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© Thames Valley Writers’ Circle
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12 Dec 2022: Richard’s ‘Peking to Paris’ Run

Zoom meeting attendees will remember the preview Richard gave us earlier this year, of his coverage of the 2019 Peking to Paris rally. Aficionados of motor sports can now read the full four-page report in the current edition of the Rolls-Royce and Bentley Driver Magazine. If you can’t find it in the shops, it is available on-line.

22 Jan 2023: Great News for Helen

Helen has recently learned that her short story entitled Clancy, is to be published in the short fiction magazine Scribble. It tells the story of Clancy, who as a small child was forced to flee with her family from Afghanistan. It is a story of great fortitude and sadness, told with compassion and intrigue. Helen can’t be at our next meeting so the story will be read for us by Les.

Google says…

SCRIBBLE the short story magazine, was launched at the beginning of 1999 and has developed into one of the UK's most popular general fiction magazines. Scribble is in A5 booklet format, or as an eBook, and is published quarterly; Scribble contains a wide range of high quality fiction from new and established writers.
If you are looking for an outlet for your short stories, check out Scribble using the following link. https://www.scribblelit.com/about

Gerry Robinson

Sadly, Gerry, one of our long term members passed away after a short ill - ness on the 28th February, 2023. Gerry enjoyed many years with the Circle and his writing, and comment on the work of others, was always appreciated. In particular, his long life time of varied experiences provided a wealth of fascinating insights and anec - dotes which added much to his work and our group discussions. His views on non-rhyming poetry were always a point of interesting debate! Gerry was a lovely man and our meetings will be the poorer without him.
What Happened To Our Perfect World
So Do I
How Calm It Now Is

1st Sally Johnson

2nd David Baldock

3rd Les Williams

14 Mar 2023: Chris Mundy Memorial

Poetry Competition Results

You can read all the entries on the 2023 page in the Library

21 Mar 2023: Thank You, Iain

For a number of years, we have been fortunate to have secured the services of Iain Pattison, to judge the Barbara Olive Smith Memorial Trophy competition. This year, we regret that this will not be possible, due to his writing career having taken off to the extent that it leaves him little time for other activities. We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Iain for all the work he has done on our behalf. We will miss his helpful critiques, however we might regret losing his sharp, but fair criticisms where our stories have failed to impress.
The part of Iain’s career that has blossomed and needs his close attention is his Gothic Horror novels which he writes under the pen-name of Jay Raven. If you are familiar with the Hammer Horror films, you will have some idea of the kind of stories that ‘Jay’ writes. He has a vampire hunter series Blood Riders and a 17th century sorcery series To Snare A Witch. The Blood Riders books are really starting to take off and he’s trying to get two or three new instalments published this year.
We will announce new arrangements for the Barbara Olive Smith Memorial Trophy in due course.

1 Jun 2023: Barbara Olive Smith Memorial Trophy

There was a good response again this year and fourteen entries have been received. They are now with Lynne Hackles who will judge our efforts. We expect the results and critiques to be back with Sally by 25 June. Readings will take place at the meetings on 27 June (hall) and 4 July (Zoom). All the entries will be available to read in the Library, for those not able to join the meetings.

2 Jul 2023: Mark Wins

Congratulations to Mark Holman-Lisney on taking first place in the recent on-line competition run by Writer Advice. His short story, Butterfly Moments, beat 62 other entries! A wistful, melancholic piece, Mark says it is a shortened version of a story he read at one of our meetings earlier this year. We hope our comments helped you, Mark. You can read Mark’s winning piece and those in second and third places on the web site - select the Contests Winners option This looks like a useful site. It will be added to our Links page.

4 Jul 2023: Barbara Olive Smith Memorial Trophy Result - Another Win For Mark!

2nd: Call Me Lucien

by Les Williams

My Legacy from Passchendaele

by Dick Sawdon Smith was Highly Commended
You can catch up on all the stories and read Lynne’s comments on each of them, on the Library page for 2023. Contact Walter if you have forgotten the Library password.
Mark Holman-Lisney has won his second competition within a couple of weeks. His piece ‘Prisoner of Thought’ took first place in the competition named to commemorate our late founder. Lynne Hackles, who judged the event, provided critiques for all the entries. She also commented on the high standard of the entries which made the judging process very enjoyable for her. Mark’s ‘mind boggling’ piece was hotly followed by:

3rd: Cosmonauts

by Nick Swyft

2 Jul 2023: Mark Wins

Congratulations to Mark Holman-Lisney on taking first place in the recent on-line competition run by Writer Advice. His short story, Butterfly Moments, beat 62 other entries! A wistful, melancholic piece, Mark says it is a shortened version of a story he read at one of our meetings earlier this year. We hope our comments helped you, Mark. You can read Mark’s winning piece and those in second and third places on the web site - select the Contests Winners option. This looks like a useful site. It will be added to our Links page.
EMAILS
© Thames Valley Writers’ Circle
Created with Xara Designer Pro X

12 Dec 2022: Richard’s

‘Peking to Paris’ Run

Zoom meeting attendees will remember the preview Richard gave us earlier this year, of his coverage of the 2019 Peking to Paris rally. Aficionados of motor sports can now read the full four-page report in the current edition of the Rolls-Royce and Bentley Driver Magazine. If you can’t find it in the shops, it is available on-line.

22 Jan 2023: Great News for Helen

Helen has recently learned that her short story entitled Clancy, is to be published in the short fiction magazine Scribble. It tells the story of Clancy, who as a small child was forced to flee with her family from Afghanistan. It is a story of great fortitude and sadness, told with compassion and intrigue. Helen can’t be at our next meeting so the story will be read for us by Les.

Google says…

SCRIBBLE the short story magazine, was launched at the beginning of 1999 and has developed into one of the UK's most popular general fiction magazines. Scribble is in A5 booklet format, or as an eBook, and is published quarterly; Scribble contains a wide range of high quality fiction from new and established writers.
If you are looking for an outlet for your short stories, check out Scribble using the following link. https://www.scribblelit.com/about

Gerry Robinson

Sadly, Gerry, one of our long term members passed away after a short illness on the 28th February, 2023. Gerry enjoyed many years with the Circle and his writing, and comment on the work of oth - ers, was always appreciated. In particular, his long life time of varied experiences provided a wealth of fascinating insights and anecdotes which added much to his work and our group discussions. His views on non-rhyming poetry were always a point of interesting debate! Gerry was a lovely man and our meetings will be the poorer without him.
What Happened To Our Perfect World
So Do I
How Calm It Now Is

1st Sally Johnson

2nd David Baldock

3rd Les Williams

14 Mar 2023: Chris Mundy Memorial

Poetry Competition Results

You can read all the entries on the 2023 page in the Library

21 Mar 2023: Thank You, Iain

For a number of years, we have been fortunate to have secured the services of Iain Pattison, to judge the Barbara Olive Smith Memorial Trophy competition. This year, we regret that this will not be possible, due to his writing career having taken off to the extent that it leaves him little time for other activities. We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Iain for all the work he has done on our behalf. We will miss his helpful critiques, however we might regret losing his sharp, but fair criticisms where our stories have failed to impress.
The part of Iain’s career that has blossomed and needs his close attention is his Gothic Horror novels which he writes under the pen-name of Jay Raven. If you are familiar with the Hammer Horror films, you will have some idea of the kind of stories that ‘Jay’ writes. He has a vampire hunter series Blood Riders and a 17th century sorcery series To Snare A Witch. The Blood Riders books are really starting to take off and he’s trying to get two or three new instalments published this year.
We will announce new arrangements for the Barbara Olive Smith Memorial Trophy in due course.

1 Jun 2023: Barbara Olive Smith

Memorial Trophy

There was a good response again this year and fourteen entries have been received. They are now with Lynne Hackles who will judge our efforts. We expect the results and critiques to be back with Sally by 25 June. Readings will take place at the meetings on 27 June (hall) and 4 July (Zoom). All the entries will be available to read in the Library, for those not able to join the meetings.

4 Jul 2023: Barbara Olive Smith

Memorial Trophy Result - Another Win

For Mark!

2nd: Call Me Lucien

by Les Williams

3rd: Cosmonauts

by Nick Swyft
Dick Sawdon Smith’s My Legacy from Passchendaele was Highly Commended
Mark Holman-Lisney has won his second competition within a couple of weeks. His piece ‘Prisoner of Thought’ took first place in the competition named to commemorate our late founder. Lynne Hackles, who judged the event, provided critiques for all the entries. She also commented on the high standard of the entries which made the judging process very enjoyable for her. Mark’s ‘mind boggling’ piece was hotly followed by:
You can catch up on all the stories and read Lynne’s comments on each of them, on the Library page for 2023. Contact Walter if you have forgotten the Library password.
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