Hampshire Writers’ Society Published Members’

Book Fair

14th June 2016 from 6pm

The Stripe Building, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester

Hampshire Writers’ Society Authors

About the Authors

Marion Dante

Dropping the Habit

Published by Poolbeg Press. April 2007. ISBN: 978-1842235232

Marion Dante left home aged fourteen to spend thirty-three years in a convent.

Was she her Mother’s sin-offering?

When she returned to Civvie Street she said that she felt like an egg without a shell.

While recovering from cancer she discovered writing was therapeutic.

Fund-raising for The Fountain Centre in St Luke’s Cancer Centre, the Royal Surrey Hospital, provided her with a mission. Her effort has been recognised with an invitation to attend Buckingham Palace Garden Party 19/05/16.

Two of Marion’s novels are soon to be released:

Searching for Love;    Love….as Strong as the Tuscan Hills

Marion Dante dantemarion5@gmail.com             www.mariondante.com/contact

Claire Fuller

Our Endless Numbered Days

Winner of the 2015 Desmond Elliott Prize

Claire Fuller’s debut novel, Our Endless Numbered Days is the story of Peggy Hillcoat, who is taken by her father to a European forest where he tells her that the rest of the world has disappeared. Peggy isn’t seen again for nine years.

The book won the 2015 Desmond Elliott Prize, was a Richard & Judy, and Waterstones book club book, and has been translated into ten languages. Claire lives in Winchester with her husband, and has two adult children.

www.clairefuller.co.uk

Dai Henley

Blazing Obsession

Blazing Obsession shows how powerful revenge and obsession are, and how they can result in fatal consequences. The novel, which combines police procedural, legal drama and amateur sleuth genres, will appeal primarily to crime fans.

The Company of Goblins

Celia has always been interested in writing and drawing. As a child, the stories and poems she wrote were brought to life by her sketches and illustrations.

The Company of Goblins, Celia’s first book, is for children aged 7 – 12 years and is fun for boys and girls alike, and of course contains sketches. Over the last four years Celia has given talks on Norse Mythology in schools, libraries and at festivals.

‘Identified by the Ljosalfar as the child prophesied in the Scrolls of Alfheimer, Izzy Green grows up unaware of her powers until she is nearly twelve. During a surprise visit to her father’s boss, she senses that something is very wrong. With her cat, Orlando, she is catapulted into a series of terrifying adventures when the Ljosalfar, the highest order of elves, enlist her help to find their diminishing source of power.

Masked behind digital communications and technology where no one need ever see them, the king of the goblins plots to take control of both human and magical domains. The first step is to secretly steal the teeth left out for the Tooth Fairy; the source of the Ljosalfar’s power.’

www.thecompanyofgoblins.com

Maggie Farran, Sally Howard,

Karen Stephen, Catherine Griffin

  Maggie Farran, Sally Howard, Karen Stephen, Catherine Griffin

Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford

‘Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford’ features short stories that are contemporary,historical and futuristic. The writers live and work locally. Each of the writers has their own individual style. However they wanted a theme to unify the collection. As they all love Chandler’s Ford it became apparent that there could be no better backdrop to their stories.

Anthony Ridgway

In the photo at a progress meeting are Grethe (Ant’s mum), Ant, and Suzan Houching, who is illustrating the book.

Wizzy the Animal Whisperer

written by Anthony Ridgway and illustrated by Suzan Houching

Published by Little Knoll Press

Ant Ridgway’s new book, Wizzy the Animal Whisperer, is an adventure story about Wizzy the wheelchair, Dan, and friends, James and Sophie.

The book will be launched on 29th October at The Point, Eastleigh

My name is Anthony Ridgway. I have cerebral palsy. I first had the idea for Wizzy because children often stop me when I am out and about in the local park in my electric wheelchair. They ask their parents. ‘What is the matter with that man?’  Some people get embarrased and walk away; sometimes I have to explain, ‘My legs don’t work.’

The name Wizzy came about from a friend, Leo, who used to call my chair, ‘Wizzy Wheelchair.’

Wizzy is a talking wheelchair with attitude! Dan and Wizzy are like two friends.Dan’s father designed the chair so Dan is able to be independent, using Wizzy’s amazing abilities. They have some terrific adventures together. I hope you will enjoy reading about them.

My mum and dad, Grethe and Mike, have helped me hugely over the years.My dad used to write things down for me. Sadly he has now died.

I write now using a computer programme developed by Dolphin Computer Access. I type using a large keyboard and the computer speaks out each letter. In this way, I build the sentences. My mum helps me edit, which is especially useful when the programme uses automatic spell check with sometimes amusing results.

I would also like to thank my creative writing teacher, Barbara Large MBE, for her support and encouragement since we first met in 2008, and for helping me to polish up my writing.

www.littleknollpress.co.uk

Marion Bond

Its Own Place

Marion Bond was born in Dumbarton, in 1955 and subsequently attended The University of Glasgow, where she studied English Language and Literature.

The next three and a half decades were spent in teaching English at independent and comprehensive schools and Sixth Form colleges, in Glasgow, Yorkshire and Hampshire.

Successful in international poetry competitions, including the University of Southampton International Writers Conference and the Wells Festival of Literature and a reviewer for poetry magazines, such as South, she has performed her work alongside Ruth Padel, Don Paterson, Chris Logue, Jo Shapcott and Wendy Cope at venues as diverse as The Edinburgh Fringe, The Gantry, The New Forest Arts Centre and Winchester Cathedral.

For the last twenty years or so, Marion has been writing and publishing poetry in small presses.

She favours blank verse, but enjoys experimenting with forms such as the villanelle and the sestina. Her first collection, Its Own Place, will be available from May 2016 (Sarsen Press) and reflects themes of faith and spirituality. Marion has also published short stories.

She has a wide international following online, under her pseudonym Candia Dixon-Stuart, where she presents satirical and humorous prose,  as well as poetry: candiacomesclean.wordpress.com

Di Castle

Grandma’s Poetry Book

I am a writer living in Swanage. Born and bred in Hertfordshire, I always had a love of words, writing as soon as I could hold a pen.

My poetry collection, Grandma’s Poetry Book, was self-published by Matador in November 2014. I have other books in progress and there has been interest from agents in my memoir of growing up with a profoundly deaf sibling.  I have a passionate interest in raising deaf awareness.

During my career teaching in Further and Higher Education, I collected a hoard of unfinished manuscripts.
Later, my writing took precedence and, since becoming a regular attendee at the Winchester Writers’ Conference, I have enjoyed success in their competitions gaining two first prizes and highly commended awards for articles on a range of subjects. I began blogging in 2012 and as well as issues surrounding deafness I blog on mental health, dyslexia, writing and anything topical that stirs me to fire up the computer. You can read my blogs here: http://www.dicastlewriter.wordpress.com.

In the last year I have become an author for http://www.henpicked.net and have had articles published on http://www.oapschat.com , Gransnet and The Depression Alliance website.

I have been interviewed on Hope FM and also by Andrew Knowles of Dorset Social.

I take my book into a local care home, read some poems and show the illustrations. Residents who don’t normally speak start telling me their life story and other snippets.

In the 1980s Di, along with her partner, Bryan, was one of the more prolific scriptwriters for the Terry Wogan morning show and some of their letters and the story of their romance is itching to get on to paper.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Grandma’s Poetry Book – Di Castle – a nostalgic childhood journey through the eyes of a first-time grandmother. Fifty-seven poems bounce the reader through the writer’s experiences with hilarious illustrations by Denise Horn. Touching and funny in turn, the collection captures the many facets of fleeting easily forgotten moments.

http://www.dicastle.co.uk/book/4586441911
Priced £6.99 the book is available  via http://www.dicastle.co.uk or contact dcastle32@talktalk.net
This is Di Castle’s debut and a second book is awaiting illustrations and final polish.

Her next book Should I Wear Floral and Other Poems on Life Love and Leaving will be out during 2016. Also illustrated by Denise Horn, this is a collection of poems looking at the funnier side of life and the irritations of mobile phones and much more.

Di Castle
Follow Di’s blog, on Facebook and Twitter:
http://www.dicastlewriter.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Di-Castle-Writer/266866193324409
or on Twitter @dinahcas

More coming soon……