Archive for September 2012

This is a fundraising appeal for Saltwater - a collection of short stories by Lane Ashfeldt. It is up to about 80% of the target with just three days left.

Please consider sponsoring this short story collection. There are various rewards for different amounts pledged. For a small contribution, it is like placing an advance order.

Lane Ashfeldt’s short stories are fine and Lane has helped a lot of other writers via Pulp.net. Lane is also a highly esteemed member of this writing group when she's in town. Alas for us, she now lives in Wales. 

Bilal arrived on time but he's still suffering the effects of bronchitis, so when he left before the end, we understood (and appreciated the effort).  Steve arrived half way through Clare's piece, but that's ok, that's life.  Alistair never made it at all, but we understood.  What we don't understand however, is strawberry pencils.  WTF is that all about?  Should you spot a can of strawberry pencils for sale in a pub, do yourself a favour and avoid them at all costs. True, they are somehow strangely moreish, but as Steve found to his cost, they are not the perfect accompaniment to red wine ( who knew? ) In fact they don't complement wine at all, not even the wine in The Rising Sun.

The writing - what of the writing I hear you ask.  Well, Clare read us the climax of her children's story and that school is violently erupting in quite unexpected ways, it's definitely not one for anyone with arachnophobia.  Steve gave us some more conversations between various characters including, Ada, Nora and Tony ( he's a one and no mistake ) and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next and whether it's a play or a short story... Then SJ read us the third of her trilogy of short stories, and do you know what, in my humble opinion, it was even better than the first two - I know!  How is that even possible?

Hallo.  I got so excited that Kensal Rise reached it's target, and then some, that I nearly forgot to blog.
Um, what happened Thursday night ?  Seems such a long time ago.  Ah yes, it's all coming back to me...
SJ read a blinder of a short story.  Really you should have been there, this story was bloody marvellous. I feel sorry for you because you didn't hear it. Where were you?  Mary read a much improved version of the one about the boy and his father with the ambiguous ending - I'm still not sure what happened at the end, and am quite happy with this state of affairs.  Jeff read out the next instalment of his new book, complete with instructions about how to cross the threshold of The Ritz (or not), Steve took us back to Ballymun Avenue for some great conversation and Lily read us one last story before heading off to Siberia.  Then we went to the pub.

Please help save Kensal Rise Library - visit the site at www.savekensalriselibrary.org
The Willesden Green Writer's Group has donated £1,000 to the cause, we think it's money well spent if it helps to keep this library going for the community.  Please give what you can, the deadline is Sept 7th.