Tag: Stories

Meetings

THE RETURN OF OUR GROUP MEETINGS

Write By The Sea

The Hideaway – Thursday 30th July 2020

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After welcoming everyone, discussing the social distancing and leaving all names plus numbers as per the recommendations from the government, then the drinks were bought with some eating as well, we then got underway.  It was great to see you all after such a long time.

It was a good turnout for our first meeting since this awful pandemic started with twelve of us meeting and apologies from Debby, Matthew, Carol, Mary and John.

Tony decided that the Zoom would not work as needed someone to ‘man’ it.  Facebook messenger was suggested but think that would have the same problem.  Mark suggested that we film it and then put it on the website.  I will talk to Hannah as she may have a suggestion.

Debby asked me to mention the Hythe Festival 25th to 27th September, Facebook page here.  They are thinking a book marquee for workshops, readings and selling your books.  I will update when I hear more but keep the dates free if you can.

Author events – These may be people we know or our own members giving a talk.  I will chat to Charlie Gallagher as he could do a local talk.  Also, our member Paul who writes children’s books offered to do one, I thought this would be good as not had a children’s author visit us.  I had Andy Markwell booked to do a talk about photography for book covers in November so hopefully, that will still go ahead.

Roll-up banner – Tony met up with Roger to ask about the progress so it is still in hand and going ahead, we must remind him in a couple of weeks and see how it is progressing.

Our Anthology – Andy did some calculations so we are looking at the 5 advent calender stories, which may need a polish off by the writers.  Then another 15 stories of about 1,500 to 5,000, I am thinking 2,000 is an average word count.  It would be good to have a couple of poems and some illustrations or photos to mix it all up.  Should we have a children’s section at the back with a story and poem in there for our young readers?  The theme has always been ghostly set in Folkestone but you can mix that up into romance, comedy or anything, as you are all great writers.  I can ask Andy Markwell to assist us in the cover photo.  We will aim for Halloween, Christmas or Easter lol

Sharing of work – It was great to hear what everyone has been up to on their writing journeys and listening to the poems and stories we all shared.

The Wellbeing Centre – I have had to stop the storytime sessions here but if any of you would like to do something similar then please contact Sheree on Facebook messenger.

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) – This will be for the month of November, I think we should all try to be involved with this, more so if we do have another lockdown as we can make a messenger group or WhatsApp group to keep everyone updated about what and how much they have written.  We can support and encourage each other.

Future meetings

Meetings held at The Hideaway, 16 Bouverie Rd West,

Folkestone CT20 2SZ  at 6.30 pm

3rd September – Ghostly writing to share and brainstorm

8th October – Group meeting plus ghostly writing & sharing work

12th November – Group meeting & sharing work

19th November – Andy Markwell, photography for book covers

10th December – Group meeting & Christmas meal/buffet

7th January – Group meeting

Contact: Karen 07967532899 or email: karensworld.writer.co.uk

See you all on the 3rd September at 6.30pm        New members always welcome

I have attached a poster of dates so if any of you can share that it would be good as I am not putting out posters in town myself.

https://folkestonewritebythesea.wordpress.com

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Author event 2019

MARK BROPHY

Write By The Sea

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Mark Brophy lives alongside the Royal Military Canal near Hythe in Kent. His first book, “The Prince’s Parade” is set in the area where he now lives, a unique wild area on the coast. The book tells the story of Hana, a young girl who moves to the area from London. She falls in love with her new environment and finds excitement but also solace in nature. When she hears that a housing development is planned nearby, Hana enlists the help of some rather unusual friends to stop it.

Mark chose to write this story to explore human relationships and how access to nature is vital for human health. Hana embodies the hope to be found in young people who often have a keen sense of place as part of the environment.
All profit from the book will go to the Save Prince’s Parade campaign, an organisation which has fought for many years to protect this space in Kent.
Mark has visited local schools, speaking to children about nature and engaging with them. He has various ideas for his next book but for now is enjoying talking to people about The Prince’s Parade. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit www.theprincesparade.co.uk

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Events

TONIGHT – TONIGHT – TONIGHT

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We have had lots of interest in tonight’s event so I think it will be very popular. If you are thinking of publishing then please do pop along. I will be talking to two first time authors who took very different roads to publishing their first book.

I will be talking to them both on the sofa, trying to find out all the details, then I will open it up for questions from the audiance.

As usual this is a free event for anyone to pop along too, all we ask is that you buy a drink from the bar to support the venue.

See you tonight

Author event 2019

BEA STEVENS

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I have to stay that this was one of the best set up stalls at the event!

Author of Chick Lit, lover of chocolate (and doesn’t think it’s pure coincidence that the two sound similar!) Has a penchant for shoes, bags, clothes (the usual necessities), and socialising with friends, family and anyone else who gets dragged along.
Hopes you enjoy her books, get her humour, don’t object to her use of British spellings and keep in touch!

She’d love you to sign up to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/dnI9bv
And/or follow her on:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeaStevens/

https://www.instagram.com/authorbeastevens/

And check out her website at https://www.beastevens.com/

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All available on Amazon here.

Author event 2019, Events

THE BUILD-UP & THE THANKS

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ACADEMY FM 105.9

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During the build-up to the author event last week I took two authors into Academy FM to have a chat with Kay.

Kate Abley has written her first book called Changing the subject, which she very kindly gave me a copy of so it is on my list to read. Then from Ashford, we have Drew Wagar who is on his ninth book! You can read more about each author under the event tab.

Very good show so I will be putting up on here later in the week, I was the only one that messed up as usual.

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I loved the signs that Rosie did from The Chambers and they certainly pulled in the crowds.

I will be doing a post about each author that attended the event over the next month if it makes you wish you had been there then make sure you put it in your diaries for next year. I had no thoughts about doing this again but I have been asked by everybody who came also Chris and Liz from The Chambers. It was an excellent venue with more authors popping up around each corner downstairs. So it looks like I will be hosting another ‘Meet the author’ event in 2020!

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I had many thank you’s and I would like to share a selection with you, as without the authors I could not have accomplished this. At least next year I know all what to do and what worked well, maybe I will practise the poster making on Canva a bit more! lol

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Thank you to everyone who came to the event, see you next year.

Events

COME AND MEET YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHORS

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This is going to be a super event as we now have over twenty authors attending on Thursday afternoon the 21st November 2pm until 6 pm. This is a completely free event, you will also be given a raffle ticket when entering then during the afternoon there will be spot prizes awarded.

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I plan on getting to Chambers about 12 and having some lunch there to support the venue so please join me as soon as you can. The restaurant is open until 2pm then afterwards the coffee shop upstairs will still be open so snacks can be got from there. After lunch, we will start getting set up for all the authors.

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There will be a poster coming soon with all the authors on it.

News

MARK STAY AT WRITE BY THE SEA

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This was one of our author talks we held last week, they are fast becoming a well-known event in Folkestone. Mark Stay is a fantasy writer with a background in publishing so we all picked his brains with loads of questions. I really think we could have carried on all night.

We had new people turning up again so the word is getting around about our new group. I have lots lined up for next year and will be giving you the dates of the events at our group meeting.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Mark for coming and giving a brilliant, insightful talk.

 

Stories

The Four Umbrella Sketch (with thanks /apologies to Monty Python)

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Behind the clean, efficient counter of the lost property department at Euston Station lurks a dense jungle of paraphernalia left by passengers, including mobile phones, sunglasses and purses.

And a vast and assorted collection of umbrellas.

The office has been closed for hours, and the last train has long left the station.

All is quiet – until four of the department’s, hopefully temporary, residents break away to the furthest corner and engage in earnest conversation.

The first umbrella, a Liberty print ladies version, opened the debate by stating that “you won’t believe how I ended up here. My owner brought me from North Wales on a shopping trip. By early afternoon she had accumulated designer bags from Harrod’s, John Lewis, Harvey Nichols and many other high-end stores. She turned down the offer of a bag to put me in, as it was raining steadily outside at the time, and I was called into immediate action.

I had a premonition even then that, in the panic and confusion that was bound to accompany the train’s arrival at Crewe for her connection, I might be left behind. And so I was, though I did get an extra trip back to London.

I suspect the half bottle of Prosecco she drank on the journey didn’t help”.

A foldable child’s Peppa Pig design replied “mine was a young mother with two kids, both with their own umbrellas. I “belonged” to her five-year-old daughter, and the six-year old boy carried one in the shape of a particularly ugly frog. Their mum had brought them to London for the day from Hemel Hempstead to visit the Natural History and Science Museums.

The day was going well until it was time to catch the train home. As they gathered their belongings for the return journey, mum discovered that one of the umbrellas was missing and harangued her daughter for leaving it somewhere, the precise location and timing being a total mystery at the time.

Well, I can exclusively reveal now that I was left in the ladies’ loo opposite Platforms 1 and 2.

Oh, and by the way, that blasted frog survived the ordeal”.

At that point, a multi-coloured beach brolly interrupted, insisting that “they’re both conventional ways of being left behind. My abandonment was much more interesting. They brought me, along with their two teenage boys, from Watford Junction on a day trip to the seaside. I spent five hours on Viking Bay Beach at Broadstairs, shielding them from the whistling wind and intermittent drizzle, I blew inside out at least twenty times (fortunately my spokes are strong and I didn’t suffer any lasting damage), and how did they repay me?

Left me to go round the entire Circle Line three times, being pushed from seat to seat (I nearly gone thrown onto the platform at Shepherd’s Bush Market), before a kind commuter picked me up and brought me here”.

A large, black, Ministry of Defence affair with hand-carved ash handle had been listening to these laments with increasing irritation. He could not restrain himself any longer and haughtily exclaimed “that’s all very interesting but incredibly boring. My owner is a senior civil servant currently employed on top-secret government business. It is as highly stressful as it is well remunerated and requires high intelligence and discretion. He needs to relieve himself – literally – on occasions or it would all become too much.

So, his Tuesday afternoons are set aside for visits to a professional lady along the road from here at King’s Cross. To cover his tracks he always walks from his office in Whitehall and, due to today’s inclement weather, I was recruited to join him. We arrived at the appointed time and he promptly disappeared to carry out his business. At least he had the good grace to prop me by the door to the flat rather than condemn me to witness the proceedings from the inner sanctum.

At the customary time of four in the afternoon, the door opened and, as immaculately attired as he had been when he arrived, he took his leave. However, with the sun strenuously trying to penetrate the tattered curtain in the lady’s bedroom, thus restricting his vision, he omitted to collect me on his way out.

So how did I get here, I hear you ask?

It transpired that, rather than, as I would have expected, she resided in the hovel that hosted the afternoon’s divertissement, the lady in question actually commuted to her place of work on a daily basis, just like the office workers and retail staff that frequent the concourse here from the early morning until midnight.

After attending to three more gentleman callers, she duly took the 18:57 to Birmingham New Street, but not without making a short detour to this establishment to place me in its safe custody.

I must say I was surprised but equally gratified, to learn that the entertainment industry is as subject to gentrification as any other these days.

It makes one proud to be British”.

By Tony Quarrington

Stories

UMBRELLA

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Umbrella

Warning some mild nudity

If I climb to the very top of my house and look at an angle through the attic box room window I can see into my neighbour’s garden.  Well, I could when old Mrs Rogers lived there but not so well now that the new people have moved in.  They are a couple, well I think they are a couple but I don’t know if they are married.  Who can tell these days?   People just move in together and everyone just accepts it, not like when I was a young woman.  I know that they both go to work because I have watched them going off in the mornings. He doesn’t wear a business suit. He wears one of those polo shirts with a logo on it.  I don’t think he is a builder though because he is quite clean when he comes home. Maybe he works in a shop or is a waiter or a barista (whatever they are?)  She usually wears smartish clothes, sometimes a skirt but more often trousers.  She has one of those name tag things around her neck with the council logo on. Perhaps she is a social worker or a librarian.  I suppose she must be quite respectable to work for the council but they take all sorts now.

Anyway, I can’t see into their garden so well since they have put up the new fence.  A dirty great six-foot thing, all I can see now is a bit right next to the house. I dug out Reg’s old binoculars but even with them, I can’t see much more.  What do they want to do in their garden that they have to keep so private?

Last weekend they were laying a patio.  Well, I think that is what they were doing because I can’t actually see that far but I watched him carrying in a whole lot of slabs and they have been out there all day working.  I know the weather is warm but does he realise how awful he looks with no shirt on.  He has a beer belly and tattoos.  It looks disgusting.  He was wearing shorts too with socks and boots.  What is that all about?  I saw that when he was taking things in from the car.  I can’t see his bottom half in the garden now because of that wretched fence. She was out there with him in a little strappy sun top that showed off her bingo wings.  I couldn’t see what else she was wearing but I expect it was those cycling shorts.  Does she realise what she looks like? She really doesn’t have the figure for things like that.

On Wednesday they had a delivery.  They haven’t asked me to take in parcels yet but I expect they will soon as they are both working but he seemed to be at home on Wednesday.  It was a very large box with the name EzySpa on the side.  I quickly looked it up on Google and it would seem to be an inflatable hot tub.  Well, that will really bring down the tone of the neighbourhood.  They are the sort of things that people on ITVB have – not that I ever watch it but I have seen the trailers.

 

It is warm again this weekend so I expect they will be out in the garden again, probably in their new hot tub doing whatever it is they do.  You can’t swim in them and apparently, they are full of germs like Legionnaires disease.  You wouldn’t catch me in one.  I can’t see it but I can hear them because now they have put up an enormous sun umbrella that completely blocks my view.  Whichever way I stand I can’t see into their garden at all.

They have got friends round because I have seen them arriving and they have parked their cars outside my house.  She was out in the front garden hugging them and doing those ridiculous air-kisses and wearing one of those full-length floaty dresses that people wear as cover-ups on the beach.  Not really suitable for a dinner party I think.

I took my little doggy out for a walk past their house this evening.  There is a tree just by their garden where he likes to do his business so I have to stand there for some time.  I can hear them in there bold as you like, laughing and talking.  I can’t quite hear the words because there is music playing. I can hear the clink of glass though and the sound of splashing water.  I expect the women are drinking Prosecco and the men are being very macho and drinking beer straight from the bottles, a disgusting and unhygienic habit. Why can’t they use glasses?  Maybe can’t be bothered with the washing up.

They are still at it and it is past 10 o clock at night.  They have fairy lights in the garden and I can see them shining from my attic window but I can’t see what is going on because of that blessed umbrella.  It is all very decadent.  I expect they are all frolicking around in the nude.  An alfresco orgy in a quiet residential street in Folkestone.  What is the world coming to?  I could call the police and have them arrested for indecent exposure except for the fact that I can’t actually see them.  Anyway, the police don’t bother with social disturbances now.  They would probably just dismiss me as a prudish old woman.  I won’t be able to go to bed until it has finished otherwise I might have disturbing dreams.  Reg and I never even entertained the idea of things like that.

By Jane Cottle