@elle
Active 5 years, 10 months ago-
Janette posted an update 1 day, 22 hours ago
Apologies again that I have been to busy and distracted to participate in the comps just yet. You may have seen on FB that I have now announced the imminent launch of my book The Indiculous Grace Dunn, along with a cover preview and blurb. I’m hoping to launch by the end of May or early June, depending on how smoothly the readthrough of the proof…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 3 days, 1 hour ago
Thanks for the kind wishes, Jill. I know you’ve had your own burden lately, and I was so pleased to hear things were going well. At the moment, progress is good. I’m not using crutches or a frame now around the house and I can make it upstairs 2 or 3 times a week for a shower, all approved by the health visitors. I still have anaemia and run out…[Read more]
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Sandra posted an update 6 days, 8 hours ago
May’s monthly comp is up – something to inspire lots of you I hope!
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Sandra started the topic Monthly competition May 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 days, 8 hours ago
What I’d like you do for May’s competition is
1) choose a significant anniversary in your life: e.g. birthday, wedding, first child: graduation – then,
2 ) Google the UK Top 10 singles chart for that week.
3) select two, three or four song titles from that list and,
4) use them (loosely if necessary!) as a basis for a short story, of…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition April 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 days, 10 hours ago
Thank you , Terrie, both for the challenge and your comments on both my entry and Jill’s excellently crafted, sensitive story. I’ll aim to set something for June by the end of today.
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Athelstone replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 1 week, 3 days ago
Thanks for all the kind wishes. Please don’t think me rude that I haven’t responded individually. I still find messaging quite an effort. Your words are very much appreciated.
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Sandra replied to the topic A Step Into Indie Publishing in the forum Blogs 1 week, 5 days ago
Thank you for this Janette; as a Blurb self-publisher , (but not seller), I much appreciate this breakdown of your experiences .
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Sandra replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 1 week, 5 days ago
I’ve always found the same, right up to last week with the theatre nurse who held my hand while my eye was bring anatheasised for an op. bless him. (all well post op.)
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Thea replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 1 week, 5 days ago
Oh my goodness, Ath, what a time you’ve had! I am so glad to hear that you were well looked after in the hospital and are now home. Thank goodness for Mrs Ath’s quick thinking!
I hope you are taking things easy and making good progress. It’s great to see you back at the Den. Sending very best wishes for a speedy recovery 🙂
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Athelstone replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 1 week, 5 days ago
Honestly, nobody wants to get ill and go to hospital, but I don’t regret having met the staff. From the cleaner who I talked to a lot, to the nurses who tirelessly carried horrible pots away without a single complaint, to the consultant who (I now see) was joking/hinting about discharge when she said, ‘We must get this catheter out, unless you use…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 1 week, 5 days ago
Crikey Moses, William, I’m heart-heartedly glad to hear you are home and hopefully on your way to some sort of recovery – what a torrid time you and your family must have gone through, and thank you for updating us so vividly.
Sendng love and the most healingest of good wishes
Sandra
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Janette replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 1 week, 5 days ago
Hell, Ath, this is too much for one person to put up with, and must have been (and continues to be) very frightening. I really do hope that the ‘frightening bit’ is treatable, and that you get an upturn in health very soon. Thinking of you loads and sending positive vibes your way.
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Athelstone started the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 1 week, 6 days ago
So many people have asked, ‘What’s wrong with you’ and ‘Why are you still in hospital?’, (I’m out now) that I thought a small blog might help. Don’t get me wrong, there are many people, including on this site, who have had worse problems, often for longer. But I’ve never been this ill, so I’ll press on.
In the beginning, at the very tail end…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition April 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 weeks, 2 days ago
Untitled
‘Gobsmacked’ the inelegant word that came to mind when I read the letter. What else would you expect , being told your three year-old daughter’s poem had been awarded first prize ? A prize which earned her up to three sittings with well-renowned portrait artist Bernard Broom. Especially when I’d not an inkling she’d written any…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 month ago
Thank you Janette – you did us proud with thoughtful comments, and well done for every other entry, all of which fitted the remit much more closely than my hastily-grabbed from a long-ago hidden in the drawer novel.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 month ago
Simple, I thought – judge a few stories for the March competition while Ath is out of action (Ath, if you’re reading this, sending BIG healing vibes and willing a speedy recovery). But – what a dilemma to be handed. These are all excellent and worthy to be winners in their own right.
But judge I must, as promised, so here are my thoughts:
Jill -…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 month ago
Janette has kindly volunteered !!
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 month ago
Having heard Athelstone indisposed again, it’s unlikely he’ll be be judging this any time soon
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Janette started the topic A Step Into Indie Publishing in the forum Blogs 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Several weeks ago, I posted that I had stopped seeking representation for my book, Grace (full title to be revealed with the book cover), and go down the Indi path. As a complete publishing novice, my first reaction was ‘where the hell do I begin?’ And, for those others wondering the same thing, promised I would report back on anything I had don…[Read more]
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Thank you. This is really useful information. It’s a lot of work – hope things move along smoothly for you.
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Thanks, Bella. Gwynn GB warned it was a lot of work done properly, but to treat it as a business. It seems though, that you don’t escape any of the marketing work if taken on via trad publishing. Yes, let’s hope the work pays off – fingers crossed.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Not yet mad enough …
Wine-heavy eyes and naked, she was cleaning her teeth in front of the bathroom mirror when he came in through the door behind her. He stood behind her, serious-faced, saying nothing, but unignorably attentive. She finished brushing. Spat, rinsed and spat a couple more times then put the toothbrush back in the glass on…[Read more]
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