“My Mummy’s a Vampire Writer”

I make no secret of the fact that I write adult novels. My children are only young, aged 6 and 3, and my eldest daughter is now of an age where she can read full sentences. I realised that I must now take care of what I am writing when she is in the room! I had a similar experience with our next-door neighbour a few years ago, so have been fairly secretive since then. I usually write my novels at night, when the children are in bed.

Anyway, I took my daughters to our local Scribe Festival recently. As a volunteer organiser, I took an active role in preparation of the event, and on the day, I wanted my children to get involved with the family activities. They loved it! I also wanted an author presence at the event, so I took my display banner and a collection of books to showcase. My banner has a vampire image on it, taken from the cover of my short story, Christmas with the Vampires. I thought nothing of it until my daughter studied the image for a while, asked a few questions about what that red stuff in the glass was, why was the lady lying down, and was the man a vampire? She began to look a little frightened as I explained that it was from one of my stories. Whoops!

Download Your FREE Books Today!

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

SCRIBE Festival is Live! #ScribeFest

SCRIBE launches at 6:00pm today with a sparkling presentation by lecturer Elizabeth Williams. Join Elizabeth for a funny, entertaining, and very informative hour exploring The Fallen Woman in Victorian Literature. Tea and cakes will be served. Tickets are available online or you can pay on the door. No. 28, Hightown, Middlewich.  

Matthew Hall, writer of the popular The Coroner and Jenny Cooper series, has been an author, screenwriter and producer of prime-time drama for BBC1 and ITV for over ten years. Matthew will be talking about his intriguing career and his latest novel A Life to Kill tonight at 7:15pm in Middlewich Library. Tickets are available online or pay at the door. Middlewich Library, Lewin Street. 

We have a surprise addition to the SCRIBE programme. Dr Dick Shepherd is one of only 35 forensic pathologists in the country and he has featured in many TV documentaries about suspicious deaths. Dick joins us tonight for Life, Death and Taxis, a fascinating insight into the day to day work of a forensic pathologist. Dick will be in Middlewich library at 8:30pm. Book tickets for Matthew Hall, gain automatic free entry to Life, Death and Taxis and enjoy a rare and unmissable evening. Refreshments will be served. 

Phew, what a great start to #ScribeFest! Check back for more updates on Facebook and Twitter, and join us for the main event, The Crime Zone, on Saturday 25^th March in Middlewich town centre. And don’t forget to do the Book Trail and vote for your favourite shop window display.

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

Countdown to #ScribeFest (Middlewich Literary Festival)

#ScribeFest celebrates all aspects of writing, illustrating and art, and it is happening this week, from 23rd-25th March! Brochures are available to collect from venues around Middlewich, and the shops are already preparing their special window displays for our “Guess the Book” competition… See you there!

Follow Scribe Festival on Twitter, use the hashtag #ScribeFest to see live updates, and like our page on Facebook to see exclusive news and giveaways before and during the event.

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

World Book Day #WorldBookDay20

Happy World Book Day! I am ridiculously excited about this day, even though I don’t really get involved with activities. I am visiting my daughter’s class at school to read a book later today, but that’s about it. Still, I love any excuse to talk about books, to pick up a book, to worship books and the art of reading. And later this month we celebrate books and writing with the Scribe Festival right here in Middlewich. Fantastic!

I heard a lot of news coverage about parents complaining that they have to dress their children up in World Book Day costumes. We don’t do that in my local area. My daughter’s school are running a game where they ring a bell at regular intervals, the children must stop what they are doing, pick up a book, and read. Sounds like my kind of game… The chosen book theme is Mr Men, which is a childhood favourite of mine. I have selected some vintage books from my personal collection to take for my “Mystery Reader” session.

Have a fabulous, booky day, my friends!

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

#ScribeFest Young Writers Crime Short Story Competition – Enter Now!

***Attention Young Crime Writers***

Write a prize winning crime short story and include the following words:

1. MYSTERIOUS

2. CLUE

3. PRINT

Age 12-15 - 500 words

Age 7-11 300 words

Closing date 6^th March 2017

There are more clues on how to enter the Scribe Short Story Competitions over on our website.

#ScribeFest celebrates all aspects of writing, illustrating and art. 23rd-25th March 2017

Follow Scribe Festival on Twitter, use the hashtag #ScribeFest to see live updates, and like our page on Facebook to see exclusive news and giveaways before and during the event.

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

#ScribeFest Short Story Competition – Submissions Welcome!

“It was a human skull” – so begins the tale of The Canal Detective, but how will it end? That is for you, my quick-witted, creative crime writer, to tell us! Enter the Scribe Short Story competition now and see what you can win… competitions running for adults and children, see website for submission guidelines and criteria.

#ScribeFest celebrates all aspects of writing, illustrating and art. 23rd-25th March 2017

Follow Scribe Festival on Twitter, use the hashtag #ScribeFest to see live updates, and like our page on Facebook to see exclusive news and giveaways before and during the event.

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

#ScribeFest 2017 – Middlewich Literary Festival

We are back in business! Scribe (Middlewich Literary Festival) will run from 23rd - 25th March 2017 and it's gonna be wild! #ScribeFest celebrates all aspects of writing, illustrating and art. There are even top secret plans for an interactive genre mix crime scene adventure...

Finer details are still being worked out, but we will have events running in different venues around Middlewich, including a Top-Secret Crime Scene Investigation, a children's story writing and illustrating workshop, and visiting speakers and performers from the literary and arts industry.

Follow Scribe Festival on Twitter, use the hashtag #ScribeFest to see live updates, and like our page on Facebook to see exclusive news and giveaways before and during the event.

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

Big Plans for a Big 2016 #amwriting #ASMSG

This evening we are preparing to see out 2015, and eager to welcome a very exciting and productive 2016. For me personally this feels like a particularly eventful New Year's Eve, if only as a visualization. Today I have been at home with my children, beginning the slow process of tidying the house and removing all Christmas decorations (I have left my tree up for just a little bit longer, it looks so pretty!) We also spent time with our neighbours, which was very nice as always. And now for a family evening at home, cherishing the safety and security of our place in this hectic world.

My writing plans are well underway for 2016, and I have a rather large project in mind to achieve... all will be revealed in due course. Our Scribe festival dates have been set for October, and there are meetings to attend and more plans to be made for that big event. Much more to come, indeed. See you next year, folks!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

SCRIBE (Middlewich Literary Festival) - THE MAIN EVENT!!! #ScribeFest

"The Wonder Years" and "Reel to Real" in the pubs for #ScribeFest

"The Wonder Years" at the White Bear pub 7pm-10:30pm *Free Event*

SCRIBE Short Story Awards Evening #ScribeFest

 

Read Dating at Middlewich Library, Cheshire #ScribeFest

"Jane Austen, Money & Marriage" at No. 28, Middlewich, Cheshire #ScribeFest

SCRIBE Launch Party at Drinks and Bites in Middlewich, Cheshire #ScribeFest

Meet Catherine Green at #ScribeFest!

Workshops and Talks at SCRIBE (Middlewich Literary Festival) 2015 #ScribeFest

We are just one week away from the start of our fabulous SCRIBE festival in Middlewich, Cheshire. You may have heard about Middlewich recently, as the town hosted the Loyal Company of Town Criers Championship competition. Well, just as the dust settles from the party of the criers, we are about to kick it up again as we celebrate SCRIBE.

Are you a writer? Do you enjoy books and reading? Well then, this is the festival for you. We have a wonderful selection of guest authors for you to meet and talk with, all appearing on Saturday, October 17th. You can find them on our Writers in the Real World panel over in the Boatyard Artspace, and at Book Bites in Middlewich Civic Hall. Our authors write a bit of everything, from romance to horror, true stories about ship wrecks, to local myth and magic. You are sure to have an enchanting time!

And that’s not all. For the children, we have the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party hosted by professional storyteller John Kirk. Fancy dress is optional but highly recommended… Following the tea party, you and your children can join in with an illustration workshop. Our resident artist Ian Hill-Smith teams up with children’s writer Philip Latham for a blind drawing exercise that will be very entertaining and offer lots of interactive fun.

Then there are the wonderful workshops on offer. All day Saturday you can try your hand at writing poetry, writing for radio and writing non-fiction. All workshops are available on a booking basis, and you are advised to book your tickets as soon as possible, since we have chosen small, intimate venues to enhance your writing experience. Throughout the week we have a variety of events happening during the evening, including “Jane Austen, Money and Marriage” hosted by Elizabeth Williams, and Read Dating at Middlewich Library. There are events at local pubs featuring Miles Hunt from the Wonderstuff, and John Lindley with “Reel to Real.”

SCRIBE begins on Monday 12th October with a launch party at Drinks and Bites café, and it will be broadcast live on Red Shift Radio. On Thursday, 15th October, you are invited to our Short Story Awards Evening at Middlewich Town Hall, where you can read the best of our story entries, and cheer on our talented young writers as they receive their prizes. Come along and join us, and bring your friends!

From Town Criers to Short Stories - I am The Judge! #ScribeFest

One thing I’ll say about being a writer, is that you truly never know where your work will take you. This weekend is a case in point. I have just had the honour of acting as a judge for the Loyal Company of Town Criers British Championships 2015. I never even knew there was such an event, but it was held right here in Middlewich on a beautiful September Saturday. We even got a mention on ITV Granada in the news bulletin!

After the excitement, and the responsibility, of judging my specialist category for the town crier competition, I am now preparing for something I am far more familiar with. Later this week I will join the panel of judges as we assess our short story competition entries for SCRIBE (Middlewich Literary Festival). This is something I take great pleasure in doing, and this year we expect to receive a wide range of stories from new writers. We will have some of these stories displayed at the Short Story Awards Evening, held during the literary festival on Thursday 15th October. Whether you entered the competition or not, we look forward to welcoming you to our festival.

See you soon!

Welcome to SCRIBE Middlewich Literary Festival 2015 #ScribeFest

SCRIBE Festival takes place this October in Middlewich, Cheshire. We have brought together a range of local authors, some that you may have heard of, some that you may not. Our authors will be providing workshops throughout the day on Saturday 17th October where you can polish your skills in writing non-fiction, writing for radio, and writing poetry. You can also meet the authors, ask questions about their work and their adventures in the publishing world, and see their books for sale. Our authors are wide ranging, including stories for children, adult horror stories, paranormal romance,  historical accounts, local myths and legends, and much more.

Alongside the author events, we are offering a few slightly different experiences. Throughout the week you can attend talks, presentations, a Read Dating event, and our Short Story Awards Evening. Details of the full program, and online booking is available via the SCRIBE website. For your children we offer an invitation to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, and later that day we have our local artist and illustrator Ian Hill-Smith collaborating with children’s writer Philip Latham for a lively interactive workshop called “Children’s Literature and Illustration.” This was a huge hit at our festival in 2014, with both adults and children joining the fun and rising to the challenge.

And now, back to the writing. Do you have ideas for stories buzzing in your mind or languishing in a notebook somewhere? Then write them down, and send them to us! We have the fabulous SCRIBE Short Story Competition open to all, but we do love to see submissions from our local friends. For details on how to enter, please see our Short Story Competition page on the website. You can win cash prizes, and you will be invited to our Short Story Awards Evening presentation, taking place during the SCRIBE festival, 12th - 17th October. The deadline for story submissions is 25th September, so get those pencils scribbling!

For more information, and to keep updated with news on events and workshops, follow @ScribeFestival on Twitter, and search #ScribeFest, or you can like our page on Facebook. We may add more events in the run-up to the big week, if we can fit them in, so keep checking back, and make sure you book your places and get your tickets now, as this will be one busy week in Middlewich! See you soon!

SCRIBE Short Story Competition 2015 #ScribeFest

In June 2015, Middlewich residents and visitors from across the UK joined in a weekend long celebration of the town’s renowned FAB (Folk and Boat) festival.

Up to 15 venues played host to music and dance throughout the weekend on the Middlewich canalside and in the town centre. Artists from around the world entertained thousands of visitors each day.

Together with hundreds of canal boats and the town centre setting, the Middlewich FAB festival has continued to provide a fabulous showcase of live entertainment every June since 1990, and has attracted renowned performers including Bob Geldof, Lindisfarne, Ade Edmonson, Neville Staples and many more.

In recognition of this amazing and unique event, the SCRIBE festival has based the 2015 under 16s and over 16s short story competitions on FAB.

For details on how to enter, please see our Short Story Competition page on the website http://www.scribefest.org/ You can win cash prizes, and you will be invited to our Short Story Awards Evening presentation, taking place during the SCRIBE festival, 12th - 17th October. The deadline for story submissions is 25th September, so get those pencils scribbling!

For more information, and to keep updated with news on events and workshops, follow @ScribeFestival on Twitter, and search #ScribeFest, or you can like our page on Facebook.