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.

Custom Books new release: Blue-Print

BLUE▪Print takes you into the mind-boggling world of genetics where the impossible has become reality. Blue is the product of a scorned genius and a brilliant, but vicious, psychopath.

Perfect for any adult not morally or sexually repressed, it will stir emotions, start debates and keep you riveted from start to finish with just the right amount of erotica, action and tension.

Lock the doors, take the phone off the hook and let Blue, Mattighan and the crew take you on the ride of your life!

If you love the story, tell everyone – if you don't … press your palms together and tell someone who gives a damn … but don't tell Blue!
Raunchy, tense, incredible, indelible!

... for a brief moment, their eyes locked in the mirror. She wondered which of them had the greater need for mindless oblivion. Who was more driven to use the other to keep the hounds of hell from the door of consciousness and memory? Repression, suppression, avoidance and denial was a mantra that kept her unspeakable memories at bay. The recollection of countless kills, the smell of burning flesh, and the pervasive stench of death were dulled by two things, the amber liquid she tipped toward her lips, and sex.
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.
She watched his ass, hugged to death by well-worn jeans as he sauntered away. confident that she was in for the ride of her life… and so was he.

CUSTOM BOOK PUBLICATIONS © 2010-2013 Hong Kong 
Custom Books - Custom eBooks 

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!!!