Den of Writers | Sylvia | Friends Activity https://www.denofwriters.com/members/sylvia/activity/friends/ Activity feed for Sylvia's friends. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:19:15 +0000 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-GB 30 hourly 2 1bb8a6f266d8cfcca224b4e958e8362e John T replied to the topic Not a Disaster Story in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/not-a-disaster-story/#post-17241 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:22:57 +0000 We must venture that way. We’re at the other side of Bannau Brycheiniog near Abergavenny.

]]> 0 13378f77204f75fa6a8657619d226383 John T posted an update: Happy fairly-new-year, everyone! I've written very little in […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/25183/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:17:02 +0000 Happy fairly-new-year, everyone! I’ve written very little in the last three months for health reasons, but I’m slowly winding back up again. I’ve found a (hopefully acceptable) way to take part in September Song, and I’m returning to blow the dust and cobwebs off my WIP.

]]> 1 9f4d2167afb4af0f9e48b34092aeca15 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24909/#acomment-24910 Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:34:49 +0000 Oh well… Athelstone has persuaded me…

In reply to - John T posted an update Ooh, I missed the challenge. My fault for not looking in. But honestly, I have a busy time ahead locally, both writing and storytelling events. And there’s THAT first draft that isn’t yet […] ]]> 72100e63f8edb43e0cecc0ad6a38ecc1 John T posted an update: Ooh, I missed the challenge. My fault for not looking in. But […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24909/ Mon, 27 Oct 2025 17:57:47 +0000 Ooh, I missed the challenge. My fault for not looking in. But honestly, I have a busy time ahead locally, both writing and storytelling events. And there’s THAT first draft that isn’t yet complete. So, good luck everybody and I’ll sit this one out.

]]> 1 9237a8afc47b101610a34c8369e35722 John T posted an update: I haven't been around (apart from a flying visit to Janette […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24544/ Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:38:42 +0000 I haven’t been around (apart from a flying visit to Janette last week) but much is happening. I’m still ploughing through the first draft of book three – almost there. And Apples in the Dark 2: Angels and Blackbirds is now out in the wild, and available to order through any bookshop (please – I make a loss on every copy sold through Amazon). Sum…[Read more]

]]> 1 896a2a61374ea5226eaebd1d9419e2c9 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/24539/#acomment-24543 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:34:28 +0000 Will do.

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update It’s that time again. If anybody feels inclined, please take a glance at the Donations Group. If you aren’t a member of the group, you’ll need to join to see the forum, but that doesn’t […] ]]> 49268e2f5553f6b8371bf2f3d239f72f John T posted an update: I've finished my story for the yearly challenge, but I'm […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/23819/ Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:22:00 +0000 I’ve finished my story for the yearly challenge, but I’m lingering before I press the button. One more read-through tomorrow, I think. In other news, I’m fulfilling a long-held ambition and having a retreat at Gladstone’s Library in North Wales soon, to finish the first draft of Apples in the Dark book three.

]]> 0 4016c1ffce8eeabdd655f28720d26301 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/23561/#acomment-23586 Sat, 16 Nov 2024 21:29:23 +0000 I’ve been struggling to come up with anything, because my initial idea seems beyond my ability. I’m going to try something simpler.

In reply to - Janette posted an update Good to see so many taking part in the Winter comp. I’ve been wrestling with two ideas though one appears to have risen above the other. I was ready to post it … but late corrections […] ]]> b7c243081a04412bada0d9c45acf633f John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/23579/#acomment-23585 Sat, 16 Nov 2024 21:27:46 +0000 I saw your letter, Philippa, and I’m really pleased you voiced what so many of us are feeling.

In reply to - Janette started the topic Is a social media Christmas appeal worthwhile? in the forum Blogs Recently, @Philippa East posted a copy of her letter to the Society of Authors on facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/photo […] ]]> 04b98df4b6f6b9a534bbe335e2848f5c John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/23579/#acomment-23584 Sat, 16 Nov 2024 21:26:16 +0000 I’m happy to join any communal effort. I’m an associate member of SoA, because I haven’t sold enough books to classify as a full member. Our Monmouth branch of SoA is very active, and as you can imagine, the subject of celebrity authors comes up a lot, particularly in relation to children’s books. A good friend, Claire Fayers, has just scored a…[Read more]

In reply to - Janette started the topic Is a social media Christmas appeal worthwhile? in the forum Blogs Recently, @Philippa East posted a copy of her letter to the Society of Authors on facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/photo […] ]]> 30aad9cb8c90b2439fb593640fd5c13a John T replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum A Different Time https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/a-different-time/forum/topic/chit-chat-6/#post-15669 Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:32:46 +0000 You might get a riff on my current series of novels out of this. There is one character who is hardly affected by the passage of time, and it would be fun to explore her POV. Although how to write it, I haven’t a clue… yet.

]]> 0 c71ff86059b0908a72b7d9d184c05c6c John T joined the group A Different Time https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/23382/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:22:05 +0000 0 85deb1a1184beb2b9eb8b550d07b71e9 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/23346/#acomment-23350 Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:38:46 +0000 Brilliant!

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update Well, it’s September. Something is usually afoot by now, but I’ve been tied up with finishing a draft and editing, amongst other things. Is the formula too tired? Anybody up for another […] ]]> f7ba1ce04e4e0c70f6d8d018b9b80187 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/23346/#acomment-23348 Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:48:36 +0000 I’m up for winter writing, Ath. I haven’t been around here much because I’ve been busy with both book two (currently being typeset by Leigh Forbes) and three (less than halfway through first draft) as well as trying to promote and sell book one. Several book fairs and talks about using my own epilepsy in fiction lined up in the near future. But I…[Read more]

In reply to - Athelstone posted an update Well, it’s September. Something is usually afoot by now, but I’ve been tied up with finishing a draft and editing, amongst other things. Is the formula too tired? Anybody up for another […] ]]> be77f20d9f85ff0fe00ddb0809907200 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/22723/#acomment-22752 Thu, 21 Mar 2024 20:40:24 +0000 Mandy’s son Sam has done backstage work, but I think that was more technical – lighting etc.

In reply to - Janette posted an update Apologies for the big absences. I have had a lot to get my head around and the battle is not yet over, but I am starting to ease myself back into addressing an unfinished WIP. I have found […] ]]> ea8c7696c3be14ac1353db5d9d6de98f John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/22723/#acomment-22742 Thu, 21 Mar 2024 12:31:57 +0000 I was born in Manchester, but no help, as I left in 1965, aged 10! The Mechanics Institute Library sounds amazing. Dad was a member of one in Hull when he was teenager before the war, and made a point of joining one in Cardiff when we moved there in 1965. All part of the workers’ education movement – he was a big supporter.

In reply to - Janette posted an update Apologies for the big absences. I have had a lot to get my head around and the battle is not yet over, but I am starting to ease myself back into addressing an unfinished WIP. I have found […] ]]> bcb4a4cafda00829cb48a88eaf736ee2 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/22524/#acomment-22591 Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:42:11 +0000 Thank you so much, Kate. I still hardly believe that anyone might want to buy my book!

In reply to - John T posted an update For those of you who are interested, Apples in the Dark is now available as an Ebook (paperback coming at the end of June). Almost ten years in the writing, tearing up, rewriting, rewriting […] ]]> 1b04097b7c2f1b02ac866031fd3bcddf John T posted an update: For those of you who are interested, Apples in the Dark is […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/22524/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 21:46:21 +0000 For those of you who are interested, Apples in the Dark is now available as an Ebook (paperback coming at the end of June). Almost ten years in the writing, tearing up, rewriting, rewriting again, etc – but it has finally got there. Links to books and to website in my Linktree. https://linktr.ee/wordswithjohn

]]> 2 6560f5571476f061f1dbbf3d8176c253 John T joined the group DONATIONS https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/22518/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:44:03 +0000 0 6960523c7eb733c961eb50b324402206 John T posted an update: Thanks to advice from Daedalus, Richard and Athelstone, my […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/22419/ Mon, 29 Jan 2024 13:04:04 +0000 Thanks to advice from Daedalus, Richard and Athelstone, my entry to Whodunnit with all the weird code is now fixed!

]]> 0 406e8256f280471ceaa9f92c2779f2c6 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/22410/#acomment-22413 Sun, 28 Jan 2024 20:37:26 +0000 Thank you – I’ll try.

In reply to - John T posted an update Anyone on here. Help. Something went wrong in the copying of my story to Whodunnit. It’s full of visible computer code. Anyone know how to cure that? ]]> d185a84dab8d23f07631ca30cad841be John T posted an update: Anyone on here. Help. Something went wrong in the copying of […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/22410/ Sun, 28 Jan 2024 15:59:42 +0000 Anyone on here. Help. Something went wrong in the copying of my story to Whodunnit. It’s full of visible computer code. Anyone know how to cure that?

]]> 2 8a6b002669f03c2068f91c8346e54da1 John T replied to the topic Influences in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/influences/#post-14471 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:33:42 +0000 Salter is an author I’ve never read. 90% of my favourite                                                                                                                                                   contemporary authors are women, but that may be as much about genre as gender. I read very few thrillers or crime novels, and only occasional l…[Read more]

]]> 0 f5d848aa95cd2fb670fa28c5b87932e3 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21845/#acomment-21875 Thu, 28 Sep 2023 08:52:20 +0000 My usual remedy for reading problems is to read children’s books. I read a lot – they’re my therapy.

In reply to - Janette posted an update Joined @johnt3 in giving BlueSky a go. Looking forward to finding more familiar faces there, but I haven’t much to report on yet. My book 2 (way off finishing its rewrite) needs to be […] ]]> 01d650e67bc1d19e3bf9253fccf75083 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21845/#acomment-21852 Sat, 23 Sep 2023 13:38:26 +0000 🙂

In reply to - Janette posted an update Joined @johnt3 in giving BlueSky a go. Looking forward to finding more familiar faces there, but I haven’t much to report on yet. My book 2 (way off finishing its rewrite) needs to be […] ]]> e84cf7e33e51732a0b60b022eacad64f John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21845/#acomment-21850 Sat, 23 Sep 2023 12:22:53 +0000 I know that black dog. It’s hard to shove it out of the way, sometimes. Big cwtches from Wales x

In reply to - Janette posted an update Joined @johnt3 in giving BlueSky a go. Looking forward to finding more familiar faces there, but I haven’t much to report on yet. My book 2 (way off finishing its rewrite) needs to be […] ]]> f278b15ba62b994d9f886c5b253b731f John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21845/#acomment-21847 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 17:51:14 +0000 There are an increasing number of us there, including a fair few from the Den.

In reply to - Janette posted an update Joined @johnt3 in giving BlueSky a go. Looking forward to finding more familiar faces there, but I haven’t much to report on yet. My book 2 (way off finishing its rewrite) needs to be […] ]]> cc5c4713da521a5fba71edcbb80e6e17 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21808/#acomment-21846 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 17:50:09 +0000 Being the the most amazing beta-reader, your copy will appear before I publish it. Pre-publication copies are currently at the printers.

In reply to - John T posted an update The proof copy of my novel has arrived. This is getting scarily real! ]]> da96882441be0e2e4ead4a77609e606b John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21808/#acomment-21825 Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:56:29 +0000 I’ll be cheering you on!

In reply to - John T posted an update The proof copy of my novel has arrived. This is getting scarily real! ]]> 6c4d06d8cd2d347a48e3068200822224 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21808/#acomment-21823 Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:17:21 +0000 Not exactly surprising, given the similarities between our writing, but interesting.

In reply to - John T posted an update The proof copy of my novel has arrived. This is getting scarily real! ]]> c7fcb2827466231864c19abcea9f7c56 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21808/#acomment-21821 Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:52:26 +0000 It certainly has. I began writing seriously in 2004, at the age of 50.

In reply to - John T posted an update The proof copy of my novel has arrived. This is getting scarily real! ]]> 187e55ebf29934dbb029fec02e2aa817 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21808/#acomment-21815 Tue, 19 Sep 2023 11:19:36 +0000 Yep.

In reply to - John T posted an update The proof copy of my novel has arrived. This is getting scarily real! ]]> a3bd803c8ad081de1e4a0f7ce6b844c5 John T posted an update: The proof copy of my novel has arrived. This is getting scarily real! https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21808/ Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:39:21 +0000 The proof copy of my novel has arrived. This is getting scarily real!

]]> 10 4e507fe5cc5addd6ee65b7426345ff6f John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21785/#acomment-21787 Mon, 11 Sep 2023 15:52:16 +0000 I have no invites to pass on yet, but I gather you get them after a while. It’s a fairly empty space at the moment, but I think it will fill up. People like Joanne Harris, Neil Gaiman and Chuck Wendig are on board.

In reply to - John T posted an update Any of you guys on BlueSky? I’ve found Raine and Athelstone. I’m @johnunworded.bsky.social ]]> 29b86b18a0b1051c8a12d61eb9179a2e John T posted an update: Any of you guys on BlueSky? I've found Raine and Athelstone. […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21785/ Mon, 11 Sep 2023 10:10:23 +0000 Any of you guys on BlueSky? I’ve found Raine and Athelstone. I’m @johnunworded.bsky.social

]]> 2 d51becb8d1c99e6a779bf87f8651e493 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21732/#acomment-21734 Sun, 03 Sep 2023 11:56:52 +0000 I’ve never written a whodunnit either, Kaz, apart from a silly story about a ghostwriter that probably doesn’t count! It’ll be a fun challenge, but meticulous planning and me don’t really go together.

In reply to - KazG posted an update in the group Whodunnit? never written a whodunnit! But I LOVED Agatha when I was a young reader, so let’s see if anything useful sank in. Thank you, Ath! ]]> f1340ebd2f2ccdc58e1b42ed95ec8d9b John T replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum Whodunnit? https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/whodunnit/forum/topic/chit-chat-5/#post-14229 Sat, 02 Sep 2023 10:17:21 +0000 It’s several years since I joined the challenge. Still deep in novels, but I feel it’s time to write another short story.

]]> 0 5e2cc9aa73fab37115ef57f74c7fa6a6 John T replied to the topic Choices in the forum Whodunnit? https://www.denofwriters.com/groups/whodunnit/forum/topic/choices-6/#post-14228 Sat, 02 Sep 2023 10:14:18 +0000 Arithmetic

Rope

Comical

]]> 0 877cfd09f0160a1001120f9decaabdee John T joined the group Whodunnit? https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21727/ Sat, 02 Sep 2023 10:13:11 +0000 0 2855d97a1d2aeb947031dcd2ed57ea07 John T posted an update: My latest blog post. And how searching the attic at the back […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21634/ Tue, 15 Aug 2023 20:07:58 +0000 My latest blog post. And how searching the attic at the back of my brain uncovered much that I had conveniently covered in dust sheets. In retrospect, my first novel on the subject in 2012 barely scratched the surface. https://johnalextaylor.com/fractured-memories-and-fiction-digging-deeper/

]]> 0 4797291a48dd102d6dc064c95b627f00 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21612/#acomment-21615 Sun, 13 Aug 2023 13:58:33 +0000 Yes, I found it. Eventually.

In reply to - Athelstone replied to the topic Richard's Musical Byways: Pete Who? (No 2) in the forum Blogs The clues to his, and their, lack of recognition are all there, I think. There’s some folk in it, some protest, a lot of […] ]]> 082db82a0e848dc288262f42f6a306b0 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21611/#acomment-21614 Sun, 13 Aug 2023 13:57:42 +0000 Had a look at the website. Ordered the CD. That sort of non-marketing works for me!

In reply to - RichardB replied to the topic Richard's Musical Byways: Pete Who? (No 2) in the forum Blogs Some afterthoughts. After getting negative reactions to Atkin’s music in the past, up to and including on one occasion […] ]]> f7b9d79b2ab9a4cd049a04f56c3776c2 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21582/#acomment-21589 Mon, 07 Aug 2023 17:26:39 +0000 About 50 minutes from here, depending on the state of the roadworks around Merthyr. I’m in Gilwern, between Brynmawr and Abergavenny.

In reply to - RichardB replied to the topic Richard's Musical Byways: Pete Who? (No 2) in the forum Blogs I see you’ve been having a good listen… Interestingly (or not) Messrs Atkin and James have each blamed themselves and […] ]]> d91a9a0774f55116688c27938467998a John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21582/#acomment-21587 Mon, 07 Aug 2023 16:43:16 +0000 Now I’m back home in South Wales, we’re probably not too far apart.

In reply to - RichardB replied to the topic Richard's Musical Byways: Pete Who? (No 2) in the forum Blogs I see you’ve been having a good listen… Interestingly (or not) Messrs Atkin and James have each blamed themselves and […] ]]> f5b93bcb9fbe6c4f4f82d6c28ce97a2b John T replied to the topic Influences in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/influences/#post-14111 Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:09:25 +0000 Oh yes, Alan Bennett’s diaries are amazing!

]]> 0 2490ba0d83da485cfa0c7f4e767826de John T replied to the topic Influences in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/influences/#post-14102 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 17:15:16 +0000 Yes, Kurt Vonnegut never hid behind ‘fancy’ writing. He’s a fabulous role model. Amongst contemporary writers, I would love Ali Smith’s way with words, and maybe Philip Pullman’s scope (mine is more like a microscope by comparison). I love the lightness and silly references in Philip Reeve’s children’s books. A lot of my favourite authors write…[Read more]

]]> 0 e17423f93fb1551bf0249c80a3aacff5 John T replied to the topic Richard's Musical Byways: Pete Who? (No 2) in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/richards-musical-byways-pete-who-no-2/#post-14100 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:35:31 +0000 Oh wow! That brings back memories. I heard Pete Atkin (without Clive James) at a soaking wet Bristol Folk Festival sometime in the early 70s, and again in Cardiff Student Union. And I loved his music. I had a Clive James/Pete Atkin LP from that time, but it is one of the many that I sold when I moved to a single room in Scotland in 1980.

As for…[Read more]

]]> 0 7ea14fc0c3def84f5a913bf8dd37cbfe John T started the topic Influences in the forum Blogs https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/topic/influences/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 14:32:02 +0000 Have any of you thought about who your writing influences are? I’m asking, because I was about to write a blog about my writing influences, and then stopped, unsure. I know plenty of authors whose writing I adore, including a fair few in this Den. But influences? I’d have to go further back, and then I’m not sure at all.

Most of the authors I…[Read more]

]]> 0 886914ee9ab23404fc1a1d494606d9c4 John T posted a new activity comment https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21433/#acomment-21446 Sat, 01 Jul 2023 13:33:17 +0000 Cheers, Athelstone. Since I wrote that, ‘a month or so’ now looks optimistic, at least for the ebook version. Amazon are giving Leigh less freedom to format the book, and what looks perfect on Apple Books or Kobo looks a mess on Kindle. We need two different ebook versions to work around the limited options they now give. The paperback version is…[Read more]

In reply to - John T posted an update Sorry for my prolonged absence from here. What with writing a new novel and proofreading two other, as well as all the drama and complications of choosing to self-publish, all my writing […] ]]> 1779a12cadce27d501a91522006d8ac5 John T posted an update: Sorry for my prolonged absence from here. What with writing a […] https://www.denofwriters.com/activity/p/21433/ Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:38:51 +0000 Sorry for my prolonged absence from here. What with writing a new novel and proofreading two other, as well as all the drama and complications of choosing to self-publish, all my writing energy has been directed in less sociable pursuits. But, I have news. My first book should be published within a month or so, when the wonderful Leigh Forbes has…[Read more]

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