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  • You do write these blogs so well, Richard. This one is the best written and most engrossing take on a musician that I’ve read in ages.

    I have the Complete Recordings. I bought them some years back, not because of my own journeying into blues, but because somebody who did more than my superficial browsing suggested I should. All I can say is that…[Read more]

  • On 23 December 1938 New York’s Carnegie Hall, at that time mostly used for classical concerts, hosted a revolutionary event. Titled From Spirituals to Swing, its aim was to showcase (as its name suggests) the history of black music in America, and to present it as something worth serious listening. It had been organised by the jazz impresario John…[Read more]

  • <p style=”text-align: right;”>Thanks for ordering, Libby.</p>
    Bridport don’t publish online because they publish an anthology – even the ebook is not cheap!

  • Congratulations @hilary

    I’ve ordered a copy of Sea Defences. I’m highly unlikely to be in Suffolk in January but have a great time at the launch.

    Congratulations too for the flash win. Does the Bridport site post the winning stories? I couldn’t find any but the site isn’t the easiest to use.

    • Thank you for ordering Sea Defences, @libby

      • It’s arrived already @hilary . It’ll take me a little while to get to it – I have some library books to finish first. I’m impressed by your publisher. I hadn’t heard of Lightning Books before. In addition to Sea Defences I bought some novels and memoirs from their antipodean collection.

  • Hilary replied to the topic Free book in the forum Podium 3 years, 11 months ago

    Congratulations, Thea! I can empathise with the heartfelt ‘At long last…’ Well done!

  • Some of you will already know this if you hang out on twitter. My debut novel, Sea Defences, is coming out in January and can be pre-ordered from http://www.eye-books.com/books/sea-defences. It started life as a short story in one of the winter challenges on the old Cloud – I think it was the last one that AlanP did. There will be a Book Launch in…[Read more]

  • Two super entries, both darkly entertaining. Perfect for a Halloween mood, maybe.

    Alex, love your dry style. I’ve been in that hotel and ironed that shirt for a meeting. Even drunk those beers. Never been in an earthquake though, unless you count the feeble growling that “hit” the south of England a few years back – much like a truck driving by.…[Read more]

  • Two cracking entries in the monthly comp. Still time to grab that kudos in the half day remaining!

  • UNTITLED 452 words

     

    A leaf, the colour of burnt sugar, dried and curled into the shape of a piranha’s open maw, drifted across the path in front of her. Good. Enough of a breeze, then, to keep her cool. The last thing she wanted after her run was to turn up at Jake’s night out with a face the colour of a baboon’s bum. She checked her watch…[Read more]

  • RichardB posted an update 4 years ago

    This afternoon an email from Jericho Writers piqued my curiosity and sent me to their home page. Scrolling down, I came to the we-helped-these-writers-get-published-so-we-can-help-you bit. Looking through the brief profiles (two of which are of people many here will know well) I noticed that in three cases the person concerned was described as ‘a…[Read more]

    • Libby replied 4 years ago

      Or alumna 😉
      Every so often I read a badly written JW message. I think they’re doing stuff either in a hurry or are a bit understaffed.

  • Far TMI!! Our first autumn spider in the kitchen sink this morning (usually they wait until Steve’s away and I’m stark naked before ambushing).

  • October. In the UK and Western Europe, spiders are in evidence around our dwelling places at this time of year. Some believe that the cold weather brings them in, but it turns out they’re just looking for a bit of love and affection. They were always there. OK, I admit it, I don’t like them. Mainly they’re fine. I’ve held a tarantula, and most…[Read more]

  • Thanks for a wonderful prompt Clebs. I thoroughly enjoyed writing my piece and it feels as though it might develop a bit. Plus, you got a pretty wonderful bunch of other entries. Well done all.

  • Well done, Ath. Great voice (as always!) And thanks, Clebs, for prompting me to write something (anything!) even though I had no idea where I was going with it 🙂 (The only thing I was sure about was that whoever Amelia is, she’s no benevolent being).

    Sandra, I’d like to see more of yours if you develop it and Alex, good job on taking the…[Read more]

  • Well deserved, Athelstone, and thank you Clebs for the topic which at least sent me back to the primary sources to size up the task again. Thanks to all entrants for a feast of post gathering events.

  • RichardB posted an update 4 years ago

    Went to the cattery this morning after returning from holiday to find that our cat had succumbed to kidney failure while we were away. She was a gentle, affectionate soul and much loved. Plus, we both have rather nasty colds. Not the the best homecoming.

    • Libby replied 4 years ago

      Oh, that’s sad, Richard. I’m familiar with the pain of losing a loved cat.
      I hope the colds clear up soon.

    • Oh, Richard, what a shame. Such upsetting news to come home to .

    • Oh no, really sorry to hear that Richard

  • Not quite fulfilling the brief but it’s this or nothing.

    The post-gathering I should most like to write the aftermath of, did time and ability permit is the one which took place following the reading of the will of Thomas Hutchinson Goodfellow, my husband’s great-grandfather, following his death in Tottenham in 1891, age 73.
    That it was…[Read more]

  • After the Gathering

    There was never an invitation. No surprise email in your inbox, no speculative phone call while your mouth was full of the last of the chocolate brownies, and no snatched conversation as you unloaded your shopping in the supermarket queue.

    ‘Have you heard? Amelia’s having another one of her get-togethers this weekend. It see…[Read more]

  • Athelstone posted an update 4 years, 1 month ago

    Just 5 days left for Clebs’ excellent monthly comp. Thinking-caps and writing-hands!

  • After the Gathering

    I shan’t go next year.

    I mean, Tom wasn’t there. Jackie spent the whole evening talking to Spence and nobody can get a word in with those two. And Pete. That was a shock. Pete’s joined the choir eternal. Playing three-card brag with St Peter more like.

    ‘So you don’t have to.’ That was his thing. I remember when he broke hi…[Read more]

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