SWWJ Journal Summer Issue 103 by barbara-bigginwords.co

I s s u e 1 0 3 • S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 T H E S O C I E T Y O F W O M E N W R I T E R S A N D J O U R N A L I S T S J O U R N A L supporting women writers since 1894 NEW COMPETITIONS: Elizabeth Longford Poetr y 2023 FICTION FOCUS: with Sheila Riley PLUS: NEW Journalism page with Laura Burkin & book reviews COMPETITION WINNERS: Winners of the Elizabeth Longford Poetr y Competition 2022 & Winner Takes All –Ber yl P Brown

Coordinator: Barbara Field Holmes

Printed by: Thinkpad Group, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent TN16 3JP www.think pad.co.uk

International/Drama: Doreen Friend

Lady Howard, Sir Tim Rice, The Earl of Stockton, Simon Brett OBE, Freya North

Book Reviews/ Chawton House Liaison: Pamela Birley Tel: 020 7351 6377 bra33@btinternet com

Doris Cor ti (Poetr y) Mob: 07399 835548 doris.stump@btinternet.com

Tel: 01268 451547 Mob: 07951 671498 grandewords@yahoo com

SUMMER 2022 Issue 103

J O U R N A L

Journalists: Laura Burkin lauraburkin@btinternet.com

Vivien Brown Tel: 01895 254453 vivienhampshire@btinternet com

The JOURN AL is published by The Society of Women Writers & Journalists www.swwj.co.uk

Tel: 020 8505 2476 doreen.friend@swwj.co.uk

Patrick Forsyth (Marketing) patrick@touchstone28 com

W h o ’ s w h o 2 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

Membership: Anne Murray annepremonex@gmail.com

Dorothy Pope (Poetr y) Tel: 020 8864 3149 dorothy.pope@hotmail.com

Patrons:

Vice Presidents:

The Rt Hon Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE DL

Editor/Communications

Vivien Brown (Proofreader)

Barbara Field Holmes scriptorapublishing@ bigginwords co uk

Tel: 01730 892413 pamela@thebeach com

Competitions/Social Media/Manuscript Appraisal:

Pamela Birley, Doris Corti,Valerie Dunmore, Joyce Elsden, Barbara Field Holmes, Sylvia Kent, Mary Rensten.

Chairman: Rebecca Harding Highfield, 46 Park Avenue Nor th Nor thampton NN3 2JE Tel: 07966 459080 rebecca@saltwhistle com

SCRIPTORA/Welfare: Mar y Rensten Mob: 07999 503209 scriptora publ@btinternet com

Welfare Fund

Hon. Secretary/Events: Janice Grande

Vice Chairman/Speakers: Pamela Payne

If any member requires help, please contact Mary Rensten on maryrensten@btinternet.com Or write to the Editor at 42 Brookside Avenue, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 3DH Donations to benefit our members in times of illness or hardship should be made out to SWWJ Welfare Fund

Archivist: Sylvia Kent Tel: 01277 651062 kentsylvia5@gmail.com

Consultants: Mar tin Cor t (Drama) Tel: 020 7582 582 5839 mcor t1@talktalk net

Hon. Treasurer: Benita Cullingford Tel: 01727 857388 b.cullingford@btinternet.com

SWWJ members have the right to express their opinions in the SWWJ JOURNAL. These opinions are not necessarily those of the Council or Editor Neither the Editor nor the Society accepts responsibility for errors in articles. The Editor reserves the right to amend articles submitted.

President:

BIGG in Words Ltd 42 Brookside Avenue Polegate, East Sussex BN26 6DH Tel: 01323 304002 Mob: 07814 738894 swwj@bigginwords co uk

5 Society news

A welcome to new members

Including obituar y for Jean Marian Stevens

4 From the Editor

Elizabeth Longford Rose Bowl Poetr y Competition 2023 and Meet the Judge Cher yl Moskowitz..

SWWJ Competition winner

Announcing the winner Jenny Worstall with Reflections on a performance of ‘God Save The Queen’ in St Paul’s Cathedral, April 2022.

42 Competition rules 43

Lady Sandra Howard launc hes Love at War.

32 SWWJ AGM 2022 Agenda notice, by Zoom

By Vivien Brown

34-35 Marketing

Social Media for Beginners

Members’ news

24 25 SWWJ Jubilee Competition winner

Announcing our Winner Takes All winner with ‘Piece of Cake’ by Ber yl P Brown

7 8 Society news

20 21 SWWJ Competition

22-23

26-27

28 30 Fiction focus

News from Moonraker Countr y by Dee La Vardera

Introducing our new column for Journalists by Laura Burkin.

SWWJ Competition winners

Understanding and impressing editors by Patrick Forsyth

31 Around the regions

14 15 Travels with my press card

By Barbara Field Holmes

6-7

19 Poetry

In praise of the short poem by Dorothy Pope

Come on, members. Join us on social media!

36 SWWJ Competition

In conversation with Sheila Riley by Vivien Brown.

37 Book news

16-18

Calling all members Let’s talk about Journalism.

Front cover: Main picture: Photo by Dmitriy Zub on Unsplash. Inset: Laura Burkin introduces our new Jour nalism page; Beryl P Brown is winner of the latest Winner Takes All and Patron Lady Sandra Howard launches her latest novel, Love at War.

33 Journalism

Love at War by Sandra Howard and introduction by Sylvia Kent Reviews Dates for your diary

Membership matters

9-11

Final chance to enter the John Walter Salver 2022 competition.

Today’s Brentwood Wr iter s ’ Circ le com mittee member s with the Mayor of Brentwood, Councillor Olivia Sander s

More successes plus Celebrating BWCs 80th birthday by Sylvia Kent.

Magic Memories of Swanwick by Sylvia Kent

Congratulations to our poetr y winners of the Elizabeth Longford Poetr y Competition 2022

C o n t e n t s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 3

38 41 Book

12-13 From the archives

F r o m t h e E d i t o r

Although stepping down from the Chair, and from Council, we want to thank her for looking after our online events, which proved very popular and kept the Society ‘in touch’ throughout the very difficult Covid pandemic. We will endeavour to continue with our online events in 2023. For now, Becca, with support from some of her team at Saltwhistle, will carry on as

Hello Everyone,

Online workshops to continue

4 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

Editor writes... by Barbara Field-Holmes

Save this date

Finally, I hear you say. A Summer issue! My sincere apologies for the lateness of this issue, due to a number of things, some business and some personal, which I don’t want to waste space going into here What I do want to say, however, is a huge ‘thank you’ to our Chairman Becca Harding and her team at Saltwhistle for all their hard work to modernise and intro duce new systems to the Society to put us in the same space as other societies and writing groups. This includes digitalising all the membership renewals and automating our previously manual processes This has all been a phenominal task, far bigger than she imagined at the start and has taken many hours of extra work. Becca wishes to resign her chairmanship and wishes to step down this September at our AGM I am sure she will elaborate on all the things she and her team have achieved in her Chairman’s report at the AGM, which will be held by Zoom on 22nd September 2022 (see page 32).

‘supervisor’ of website (IT) and membership te nology. Howeve we will need someone to he with driving our website conten We will also be Chairman Pamela Payne who will be step ping down at the AGM, and to our Hon orary Secretary Janice Grande. As the Vice Chairman would normally automatically step up to the role of Chairman, that leaves two vacancies. I have volunteered to step up and take the Chair again in September and will be looking for a new Vice Chair. There will be a reshuffle of some of the roles on Council, all to be announced in due course I will also be looking for new volunteers to join us Many of our Council members undertake more than one role, which all adds to the general workload of individuals. I would welcome members to come forward and offer their services and am happy to discuss what roles we need to fill. Please feel free to call or email me: 07814 738894 or swwj@bigginwords co uk

Council is planning a Christmas Party at the beginning of December. Please keep Monday 5th December free. The party will be a lunch with speakers and competition winner presentations planned All the usual features will be there Books Tables and Raffle, and a pay bar. It will be held in the David Lloyd George Room at the National Liberal Club. Times, ticket price and how to book will be announced soon.

In closing, I wish everyone good health, happiness and success with your writing. And for those who are not in such good health, I send you my warmest wishes.

I want to bring the world of journalism, past, present and a look into the future, to all our members, especially those who are journalists, are looking into journalism or simply want to talk and hear more.

Barbara Field Holmes swwj@bigginwords.co.uk

Laura Burkin

I am really excited to be the Council member for Journalists here at the SWWJ

Change of address

Our society is full of wonderful writers, each at a different stage of their writing journey and our journalist members are a fascinating part of this makeup.

Will members please ensure you notify the Membership Secretary of your change of address, telephone number or email address so that we can keep our records up to date

In this issue

From a general look at journalism to specified areas, I hope to bring different insights and will be welcoming feedback from you all.

S o c i e t y n e w s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 5

Calling members

I have loved every minute of being a journalist and will be sharing this experience but I would also like to hear from other members

Let’s talk about Journalism

I will be looking to write and talk on everything and anything around journalism. I have a passion for being a journalist and all that entails and I hope to deliver a regular account that will provoke discussion and learning

Come on members, let’s hear from you. This is your chance to have your say, so write, send an email or a text message. There is a lot going on at the moment – despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Send your letters/ emails/texts to the Editor (see page 2 for contact details).

In this issue you can read about this year’s competition winners on pages 16 to 18 and pages 22 to 25, while on pages 20 and 21 you can find news of the new Elizabeth Longford Rose Bowl Poetry Competition 2023. In addition, there is still time to enter the John Walter Salver Competition, see page 36. New for this issue is the introduction of our Journalism section by Laura Burkin on page 33, and on page 37 you can read about our Patron Lady Sandra Howard’s latest book.

Send in your views, ideas and what you would like to discuss – email me at lauraburkin@btinternet com

W r i t e t o u s

Marian Myers, Brighton, East Sussex, England.

Jane Cable, Truro, Cornwall, England.

FULL MEMBERS: Isabel Del Rio, London, England. https://www facebook com/isabel del rio salvador

https://facebook.com/JaneCableAuthor/

Miriam has written and had published a string of novels in both the USA and the UK including Secret Territory, Citron Press, 1999; Hidden, Meadowside/Troika, 2012 and 2019; Illegal, Meadowside/Troika, 2013 and 2019; Stuffed, Albury Books, 2014.; The Emergency Zoo, Alma Books,

Sejal Badani, California, USA. Sejal is a worldwide bestselling novelist with Trail of Broken Wings and The Storyteller’s Secret including The Washington Post, USA Today and Amazon charts. Also a Goodreads Best Fiction Finalist and ABC/Disney writing fellowship finalist

M e m b e r s h i p m a t t e r s 6 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

‘I am a writer and linguist I have published fiction and poetry in both English and Spanish. For further information about my work please check my website: https://www.isabeldelrio.co.uk. At present, I am studying for a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of West London

Over the past year, Marian has had two stories published in The People's Friend, one in Yours Fiction, one in Woman's Weekly and one due to be published in the Yours Year Book later this year She also won a short story competition in Best magazine.

W E L C O M E T O N E W M E M B E R S

aka Isabel del Río and Isabel del Río Salvador. Twitter: @isabeldelrio

Lynne Hackles, Tenbury Wells, Worcs. England.

Twitter: @MarianJMyers

Lynne has had 600+ women's magazine stories published, and written 3 non fiction books, traditionally published.

https://www.facebook.com/Miriam Halahmy Writer 127391707323310

2017; Behind Closed Doors, Holiday House Books, USA and Firefly Press, UK, 2017 and 2018; Always Here For You, Zuntold Books, 2020; Rip to the Rescue, Holiday House Books, USA, 2021; Saving Hanno, Holiday House Books, USA and OtterBarry Books, UK, 2019 and 2021. She can also boast a successful stage/TV career and has won various awards. One of her novels, Hidden, first published in 2012 has also been adapted for stage and toured in Autumn 2018, and was longlisted in 2012 for CLIP Carnegie Medal, while Behind Closed Doors, published in both the USA and the UK in 2017 and 2018, reached Winner status in the Manchester Metropolitan University 2018 great student giveaway (1500 books bought).

The Society would like to welcome the following new members:

Miriam Halahmy, London, England.

Twitter: @miriamhalahmy

Writing as Jane Cable: contract with Sapere Books – 3 books published, 1 due 2023. Writing as Eva Glyn: contract with One More Chapter – also 3 books published, 1 due 2023

Yvonne is a member of the National Union of Journalists (since 1977); a member of the International Federation of Journalists and co founder of Women in Journalism UK and Women in Journalism (Scotland). Also a member of the Society of Authors and a member of Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society

Books published: In The Hands of the Taliban, Robson Books; Ticket to Paradise, Dandelion Books; Torture Does it Work? Interrogation issues and effectiveness in the Global War on Terror, Military Studies Press; The Rise of the Prophet

Membership enquiries:

Historical fiction: The Caledonians...Mr Petrie's Apprentice, Austin Macauley. Chapters in several anti war books and a chapter on the hijab from the book: Cut From The Same Cloth

M A N U S C R I P T A P P R A I S A L S E R V I C E

S C R I P T O R A NEWS UPDATE

S o c i e t y n e w s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 7

I am unable to deal with anything new at present as I currently have a number of books to deal with. I will let members know when this changes. Barbara Field-Holmes

It has been noted that Carol Cannavan is still receiving emails about membership matters. Carol left the role of Membership Secretary over a year ago, so if you have any queries please contact Anne Murray at annepremonex@gmail.com

Twitter: @janeCable

Yvonne Ridley, Hawick, Scotland

NEW WRITER: Shirley Fox, London, England. Shirley, aka Shirley Baker, is currently revising a memoir, being assessed by The Literary Consultancy https://facebook com/shirleybaker/

All the writers and tutors in our appraisals team are full SWWJ members, with many years of professional experience and expertise to offer Whether you are new to writing, keen to improve your skills, ready to try for publication for the first time, or just want to take a change of direction by exploring a new genre, a member of our team is ready, willing and available to guide you

Enquiries for publication by SCRIPTORA should be emailed to: scriptorapublishing@bigginwords co uk

Muhammad: Don't Shoot the Messenger, Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Please visit our website to see the individuals in the appraisals team, along with their profiles www swwj co uk they could help you to fulfill your dream.

https://facebook com/yvonneridley/ Twitter: @yvonneridley

Jean’s prize winning entry was for a children’s story and she excelled in creating articles, plays, short stories and her beloved poetry. Music, rhyme and rhythm flowed through her work, bringing numerous awards and accolades over the years. Winning the prestigious Julia Cairns Salver many times thereafter, Jean and her friends Doris Corti, Fay Marshall, Alison Chisholm and Peggy Poole, among others, contributed their note-worthy skills to several anthologies over the years, the last one entitled Tessellation Jean’s children mentioned how our Society played an important part in her life and they knew that she valued the many friendships she enjoyed. Personally, I appreciated her kindness, time and reminiscences when I joined Council in 1998, especially when I embarked on researching/publishing our Society history book The Woman Writer in 2007 9.

Above: Jean Mar ian Stevens (r ight) pictured with Lord and Lady Longford

S o c i e t y n e w s 8 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

Left: Jean had a poem, Battle Honour s , published in the anthology Tessellation 2000; her poem won the Julia Cairns Salver in 1991

by Sylvia Kent

At the time of her death she was a valued Vice-President; also holding several earlier positions including secretary, chair and poetry co ordinator. Jean has left a wealth of wonderful stories and poetry which will provide love, encouragement and support to her family now and for future generations. Jean’s Thanksgiving Service took place in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead on 3 May We have lost a kind and beautiful lady.

O bituary: Jean Marian Stevens

How sad we were to hear of Jean’s passing on 21 March in her ninety third year. This was World Poetry Day, so fitting as Jean’s life revolved around poetry which she had appreciated from childhood. Jean was barely twenty when she entered (and won) the Marjorie Bowen Open Competition in 1949 Part of her prize was an annual subscription to our Society, thus joining us in 1950 and eventually becoming our longest serving member.

Please ensure that all copy and images are sent to the Editor, Barbara Field Holmes, on swwj@bigginwords co uk using Microsoft Word or pasting the text into an email. Please do not embed images into the document/email; always send images as separate attachments on your email and make sure that if you are sending via a mobile or computer, that the image is not automatically reduced in size. Images should be high resolution (300 dpi) and a good size Photographs are acceptable but not photocopies of book covers

Use the prefix **JOURNAL in the subject line (eg **JOURNALsuccesses) Please do not send files as ‘read only’ pdf files If sending a photo that doesn’t belong to you, please make sure you have permission for it to be published.

Send us your news

Great news as we’re rehearsing for our next production, a five minute comedy film I’ve written called Night Out. We’re shooting the film in our Abbey Theatre next month (September).

Have you done anything interesting lately, had something accepted for publication, a book published or organised a book signing?

Continued success

Write to the Editor and share your experiences and successes.

COPY DATE FOR AUTUMN 2022 ISSUE

Still can’t believe it, but our J.A.B.S Productions short film The Way We Were, Valentine, was shown and won a first place award in the Cotswold International Film Festival It won the award for Best Mental Health film We now have a fantastic logo

The deadline for the next issue of the SWWJ JOURNAL is 10th OCTOBER 2022 for publication 9th NOVEMBER 2022.

Benita Cullingford

M e m b e r s ’ n e w s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 9

Margaret Mounsdon is pleased to report that her book, Postcards From The Past is now availabe in Large Print. “Kirsty’s grandmother has a guilty secret past Kirsty suspects old flame Gabe Nelson of blackmail but she is wrong. There is a much more sinister reason that puts her life in danger. www.margaretmounsdon.co.uk

We will be publishing three issues of the Journal in 2022. The News Bulletins, and our increased activity on social media, has been such a success that we feel three bumper sized issues a year, ie, every 4 months, is more appropriate

The war year of 1941 was terrifying Elizabeth’s fiancé had died in WWl. Her job was distributing ration books, running the town’s secretarial agency and she was then a keen member of our Society, travelling monthly to meet colleagues at London’s ancient Stationers’ Livery Hall in Ava Maria Lane

Celebrating BWC’s 80th birthday

After the war, the BWC ourished Membership grew Elizabeth invited her London friends to speak t the posh Brentwood White Hart Hotel lunch parties. Guests included terary luminaries of the decade, including Margery Allingham, Ruby Ayres, Ursula Bloom among others and the

Pictured above , member s of the Brentwood Wr iter s ’ Cirle in the Nineteen For ties

by Sylvia Kent

M e m b e r s ’ n e w s 10 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

On that significant day in May 1941, Elizabeth was horrified to learn that her beloved ‘Stationers’ had been badly bombed and under cordon. Elizabeth was cross. She immediately filled in an advertisement form planning to start a writers’ group in her parlour. She paid her sixpenny fee to the Brentwood Gazette, inviting like-minded folk to join her new Writers’ Circle Within a week, two soldiers on leave from the nearby Warley Barracks had applied, followed by some elderly poets and a young girl who wrote romance. The Brentwood Writers’ Circle was born!

ith Covid breathing down people’s necks over the past few years, parties, celebrations and anniversaries were cancelled, postponed, or indeed, held in abeyance. Brentwood Writers’ Circle committee had planned to celebrate our 80th birthday in fine style last year, but joy was put on the back burner That was until 7th May this year The Mayor of Brentwood accepted our invitation, along with long standing members, brand new writers and friends, who gathered at Bardswell Social Club. A lovely lunch awaited and excellent speaker, publisher Paul Burridge. We remembered our founder – Elizabeth Baxter, an energetic 41-year-old author of romantic books Elizabeth had joined our Society of Women Journalists (as it was known until 1951) years earlier.

M e m b e r s ’ n e w s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 11

Sadly, in 1963, Elizabeth developed a debilitating illness. She became a long term patient in Highwood Hospital. Undaunted, she continued writing romantic novels which attracted a young journalist in his first job for Woman Magazine, Gyles Brandreth who wrote an article about her for his editor in 1972 entitled ‘The Most Romantic Person I know.’ Gyles later became an author, MP and television personality. He told me: ‘Elizabeth was my kind of heroine.’ Membership grew to more than 60 keen writers; venues changed; successes were celebrated. Workshops, competitions, newsletters continued Speakers included Douglas Adams, Martina Cole, Colin Dexter, Simon Brett among numerous top

writers Over decades, many BWC members have also joined SWWJ, some serving on our Council.

Pictured above , today’s Brentwood Wr iter s ’ Circ le committee member s pictured with the Mayor of Brentwood, Councillor Olivia Sander s (centre)

In preparation for our 80th birthday, Patrick Forsyth and Laura Burkin, both SWWJ members, collected stories, essays and poems and edited our celebratory anthology A Circle of Words, which, as BWC President, I was delighted to present to our Brentwood Lady Mayor Cllr Olivia Sanders.

author Vera Brittain appeared on our letter head as Vice President.

Oh! And we did make the front cover of the Brentwood Gazette!

12 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

The idea for the School was one of those light bulb moments that persisted. It was thought that the Summer School might be a successful venture. Maybe, like Agatha Christie’s play The Mousetrap at the time, it would ‘run and run’ For thousands of writers, since the end of the 1940s, Swanwick has certainly been a hit and continues to be so seventy three years later.

F r o m t h e a r c h i v e s

The original idea for this now famous annual literary gathering burst forth in the mind of Cecil Hunt, then the chairman of London Writer Circle and Robert Hunter whose wife, Lynne was our own Society’s honorary secretary Until 1951, we were known as the Society of Women Journalists.

MAGIC MEMORIES OF SWANWICK

the writers' circles countrywide. Following hard committee work the first Writer Circles' Summer School was arranged, but a programme required to keep over 300 writers interested for a week, needed to be exciting, wide ranging and well organised. The main speakers were perhaps the main focus of attention and those attending that first School in 1949 included R C Sherriff on writing methods, Noel Streatfeild on children’s writing and Nigel Balchin on novel writing. It wasn't long before a pattern emerged: apart from the main speakers, members themselves ran courses, workshops, discussion groups and talks Numerous people have gone from being unpublished to celebrated writers and have acknowledged that they owe their success to ‘Swanwick magic’. These days, for those needing to get away from it all, beautiful grounds awaited for reading and scribbling by the lake. Bags of fun were enjoyed during relaxation days when attendees roamed the lovely gardens and boarded motor coaches for trips to Dovedale and Chatsworth Older members look back nostalgically to when the Garden House existed a relic from the war, when it housed German prisoners. Conditions were sparse and involved a lot of sharing, but the Dunkirk

ey ho to Swanwick we go! This cheerful ditty was often expressed by Elizabeth Lord (Ivy) among numerous SWWJ friends who packed their cases for their annual week at the famous Swanwick Conference Summer School in Derbyshire From the summer of 1949 (22nd August 28th) when the first Summer School took place, attendees considered it to be the perfect writers’ Shangri La.

Mike Brewer, the former Archivist at Swanwick wrote that the chairman’s original intention was a get-together of all

by Sylvia Kent

Some of Fleet Street’s top editors, journalists, publishers and literary agents arrived at the Hayes Centre and presented master classes on their specific subjects, delivering inspirational lectures Even seventy years ago, the popular social highlight dinner dances with the Mayor of Derby at top table, were occasions to be savoured. Friendships were made, and I believe. have lasted a lifetime.

course on writing competitions. She spoke about the rules, what the judges look for, and the mistakes entrants make. Additionally, she ran a one hour workshop there – a whistle stop tour of understanding and solving cryptic crosswords

J O U R N A L Summer 2022 13

Long live Swanwick!

F r o m t h e a r c h i v e s

spirit prevailed. Facilities today are now first class.

Many SWWJ members were hand picked to run special genre courses and this year, our own Vivien Brown masterminded a

Above: SWWJ member s who attended Swanwic k in 2008 Sadly, some of our dear member s are no longer with us

Following her first visit to Swanwick in 1950, our own Vice President, the late Jean Marian Stevens, a twenty year old poet at the time, wrote a wonderful essay which included her first experience of staying at Swanwick and the joy of meeting like minded writers.

Don’t forget! The copydate for the Autumn 2022 issue of the SWWJ JOURNAL is 10th October 2022.

Best of all, the press card saves you money, far more than the cost of your annual membership It doesn’t just earn you a discounted entry fee, it gives you FREE access. In the last few months, I have used my card just three times, but have already saved a total of around £130.

Below: .Not one , but two VIP tic kets to the Van Gogh Immer sive Exper ience in London, inc luding the not to be missed vir tual reality exper ience plus a free poster eac h

by Vivien Brown

S W W J f e a t u r e

ne of the most valuable benefits of full or associate membership of the SWWJ has to be the press card, yet many members fail to make use of it. It’s easy to convince yourself that press cards are only for newspaper journalists and cannot be of much use to an author, playwright or poet. That just isn’t true. There are occasions when all of us, as writers, need to research a particular area of the country, or a person or period from history, in order to ensure accuracy in our work. There are exhibitions and trade shows that might help us to meet valuable contacts or gather information for a potential magazine article or story There are museums where we can see for ourselves just what an old vehicle or costume might have looked or felt or even smelled like, set foot in a wartime air raid

shelter or find out what it feels like to go down into the dark in a mine The press card opens doors to all of this and more. I would never advise anyone to just turn up at the door, flash your card and expect instant access, yet a polite email to the press office (details are always on their websites), explaining that you are a freelancer with a press card and giving brief details of what you want to research and why, invariably produces results And if you happen to be refused (some places just don’t give out free tickets), there is nothing lost, and no embarrassment, as there certainly would be if that were to happen in front of a queue at the entrance on the day.

TRAVELS WITH MY PRESS CARD

14 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

politics, and all manner of other media coverage, going back centuries. Where else could you see the actual reporting of the Great Fire of London in a paper produced that very week in 1666, the first highly inaccurate reports from the Titanic saying all passengers were safe, and much more recent stories of the Profumo affair, Black Lives Matter, and the ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial, all side by side? On none of these visits was I actually asked to show my press card on arrival. For the LBF I did have to scan it and email an image in advance, but the others simply took my word and sent me etickets Nevertheless, if you are lucky enough to get free entry, do make sure you have your card with you, just in case. And now that our new style cards carry no photo, it’s sensible to have some other form of photo ID with you as well, to prove you really are the writer you say you are!

As a courtesy, if you do write something that gets published as a result of your visit, I’m sure many press offices would love to receive a copy It’s good publicity for them. At the very least, send them a thank you or write them a glowing review when you get home. Happy visiting!

Where have you used your Press Card? Write and let us know share your news with the Journal. Email the Editor at swwj@bigginwords.co.uk

S W W J f e a t u r e J O U R N A L Summer 2022 15

Firstly, it gained me entry to the London Book Fair back in the Spring, with a standard three day ticket that would have cost me in the region of £50. I have written a lot for the preschool and parenting magazine market in the past and I highlighted my desire to look at the children’s publishing area in my application. Trying to get in as an author alone just doesn’t cut it! It was a great visit, with publishers’ stands to browse, author talks, and lots more to keep any writer entertained and up to date. And I was there with a badge saying PRESS so I could, if I chose to, even use the press lounge where members of the media gather to write up and submit their stories. Next, in July, I asked the Van Gogh Immersive Experience in London (also showing in other UK cities) if I might have a ticket, stressing my SWWJ social media credentials and that I could publicise their exhibition among our members (which I am doing right here!), and was very pleased and impressed to be given not one but TWO VIP tickets (including the additional not to be missed virtual reality experience), together worth £64, meaning I was able to take my art loving daughter as my guest. It was a fantastic exhibition, like no art show I had ever seen before and, as VIPs, we were even given a free Van Gogh poster each as we left. And then, early in August, I saw that the British Library had a special exhibition on, looking at the history of the press. What more suitable topic for an SWWJ member to explore? And explore it I did, courtesy of my press card, and another £18 saving. ‘Breaking The News’ was a fascinating montage of scandals, celebrity, war,

S W W J C o m p e t i t i o n w i n n e r s 16 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

The cicadas rub themselves raw. Are on repeat: Stay Go home Go home Stay

I carry the weather in my mouth. Sometimes a damselfly lands on my shoulder. There is always so much sky.

We are here when we cross the water to Kisla, look back at the town’s lights sewn like diamonds into the hill.

Our Poetry Winners

We are here and it is impossible to leave but when I do I’ll carry this, and olive trees and a disc of sapphire sea somewhere near. ©Claire Dyer

fter the stress we have all been under during the last two years of living with Covid 19, what better theme for our annual poetry competition than CALM? Your entries all interpreted the theme in different ways, whether in the calm of a place, a person, a memory or a state of mind Our judge, Cecilia Knapp, says: “What a joy it was to read though such a range of beautiful, absorbing and unique poems, each with ‘calm’ at their heart. Though they all spiralled from the same stimulus, each poem brought something new to my understanding of calm.”

We very much hope to be able to present the trophy to Claire at our forthcoming Christmas lunch.

The winner of the Elizabeth Longford rose bowl trophy and £100, with her poem ‘Raw Material’, is Claire Dyer. In second place is Margaret Gallop who wins £50 for her poem, ‘Your granddad’s lighting a fire.’ And the third prize of £25 goes to Dorothy Pope with ‘Washing My Doll’s Dress ’

We are here when the town’s boats sail out at sunset a ring of boats to honour the fallen.

‘A vivid expansive and aching poem with an unusual and striking command of language. The poem captures the feeling of being in a place of great beauty and calm, and the painful longing to stay Reading this poem, I felt its heat completely consume me I loved the feeling of overwhelm in the poem, and the urgency… A poem’s job is to make us feel its atmosphere, and this poem certainly succeeded ’

Viv Brown announces the winning entries in the Elizabeth Longford Poetry Competition 2022

Congratulations

Let me learn language enough to tell you how the bougainvillaea shadows fall like confetti on the terrace when it’s noon.

Comments from the judge:

R a w M a t e r i a l

His final act – to separate the ash, ‘The fire can spring back to life at night’ Fire was excitement in their peaceful home I hoard the thought of secret fire just waiting to renew itself, like love.

Tall, lean, decisive, ready for the job, he would control the fire with his spade. Dry wood, newspaper kindling, he knew how to nudge the grudging fire into flame Then as the bonfire’s appetite expands

he adds the dried tomato plants, fruit canes, rose prunings, clippings from the hedge. They smoke, but spring reluctantly to life, make eager leaping flames, then fiery caves. The smell of wood smoke seeps into the house.

He straightens up, and stretches, satisfied. Despite his soldier’s frame when War came he chose to tend the sick, had fever twice, returned to blow new life into the Peace The fire collapses as the day wears on

Comments from the judge: ‘The poem is so sensory. I can almost taste the fire in the garden The poem deliberately focuses on the detail of the fire as a way to explore the relationship between the speaker and their granddad; one of admiration and deep love. Because the poem has been so much about the act of making the fire, we almost don’t expect the brilliant final line, which is a gorgeous way to end and brings something new to the poem in its last breath ’

Continued on page 18

S W W J C o m p e t i t i o n w i n n e r s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 17

The long back garden was the place for fires. ‘Climb up onto that chair so you can see.’ I scramble up to watch him from my perch beside the giant wireless set. I knew he loved to light a bonfire. I could watch.

Y o u r g r a n d d a d ’ s l i g h t i n g a f i r e

©Margaret Gallop

Comments from the judge: ‘I was incredibly moved… The image it conjured for me was one I couldn’t get out of my head, the intimate moment of a young girl washing her doll’s dress, imitating her mother. This, in itself, has such subtext, the question of what we inherit and lear n from the women in our life about our roles as women. There is such a sense of innocence in the poem, foreshadowing the fear and pain that appears to be waiting for our speaker, tingeing the poem with such sadness...Restrained but so full of feeling.’

When I decided it was clean (I don’t remember rinsing it) she held me up to peg it out, sailed it aloft with goose-beaked prop to where it dried reliably in sunshine and unclouded skies. ©Dorothy Pope

The six inch dress in hand hot suds, I squeezed and frowned the way she did.

W a s h i n g M y D o l l ’ s D r e s s

May 1939, I, four years old, Sept 3rd and their divorce not yet foretold, or not to me, and there we were, the three of us, all playing house, or so it seemed.

Not seriously fearful yet, I spent a morning busily washing my doll’s knitted dress.

S W W J C o m p e t i t i o n W i n n e r s 18 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

I walked a mile with Pleasure; She chattered all the way, But left me none the wiser For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow And ne’er a word said she; But oh, the things I learned from her When Sorrow walked with me

Thaw

Allotments

Lap Cat

I have a purring cat on my lap lovers have I few no letters of undying love no calls to rendezvous. Who said, ‘Life is a piece of cake?’ Who said, ‘Keep smiling through?’ But I have a purring cat on my lap

I think that may well do

Valerie Tigwell

am thinking of the poem which is longer than a haiku and written in sentences but shorter than a sonnet. ‘Thaw’ is the most perfect example of this I have ever read.

Richard Church

Don’t think for a moment that I disparage long poems. I admire and recommend, for examples, ‘Disabled’ by Wilfred Owen, ‘Ode to Autumn’ by Keats and Philip Larkin’s ‘Churchgoing’; and all verse forms and lengths have their place I’m just isolating here the succinct, pared-down capturings of short poems, one by our own Valerie Tigwell with her distinctive style of gentle wisdom delivered with wry humour

by Dorothy Pope

Along the Road

Lifting through the broken clouds there shot A searching beam of golden sunset-shine. It swept the town allotments, plot by plot, And all the digging clerks became divine –Stood up like heroes with their spades of brass, Turning the ore that made the realms of Spain! So shone they for a moment. Then, alas! The cloud rift closed; and they were clerks again.

In Praise of the Short Poem

Robert Browning Hamilton

Over the land freckled with snow half thawed The speculating rooks at their nests cawed And saw from elm tops, delicate as flower of grass, What we below could not see, Winter pass.

Edward Thomas

P o e t r y J O U R N A L Summer 2022 19

Her poetry is widely published in the US and the UK including The Poetry Review, The Rialto, World Literature Today, Finished Creatures, The Manhattan Review and won prizes in international competitions including the Bridport, Troubadour, Kent & Sussex, Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine, Moth Poetry Prize and the National Poetry Competition. Her first novel Wyoming Trail was published by Granta in 1998 Cheryl writes for adults and children and has published three collections of poetry including her most recent, Maternal Impression (Against the Grain Poetry Press 2021). With composer, Alastair Gavin, she

runs the All Saints Sessions (www.allsaintssession.uk) an innovative poetry and electronics performance series in North London She is an editor at Magma Poetry. www.cherylmoskowitz.com

e are very pleased to welcome Cheryl Moskowitz as our judge for the 2023 Elizabeth Longford Competition. Cheryl is a poet, editor, novelist and creative translator Cheryl studied Psychology at Sussex University, and began as an actor/playwright on stage, film and television, and performance poet with the radical 1980s poetry collective Angels of Fire. In 1996 she co founded Lapidus, the international organisation for Writing and Well Being, and developed and taught on the Creative Writing and Personal Development MA at Sussex from 1996 2010. She has received fellowships from Ragdale, Vermont Studio Centre and Bethany Arts Centre in New York.

Cher yl Moskowitz

S W W J C o m p e t i t i o n 20 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L E L I Z A B E T H L O N G F O R D R O S E B O W L P O E T R Y C O M P E T I T I O N MEET THE JUDGE CHERYL MOSKOWITZ

Although it has previously been our custom not to set a theme in alternate years, both Cheryl and I feel that a theme acts as a focus for the mind, and is more likely to encourage poets to produce new work especially for the competition, rather than submit a poem already written ‘Growth’ is Cheryl’s own suggestion for

this year’s theme and it is one that I am sure she will enjoy judging. Poets are encouraged to interpret the theme in any way they choose.

S W W J C o m p e t i t i o n J O U R N A L Summer 2022 21

Entry numbers are falling across all our competitions Please do support your society and enter as many as you can. With cash prizes and prestigious trophies on offer, it would be such a shame if they have to be discontinued due to a lack of support.

Viv Brown Competitions Co-ordinator

T h e r e i s s t i l l t i m e t o e n t e r t h e J o h n W a l t e r S a l v e r T r o p h y C o m p e t i t i o n 2 0 2 2 . P l e a s e t u r n t o p a g e 3 6 f o r f u l l d e t a i l s .

‘Nottingham. It’s for entrepreneurs ' ‘Ha!’ the DC scoffed ‘It’s for entrepreneurs just setting up,’ Lindy went on ‘Tony is going to support my new baking business. We’re going to be partners; he’s learning the bookkeeping and marketing stuff and I’m the manufacturing department.’ She turned a dazzling smile on DS Fredericks. ‘If you want cakes for any occasion, I’m your woman ’ She fluttered spidery eyelashes ‘Save the little wife slaving over a hot stove.’

Congratulations

Piece of Cake

Tony’s handiwo he said ‘Where i course h be?’

Lindy turned her full gaze on him, forcing him to raise his eyes from her cleavage. ‘My husband hasn’t been in trouble for years. You’re just trying to put him in the frame for a crime you can’t solve.’

‘The diamond robbery has all the signs of

he opened the oven door The tantalizing aroma of baking filled the kitchen and Detective Constable Carlton sniffed approvingly. His sergeant frowned.

‘And what kind of course would that be, Mrs Palmer? Burglary for Beginners?’ The DC smirked and grinned at his boss.

Fredericks didn’t react. He said, ‘Long way to go from London, isn’t it?’ ‘His brother heard about it. Said Tony

S W W J C o m p e t i t i o n w i n n e r 22 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

A N N O U N C I N G O U R

by Beryl P Brown

ur latest ‘Winner Takes All’ competition asked for a short piece (maximum 500 words) in any genre, that started with the line: He/she opened the oven door The winner of the £45 prize pot is Beryl P Brown whose story appears below Our judge Caroline James chose entries by Kay Seeley and Jill Rutherford as joint runners up.

‘Another couple of minutes,’ Lindy Palmer said, snapping shut the cooker door and setting a timer. ‘As I said, Detective Sergeant Fredericks, I haven’t seen my husband since last week when he went away on a course ’

DC Carlton opened his mouth to respond, but his boss got in first.

‘Winner Takes All’ WINNER

W I N N I N G E N T R

‘And she doesn’t know much about baking you put cream cheese frosting, not icing, on a carrot cake. And little marzipan carrots.’

‘She told us where they are. The diamonds. She was taking the mickey.’

‘Err… carrot,’ Lindy said, placing the tin on a silicone mat.

‘Sarge?’

‘What? Where?’

S W W J C o m p e t i t i o n J O U R N A L Summer 2022 23

Lindy’s smile vanished. ‘Tony’s brother has been in trouble in the past, but now he’s going straight, too.’

‘My mum used to make carrot cake,’ Carlton said. ‘You put white stuff on top, don’t you?’

could stay with his family. We don’t see them much.’

©Beryl P Brown

Fredericks gave a great guffaw. ‘Of course!’

‘The report’s come in from the search team, Sarge. They found no trace of the diamonds at the house.’

‘Damn! Lindy knows where they are. It’s all a front, this business lark, but Nottingham’s come up with nothing. There was a course running and both Palmer brothers were on it ’

‘Not outside of Strangeways, anyway.’

‘The whiter than white Palmer brothers? About as likely as a straight pair of corkscrews,’ Carlton said An alarm sounded. ‘I’ve got to get my cake out of the oven,’ Lindy said ‘Search the house if you want, you won’t find anything.’

‘The winning entry details the police investigation of a robbery and creates exciting characters through detailed, sharp dialogue that flows well The scene was set for a surprising ending. The author’s skill in handling point of view held my attention, and there was an excellent pace to what was a clever and amusing story Well done, and congratulations!’

‘That’s right. Icing. When it’s cooled.’

‘In the carat cake!’

An emailed copy of the judge’s report is available to any member who wishes to read it in full. Please contact vivienhampshire@btinternet.com

T H E J U D G E S A I D :

‘What sort is it?’ asked the DC while the DS was telephoning for a search team.

Lindy lowered the drop down door and, using a pair of flowery oven gloves, extracted a beautifully risen golden brown cake.

Congratulations

She ticks this box too no one else in history has come close! OK, I’ve googled it and actually there are a few. Louis IV clocked up an impressive seventy two years – but are we going to allow ourselves to be beaten by the French? over us

A N N O U N C I N G O U R Jubilee Competition Winner

S W W J J u b i l e e C o m p e t i t i o n w i n n e r 24 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

by Jenny Worstall

The melody ascends, catching in the

carlet uniformed trumpeters play the introductory fanfare, sending shiny arcs of joy cascading through the air, bouncing off pillars and black and white paving; so, too, the Queen has been spreading her magic across the globe for over seventy years‘ God save our gracious Queen Gracious, indeed – for she is the ultimate diplomat How many times must she have had her own particular thoughts when meeting dignitaries and members of the public, observations she would never be indiscreet enough to share? All those royal visits, garden parties, formal dinners, overseas tours...seriously impressive.

To be noble, you should look good on a coin and Elizabeth II certainly does in her five versions, from her early youthful

Reﬂections on a performance of ‘God Save The Queen’ in St Paul’s Cathedral, April 2022

e are very pleased to announce that the winner of our special competition to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne is Jenny Worstall, who takes home the £70 cash prize This members only competition was widely advertised in our email bulletins and on social media, and asked for non fiction pieces of up to 500 words that reflected any aspect of the Queen’s life and reign. This is Jenny’s winning entry.

Long to reign...

W I N N I N G E N T R Y

Long live our noble Queen...

portrait, hair adorned with a leafy crown, right through to the present mature represent ation of a woman who has served her country diligently and well.

They say every picture tells a story, so follow us on swwj official and find out what the Society and its members are up to!

Follow the SWWJ on FACEBOOK

Voices crack on the last line and eyes grow moist.

A few words from our judge, Lady Sandra Howard: ‘To choose a winner from such a quality collection of entries was no easy task. The title of the winning entry gave nothing away, but its author managed, in under 500 words, to convey so much about our wonderful Queen, her unique qualities, her stalwartness, wit and constancy, with delightfully whimsical warmth I felt this entry stood out and was a much deserved winner of the competition.’

S W W J J u b i l e e C o m p e t i t i o n w i n n e r J O U R N A L Summer 2022 25

Members are invited to ‘socialise’ on the Society FACEBOOK page Check out swwj.facebook and ask everyone to ‘like’ the page.

How splendidly comforting the Queen was when she appeared on our television screens at the height of the pandemic; unruffled, wise and determined, she mentioned the British qualities of ‘quiet, good humoured resolve’ and ‘fellow feeling’. She promised we would meet again and here we are!

God save The Queen! ©Jenny Worstall

A full copy of Sandra’s report is available to any member who would like to read it. Please email vivienhampshire@btinternet.com for your electronic copy.

throat we want her to go on and on being in charge. No disrespect to the next incumbent, but we know where we are with the Queen She’s been a safe pair of hands through the generations and a link back to our darkest hour and to Churchill. The second verse is omitted, as usual, the verse Prince Charles has described as ‘politically incorrect’. A vision of the Queen and Prince Philip enjoying politically incorrect jokes pops up.

While we’re talking sense of humour, let’s remember who sky dived into the Olympic Stadium wearing full evening dress, with James Bond at her side – and who declined the ‘Oldie of the Year’ award last year, saying ‘you are only as old as you feel’.

The composer of the tune is anonymous –surely the Queen would approve? Not for her the cult of the self, but a lifelong devotion to service. We’re belting towards the end of the last verse now, swelling with pride and trying to outdo the mighty organ.

The music is in the everyday key of G major, perfect to praise a monarch blessed with a practical nature who favours sensible shoes, walking the corgis, rambling in the Highlands – and who sports a breeze resistant hairstyle able to cope with the windiest of walkabouts

Follow the SWWJ on INSTAGRAM

s a tool for promoting your work, meeting your readers and keeping up to date with what’s happening in the writing world, it is hard to beat social media. A post on Facebook or Twitter, that takes only seconds to create, can reach hundreds, or even thousands, of other users almost instantly Including an Amazon link makes it easy for anyone to get straight to your book, and buy a copy, with one simple click. Instagram works in a similar way, but is more useful for photos and images, eg for showing off your new book cover Yet still so many SWWJ members seem reluctant to take the plunge

F e a t u r e 26 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

Social Media for Beginners

on Facebook will bring you into contact with others who write or read in your own genre too, from sagas to sci fi to women’s magazine fiction and more. Many of them are closed or private groups, so only approved members can access them and read the conversations

As for personal privacy: on Facebook, you decide who can see what you post. There need be no fear of strangers viewing your family photos or finding out where you live. All you have to do is select the privacy settings that suit you If you want only your own family and friends to have access, that’s what you choose! Or take a step further and allow friends of friends in. Going for a public setting works well if you are happy for anyone to see your posts, and if you are trying to publicise and sell your books, then going public makes perfect sense This is why many writers keep two separate online presences opening a Facebook ‘author page’ to promote their writing business and keeping a separate ‘profile’ for the personal stuff only close family and friends can see And nobody can become your ‘friend’ without requesting your approval If you are suspicious or don’t want to accept them, just decline the request. If you do find that you are getting comments or posts that you are not happy about, then simply ‘unfriend’ the person or use the little dots at the top right of their post to

P e r s o n a l p r i v a c y

For many, I am sure, it is the fear of the unknown. Rumours about invasion of privacy, trolling and offensive content put many off. For others, it is the worry of having to check in frequently and that somehow social media will take over their lives and take up too much of their time

Just visit once a day if that’s all you want to do A few minutes will allow you to check on what friends and other authors are up to, to have a quick chat, or post your own news, events, etc. Add new friends and follow new people as often as you can, making sure to follow back if any new acquaintance or reader shows an interest and follows you. The wider a group of friends or followers you have, the more will see your posts and hopefully share, like or retweet them so they reach even more people. Joining relevant groups

Come on, members. Join us on social media!

And, if you want to be certain that we see your writing related posts and share them with our 1100+ followers, just tag us @swwj. You can also use our new Twitter hashtag #swwjandproud when you introduce yourself for the first time and whenever you are posting something that makes you especially proud or thankful to be a SWWJ member! If you are new and building up your followers/following lists, then searching for that hashtag will take you straight to some of the members that you might like to follow and engage with. All you need is a computer, smartphone or tablet with an internet connection, and an email address, to get started. If you have any questions or concerns, or need help with joining or using Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email at vivienhampshire@btinternet.com

hide or block them, or to report them! Facebook are very quick to act if they are told about offensive material or language. Twitter works a little differently, in that anyone can search for your name and see your posts, unless you choose to hide them, which would be pointless if you are hoping to promote yourself. Posts (or ‘tweets’) are shorter and usually far less chatty or family based, so Twitter is the ideal place to post brief news snippets, follow the famous, or engage in conversational ‘threads ’ Your posts will only generally appear in the newsfeeds of those already following you, so you do need to build up a following if you want to be seen. Again, use the little dots function to unfollow, mute, block or report anyone who crosses the line! Both platforms have direct messaging functions too, if you want to talk to someone privately without your words being up for public consumption.

When it comes to promoting yourself, do make sure that you use a photo and a cover image on your social media ‘home’ pages that make it clear you are a writer Your latest book cover or a ‘writerly’ author photo makes a great profile picture as it will show up every time you engage with anyone. Call yourself a writer and mention your book titles or awards in your ‘About me’ information, and use a couple of suitable hashtags when you post on Twitter or Instagram so casual browsers can find you when searching for a subject of interest to them. And lastly, please don’t forget to take a

look at the SWWJ pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Make sure you follow us and read/like/share all the interesting posts that we and our members contribute to every day You will find out so much about what other writers, organisations and members are doing, right across the world, including the latest from our president, Baroness Floella Benjamin, who is a regular tweeter. With thanks to Mary Rensten, Caroline James, Liz Coward, Jenny Worstall and so many other members who we see using social media and helping to promote themselves and the SWWJ so effectively and so frequently!

M a k e i t c l e a r y o u a r e a w r i t e r

Viv Brown, SWWJ Social Media Co-ord.

F e a t u r e J O U R N A L Summer 2022 27

D o n ’ t f o r g e t t o t a g u s

What first made you want to write? Who were your influences? And what did you do before becoming an author?

I have been inventing stories since I could talk. My imagination has always been in another place I began writing stories at school when my English teacher said we would get better marks for our exams if we wrote essays in the back of our exercise books, so I was off like a rocket. I’ve been writing ever since! Dickens has always been a favourite; his secondary characters are as interesting as his main characters, I think. I also love the way he is so

Hello, Sheila. Can you tell me how you came to be a SWWJ member?

Above: Novelist Sheila Riley, relaxing and having some hairdressing fun with her two young granddaughter s .

by Vivien Brown

F i c t i o n f o c u s 28 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

An article about the SWWJ attracted my attention many years ago, and I thought how fabulous it would be to belong to such a distinguished society, the embodiment of professional women writers However, I was a new writer back then and did not have the courage nor experience, thinking I would not be good enough to be accepted. So, after I had a few books under my belt, and had grown more confident, I decided to send in my application form, and was absolutely thrilled to be accepted I do ‘know’ a number of SWWJ authors already from the RNA, so I feel very much at home here.

In conversation with... SHEILA RILEY

s I continue my series of interviews with SWWJ novelists, I am very pleased to introduce saga writer and Romantic Novelists’ Association member, Sheila Riley, who only joined the SWWJ a few months ago, but is already feeling very much at home!

The latest novel, published in April 2022, is The Mersey Mothers, set during the preparation for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation The mothers of Reckoner’s Row are also looking forward to the

Where do you live, and where do you write?

You have written novels under two different author names. How did that come about?

I was born in Southport, and still live on Merseyside. I can write anywhere. My study is a cosy haven at the front of the house, although I sometimes have to write somewhere other than my study, because I get side tracked by the lovely view from the window. There are many birds in the small woods across the road, singing their hearts out, plus squirrels, foxes and even portly ducks leading their ducklings down to the stretch of water at the bottom of the Hey They fill many an enjoyable hour But that’s the rub; they are so blissfully distracting when I should be writing my next novel.

What drew you to writing historical novels, and which period interests you the most?

History has always fascinated me the story of the ordinary people who lived then. I love the early 20th century and the ‘aftermath of war’ years, and the change in people that each war brought about I was born twelve years after the 2nd World War ended, yet people still talked of rationing and being evacuated, so it was really easy to imagine what it must have been like. My bookshelves are heaving with research books, and nothing delights me more than to find a new book I have not yet read I am a voracious reader and like nothing better than delving into research about my

chosen subject. I write historical fiction/sagas set in and around the Liverpool dockside, telling stories of a close-knit community in the first half of the 20th century There is laughter and tears, love and deception, and a mystery or a dark heart lurking behind closed doors.

relatable, even today. I was a hairdresser for over thirty years and heard a great many stories, although none of mine have included people I know

When the original author sadly passed away, I received a call from Annie Groves’ agent who asked if I could finish Annie’s Article Row series and, as I was a huge fan, I did not find it difficult to climb into the heads of the characters and complete the series. I wrote four books as Annie, and her fans liked what I had written; the stories got good reviews and even became bestsellers. My Harper Collins editor then asked if I had anything else, and she loved a novel I had written for the RNA’s New Writers Scheme enough to suggest a series of WW2 sagas. I then went on to write The Reckoner’s Row series and the Dockside sagas under my own name for Boldwood Books. I have written a total of ten novels to date, with the next one coming out in November

What can you tell me about your latest novel?

F i c t i o n f o c u s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 29 Continued on page 26

1. Persevere.

3 If you think you can write, go for it and go back to hint one.

Don’t 2022 2022.

F i c t i o n f o c u s 30 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

concern A killer is on the loose and Evie may be in mortal danger

And now the fun questions...

ng of Evie en to Danny s, but Evie is so sure the ding will take ce due to nny’s haulage siness oundering when new firm pens. However, the main

Thank you, Sheila, and good luck with the new book!

forget! The copydate for the Autumn

Continued from page 25

Your favourite snacks when writing are: shelled walnuts and mint humbugs although not at the same time!

Your favourite time of year is: the spring and summer, when I disappear into my happy place, the greenhouse, and listen to an audio book while I prepare my plants for summer. I love to see the garden burst into life, and I write in the garden when the sun is shining.

stronger, who kept the family firm going when the men were away fighting for their country in The Great War. Brilliant complex characters I also love the new quiz programme The 1% Club Lateral thinking was a joy for me when I was at college, and I found it surprisingly easy, and this show works on the same format, albeit with a ticking clock. Our Yorkshire Farm is another favourite, I love fly-on-the-wall documentaries oh, and not forgetting my all time favourite programme, Gardeners World!

2 Don’t expect to get rich quick

Viv Brown

Your favourite TV shows are: I loved Peaky Blinders and watched every episode right from the beginning. Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is a complex man with a burning ambition and a backbone of steel – what’s not to love? Although, I could not handle that much danger/excitement, I do like a ‘what if’ moment Then there’s Aunt Polly (the fabulous Helen McCrory), the straight talking matriarch, emotionally

And finally, can you give three short helpful hints for aspiring writers please?

issue of the SWWJ JOURNAL is 10 October

presented

• 300 + viewers of the YouTube video C&T

• 4

by Dee La Vardera

author’s responsibility to fact check. We’ve done the research, collected the information, know our sources, and the names of people relating to the subject. The reality is, that when eagle eyed readers get hold of the book, someone will spot an error (or two) – a date that’s not right or the spelling of someone’s grandfather’s name It’s inevitable But it’s not the end of the world.

• 6

It’s been a busy few weeks promoting C&T Harris (Calne) an Illustrated History, Amberley Publishing; doing an interview for local radio, holding the book launch at Calne Heritage Centre, and then catching Covid, and having to cancel a calendar full of appointments and social events.

•

writing Dee

Vardera https://dewfall hawk.com/

On the plus side, I’m very pleased with the book with its colourful cover, the design and layout of the 155 images, well integrated into the text. I haven’t found any errors so far having proof read it to death. With non-fiction, it’s very much the

News from Moonraker Country

The Japanese Way

A r o u n d t h e r e g i o n s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 31

display • One

Book Launch – at

I hope I’ve developed the Japanese practice of self reflection known as Hansei 反省 over the years the principle of acknowledging one’s own mistake and pledging improvement. Hansei implies that nobody and nothing is perfect and it’s considered a valuable tool for personal growth. I’m not going to beat myself up about any imperfections. Whether or not I caught Covid at my book launch, it was worth holding it: 73 copies sold interviews with former Harris workers videoed recently discovered David Foster paintings of Harris workers in the 1970s, on lovely bunch of flowers to the author Harris (Calne) time of La

AGENDA

1. Welcome to Members

5. Chair’s Report

Pamela Payne Janice Grande Rebecca Harding

10. Confirmation of new Vice Presidents

Chairman Barbara Field Holmes Vice Chairman

Agreeing to stand for election for a period of one year Pamela Birley Doreen Friend

Sylvia Kent Liz Coward

11. Any Other Business

7 Appointment of Auditors

2. Apologies for Absence

Laura Burkin Anne Murray

S W W J A G M a g e n d a 32 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

Pamela Payne Doreen Friend

4. Matters arising

Vivien Brown Honorary Treasurer Benita Cullingford

If you wish to attend the AGM please email swwj@bigginwords.co.uk for a link to join the meeting.

3. Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 14th January 2021 (by Zoom)

NB: Attendance at AGM is free to all members Only Full and Associate members may vote

Election of Council Officers 2022/23

By order of the Council

8 Council Officers stepping down:

9 Election of Council Members 2022/23

Time: 12.30pm

6 Treasurer’s Report

VACANT Honorary Secretary

22nd September 2022 by Zoom

Officers offering themselves for election

SWWJ Annual General Meeting

This year, we have witnessed the tragedy of war, as the people of Ukraine have been fighting literally for their lives against an evil dictator [as I write this, this conflict is still in full flow]

The media reported information here and from across the world, probing into every detail and highlighting what we needed to know and, often, information that certainly wasn’t pretty at all to watch.

Watching journalists in Ukraine, bringing us tragic accounts of the brutal conflict has been, at times, frightening and emotive as they have brought us stories from the hearts of the Ukrainian people.

hen you visit the SWWJ website, the following words greet you: Stories matter.

J o u r n a l i s m J O U R N A L Summer 2022 33 Continued on page 35

In the past, a lot of this would have gone unnoticed we would have seen and

Introducing our new column for Journalists

Playing a main part in ensuring we know what is going on, is the media. Journalists in print, online and broadcasting relay information from around the world, often in dangerous circumstances, so we are informed as much as possible.

by Laura Burkin

The thirst for information at the touch of a button and within a very short space of time the culture in which we live. We can access news on the go, choose more than ever before what we want to read and hear, yet we are also waiting and listening to what information is being given to us and that is mainly from the world’s media

The media are often maligned for showing and telling us things we shouldn’t hear or see The cry of “Is it in the public interest?” is often heard Yes, at times, it is true and the media has to ask questions of itself. There are also the occasions when the media crosses the line. Yet, in order for us to support those in need and to start an action that brings

resolution, we need media more than e before.

When you saw the widowed mother confused and desperate after losing her only son and her home where she has lived all her life, because Russian bombs hit her community. We watched and listened as a father, completely broken, gets ready to bury his wife and new-born baby, who died because bombs hit the maternity hospital where only days before, he was celebrating the joy of a new life into his family

Never more so than in current times does this resonate in the world of journalism. We’ve had the past two years of Covid 19, an unprecedented pandemic not seen before in any of our lifetimes, where information was gleaned by us all in what we read, saw and listened to.

recently came across a new book I found interesting, fun to read and extremely useful How words get good is by Rebecca Lee, who is on the editorial staff at Penguin. It is full of fascinating facts. For instance, I had long forgotten that in the early days of books, they were produced to read with alternate lines going in different directions: the first line was read left to right, the second right to left and so on Seriously weird It is quite the best book I have ever read about publishing and I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to sell their work as understanding how those you sell to operate is, in my view, invaluable.

First there are deadlines for initial contacts. Do not neglect even ‘little’ ones: just to ring someone back or send

This column, like so much else in life, has a deadline. Nearly missing a deadline recently made me think Publishers are busy people Their job is a giant juggling trick with many projects on the go at any one time and all at different stages. Unless you are a guaranteed best seller they will, in part at least, choose you, and in particular come back to you, if you are easy to deal with. One way of impressing them is to deliver; deliver with a capital D And one way of doing that is to hit deadlines: all deadlines, spot on (or earlier). Every. Single. Time.

Understanding and impressing editors

Patrick Forsyth makes two recommendations

M a r k e t i n g 34 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

‘should plunge you into the world of the book, not sound like a publisher telling you why you should read it’. Often this is something that must be done in not much more than fifty words. I urge you to get a copy.

~~~~~~~~ “

~~~~~~~~

The attitudes and processes involved described here range wide: from copyediting, grammar, punctuation and spelling through to such things as footnotes, cover design and blurbs. The book is full of points to take note of: for instance, she quotes blurbs as being something that ... blurbs should plunge you into the world of the book, not sound like a publisher telling you why you should read it.”

This is easy enough, or rather with a little organisation it should be easy enough. With the motivation of knowing that it will act to impress your editor it will be easier still. Opportunities occur throughout the publishing process For books it has a certain complexity Even something like a magazine article involves similar principles.

That said let me remind you of one factor that ranks high with editors.

“To miss deadlines is to allow the best relationship you can have with editors to be diluted or go by default.”

The media have strived to bring us the stories from the people that are actually suffering and who it is directly affecting and there’s no story more powerful than that.

M a r k e t i n g / F e a t u r e J O U R N A L Summer 2022 35

Continued from page 33

The effect on human beings by actions of other human beings, albeit from those most of us thankfully don’t identify with, is horrific but we need to see and hear this.

Two points are worth noting here. One: by all means negotiate deadlines; certainly build in some contingency and never ever – agree to hit a deadline that you know will cause you problems But once a specific date is agreed you must stick to it Two: do not let the fact that editors are themselves sometimes seriously disorganised put you off. If they are late, fail to return your calls or whatever, so be it. It is because they find it difficult that someone who reliably does precisely what they promise tends to impress To miss deadlines is to allow the best relationship you can have with editors to be diluted or go by default. Always hitting them reliably can boost your profile in a significant way. Attention to this is well worthwhile. Now, when is this column next due?

something as promised or agreed. Soon all too soon there is the big one: delivering your manuscript. Then there will be further deadlines linked to revisions, proofs, more proofs, and a possible host of details from approving the copy for a book jacket to that for a launch flyer. All matter. Hit them all.

The fate of well-respected Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqla in May this year, shot as she covered news in the city of Jenin. In 2019, Irish journalist Lyra McKee was fatally wounded as she was caught in the crossfire of rioting in Londonderry.

Contact: you can email Patrick on patrick@touchstone28.com

Journalists

Journalists will continue to risk lives and place themselves in danger; they will do so because stories matter.

~~~~~~~~

heard only what some governments wanted us to see. In this country, we still have freedom of speech but in some parts of the world, it still doesn’t exist

In addition to the war in Ukraine where media are risking their lives, there is also the stark reality of what can happen anywhere in the world when journalists dare to tread close to the action

We can go back even further to the journalist John McCarthy for example, who was kidnapped in the Lebanon in 1986 and kept captive as a hostage for five years until he was released in 1991.

~~~~~~~~

photographer

‘LANDMARK’

Entry fee: £5 per entry

S W W J C o m p e t i t i o n 36 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L SWWJ

Judge: Simon Whaley journalist and

This year ’s members only competition is for an unpublished work of NON-FICTION Write a travel article, essay or personal memoir about a landmark or tourist attraction, either in the UK or overseas Maximum length: 1500 words

First prize £100 and winner’s name engraved on the silver trophy; Second prize £50; Third prize £25

JOHN WALTER SALVER TROPHY COMPETITION 2022

Closing date: 29 October 2022 Trophy to be presented to the winner in London in 2023

Send your entries by post to: Vivien Brown, 16 Abingdon Close, Uxbridge, UB10 0BU. Cheques payable to V.R.Brown. No email entries or electronic payments on this occasion.

Please make sure that you check our standard competition RULES before you submit your entry You may, if you wish, include a website link to useful practical visitor information (how to get there, ticket prices etc) within your entry, but please do not send photographs or illustrations. This competition will be judged on text alone. No fiction or poetry please. Overseas entrants please note: Fees and prizes to be paid in sterling, with any banking fees or deductions to be met by the entrant

Author,

LOVE AT WAR

In March 1940 Laura boards a ship and travels through the torpedoed waters of the Mediterranean to chase after Harry whom she has fallen in love with. He was out in Uganda, but has joined up to fight with the King’s African Rifles Will she succeed in her quest?

by Sandra Howard

This compelling story follows the loves and losses of a young woman far from home while war is rife, and how she grows through the trials she faces. Strong willed and proudly independent, she has many dramatic life changing upheavals to face. Starting in Germany, the story moves on to Cairo, Palestine and East Africa

B o o k n e w s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 37 Continued on page 38

‘ The novel never loses pace thrilling,’ Daily Telegraph.

‘Intriguing and captivating... with plenty of pace and suspense,’ Daily Mirror.

I n t r o d u c t i o n b y S y l v i a K e n t

ur Society of Women Writers and Journalists’ Patron Lady Sandra Howard celebrates her latest novel Love at War, which was released on Thursday 28 July Her book is based on a true story, the loves, dramas and losses of a resourceful, exceptional girl ‘This book will keep you turning the pages,’ Celia Haddon.

Sandra Howard was one of the leading fashion models of the 60s and 70s, appearing on the cover of American Vogue for two months in succession. She moved into freelance journalism, writing for newspapers and magazines including the Daily Mail and Sunday Express. She had a regular column in the Sunday Telegraph’s Stella Magazine, writes on travel for the Mail on Sunday and has written six previous novels.

Praise for Sandra Howard’s previous books: ‘ Beautifully written, emotionally engaging,’ Daily Mail

by Beryl P Brown

ISBN: 978 1 9163375 3 4

Above: SWWJ member s Jenny Wor stall (left) and Vivien Brown (r ight) with SWWJ Patron Lady Sandra Howard at the recent publication day par ty of Sandra’s latest book, Love at War.

Publisher: Three Bees Publishing

Continued from page 37

Reviewed by Roberta Grieve

May’s Stony Road

M o r e w o n d e r f u l b o o k s w r i t t e n b y m e m b e r s , r e v i e w e d b y m e m b e r s . . .

Two years after the end of the Second World War life is just as hard for May and her adopted son Cliff as they struggle to keep her Dorset farm from going under as they face the harshest winter of the century Months of snow and frozen ground, coupled with ongoing rationing and shortages of fuel are not May’s only problems. Then a threat to the farm’s future which will affect the lives of her, Cliff and the residents of the farm and village seems overwhelming. But who can May confide in? There seems to be no one she can confide in and she keeps the problem secret.

B o o k n e w s / r e v i e w s 38 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

Struggling on alone, she does her best to keep things together, heartened by the support of Jesson, an American who has stayed on after the war, and other friends. I really enjoyed learning more about May and her extended ‘family’ and was rooting for them all the way. Although this is a se quel to ‘May’s Boys’, it can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading Beryl’s first novel. You will not be disappointed.

Her seventh novel, Love at War, is set mainly in Cairo and East Africa during WW2 Sandra says: ‘I came to write the novel after hearing from someone who had been at a talk that I’d given about one of my novels His name was Antony Hummel and he had a huge collection of his parents’ wartime letters. Would I be interested in telling their story? I was curious, grateful to have the letters (though haven’t used them directly) and Antony gave me full permission to fictionalise his parent’s wartime experiences He has since read the manuscript, which happily he and his wife liked very much. His grandparents were German, but had become naturalised British in 1911, out in Malaya where Antony’s grandfather had been doing forestry His maternal grandmother was quite a famous figure in the medical world Later in life she was befriended by Prince Charles who had taken an interest in her work.’

The Crispin Chronicles

My favourite characters have to be the musical toad so smelly he has to sing from a great distance away, alerted to when he is to start by the tug of a string tied to his leg, and a wooden robin whose socks keep falling down his skinny legs and whose colour-blindness means he is often seen wearing a green bib instead of a red one Sheer silliness throughout, and I can honestly say I have never read anything quite like it!

Publisher: Williams & Whiting

This is a difficult book to categorise, and quite a departure from the war stories and pocket novels I have read by this author before The bright yellow cover shows a huge cast of fantasy creatures from gnomes to trolls to fairies, so it is tempting to assume this is a book for children, yet the subtle adult references (sex, drugs and rock and roll!) throughout certainly lift it beyond innocent fairy tale status From scantily dressed fairies whose maypole dancing is more like pole dancing without the may, to an elf who can’t tell garden weeds from the type of weed that rock stars smoke, to someone giving off electric sparks that send orgasmic shivers through all who touch him, and a gnome who likes to cross dress in a very flamboyant way, these are most unusual characters indeed!

by Dawn Knox Publisher: Chapeltown Books

B o o k r e v i e w s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 39

Continued on page 40

When the Lady of the Manor’s allergies prevent her from venturing into her large garden, she makes up for it by frequently buying new stone ornaments which her gardener places throughout the garden. Do either of them realise that the gnomes et al come to life? There is a whole community out there, and Crispin the elf is at the centre of it, with many (not always

ISBN: 9781910542873

by Marilyn Pemberton

welcome) tasks to carry out, including chasing off criminals, battling a coffee machine with a life of its own, and becoming a reluctant wedding planner. The book is not a novel, starting off more as a series of separate incidents and disasters, although the ongoing story gains momentum once the wedding comes along, and what a wedding! A knitted carriage pulled by a unicorn, the rings stolen by an owl, a masked ball, the lighting of an eternal flame almost scuppered by an eco-warrior, and a lovely little romance for Crispin at the end

Reviewed by Vivien Brown

Reviewed by Margaret Mounsdon

ISBN: 9781912582747

This author is new to me and I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading A Teller of Tales but I have to admit from the first page I was hooked A quick glance at

A Teller of Tales

From the beginning I found I was rooting for Lizzie and her younger brother who goes by the nickname of Bobbit In modern times Bobbit would be described as a special needs child. The rest of the family reject him but Lizzie is his champion. It’s difficult to review this book without giving away spoilers but the best way I can describe Lizzie is a feminist before the term was invented

Publisher: One More Chapter

The story starts in 1822 and Lizzie is constantly frustrated by her second-class status as a female She takes refuge in writing stories and telling them to her younger brother. They are tales of fearless females prepared to take on challenges; females who are not content to endure the role that society has decreed young ladies must follow Lizzie and Bobbit enjoy a special bond, as she is the only one who cares for him. She senses he can understand her tales even though he cannot speak. When tragedy strikes Lizzie comes to a crossroads in her life. She is torn by which choice to take. Should she follow her heart or her head? The ending was as satisfying as the book. My only criticism was it left me wanting more. I felt there were several character developments waiting to be resolved and I look forward to reading book two of Grandmothers’ Footsteps.

Continued from page 39

the blurb informed it is to be the first in a trilogy and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

B o o k r e v i e w s 40 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L

by Caroline James

Reviewed by Vivien Brown

ISBN: 978 0008519698

I do like to see novels with older heroines, especially when they are portrayed as active, fun loving and complex characters just as capable of having adventures, romances and careers as their much younger counterparts When four women in their sixties head off together for a spa weekend, leaving stuffy and inattentive husbands, stroppy unappreciative sons, failing careers and their cares and inhibitions behind, little do they realise just how life-changing their break is going to be for them all It’s not long before they are enjoying wild swims, champers in the jacuzzi, suspiciously relaxing drinks with mystery ingredients, sexually liberating massages, elicit romances and, for one of them, an unexpected foray into naturism. And all in one weekend!

But when Bridgette falls over in a cow pat, Marjorie makes a spectacle of herself after a few too many drinks, some rather nasty fellow guests chuck hurtful insults about, and a bull tramples its way into the glamping field, things are not always plain sailing! And when the women’s husbands and sons, resentful of their absence, gate-crash Bridgette’s 70th birthday party in an attempt to drag them back home, all hell breaks loose Will Emily run off to Greece with her new

The Spa Break

by Maggi Wales

Reviewed by Sylvia Kent

Val’s protagonist, Morien, is a pretty young circus performer whose life revolves around horses An accident in the big top results in her father dying and the unhappy girl realises that the old maxim ‘the circus has no home’ is true in her sad situation. Now destitute, she has known only one way of life. Taking advantage of the young girl’s predicament, the malevolent ringmaster who owns the circus, urges her to become his mistress. She refuses and with help from her father’s circus friend, she

Left: Val Dunmore (aka Maggi Wales), is ver y exper ienced in equine matter s , and is seen here presenting a winner’s award at an equine event.

B o o k r e v i e w s J O U R N A L Summer 2022 41

Source UK ISBN: 9781803024257

found toyboy? Will Marjory swap her pigeon fancier old man for a different fancy of her own? Will Serena win a big enough following on Instagram to revive her lost TV career? And will Bridgette ever wear clothes again? A really enjoyable romp of a read, and a testament to the power of friendship, that I devoured in little more than a day.

It’s a joy to receive news of our members’ latest book publications So, the recent delivery of Vice-President Val Dunmore’s new novel arrived in the post and provided an intriguing read. Her book Misunderstandings (under her pseudonym Maggi Wales) is her first gem written just after she left London to live in her new home in north Wales

Publisher: Lightning

finds work at an upmarket classical riding school. But there's one condition: she promised never to mention her circus upbringing and her skill in horse training. Drago known as the 'Baron' son of the owner of Morien’s new riding school takes a dislike to the girl and resents her appearance at the establishment, considering her to be a fortune hunter Unfortunately, the Baron's girlfriend, Nina, becomes jealous as, through training for a competition, Morien and the Baron spend much time together. During the training, the Baron tries to take advantage of Morien, expecting her to be sexually available Nina does everything in her power to discredit Morien, who, because of her promise, has to take unfair responsibility for all the catastrophes that happen in the stables. Meanwhile Morien finds herself falling for the Baron. After one disastrous session she feels she can no longer remain at the riding school, especially since the Baron discovers her circus upbringing. Believing he has lost her, the Baron realises that he can't live without the girl and becomes distraught. I enjoyed this novel, and although I have no ability or knowledge of horses, I quickly realised that the author possesses amazing equine knowledge which shines through her first fictional novel

Misunderstandings

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C o m p e t i t i o n r u l e s 42 Summer 2022 J O U R N A L SWWJ COMPETITION RULES Please read these rules carefully Failure to comply could lead to your entry being invalidated 1 SWWJ competitions are open to Full, Associate, New Writer and Student members only Unless specifically stated, Friends of the Society, Honorary members and non members are not eligible to enter 2. Please ensure that any maximum word or line length set for the competition is strictly adhered to Shortlisted entrants may be asked to supply an electronic copy of their entry so word count can be verified before prizes are awarded 3. Your membership number (NOT your name) and the title of your work should appear on every page of your entry. Please number the pages. 4 Please type or print on one side of plain white A4 paper only No handwritten entries please 5. Please use double spacing for all prose entries. Poems may be spaced as the poet requires. 6 Every entry must have a detachable cover sheet showing the title, your name, membership number, address, and email address and/or phone number so we can contact you. 7. Entries must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. Payment method will be as advertised for each individual competition 8. Entries received after the closing date may be disregarded with no return of fee. 9 If you would like to receive a copy of the judge’s report, please also enclose a self addressed envelope of suitable size and bearing the correct postage 10. Entries MUST not be previously published or have been read or performed in any public domain up to the closing date. They should not be currently entered into any other competition. 11 Please do not send your entry by recorded/special delivery or registered post Enclose a stamped self addressed postcard if you wish us to acknowledge its safe receipt. 12 Keep a copy of your work as the Society cannot be held responsible for the loss of your entry, in the post or otherwise Manuscripts will not be returned after judging 13 Cash prizes for winners and runners up vary per competition and will be as advertised. 14. In the event of a large number of entries, or if the judge requests it, the Society reserves the right to appoint a shortlisting panel. 15. Please keep the prize giving date free in your diary and book a ticket to attend if at all possible If you are a winner, we would like to congratulate you and present your prize to you in person!

A copy of the Journal containing the review

In 2022 the JOURNAL will be published three times: April (SPRING Issue 102); July/August (SUMMER, Issue 103) and October/November (AUTUMN, issue 104)

10 October: Copy date for the Autumn issue of the Journal.

J O U R N A L Summer 2022 43

When sending in your review, please make sure you write the title of the book and the author’s name, the Publishers’ name and the book’s ISBN number and your name (i.e. Reviewed by ...) as part of the copy.

Regional meetings are suspended during the Coronavirus pandemic. Council meetings are currently being held online via Zoom. Council members will be notified prior to each meeting.

A word about book reviews:

DATES FOR YOUR D IARY 2022/23

5 December: Christmas Lunch at the National Liberal Club. Details to follow.

will be sent to the publisher, unless the book is self published or the publisher doesn’t give a postal address on their website

If you want your book reviewed in the Journal, please ask your publisher to send a hard/paperback copy only to: Pamela Birley, Flat D, 49 Christchurch Street, London SW3 4AS. Tel: 020 7351 6377 Email: bra33@btinternet.com

Please also send an image of the front cover of your book to Barbara Field-Holmes or ask your publisher to send the cover photo to: swwj@bigginwords.co.uk

The SWWJ News Bulletin is published every four weeks Copy that misses the JOURNAL copy dates will be held over for the next issue, or be published in the Bulletin. Copy for the Bulletin should also be sent to swwj@bigginwords.co.uk

14 January: Closing date for the Elizabeth Longford Rose Bowl Poetry Competition 2023 See pages 20&21

To receive the Bulletin, please make sure we have your current email address.

Copy date for the Autumn 2022 issue is Monday 10 October 2022. Send your copy to the Editor at swwj@bigginwords co uk

D i a r y

22 September: Annual General Meeting, by Zoom, starts 12.30pm. See page 32 for link and agenda.

PDFs or entries sent by computer will not be accepted. The hard copy of the book is the only payment for their services that the reviewer receives, so please do not ask for the book to be returned

Reviewers

29 October: Closing date for John Walter Salver Competition 2022

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SWWJ Journal Summer Issue 103

Articles inside

Competition rules

Fiction focus

Journalism

Marketing

Social Media for Beginners

Book Reviews

Book news

SWWJ Jubilee Competition winner

From the archives

Members’ news

Travels with my press card

From the Editor

Society news

Poetry

SWWJ Competition winner