Guess who?

Photographed at the recent Felixstowe Book Festival are two young lady authors with Felixstowe Scribblers connections...

Ruth and Jeanette.  Incidentally, Ruth's next thriller, due out soon, is 'Nowhere Girl'. Can't wait!

Our next trophy meeitng...

Here's a reminder about our meeting next Tuesday (15th September) when we will be holding the Bill Budner Trophy competition for attending members. It's a popular competition that have seen many winners and remains a tribute to the memory of Bill whom passed away in February 2006.

The rules for the meeting are at the top of this weblog and hopefully we'll see you all there 'fighting' for the trophy. The meeting starts at 7.30, all work must be typed and not have any indication of your name. Hopefully we will have Beryl and Dick to read out all the entries.

It is usually a fantastic meeting with lots of good stories to vote for.

Until then,

Keep Scribbling!!!

Dave 

Spam message

Just to let you know that I received an email from 'Les Smith' this morning. It is actually some unscrupulous individual using Les's still active account to send out spam.  Needless to say the message has been deleted.

It was quite upsetting being reminded of Les in this way. May he rest in peace...

Dave

Time for a smile...

This is something that will make the writer's of our (in)famous film smile... it's sent in by our friend Ray:

Sorry I don't have a photo but I saw a sign that I thought you might like.

"LOST SOCK LOOKING FOR A SOLEMATE"

Got some weird looks when I burst out laughing.

Ray.

Must admit that had me laughing too!

Keep Scribbling!!!

Dave   

Climate Change – a traditional publisher is looking for new novels

The Pope has said it now. We all know the planet needs help. The Lambeth Declaration is a huge step forward. However...

Fact: humanity is messing the earth up!

Second fact: we need to do something about it now.

Third fact: there is something more that can be done now.

Charles Dickens' novels showed the reality of Victorian London's poor and because of his FICTION, he won huge support for change using fictional characters; I have attempted to show the plight of the earth by telling of a discovery that the earth has a living spirit and is aware of humanity abusing her body.

My new novel, Doorkeeper of the World, tells of a farmer's son and a refugee from a failed marriage who discover that the earth has a living spirit as they roam among the mountains of N. Wales. They grow to be men and risk their lives to save humanity from the wrath of Mother Earth because of human pollution. The publishers, Wild Wolf, are so impressed with the story idea that they are starting a new genre based on this tale called, Mother Earth Stories, offering would-be-authors the opportunity to have their own novels published under this idea.

I lived in N. Wales for many years and we have moved to southern England for family reasons. My new novel set in Wales, was published in June 2015 as an ebook. Clergy friends of mine have no problem with this fictional concept so I have proceeded with a good heart. I would ask that you read my novel please (only £1.99 as an ebook on amazon) because of the important contribution it can make.

Please tap into amazon, Doorkeeper of the World. There are some amazing reviews that have come in already. If you want to, there is a link at the end of the story description on amazon as follows:-www.wildwolfpublishing.com/publications/d-l-hooker (you can copy this) which gives a lot of interesting background. Doorkeeper of the World is another powerful tool in the form of a very readable novel to make people realise that the earth needs humanity's help NOW. Just as Dickens did for London's poor with a mix of fact and fiction, so Doorkeeper does the same. Please read Doorkeeper of the World and if you too like it, a review posted on amazon would be gratefully received. Word of mouth is our hope.Remember, Wild Wolf Publishing is looking for novels to publish based on Doorkeeper of the World – see it as a blueprint.

Below are copies of two reviews – there are more on amazon.

Best wishes

D. L. Hooker

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book!! 3 Jun. 2015

By Monique Lomino

This was such a wonderful book, the Welsh background is the perfect setting for this tale of two cousins thrown together and quickly becoming best lifelong friends.Together they discover fairies and other mythical beings who are sent to teach them just how important the earth is.This is quite an excellent tale and I was so caught up in it that time seemed to stand still,I could not believe how much time had passed when the last page was read.This book is a Must Read.

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that is well written and makes you want to finish it 25 Jun. 2015

By Chris Spencer

Verified Purchase

The opening sentence felt like Jane Austen. Then followed parallels of " Swallows and Amazons", with the glaciated mountains of Snowden replacing the glaciated Lake Windermere . This developed into echoes of "His Dark Materials" before exploiting recent history to underpin an adventure story. He uses his obvious command of the English language to produce vivid descriptions, while alluding to some of the greatest challenges facing us all. Once I got into this book I had to finish it. It is amazing value to less than £2!

Meeting Report

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on Tuesday 1 September 2015

Present: Dave, Dick, Hayley, Richard, Mairead, Liliane, Sally, Barry, Jeanette, Tony, Jane, Cathy.

                

Apologies: Beryl, Gerry, Carolyn, Caz

Business items:

Mairead had kindly purchased two cards for members to sign and present – one a belated 80^th birthday card for Dick, the other a Good Luck card for Barry, who is taking up an Access Course this month, and won’t be able to attend meetings for some time; we wish him every success.

Cathy passed on greetings from Suzy, who is enjoying life in Cornwall, but missing Scribblers.

Dave had heard from Chris in Cairns, who sends his best wishes to everyone.

Mairead had previously asked if anyone would be prepared to read stories out to residents at a local care home. She agreed to find out necessary details as soon as possible, and to circulate them either via Cathy, or at the next meeting.

The Jack Wilkinson Walk on 20 September in aid of Cancer Research; Tony brought along a couple of sponsorship forms for anyone wanted to sponsor him.

Reading out of homework based on the theme ‘Magic’ as previously selected by Mairead.

As usual, we were treated to a tremendous variety of work.

Dick: Death of an innocent

A factual piece, describing the frightening powers that Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, achieved in the mid 1600s. Dick focused on the hanging of the innocent clergyman, John Lowes; a situation which might not have occurred had Hopkins’ reign not taken place at a time of massive civil upheaval, when his dubious behaviour was allowed to go unchecked.

Sally: untitled – no synopsis available

Hayley: The Price – no synopsis available

Jeanette: A kind of magic - a poem inspired by the novel she is working on.

It is 2015, and the setting is Chernobyl, a place that should be deserted after the 1986 nuclear disaster. With no law enforcement willing to go into the exclusion zone, a spate of murders is going almostunnoticed.

Mairead: The Felixstowe Book of Shadows – no synopsis available

Tony: A long night’s journey into day – no synopsis available

Jane: Magic Mushrooms – no synopsis available

Liliane: If I could just work magic

Beatrix wants her parents to end their discord so turns to magic and spells in the hope that they will restore harmony.

  

Dave: Vibrations

Imagine that throbbing monster between your legs, vibrating through your body. You hang on to Grant as he twists the throttle open, ignoring speed limits. The front wheel lifts dramatically and you somersault off the pillion onto the road. Grant crashes. Badly hurt, the tarmac reminds you of black magic.

Richard: Villanelle – Magic

Theme for meeting on 6 October will be ‘Ruins’, as selected by Dick

Next meeting: 15 September, when the coveted Bill Budner trophy will be competed for.

The Magic of the pen...

These Felixstowe Scribblers meetings get better and better... tonight's meeting was by far the most magical of recent times. A very healthy attendance, many really fantastic stories and poetry too. The report on the meeting could be condensed to a single word. Magic!

There must be many writer's groups around the country who feel the same way about their meetings but I hope ours are improving week by week. The great thing is that our newest members are really shining with such vibrant work - it's making old codgers like me work harder to produce worthwhile stories!

Our next meeting will be one that counts, being held on Tuesday 15th September it is The Bill Budner Trophy, a really well established competition for attending members only. Details of the competition can be found at the top of the weblog.

Until then the suggestion is to...

Keep Scribbling!