes. One day he said he was going on leave for and I felt quite upset. He invited me to his end of course do before we kissed and he shuffled off to see his children and separated wife. In those days there were no mobile phones so contact was difficult. One night he phoned to say he’d be passing through the county in his lorry the following morning and would I like to tag along for a ride. Oh boy would I? Instead I said I’d have to consult my diary even though there was nothing in it! When he collected me I made him a full English breakfast then we drove to the destination, unloaded the lorry and then on his way home he crunched a low wall. We had to wait for repairs but I didn’t mind as I was sitting with ‘my favourite waste of time!’

Tony. The Missing Link. How can anyone report on a masterpiece of unique talent from our Tony? Full of humour it begins following research carried out behind the bicycle sheds of the University of Kirton it was ascertained the reasons why the human male indulges in the hobby of the suit and shirt ruining yodel on Fridays and Saturdays. It results in the mass falling down ritual usually performed after imbibing the sacred liquids that compose Milk of Amnesia. He reports the discovery of the temple called ‘The Half Moon’ where an almost ape like creature, half-humanoid in form, is the likely link between animal and mankind. Alcoholic man was distinguished by a petrified liver, a large abdomen and had the ability to fall down heavily without prior notice...  

Richard. Soul Mates. A touching story about Graham and Judith. They met in a student cafeteria eighteen years earlier. Graham was so shy as he sat at her table, avoiding eye contact. They became inseparable. Years later it was their traditional family-only wedding. Judith looked absolutely gorgeous in her full-length satin dress, a delicate shade of pink. Beautiful flowers. Their children lovely. They recalled the weddings they had attended and wondered if they should marry then something came up and the momentum was lost. Their devotion to each other and their love for their 13 year old twins and a younger son never faulted. Thoughts went through their minds as the priest declared them man and wife and completed the service. The register signed, they were off. Judith was feeling the pressure, desperately tired and glad it was over. Their son James ran to open the double doors as Graham pushed the wheelchair to take his wife back to the Hospice. It had been a lovely wedding. A lovely day.

Suzy. White Roses. There’s a story in my head this morning William, there are church bells and it’s a wedding. They’ve just been married and are coming out of the church. They love each other, everyone can see that. William had taken a cup of tea to her before setting off to fetch eggs and milk from the farm. She remembered their wedding, the church bells rang for us too, the smell of violets and the slippery white satin on her skin. She was lost in thought listening to the silence, feeling so sleepy but then William came home with the eggs. He’d bought a paper and wanted to help with the crossword but she wanted a little sleep. When William returned to the bedroom with the scrambled eggs she was so peaceful. He lifted one of her hands with the transparent skin. He felt no pulse. Suddenly he was alone, there were arrangements to be made and a wreath of white roses to be ordered.

A terrific selection of stories that added to the tension of selection of the winner. At this stage it was decided that only the top four would be announced. And these were, in reverse order,

4^th Beryl, Too Clever For Your Own Good.

Joint 2^nd, Barry, The Full Moon and Suzy, White Roses.

The winner for the fourth time, Tony with The Missing Link.

So many Congratulations to Tony for a memorable work and received the trophy from Chairman Dave.

New Course:   An email from Angela Lewis who tells us that she is running a GHOSTWRITING beginner's course from 13th October from 7pm to 9pm Monday nights. If you are interested then please contact Angela direct at A S Publishing, email 1angelalewis@gmail.com  

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 7^th October at 7.30pm in The Room at the Top, when the homework assignment will be up to 1,000 words on ‘BOOTS’.

Look forward to seeing you so, until then...

Keep Scribbling!

And the winner is... again...!!!

Tony (right) receiving the trophy from
Dave, the Scribblers chairman.

It was nice to see a good turn out for the Bill Budner Trophy. There was a new member and two who have been unable to attend for a while.

Thoughts are with Les who felt unwell and left early.

It was another superb evening with a really eclectic set of entries so expertly read by Beryl and Dick once again.

Every writer received votes but the winner by a long way was our Tony (again!) and deservedly so.

Our next meeting is in three weeks time on October 7th when the homework assignment is to write up to 1,000 words on the subject 'Boots'.

Before that is the SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL with BROADCASTS as follows
WED 17 September 1900-1930
Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm or via the internet.
Program 35
Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Oh whistle and I'll come to you my lad by M R James
Drifting by Dave Feakes
You're a pirate through and through by Jack Wilkinson

Performers: Debbie Coveney, Becci ClarkeSheila Martin David Miller ...
Angela Silburn Su Steadman Martin JarvisBrian England Pete Guilder
Robin Saunders

FRI 19 September 1230 -1300
Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) 105.7 FM. or via the internet
Program 28
Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol
The Rebel by Beryl Sabel
Light by Jack Wilkinson

Performers: Su Steadman, Becci Clarke, Alan Dix, David Miller, Brian England
Sheila Martin, Ann Elizabeth Kearney, Angela Silburn, Tony Shearman
Alison Miller, Robin Saunders

Until next time,

Keep Scribbling!!!

The prestigious Bill Budner Trophy...

Are you looking forward to the Bill Budner Trophy competition on Tuesday evening 16th September? The rules for the competition are included above and hopefully you will join us in remembering Bill as we all fight it out for his trophy.

Unfortunately (or fortunately for some of us!) the current holder, Martin, is unable to defend the trophy so it will be a new name on the cup this time. 

Over the years this competition has produced so many terrific stories with quite a selection of different winners so if you haven't been lucky enough to win before, then perhaps it will be your turn on Tuesday...

Hope to see you there and...

Good Luck! 

Keep Scribbling!!! 

New Children’s Author Prize 2015 for unpublished authors.

The National Literacy Trust and Bloomsbury Books announce New Children’s Author Prize 2015 for unpublished authors.

A new writing competition to find the “next big thing” in children’s literature has been launched by the National Literacy Trust in partnership with Bloomsbury. The New Children’s Author Prize is set to unearth brilliant new talent in writing for children.

Unpublished authors who enter the competition will be in with the chance of winning a publishing contract with Bloomsbury, publisher behind the Harry Potter series. The first prize will also include an advance of £5,000 and an exclusive print run of the new author’s work.

To enter, authors should s_ubmit a 20,000–40,000 word children’s story, targeted at children aged 8 to 12, with a 350 word synopsis and a 1,000 word passage highlighted for judging in the early rounds. Pay for your entry by 30 September and submit your entry by 31 October. Entries cost £30. All proceeds from the competition go towards the National Literacy Trust’s work in tackling low literacy levels in deprived communities across the UK. Visit www.literacytrust.org.uk/authorprize for more details and how to enter.

 

 

	Anna Jones  Development Manager   020 7820 6254 anna.jones@literacytrust.org.uk www.literacytrust.org.uk
Books about Town is here50 beautiful book-shaped benches featuring iconic literary works can be found around London to celebrate reading for enjoyment and raise funds for our vital work. Find out more atwww.booksabouttown.org.uk.
The National Literacy Trust is a registered charity, no. 1116260, and a company limited by guarantee, no. 5836486, registered in England and Wales, and a registered charity in Scotland, no. SC042944. Registered address: 68 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1RL. Tel: 020 7587 1842. This email has been sent to you on behalf of The National Literacy Trust by: Diana Hayden - Editor of the Directory of Writers’ Groups since 1999 http://www.writers-circles.com/ writerscircles@yahoo.co.uk www.twitter.com/WritersGroups & www.twitter.com/LondonWriting

Foraging for Fiction & A Novel Approach

After publishing numerous collections of poetry and short fiction, Regime Books is making a sally into the serious business of publishing novels.

And to do that, we need manuscripts. To stand out in the herd you could be a giraffe, wear a cape and a neckline that plunges like Bianca Jagger's (pic related). Or you could send us a wordy sample of your idiosyncratic intellect.

We're looking for a writer with a great story and an open mind to collaborate with us on an innovative publishing project. We're cooking up some ideas about how publishers and writers can work together in the changing world of books (more to come later).

If one of your members could fit the bill we’d love to hear from you. Please visit our website for links to our submissions manager.

We'd greatly appreciate your assistance in forwarding this call for submissions to your members, or anyone who may be interested.

What we’d like to see in submissions:

• A full work of fiction (novel or novella length) or a few sample chapters.
• A log line (this is something we've used when working with screenplays - it's helpful).
• A synopsis (approx. 300 words).
• Brief and relevant author biography.

If you'd like any more info, we'll see what we can do: please email Michelle at michelle@regimebooks.com.au.

The Poppy Factory by Liz Trenow

The novel was inspired by this year’s anniversary of WW1, but it also has a very contemporary theme, featuring a woman army medic who served in Afghanistan. 

Liz will be talking about her novel at Felixstowe Library on Sat. 18th Oct at 2.30

She will also be appearing at our 2015 Felixstowe Book Festival on 
June 28th 2015

Don't miss out Liz is a very popular speaker. 

The Bill Budner Trophy, Tuesday 16th September. The rules!

Bill Budner joined Felixstowe Scribblers in August 2005 and soon afterwards registered with our online group. A really friendly and popular character, Bill made many friends at Scribblers in such a short time. His tremendous passion for writing produced many prolific words in his short stories, his mild manner and quiet voice accentuating every facet of his work.

Away from Scribblers Bill was a lay preacher and heavily involved with church affairs at St Mary's in Walton where he took over the responsibility for the parish magazine.

Bill died suddenly from a massive heart attack on Tuesday 14th February 2006 leaving his wife Maureen and family deep in shock and mourning his loss, Felixstowe Scribblers sharing their grief.

Maureen sponsored two successful writing competitions for adults and children in his memory whilst a trophy, purchased from the donation of her prize money from Belinda Janz, has become a regular and revered part of the Scribbler's programme.

This is run as an anonymous competition with the guidelines for The Bill Budner Trophy as follows:

• Short stories or poetry up to a maximum of 1,000 words on any topic
• Work must be typed (on single sides of paper)
• Entries must be completed before arrival at the meeting
• Work must be anonymous - no names or identification marks on the paper
• On arrival at the meeting work will be placed face down on a designated table
• At a given time all members will collect one entry (but not their own!) and will be given time to familiarize themselves with it -whenever possible all stories will be read by independant readers
• The stories will then be read out to the group with everyone present marking their top three entries
• At the end of the evening all marks will be added by a nominated adjudicator.
• The winner will then be announced and the prestigious Bill Budner Trophy presented to them by the previous winner.
• The trophy will then be engraved by Scott at Mr Cobbler in Felixstowe
• The trophy will be held for four months until the next competition
• The holder undertakes to return the trophy to Felixstowe Scribblers and advise of any change of address.

Meeting report for Tuesday 2nd September 2014.

Felixstowe Scribblers Meeting report for Tuesday 2^nd September 2014.

In attendance: Caz, Martin, Barry, Mairéad, Suzy G, Richard, Jane, Liliane, Les, Beryl, Tony and Dave.

Apologies were received from Aidan, Dick, Derek, Tom, Carolyn and Cathy.

Thanks: To Suzy for supplying a case to keep our numbered tokens in. 

Late News: Felixstowe Book Festival 2015: Did you see the double page spread by Sophie Hannah in this week’s Sunday Times?

Sophie has been commissioned to write the first Poirot novel since Christie's death.
Meg Reid just had the great pleasure of listening to Sophie's talk at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Some of you will remember that Sophie was on the panel of "Deadlier than the Male" at our 2013 festival and she's coming back to Felixstowe!

Sophie has agreed to appear at our Felixstowe Book Festival 2015
She will be sharing the platform with her mother the very popular novelist Adele Geras
You can hear Sophie and Adele taking about their writing at 2pm on Saturday 27th June 2015 at the Orwell Hotel. A very exciting date for your diary!

Sophie Hannah's Poirot novel ‘The Monogram Murders’ is published on Sept 9th
  

Our New Signatories for bank cheques are now in place.

Tonight’s short stories on ‘A Thin Line’:

Suzy: Lines Upon the Earth: Something very different from Suzy. A work about artist Richard Long. I winter 1964 it had been snowing in Bristol. Up on the Downs above the City Richard made a snowball and rolled it along the ground until it was too heavy to move. He took a photograph of the dark line it had made on the earth. An art student at the West of England College of Art in the 1960s when artists were discovering a freedom from painting and sculpture and creating work that could not be displayed in a gallery. He concentrated on lines, lines made from walking. He made a series of walks on Exmoor, Dartmoor, further afield in Ireland, across a Canadian Prairie, in the dusty red soil of outback Australia and through a bamboo forest in Japan in fact all across the world. There is so much more to Suzy’s research. A book is available on Richard Long in the Library.

Mairéad: On a Freezing Cold and Hot Sunny Day: Having returned from Ireland Ann posted a thank you card to her hosts. Back in Felixstowe she needed some lamp oil despite the sunny weather making her feel as if she was still on holiday. There was a person walking towards her who didn’t seem quite right, seemed to be floating and shouldn’t have been there. Terrified Ann tried to avoid her but as they passed she looked into the figures eyes. They were totally black with no white at all. Ann’s heart felt like a block of ice and she had a great feeling of evil. Afterwards Ann always avoided that road.  

Liliane: Crossing the Line: Another episode from Liliane’s (in)famous family from which a section is covered here. Ruan asked how Carlo got on with his cousin who said he was all right. Ruan agreed that Steven seemed OK. Steven was his uncle whom he vaguely remembered before he emigrated to Australia. Carlo was relieved that Peter was not his father for he was a trifle mad. He tried living like a monk despite being married to Aunt Marina and having a biological son Paul. Peter was just eccentric and harmless. Carlo hadn’t been home much since being sent to boarding school at 15 and the trouble he’d got into after that! He supposed his mother was eccentric too, running a new age shop despite acting normally. She and his father had been rebels in their youth but had since grown to the edge of respectability though his father’s family thought the marriage was not all it should have been as she had not converted to Islam.    

Les: A Lesson for Mavis: Shane gazed at the attractive girl next to him – ‘Oh Mave, you are a bit of a cracker.’ ‘What you mean Shane. A cream cracker?’ ‘No you dozy cow, a cracker.’ ‘What a Christmas cracker?’ ‘No! It means you’re good looking but blimey you are a bit thick!’ ‘I’m not thick Shay, I just don’t know a lot of words that’s all. I know one long word though, antidisestablishmentarianism. Don’t know what it means though. I know another one, infinity. What’s it mean Shay?’ ‘It means ever such a long way,’ ‘Like Southend?’ ‘No much further than that. Further than the stars, Mave!’ ‘That’s further than bleedin’ Australia innit?’ Shane sighed. It was going to be a long winter.

Tony: Record Island: Marcus reached Wornwood Forest where Head forester David Hoff blocked his path. ‘No horses in the forest,’ he declared. Marcus said he needed to find Robin de Hogshead who was in the forest with, perhaps, Hoff’s daughter Daize. Hoff refused entry stating that even if they were together they were not to be disturbed. Marcus declared Emperor Constantine had demanded Robin’s attendance. Hoff  then suggested where he might be found yet the first voices Marcus heard were a pair of Hoff’s men crouching behind a bush who, when challenged, disappeared into the trees not wanting to be accused of voyeurism. The other side of the bush Daize and Robin re-dressed. Robin recognised Marcus and knew he was on the Emperor’s business. Marcus suggested Robin asked Daize to marry him and she said she would. ‘Right then,’ said Marcus. ‘You two follow me...’  

Beryl: The Other Place: An intriguing story from Beryl using two sets of dialogue interwoven. He had been a social worker – a good one he believed. He enjoyed working with people rather than moving up the ladder. Then came the cuts and he went part time but still had the same case loads as before, always going that extra distance to help those in his care. Today’s social worker is different – only there to tick boxes so he became depressed. Eventually his wife left him and she believed that was the last straw. That’s why he did it. Committed suicide. A plastic bag over his head. She would spend the rest of her life feeling guilty. He was talking to Peter feeling really guilty about what he had done. Peter said his wife would find someone else, the grief counsellor after he had died. He apologised to Peter and assumed he would not be allowed through the Pearly Gates thinking of the fine line between heaven and the other place...

Martin: Smudge is Missing: Another superb tale from Martin. The cranes on the quayside stand in a row like wading birds ready to strike... The story is broken by local reporter Richard Cornwall who texted his office. Smudge is missing it said. Louise Minchin and Bill Turnbull headed for the briefing. Look East reporter Kim Riley has no further updates. Police set up a hotline. The Sun and Daily Mail both claim exclusives. David Cameron is briefed. Nigel Farage blames the disappearance on the influx of foreign cats before his record got stuck... Local radio announced several schools would close during the crisis which is picked up by CNN. Rumours suggest that Smudge may have been eaten by Freddie Starr and the police arrest Bobby Davro in error. David Beckham has Smudge’s name tattooed on his back in Arabic except it is wrongly translated as Sludge. Barack Obama declares there is no evidence of Soviet involvement. President Putin orders a military build up along the Russian border. A neighbour returns from holiday in Skegness and discovers Smudge, dehydrated but responding to treatment... and that it only part of the story!

Barry: The Grand Re-opening: A fine line was drawn round the dead body. Inspector Martin was last on scene, bacon sandwich in hand The stage manager, Mr White pointed to Mr Blackwell and commented ‘He’s the dead one over there.’ Sergeant Jane Blower was interviewing the only other male, tall and frail resembling a zombie. He had discovered the body, blocking the gent’s loo. Jane found out Mr Blackwell painted nude models so Inspector Martin suggested she get a full list of all his work and identify all the models in case a jealous husband or boyfriend was the perpetrator. Inspector Martin had other things on his mind, like the White Lion Public House opposite. Inside he sat by himself at the bar and took a giant sip of the drink then noticed the piece of paper that read, ‘I know who murdered Mr Blackwell.’

Richard: Get The Picture: A simple story of moral behaviour. At coffee time Jim and Mack and discussed their prospects, whilst Jim had been passed over several times for promotion and had heard of looming staff cutbacks. In the firms storage room he found a picture that used to hang near the boardroom which he liked. Mick suggested he nick it but Jim couldn’t do that, it would be dishonest. After having to re-apply for his job Jim was demoted. So he took the picture, hid it at home worried he might be caught as a thief.  When Jim met Matilda he felt happier with life, found a new job with a Financial Advisors team, was able to move to a smart address outside town and drive a shiny new BMW. The picture became his ‘loft find’. So if you are tempted to cross that fine line, you’ll probably get away with it.

Dave: A Little of What You Fancy: There’s a fine line that we can’t see, but it’s there, it always is. Sometimes it pushes us over the edge towards temptation or wrong doing. Such was the case of Joseph Whiting. Frail, freckly, be-speckled and scarred with pockmarks of teenage acne, he was a brilliant scholar, but shunned University for a menial supermarket job. He discovered pornographic sites on the Internet that changed his outlook on life. He fantasised over work colleague Zoe who wanted nothing to do with him. Eventually he grabbed as she left off, she struggled free and ran for the pathway. Joseph caught her; they stumbled to the ground as he tried to kiss her. Zoe found a heavy stone near where she lay, and used it as a weapon...

Caz: A Fine Line: A fine line can be drawn between so many examples – between love and hate, need and greed, hope and hopelessness. From soul and soulless, sane and insane, hot and cold. Happy and sad, pleasure and pain, from a smile to a tear. A lamb to the slaughter. A mate to hate. Wrong to right. Between rich and mean, quiet and rowdy, charming and alarming. Remember, when times are good they can change in a heartbeat.

Jane: Abandoned: I see the way you look at me as you wait for the lights to change. Fancy car, smart suit. Taking a short cut through the rough end of town. Your lot doesn’t give a damn. We’ve been abandoned. Last Xmas we were doing ok, me Joe and the kids, Tyler and Connor and my little princess Carly. She’s staying with Joe’s parents and asks why we can’t live together. She’s 5 years old. It breaks my heart. We felt secure. Joe’s a skilled kitchen fitter and a few years back bought into a business. The banks said the risks were minimal. Two years on the orders dried up, the business went bust and the creditors circled like vultures. Joe’s travelling the country trying to find work that never pays much. Sure we get benefits, barely enough to live on, the children’s clothes are hand-me-downs. When Joe’s home we row. I’ve been cooped up with the boys and we want Carly back. We just crossed a line we didn’t even see, so thin it’s made of gossamer, and now we’ve been abandoned.

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 16th September at 7.30pm in The Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library commencing at 19.30 hours. This will be the prestigious Bill Budner Trophy anonymous competition for attending members – Details and rules can be found here.

Look forward to seeing you all and fired up at the competition, so remember, until then...

Keep Scribbling!

Writing Festival Readings

WATCH Writing Festival Readings (Scripts, Novels, Stories). At least 5  
winners a month: http://www.wildsoundfestival.com 


Submit your own Script or Story to the Festival Today:  
http://www.wildsound.ca 


NEW: Full writing performance services. Submit your best scene and we'll  
perform it. Submit your Novel/Short Story and we'll make an audio/video  
of it using a professional voice over artist with sound effects:  
http://www.wildsound.ca/full_script_services.html 


Also, submit your FREE LOGLINE to the network if you haven't yet done  
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Tonight's meeting

With the subject set as 'A Fine Line' it was surprising at the quality of the many diverse stories this evening. Again first class entertainment from those who attended with so many remarkable lines enjoyed by all.

Our next meeting will be the Bill Budner Trophy in The Room at the Top on Tuesday 16th September. Start time will be 7.30pm. All the rules for the evening are published at the top of this weblog.

Before then, here are the  SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL BROADCASTS supplied by Tony.

WED 03 September 2100-2130
Felixstowe Radio 107.5 or via the internet
Sword of the Kings episode 33 by Tony Shearman
The Candles getting shorter Pt 3 of 3. by Tony Shearman
Catching the Tide by Jane Bailey

Performers: Debbie Coveney, Becci Clarke , Robin Saunders, David Miller,
Tony Shearman, Alan Dix, Ruth Dugdall, Brian England, Stella Day,
Debbbie Wargate.

FRI 05 September 1230 -1300
Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) 105.7 FM. or via the internet
Sword of the Kings episode 27 by Tony Shearman
Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol
The Rebel by Beryl Sabel
Light by Jack Wilkinson
Performers: Sue Steadman, Becci Clarke, Alan Dix, David Miller, Brian England
Sheila Martin, Ann Elizabeth Kearney, Angela Silburn, Tony Shearman
Alison Miller, Robin Saunders
Hope you enjoy them

Until next time...

Keep Scribbling!!!