Georgia Conlon is here to tell us about her blog which features readers and writers discussing books they’ve read during isolation. So without further ado, it’s over to Georgia.

 

New Perspectives: Isolated Readers and Unified Writers

Georgia Conlon

Escapism makes sense, but that’s not what reading is to me. Instead, I reckon reading gives you a way to look at life from new perspectives. Literature is a way to reassess what it means to live, in terms of your own identity and your connections with others. This is one of the reasons I started my blog: the isolation book club.

When lock down began, I knew it would be hard. I had to sort out a new routine and get myself into some creative projects, or I believed I’d fall under the grey fog of feeling purposeless. Although I’ve been online teaching (I’m an English Teacher, and have just finished my NQT year!), I still knew that my inability to go out-and-about could be detrimental to my mental health. This is where the blog came in.

By spending time reading one or two books a week, I not only improved my subject knowledge, but also used literature to look at my life and the world around me in new ways. The Easter Parade by Richard Yates reminded me of how grateful I am for my family (even more so because I couldn’t see them at the time I was writing). The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson had me thinking about writing letters, and the importance of the epistolary form in creating an honest dialogue. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers highlighted the need to listen to others, particularly at this present time, when people have been experiencing feelings of loneliness to a greater extent than usual. Derek Owusu’s recent award-winning debut novel, That Reminds Me, had me thinking about teachers I admire, and those I have been influenced by, and the significance of spreading kindness.

And I’m not the only one writing for the isolation book club. Every Sunday I am lucky enough to publish posts by writers from a variety of professions. Their ideas have been incredible, and their posts include thoughts on religion and spirituality, philosophy, parenthood and childhood, poetry, and even guides on how to self-publish. Most recently, a close friend of mine – and fellow blogger – wrote a response to #BlackLivesMatter by listing some brilliant black women who are making amazing art, with links to their work.

I couldn’t have survived lock down without the support of the writers and creators around me (and that includes the writer of this blog, Patricia M Osborne: you can read her post here). I’m very proud to be part of such a wonderful community, who, whether they know it or not, shape the world around me, through their personal writing.

At the moment I’m looking for new writers for my Sunday Guest Post spots, so if, while reading this, you’ve come up with something you’d like to write about, give me a shout. It would be great to hear from you.

Perhaps the isolation book club is actually a place that has brought people together during lock down. Pretty ironic, right? I might have to change the name.

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Thank you for that fabulous article, Georgia. If you think you have something to say for Georgia’s isolation book club do contact here.

Let’s find out a little more about Georgia.

About Georgia Conlon

Georgia Conlon is a writer and English Teacher from London, currently using the summer holidays to read some books and tell some stories. You can find her on the following links

Twitter

Blog

 

My guest feature this week is rather different than usual, so much so, I decided to put it out on an alternate day.

Instead of looking at books, Andrew Quartermain talks about his new venture,  Piano Sanctuary. Piano Sanctuary holds a very special place in my heart as I have enjoyed many piano retreats in Leiston over the years, and can’t wait to get back there. Anyway, without further ado, let’s go over to Andrew.

Piano Sanctuary

Andrew Quartermain

Piano Sanctuary was one of those business and artistic ideas which had been drifting around the mind like an unwritten Impromptu for some time. I came up with the idea of a “Sanctuary” in 2018 but the threads which pulled together to produce what Piano Sanctuary ended up being, started way back in 2005 when, together with personal trainer Lesley Hepher, I started what was for many years called “Adult Piano” – weekend piano courses for adult learners at the stunning Leiston Abbey in Suffolk, and within the umbrella of Pro Corda, the national arts education charity I run.

I’m sure so many readers of this can then relate to what came next. Lockdown happened and a catalyst moment came. This was the time to bring a pending idea forward – however rough around the edges the crafting of its planning stages may be – and swing it into action “warts ‘n all”!

Piano Sanctuary was always intentioned as a social forum, a coming together of lovers of piano music, of creatives, of people who just love having music in their lives. Strangely, this sudden entrance into a period of time where by default people were being driven apart seemed the perfect moment for a sanctuary – but not quite as I’d originally planned it!

And so it was that, with a portable “zoom handy-recorder” battery operated microphone in one hand and in the other, a pile of piano music raided from a hasty blitz on my music room at my little farmhouse in mid Suffolk, I marched into the 14th century Guesten Hall at Leiston Abbey one Thursday evening in late March. I chose 3 pieces from the pile, put up the lid of the Yamaha concert grand we have in the beautifully acoustic of the Guesten Hall, and started playing.
Actually to be more precise, I started talking…..Then playing!

What came out was a sort of homemade cross between BBC Radio 3’s “In tune” programme and “Smooth Classics at 7” on Classic FM. I’ve always had a fascination with radio since spending a year in radio studios as a boy during my brief foray into singing as Choirboy of the year. I did a bit of TV that year too, but I found radio so much more fun. Behind that microphone and without vision, stories can be properly told, communications can be properly brought to life, images imagined, and scenes set.

And so Piano Sanctuary evolved as a “radio show” version of what a lot of musicians started to do during lockdown. The concerts from the living rooms.

The live streams.

By Episode 2 I had my first guest plugged in by Skype. The “lifestyle” concept of how I’d imagined Piano Sanctuary taking shape back in 2018 (and inspired from all the incredible personalities who had attended “Adult Piano” weekends over the years, which was also all about lifestyle alongside piano with personal training sessions taking equal bill to the piano sessions) started to become central to Piano Sanctuary – the radio show. By show 4, a celebrity Italian chef had joined the guest line up which included wine experts, opera singers and travel specialists in equal measure to concert pianists.

At the time of writing Piano Sanctuary is about to hit Episode 20. This will be a special episode on a number of fronts as for the big 20 I will be doing a 24 hour Piano Sanctuary Pianothon to raise funds for another area of Pro Corda’s work as a charity which is our extensive music provision for young people with disabilities. Many of these children and young adults are still cut off and having to shield and we’ve had to increase resources vastly to serve them digitally. More information about this crowdfunding campaign can be found on this link.

 

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Thank you Andrew for such an informative post. Personally I can’t wait to get back to Suffolk and enjoy one of the lovely piano retreats. In the meantime, I’ll have to make do with listening to ‘Live at the Abbey’ online – Piano Sanctuary at Soundcloud.com  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is a very proud day for me as my debut poetry pamphlet Taxus Baccata is officially launched into the world. I’d like to make a few acknowledgements to some special people.

Firstly, thank you to Mark Davidson at Hedgehog Poetry Press for not only publishing, but believing in me and making this happen.

If you’re a poet and looking for a place to submit, Hedgehog’s Cult of the Spiny Hog is the place to be – not only do you get a bundle of poetry but you also get to enter competitions FREE offering a chance to have your collection published.

Hedgehog Press also offer monthly challenges to cult members only – again a chance for publication. An added bonus is Mark Davidson is a fantastic editor to work with.

Bundle received this quarter

 

If you’re a reader and love poetry The Cult of the Spiny Hog is still great value with the bundle of poetry you receive each quarter. Personally I love being a member of this poetry cult and I’ve also made lots of new friends.

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I’d also like to thank John McCullough for his support and his write-up for Taxus Baccata  

“Reading the poems together is like stepping into a forest where each tree has a highly individual character. Patricia M Osborne does really well to conjure up such a playful range of voices that feel different yet enhance one another, and her shifts in stanza length add brilliant disruption.”  John McCullough – Poet (Shortlisted for the Poetry Costa Award 2019)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John McCullough was not only shortlisted for the Poetry Costa Award in 2019 but has just been awarded the Hawthornden Prize. You can purchase a copy of Reckless Paper Birds from Penned in the Margins at a discount price for ONE WEEK only.

You can read more about John’s writing here from when he visited ‘Patricia’s Pen’ earlier this year. University of Brighton are certainly lucky to have him.

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And thank you to the lovely Alison Chisholm for her continued support over the last few years, not only as a great mentor but also a friend I am proud to have. What Alison said about Taxus Baccata.

 

“Patricia M Osborne writes of the natural world with keen observation and a sensitivity for the trees and flowers, birds and animals that fill it.  In this collection we learn of traditions, mythology and lore, factual information and fantasy, mingling in one glorious cornucopia.  Patricia casts her true poet’s eye over it all, and clothes it in images to enchant the reader.” (Alison Chisholm – Poet and Poetry Columnist on Writing Magazine) 

You can find out more about Alison and her writing on my blog here.

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Not forgetting Craig Jordan-Baker who pushed me to the next level with my narrative poetry during my MA dissertation. He was patient, knowledgeable and whatever subject I researched, he always had a book to recommend on the topic. So thank you, Craig. Again University of Brighton are lucky to have him.

Craig has his own celebrations coming up in a couple of months when he releases his debut novel The Nacullians  You can read more about Craig here from when he visited Patricia’s Pen earlier in the year.

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And a huge thank you to my good friends and talent writers for their continued feedback on my poems to make Taxus Baccata happen: Maureen Cullen, Suzi Bamblett, Sheena Bradley, and Corinne Lawrence.

Not forgetting all my friends and family for their continued belief in me and finally to my fantastic neighbours who have kept me sane over the last three months and  who will help me celebrate this evening.

And with all that – if you’re still reading…

If you’d like to find out more about Taxus Baccata and listen to my interview with Sanctuary (piano is my other love) go here 

To order a signed copy from the publisher’s first print run – SHOP

 

 

With the run up to the launch of  my debut poetry pamphlet, Taxus Baccata, Andrew invited me to be Piano Sanctuary’s Wednesday Guest on Sound Cloud Radio.

Join me as I chat to Andrew and Noel about my writing and share one of my poems ‘Sunrise Concertante’ from Taxus Baccata.

If you like what you hear and interested in purchasing signed copies of my books then go to SHOP

House of Grace and The Coal Miner’s Son are available in Kindle and paperback via Amazon

 

I am delighted to have been invited on to Crime fiction author, Val Penny’s, blog today to chat about my writing. To read the interview pop over to Val Penny’s Book Reviews 

 

We are popping over to France this week to hear from the lovely author, Beth Haslam. I first came across Beth on Twitter and in no time at all we’d built up a wonderful rapport. I was therefore delighted when Beth agreed to come along to Patricia’s Pen and chat about the birth of Fat Dogs and French Estates. It’s over to Beth.

I am honoured to be asked by Patricia to write a guest blog. Why? Because apart from being a lovely lady, I deeply admire her work and her generous support of fellow authors, both seasoned and new.

Aw, thanks Beth. The feeling is equal, I can assure you.

Fat Dogs and French Estates

Beth Haslam

I’m a storyteller. As far back as I can remember, I have written tales about my family and animals.

After graduating from university, aside from preparing endless business reports, a busy career stalled any erstwhile thoughts I might have had about progressing with my pen. Things eventually changed.

My husband, Jack, had worked his socks off for years too. When early retirement beckoned, we decided to buy a second home in a country with a warmer climate than England. We chose the south of France. Nothing grand, it would be a small house with enough land for me to walk our dogs and indulge my love for the countryside. A simple decision? In theory, perhaps.

Blissfully innocent, we set off with our two portly dogs on what would become an extraordinary adventure. Surviving near-death incidents, we drove thousands of kilometres, viewing French estates steeped in history and crazy aristocrats.

Despite my meticulous planning, every property on our list ended in disaster. Exhausted, and facing failure, a poignant twist of fate turned our lives upside down. We can smile about it now.

Today, we manage a French estate stuffed with wild boar, deer, hare the size of Labradors, and a host of rescue animals. We are immersed in a farming community that hasn’t altered much for the past thirty years. Friendships, and living in tune with the changing seasons are vital here. We cherish the lifestyle.

Despite the pastoral backdrop, there’s never a dull moment. Drama occurs in the most unlikely places. Jack, musing over a gin and tonic one evening, made a telling remark. “Our experiences are so unbelievable you should write a book about them.” So I did.

 

With the unstinting support from Victoria Twead and Ant Press, my first memoir, Fat Dogs and French Estates was published. As our adventures have continued, so has the series. Fat Dogs Part 5 will be released later this year with more planned for the future.

Wow, Beth, what an interesting story and I love your book covers. Do come back to Patricia’s Pen once Fat Dogs and French Estates Part V is released. 

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Click on the links below to purchase Beth Haslam’s books.

Fat Dogs Part 1                 Fat Dogs Part II           Fat Dogs Part III         Fat Dogs Part IV

 

About Beth Haslam 

Beth Haslam grew up on a rural farm in Wales. Her childhood was spent working with horses, helping the gamekeepers raise pheasants, or out sailing.

During her career, Beth worked as a Human Resources specialist. When she and her husband, Jack, decided to buy a second home in France, their lives changed forever. Computers and mobile phones have swapped places with understanding French customs and wrestling with the local dialect.

These days, Beth is occupied as never before. Raising and saving animals, writing, and embracing everything their corner of rural France has to offer. And she loves it!

Links to Social Media 

Author website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, fellow Chindi author, Isabella Muir, returns to ‘Patricia’s Pen’ to tell you about her latest release, Crossing the Line. So without further ado I shall hand you over to Isabella.

Crossing the Line – tragic accident or cold-blooded murder?

Isabella Muir

Crossing the Line is the first in a new series of Sussex Crime stories, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi. He has been a detective for many years, but felt compelled to retire early because of a tragedy that happened almost outside his front door. (No spoilers!)

In Crossing the Line, Giuseppe travels to England to spend some time with his cousin, Mario, who runs a seafront café in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. Giuseppe struggles to adjust to the English climate and English food! Early mornings he’s often found strolling along Bexhill seafront, wishing he was in the port of Anzio (one of my favourite Italian resorts).

Travelling to England to escape one tragic death, Giuseppe then comes face-to-face with another. The body of a teenager is found on a Sussex beach, and Giuseppe is drawn to the case – a case with no witnesses, and a case about which no one is prepared to talk.

National news reports of a missing twelve-year-old in Manchester spark fear across the nation. The phrase ‘stranger-danger’ filters into public consciousness. Local reporter, Christina Rossi, already has concerns about her local community.
As the sea mist drifts in and darkness descends, can Giuseppe and Christina discover the truth and prevent another tragedy?

Let’s take a peek into the story at the point where we first meet Giuseppe, as he prepares for the long journey from Rome to England…

Giuseppe Bianchi had never mastered the art of packing. His suitcase laid open on the blanket box in his bedroom for two weeks before his planned departure. At random times of the day and night he went to his wardrobe or chest of drawers and pulled out a shirt or a pair of trousers, tossing them into the case. As a result, the clothes were piled high in the centre, leaving gaps around the sides.

The evening before leaving, he tried to inject some urgency into his preparations. He wandered from room to room in his flat, opening cupboards and drawers hoping to catch sight of an item of clothing, or toiletries, that might act as a reminder about what to include.

He would be arriving in England in July. He knew it would be colder than Rome, but not as cold as his previous visit ten years earlier. That had been for a two-week Christmas holiday. On that occasion he thought his repeated words of persuasion for Rosalia to accompany him might have worked. In the end she remained resolute. She planned to stay at home, spend Christmas with friends. An English Christmas was not for her. On his return he spent most of January back home in Rome, trying to thaw out. This visit would be different for many reasons, not just the weather.

Set in July 1964, Crossing the Line is the perfect summer escape. If you have seen the Italian police series, Montalbano, you’ll know all about charismatic Italian detectives. Combine that with the atmosphere and flavour of life in the ‘swinging sixties’ and you have all you need for a cracking read.

Crossing the Line is available now from Amazon as an ebook, or paperback – you can also read it for FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

A chance to get a book FREE

Grab your chance for a FREE book when you sign up to Isabella’s mailing list to keep up to date with the latest news on Sussex Crime! https://isabellamuir.com/
And you can follow Isabella on Twitter @SussexMysteries

About Isabella Muir

Isabella is never happier than when she is immersing herself in the sights, sounds and experiences of the 1960s. Researching all aspects of family life back then formed the perfect launch pad for her works of fiction. Isabella rediscovered her love of writing fiction during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing and since then has gone to publish five novels, two novellas and a short story collection.

Her first Sussex Crime Mystery series features young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. Set in the late 1960s, in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot – using all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. As well as three novels, there are three novellas in the series, which explore some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.

Her latest novel, Crossing the Line, is the first of a new series of Sussex Crimes, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi who arrives in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to find a dead body on the beach and so the story begins…

Isabella’s standalone novel, The Forgotten Children, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.

 

Unfortunately due to technical difficulties at the abbey the radio broadcast has been postponed until next Wednesday 22nd July 2020 – I hope you’ll tune in then.

Hi everyone

Just to let you know that I will be on Sound Cloud radio this evening (Wednesday 20th July 2020) as Piano Sanctuary’s guest and will be discussing my poetry pamphlet ‘Taxus Baccata’ with Andrew Quartermain.

The programme will go out from the abbey at 7pm. Do tune in on the following link.

www.soundcloud.com/liveattheabbey

 

 

It gives me great pleasure this week to welcome children’s author, Lynne Hallett, who I met last August at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. Today Lynne has come along to Patricia’s Pen to discuss her writing journey. Without further ado, it’s over to Lynne.

My Writing Journey

Lynne Hallett 

Unlike many writers, I didn’t always dream of being a writer. I wanted to be an English teacher and that’s indeed the route I took. However, while I date my true passion for writing to around 2007, when my youngest son was one and the eldest four, a recent sort out revealed that I have been writing on and off all my life.

That evening in August 2007 was a turning point for me. I had come downstairs from putting the children to bed and it was just like someone turned a light switch on. I spent between 7.00 pm and midnight writing my first rhyming children’s story, A Pup Called Paddy, which opened the floodgates for many more. I entered this story into a competition and while it was not placed, I was offered the opportunity to do a children’s writing course, which I accepted.

I found doing this course amazingly useful. I may be a teacher, but it is quite nice to be taught actually and I do love learning. Through completing the modules and receiving feedback, I developed my skills and went on to come second in an international competition with Who Cut Up the Moon?, a book I later independently published.

A surprise bequest allowed me to get some of my books out into the world, using Aspect Design, which is based in Malvern. I absolutely loved the process of seeing my writing come to life as my illustrator, Roz, produced pictures for the books and Dan, who works at Aspect, put everything together. The moment I held my first two books  – There’s a Mouse in the House and Awesome Adventures – it was not dissimilar to holding my sons when they were born. A lot of effort went into the

the production of both, though perhaps birthing the books was a little less painful! I went on to produce Who Cut Up the Moon?, Bear with a Sore Head, Hot Dog, Why Do We Have Night-time? and Other Stories, Alphabet Rhymes and two chapter books for girls, Lizzie Saves the Day and A Present for the Baby. The vast majority of my books rhyme and I attribute this mainly to my love of rhyme but also the belief that children really love rhyming tales when they are small. I was particularly fond of reading the works of Julia Donaldson and Lynley Dodd to my sons and felt very inspired by both authors.

I suppose the teacher in me comes out a little in my books. Alphabet Rhymes and There’s a Mouse in the House encourage children to learn their letters and numbers in a fun way. The other picture book stories are gentle or amusing, with subtle lessons embedded in them. In Who Cut Up the Moon? a mouse, who is very worried about seeing the moon shrinking, decides to try and find the missing piece or replace it with cheese, before learning about the moon’s cycles from a badger. Hot Dog surrounds a misunderstanding where a dog thinks he might end up on a barbecue and must get cool to avoid being eaten. Bear with a Sore Head shows how a grumpy, sleepy bear is brought out of hibernation and into the community by a persistent mouse. This book, in particular, has a lot of roaring and snoring in it, so great for children to join in with. Awesome Adventures is more an homage to Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes, but great fun for slightly older children.

Alongside my children’s writing, I have also drafted two YA novels and have another two in progress. I took on the Writers’ Bureau Comprehensive Writing Course after finishing the Children’s Writing Course to learn about all types of writing, and began to have articles and short stories for women published by The People’s Friend after doing a few modules. I think my writing seems to have mirrored different stages in my life. I wrote picture books when my boys were little, but they are now 14 and 17. My writing for teens is inspired by them but also stories I’ve been told or observations I have made of the children I teach, who are 13-18 years old. The short stories and articles have fitted nicely into the smaller slots I have in the working week and I see the stories, in particular, as being great practice for writing longer women’s fiction in the future. I would love to write something set in the past, either in the war years or maybe in the Regency period, which is one of my favourites. There is so much to write and so little time!

Whatever I am writing and whoever I am writing for, I can say that it makes my heart sing and fills my soul with joy. There is a power within the written word to transform and heal and if I can make someone happy with what I have written, allow them to escape for a while or make them realise they are not alone, then I think that is a wonderful way to spend my life.

All my books are available on Amazon, both as hard copies (UK only) and Kindle versions. They can also be purchased via my website or via Aspect Design. Independent bookshops can also order them via Gardners.

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What an interesting writing journey for Lynne Hallett. Let’s find out a little more about her.

About Lynne Hallett 

Lynne Hallett is an English and Drama teacher at Malvern College and author of children’s fiction and short stories for women. She has independently published nine books for children and writes for The People’s Friend. She hopes to write YA and women’s fiction in the future, possibly a Regency Romance, which would satisfy her love of the Regency period and Jane Austen, in particular. She lives with her husband and two sons in Malvern, Worcestershire. Alongside writing, she also enjoys reading, drawing and painting, knitting, walks and talks with friends, and going to the theatre.

You can find Lynne on Facebook here

 

 

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Links to Social Media

 

 

My Facebook page is Lynne Hallett, Children’s Author