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Thames Valley Writers' Circle News
February 2010
Tuesday 23^rd.		Our annual one-act-play competition was again judged by David Casals. In first place he chose “Out of the Zone” by Dick Sawdon Smith, in second place was “Taken In” by Jan Sprenger and in third place “The Gift” by Mary Pooley. See Competitions for a brief report by Dick.
Friday 19^th.	One-Act Plays - Don’t forget to get your script to your nominated actors before the meeting on Tuesday!
Tuesday 16^th.	The winner of the homework competition was Les Cooper with “The naughty wife of Reading” and Neil was a close second.
Tuesday 2^nd.	Victoria has had an article, “Beauty Sleep – how to get the most from your slumber” accepted for publication in Simple Joy – an American on-line magazine (see: www.simplejoy.org ).
January 2010
Saturday 23^rd	Mojib’s anthology of 100 poems: “Not Just Love” is now available from: www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/notjustlove.html ... for only $12.95!
Wednesday 20^th	Optional homework set for 16^th February!
Monday 11^th	Jess will be reading from and signing copies of her novel, “Child of the Hive” at Waterstones in the Oracle on Saturday 13th February, from 11am until 2pm.
December 2009
Tuesday 15^th	The cup for member of the year 2009 was presented to Elizabeth.
Tuesday 1^st	Our guest speaker was Diane Bethel, a lecturer at the School of Media at Thames Valley University at Ealing, who gave an illustrated talk on writing for the screen. Click here for a brief report by Dick.
November 2009
Tuesday 24^th	Mary’s story ‘Blitz’ has been commended in the Leaf Books Micro-Fiction Competition 2009. (see: www.leafbooks.co.uk )
Tuesday 10^th	Richard has finally got his article describing the launch of “Six Spoons...” published – in Writing Magazine. Read a copy here!
Tuesday 3^rd			There were thirteen(!) entries for this year’s Halloween/Bonfire short story competition.  The winners were decided as usual by the votes of members present on the evening. First prize went to Les 2 with “No Tricks, No Treats” second to Chris with “Not the Ghost of an Idea”  and third to Joyce with “Jenny”
October 2009
Tuesday 27^th	Richard won the Dialogue competition run by the Hastings Writers’ Group – judged by a senior lecturer in English at Brighton University.
Tuesday 13^th	Another success for Dick – his short story 'The Legend of St Barbe's Fountain' has appeared on the front page of the October issue of the on-line Magazine “Brittany Writers”. Read it at: www.brittanywriters.com/
Thursday 9^th	Claudette may not have won in Cannes – but her new play, “Vive la Retraite” (“Happy Retirement”) won another competition – and is being performed in Orléans on Saturday 24^th!  See www.viesenscene.fr (Mr. Google will translate it for you!) The play is also being published in a book entitled “Vies en Scène” (“Life on the Stage”) - for the 2nd national competition of creative writing for the theatre, 2009. Publisher: (Editions) ABS see: www.abseditions.com
Wednesday 7^th	Dick Sawdon Smith's play 'The 11.57', written originally for our one-act-play competition, has been selected to be performed by the Progress theatre for this year's 'Write-fest' The dates are 22nd, 23rd and 24th October at 7.45pm.  Tickets are available on 0118 960600 or via www.readingarts.com, click on 'other venues' and put 'progress' in the keyword box. They are priced at £7 or £8 online. Click here to read the script.
September 2009
Tuesday 22^nd	Claudette’s play “Big Ben” is in a shortlist of five in a competition in Cannes.  It is being performed (and judged) on Sunday evening at 6:00 pm.  We wish her bonne chance!  Click to read the synopsis or the programme (in French).
Tuesday 8 ^th	There were three joint winners of the Summer Homework competition – Joyce, Neil and Nick T.  (See Homework)
Tuesday 1st	Jess’ novel, “Child of the Hive,” is to be published later this month – see Successes
August 2009
Sunday 16th	Elizabeth chats with Debbie McGee on BBC Radio Berkshire about elements of writing a book. Click here to listen again…
Sunday 9^th	Colin is interviewed by Clare Catford on BBC Radio Berkshire about his life, his beliefs and his new book. Click here to listen again…    (Recording by Dick.)
Saturday 8^th	Colin’s new book of fifty poems, all of which can be sung to old tunes, has been published – and is available in the shops from today, priced £7.50.  (See Successes)
July 2009
Tuesday 28^th	The short story competition, judged by Iain Pattison, was won by Nick Cross with Chris Mundy second and Dick Sawdon Smith third.  Details are on the Competitions page.
Tuesday 21^st	Chris Davidson has had her book “Goodnight, Sweet Prince” published by Best Global Publishing.  For details, visit her website:  http://chrisdavidson.info/index.html  or better still, buy a copy today from Amazon! Elizabeth has set an optional Summer Homework to occupy members during the long summer evenings!  It’s for short stories or poems which will be read and judged on 8th September – for details, see Homework .
Tuesday 14^th	Our guest speaker was Diana Birchall who is a story analyst for Warner Brothers in Hollywood – but that’s only her day job.  First and foremost she is a writer…  Click here for more.
June 2009
Tuesday 23^rd	Congratulations to Dorothy – her poem “Why did I hesitate?” won third place in the Tilehurst Eisteddfod 2009. Click here to read it.
May 2009
Tuesday 19^th	Our guest speaker Iain Pattison  gave a very interesting talk on “Writing for Magazines” – click here for a brief report.
Tuesday 12^th	The 2009 Short Story Competition to be judged by Iain Pattison announced.  (see Competitions)
Tuesday 5^th	Clare’s short story “Like Soft Fruit” (her entry for the Arthur Redway memorial competition) has been selected for publication in “Sand - a Journal of Strange Tales”  (see Successes)
April 2009
Tuesday 28^th	The first winner of the Arthur Redway Trophy was Patricia Pycraft with her story ‘Love amongst the Gargoyles’  see Competitions
Thursday 9^th	Sad News flash from Liz:      I'm moving back to the US at the end of June. We (my husband, dog and I) were supposed to stay through the end of the year - but the economic crunch is sending us back earlier than we had planned. (I’m here via my husband's company so, blame it on his employer.)  I'd like to continue my membership stateside, so I'll just be an e-mail away. Click here to see her latest success
Tuesday 7th	Edit your Personal Organisers !       the date for voting and presentation of prizes for the Arthur Redway memorial competition has been changed to Tuesday 28^th April.
March 2009
Tuesday 31^st	Claudette and Richard were successful in a short story competition sponsored by At Home Services to mark national storytelling week - see Successes. Colin has had two more hymns accepted by “Worship Live”  - click here to see them.
Wednesday 11^th	Chris had four successes in the Basingstoke Festival!  - click here for more details.
Thursday 5^th	Premiere of Claudette's short  film "First Love" on the internet!    Click here to watch it.
Tuesday 3^rd	The Arthur Redway Memorial Competition announced – see Competitions
February 2009
Tuesday 24^th				Result of this year’s One Act Play Competition The judge for our annual one-act-play competition was once again Spanish film maker David Casals-Roma. See Competitions for the result!
Wednesday 18^th	Richard has launched his reminiscences of a WWII evacuee “Six Spoons of Sugar” in Australia  – see Successes
January 2009
Tuesday 6^th	Congratulations to Elizabeth – the Romantic Novelists Association has shortlisted “The Wild Card” for its Romance Prize. The Romance Prize honours the most memorable stories set around a single theme that concentrates on the developing love affair.
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