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GUEST SPEAKERS AT WATFORD WRITERS
We have had the pleasure and honour of welcoming guest authors to Watford Writers over the years. Here is a selection of recent authors who have joined us for an evening and presented their experiences and words of encouragement and support:
Pauline Eyre at Watford Writers
Finding Your Funny - with Pauline Eyre
Stand Up Comedian, Writer and Educator Pauline Eyre joined us for a very special evening on 1 March 2021.
Pauline presented an overview of her career and how she entered the world of "stand up comedy" through a combination of training and self determination.
She then led us through a couple of exercises that brought out our light hearted side as well as showing us the way of actually writing comedy. This included a ten-minute "limerick" exercise! Working in teams, the results were hilarious.
A great evening all round!
@yespaulineeyre
https://paulineeyre.home.blog/bloggy/
About Pauline
Pauline is a stand-up comedian, writer and educator. Her first solo hour-long show, ‘All Change Pauline Eyre’ was supposed to tour in person in 2020 but is now online in 2021, because what else are we to do?? She’ll be leading an interactive workshop on comedy writing, giving you the chance to find your funny. In addition Pauline Eyre is a continuity announcer, actor, voiceover, antenatal teacher, fitness instructor, quiz producer/presenter, parent, tennis coach, arts administrator… basically she doesn’t like to stand still! After years of being a freelance butterfly, juggling all those skills, she added stand-up to the mix in 2015 and fell in love. It was as though everything had been leading to this.
SEMI-FINALIST Funny Women Awards 2019, 2018
BBC New Comedian of the Year nominee 2018
FINALIST Yellow Comedy Golden Comedian of the Year 2018
FINALIST Colchester New Comedian of the Year 2016
SEMI-FINALIST Amused Moose Awards 2017 (quarter finalist 2016, 2018)
SEMI-FINALIST Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year 2016
"Pauline's warm wit and honest charm has made her a favourite with our audiences.”
The Poodle Club “10 out of 10” Giles Brandreth (THE Giles Brandreth!!)
Tickets for Pauline’s own online comedy show on the 11 March can be purchased here
Our sincere thanks to Pauline for her time - a splendid evening indeed.
Andi Michael at Watford Writers
19 October 2020
GUEST SPEAKER: ANDI MICHAEL (aka Andrea Michael)
Subject: "Endings"
Andi kindly joined us for the evening and took us through "endings" - what makes a good ending? Has there been any examples of good endings or endings that have left readers wanting to know more? What techniques can be used to arrive at endings and do writers know how their books will end when they start actually writing?
All these questions and more were addressed in an open discussion with group members and there were lots of helpful hints and tips along the way. Group members freely discussed their own experiences of writing and fashioning "endings" - some excellent examples of different endings were mentioned from their work and indeed, work of other authors.
Andi set the group a task during the break to come up with some endings based on characters in their books or situations that could be used to determine an ending.
Andi kindly shared her "writing and publishing" experience with the group during the evening; and there was a very interesting "Q and A" to close.
It was a thoroughly good evening, enjoyed attended by 25 group members.
Watford Writers are very grateful for Andi's time and helpful hints and tips...
Andi Michael studied English Lit with Creative Writing at University of East Anglia, followed by an MA in Creative Entrepreneurship and later an MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes, where she ran workshops exploring the application of creative writing in the recovery from eating disorders. Her first novel was literary fiction for Stairwell Books, followed by 10 romantic comedies for HQ Digital (HarperCollins) and Canelo. She’s now rebranded and is writing ‘book club’ fiction for One More Chapter/Avon. She is represented by the Madeleine Milburn Agency...
Andi Michael:
@ALMichael_
Anna Mae at Watford Writers - 27 July 2020
Contemporary Poet and Writer, Anna Mae, kindly joined us (via Zoom) for the evening as our guest speaker.
Anna "talked some; read some; and answered some."
It was a honest and frank presentation - both moving and humorous!
Anna mentioned her early life growing up in Watford; and her varied life experiences that have influenced and shaped her work. She also read a number of poems - many of which feature in her book.
Anna also shared her journey to publication - the encouragement she received; her academic success and reception to her work by audiences. She also mentioned her ongoing workshops in schools and prisons; as well as forums and festivals she has performed her work.
Anna published an ebook in 2010 entitled, 'A Bit of Spirit & A Lot of Spit: The Journey of Psychic Tarot Reader from Premonition to Bereavement and Domestic Violence to Freedom Told Through Her Original Style of Prose and Poetry.' Available via Amazon.
Anna is currently re-editing her book
News to follow when the new edition is available.
Watford Writers would like to express its sincere thanks to Anna for a splendid evening; and wish her every continuing success.
Nick Lloyd-Davies at Watford Writers - 6 July 2020
It was a pleasure to welcome Children's author, Nick Lloyd-Davies, who joined Watford Writers (via Zoom) as guest on Monday 6 July.
Nick told us about his self publishing journey with all its benefits and perils - print-runs, IBSNs, cost, issues with promotion and marketing, distribution, and author's expectations versus publisher. Nick also mentioned his efforts toward getting a traditional publisher contract.
Nick told us how his stories have been received by children, including his own. There was a discussion about the mechanics of writing - target audience, presentation and image of the books through illustration, and even word counts.
The difficulties in being a part time author - Nick revealed that a two-hour commute to London became his "writing window" using his most valuable tool - a Macbook air! ...and how he also grabs the odd 30 minutes / hour here and there to write.
Nick lives in Surrey with his wife, Amanda; two children, Calypso and Oscar; and two cats, Fluff and Cookie. After making up so many adventure stories during Calypso and Oscar’s bedtime, he figured it was about time other children got to hear them too. Lloyd-Davies works by day as a town planner and by night (or on the way to work!) as a children’s’ author.
You may wish to take a look at Nick's "Amazon" author page.
Nick's latest book, Katie Helps a Turtle with Tummy Ache is out now! It deals with ocean plastic pollution and has a foreword from television presenter and well known rambler, Julia Bradbury. It’s also on the Julia Bradbury website at:
https://theoutdoorguide.co.uk/eco-kids-blog/katie-helps-a-turtle-with-tummy-ache/
There is also a foreword from the Marine researcher who discovered the ocean plastic in the Pitcairn Islands: https://adriftlab.org/news/2020/collaborating-for-childrens-literature
Katie Helps a Turtle with Tummy Ache: A Glowstone Adventure (Glowstone Adventures): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1798563991/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sEk3EbAQ50BCF
Former Watford resident writes book set in town
Katharine McMahon's novel, The Hour of Separation.
The story set in our very own Watford, and a fictional farm in Belgium during two world wars, is a tale of human endurance, heroism and love, resonating powerfully with the challenges we are facing right now.
Katharine McMahon is the author of 10 novels, including The Hour of Separation; and the bestselling The Rose of Sebastopol, which was a Richard and Judy pick for 2007.
Her evolving theme is drawing astonishing women from the shadows, and revealing passionate and extraordinary lives, even at times when to be different and powerful risked everything if you were female. All her fictional characters have foundations in real historical characters.
She has experience as a teacher and trainer, and has been fortunate to serve on the Sentencing Council of England and Wales, and the Judicial Appointments Commission, as a magistrate. She has run Guardian Masterclasses on historical fiction, and has newly been appointed Education Projects Manager for the Royal Literary Fund.
She co-wrote a song, performed on Radio Four called Check-out Lil, and writes from a hut in her very small back garden.
Visit Katharine's official website
Find Katharine McMahon on twitter @McKatharine
Ruth Badley visits Watford Writers - 1 June 2020
Author, PR and Marketing Consultant, Ruth Badley, joined Watford Writers online on 1 June 2020. In a two-hour session, Ruth kindly provided an in-depth presentation on her career, writing and motivation in producing her book Where are the grown-ups?
Ruth described the stages and techniques that she used during the research for the book; and has produced a list of further reading to help other writers. Please see link below this page to download Ruth's list.
Ruth also explained the key role in how objects, news events, music, can conjure up memories that can assist when researching and writing a memoir. She also confirmed the need to step back from time to time, especially when the writing craft takes over using research.
Ruth mentioned how she has promoted her work in the media and online. Her blog has a complete promotional record. With her PR and Marketing expertise, Ruth was able to detail precisely the need for consistency and the benefits from having a plan in place if a writer goes it alone to self-publish and promote. Please see below for a link to Ruth's blog.
http://www.ruthbadley.com/blog/
Watford Writers would like to express sincere thanks to Ruth for her time, presentation and advice. Absolutely wonderful.
AN AUDIO EXTRACT OF OUR EVENING WITH RUTH
Author's Facebook Page: @wherearethegrownups
WHERE ARE THE GROWN-UPS?
Ruth Badley. (Published by Inglebooks, July 2019)
Sylvia is dying. Ruth is at her bedside.
A lifetime of loss and misunderstanding lies between mother and daughter. In this coming of age story, a whispered family tragedy casts a shadow across three generations.
It’s 1930 and in London’s Jewish East End, Rose is expecting a baby.
When the natural order is disrupted,
and part of our personal history is erased,
who do we become?
The book is a memoir which has its origins in the personal relationship between Ruth and her Mother. Stretching back to the early years of the 20th century, through meticulous research, Ruth was able to trace her family to the London's East End and reveal a very intimate story, at times a very poignant story.
Reviews of her book have been outstanding. Here are a few:
"The writing is fresh, smart and both observational and engaging - the author is a key, brave and sensitive player in this three act drama."
"The author has the skill to make this very personal story into one that many daughters and families will relate to."
Podcast: Ruth Badley chronicles Grandmother's short troubled life and makes sense of family history.
Author's Facebook Page: @wherearethegrownups
Twitter: @RuthBadleyPR
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruth.badley/
A. J. Park visits Watford Writers - 10 February 2020
Guest Speaker: A. J. Park
'The First Lie' by A. J. Park
'The First Lie' by A. J. Park
On 10 February 2020, we welcomed our first guest speaker of the year. Karl Vadaszffy, Karl's writing pen name is now A.J. Park. He had his first Crime Thriller novel The First Lie published last year. By day, Karl is Head of English at St Michael's Catholic School in Watford.
The journey to being accepted by one of the UK's largest publishers has taken Karl ten years of hard effort and determination. Diligently working and correcting his drafts, Karl wrote and published the following books as Karl Vadaszffy:
The Missing (2013); Sins of the Father (2014); Don’t speak; and most recently writing as A.J.Park, The First Lie in 2019.
Karl discussed the influence other writers and books had and continues to have on his writing and listed the following in particular:
The Doomsday Conspiracy by Sidney Sheldon
The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan
Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes
Haven’t they Grown and Little Face by Sophie Hannah
A fellow writer and poet who has inspired and supported Karl is the award winning Sophie Hannah. Karl turned to crime fiction as a direct result of Sophie's encouragement. Other writers who have inspired Karl include Quentin Bates, William Ryan, and Adrian Magson.
Karl provided us all with tremendous insights into getting published and kindly took a number of questions from the floor. There was an excellent discussion on the success of crime writing; but also Karl's other work including article writing for various magazines.
'The First Lie' by A. J. Park
'The First Lie' by A. J. Park
'The First Lie' by A. J. Park
The First Lie is a fast-paced psychological thriller published by Orion Fiction, whose authors include global bestsellers Ian Rankin, Michael Connelly, Steve Cavanagh and Alex Michaelides.
The First Lie is available as an ebook, audio book and large format paperback. https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Lie-J-Park/dp/1409187438
The regular paperback will be released on 25 June 2020.
Book two is due to follow in 2021.