Greenacre Writers Literary Festival - Part One

This year’s festival began on Friday 17^th May with a bit of a shock. Checking through emails I saw one from my co-organiser that said: 

‘Woke up about 5.45 with dizziness and headache and threw up - at least I would have if I'd had anything to throw up. Still dizzy.’ 

It was from Lindsay, who still managed to be funny even though she felt poorly. As I always think the worse, my first thought was she's got that awful Norovirus, my second thought was, quick get the red chalk and mark her door. And my third thought: what am I going to do? Lindsay and I are a team, we’d planned for every eventuality but had not thought what we would do if one of us was ill. 

I went through the list in my head of what each one of us was meant to be doing. Then I remembered, Allen Ashley was coordinating the Open Lit Mic, what this meant was that even if we were both ill, the evening could still run without us. Phew! But what about the main event on Saturday?

I zoomed to the printers to pick up the programmes, picked up samosas on my way back. Lindsay was still feeling grotty and was not sure she'd be able to make it. Did last minute list check, phoned Liz Goes, one of the Greenacre Writers, in a panic, could she possibly pick me up. 

'No problem,' she said very calmly in that lovely Scottish lilt, 'I'll be there in 3 minutes'. 

Still undressed, the bell rang, whoops. Bundled boxes, posters, lists, books into her car and away we flew to the reclaimed and liberated Friern Barnet Library in time for the first event, Miriam Halahmy's workshop.

Miriam Halahmy's workshop

Workshop 'So You Want to Write for Kids.'

 

At 6pm fabulous food for guests and Greenacre Writers arrived courtesy of Chris Freeman, Elaine Kitchenham, Mumpuni Murniati, and others. It was laid out ready for the moment Miriam’s workshop finished. A pale Lindsay also arrived, phew, she had made it.

We had half an hour to eat, prepare the library with posters, tables for books, food and even signs outside so people knew which way to walk through the door. Meanwhile Mike arrived with the mic and did all the clever electrical stuff. 

With seconds to spare the Open Mic began. Speech all prepared, I welcomed guests to the second Greenacre Writers Festival before handing over to Allen Ashley, who introduced the wonderful array of guest speakers.

There was an amazing line up of writers, poets, and activists, reading a variety of poetry, short stories, novels and autobiography. These included:

C J Flood, 
Sarah Doyle, 
Miriam Halahmy, 
Emily Toder (from USA)

Peter Phillips, 
June Armstrong-Wright (GW), 
David Nixon (GW)

Keith Martin (GW), 
Sandra Unerman (Clockhouse London Writers)

Me (GW),

Ben Jacobs (GW), 
Liz Goes (GW), 
Linda Louisa Dell (GW),

Handsen Chikowore (Exiled Writers)

Mr Greenacres (Greenacre Project)

Wendy Shillam (GW)

Sometimes pictures speak better than words, so here are a few photos from the evening:

Allen Ashley

Mr Greenacres reading about his visit to Bank Farm, Oxfordshire

76 year old activist, Keith Martin reads 'Squatney Wick' where he saw the premiere of A Polite Revolution

Poet Sarah Doyle reading one of her fabulous poems

The lovely CJ Flood reading from her aclaimed novel, Infinite Sky

June Armstrong-Wright reading her funny story Green Eyed Monster

Handsen Chikowore reading his moving refugee poetry

Emily Toder, reading her unusual poetry

Wendy Shillam reading an excerpt from her online novella, The Authors Song

Robert Newton GP and Mark Kitchenham GW enjoying the evening

Lindsay reading a short story that linked in with Mental Health Week

For a detailed account of the festival read Morgen Bailey's blog

For another write up about the festival see Greenacre Writers

Part two about the festival coming soon!  

Writing Retreat

Greenacre Writers have organised a non-profit writing retreat for Friday 6th-9th September at St Katharine's, Parmoor near Henley on Thames. Full board £145 from Friday teatime-Sunday teatime. There will be no workshops or directed writing, this is a place for you to get on with your writing. Writers may choose to meet in the evening and discuss their writing but this will be decided by individuals at the retreat.

St Katharine's
This historic house stands in 12 acres of grounds in an area of great scenic beauty and abundant wildlife. The rural tranquility of the Chilterns, combined with a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, make St. Katharine's an ideal destination for a writing retreat.

The house is run by the Sue Ryder Prayer Fellowship, an independent registered charity whose aim is to provide a facility that is ecumenical and non-denominational. The house is open to people of all faiths or of none.

When the house was given to Lady Ryder of Warsaw by the nuns of the Anglican order of St. Katharine of Alexandria, she determined to make it a ‘powerhouse of prayer', a place where people from all walks of life could come to find peace and renewed energy to face the challenges of life.



Delicious food, catering for all dietary and ethnic requirements, is prepared by our professional catering staff. The panelled dining room seats up to 60 people, but larger numbers can be accommodated in the former banqueting hall.

ADDITIONAL ROOMS: 

BLUE SITTING ROOM

An elegant, sunny room with bay window looking onto the historic cedar tree. Can seat up to 20 in comfortable sofas and easy chairs.

GREEN SITTING ROOM

Another comfortable room overlooking the garden, seating up to 15 in easy chairs and sofas.

LIBRARY

A panelled and book lined room seating up to 8 at a large table. 

INNER LIBRARY

A similar sized, book lined room, with views of the garden and seating at a central table plus sofa and easy chairs.

Visitors are free to stroll around the grounds, or find a quiet corner to write and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. There are a number of interesting features, including a walled garden, a pond, a formal garden which is in process of being renovated and a former sunken garden, which awaits restoration. You can also visit the chickens, who provide the delicious free-range eggs which are used in the House kitchen, and are also on sale to visitors.

Make your stay even more relaxing by booking a treatment. Debbie Lawrence, a Holistic Therapist who has a clinic in Marlow, can be booked for therapy sessions at St. Katharine’s.  These include Aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage, Full Body Massage, Hopi Ear Candling and Reiki Healing.  For more information click here

If you would like to book your place, contact Rosie Canning: greenacrewriters@gmail.com

Celebrating the launch of the Greenacre Writers Anthology

Sometimes we get so busy we forget the important things in life, like celebrating an achievement or special day. Yesterday the Greenacre Writers celebrated the publication of our second volume of short stories. The anthology includes the six winning stories from our short story competition last year and thirteen Greenacre Writers publishing short stories and poems.

Me reading from the anthology with my community gossips, Josie Pearse, Liz Goes and June Armstrong-Wright.

Liz Goes, had us all chuckling with her feline yarn, A Caerphilly Crime, the Welsh accent was pretty good too.



Here you can see Amy Flinders, one of the competition winners, who was able to attend the launch to receive her prize a copy of the anthology. On the right is Josie O Pearse.

Josie's story, Three Piggies and an Eco Warrior, re-tells the story of the three little piggies, transformed here to female piggies looking for husbands. They build their houses out of self-help books, Argos catalogues, Yellow pages as well as bricks. When the wolves come-a-hunting, the fun begins.

Linda Louisa Dell reading her story, A Cautionary Spirit, about a ghost that forwarns disaster.
 

Lindsay Bamfield, reading her moving tale, Chocalate in Summer. When the mother-in-law comes to stay, the summer becomes hell. And when tragedy strikes, well you'll have to buy the anthology to find out what happened.
 

Mark Kitchenham not only didn't know he was reading but this is also his first time reading in front of an audience. His tale, Bea and Me has a twist in the tale.
 

June Armstrong-Wright gave a wonderful performance of a short story, not Trophies, the one in the anthology, a very clever piece of writing with a superb sting in ending.
 

Other Greenacre Writers who read were, Anna Meryt, our only poet, who has written some hilarious poems as well as very moving ones. Ruth Cohen whose sexy short story, The Way to a Man's Heart had everyone wanting more. And finally, Katie Alford, who also gave her first public story with her fantasy short story, A Creeping Corruption.



Helen Michaels is on the right

As this was a celebrity afternoon, I also took the opportunity to hand out some of my World Book Night books: Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson. World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of passionate volunteers gift specially chosen and printed books in their communities to share their love of reading. World Book Night was celebrated on April 23 - I'm still celebrating!  

World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don’t regularly do so. But it is also about more than that: it’s about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways, through the sharing of stories.

And this is what we were doing yesterday afternoon, sharing and celebrating our stories. It was a lovely afternoon, made especially welcoming by the hospitality of Helen Michael, the proprietor of Cafe Buzz. Her food is delicious and when she tweets @buzzinghelen, about the cafe, the mixtures and recipes often have a sensual element. We think she should join Greenacre Writers!

To enter this year's Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition or buy a copy of the anthology, go to Greenacre Writers

Greenacre Writers Anthology (Vol 2)

After many proof readings, the second Greenacre Writers Anthology, is due back from the printers any day now and will definitely be here in time for the launch at:

Cafe Buzz, North Finchley, N12 Sunday April 28th 3pm
 

 Comprising the six prize-winning stories from our recent short story competition along with stories and poems from members of Greenacre Writers. 

Copies are on sale at £5.99 plus p&p from: Greenacre Writers

Greenacre Writers Literary Festival 2013

This time last year I was busy planning and designing for the first ever literary festival in the London Borough of Barnet - or at least we were the first, last year. This year we have a couple of rivals, Middlesex University, where I once appeared having completed my MA in Writing, when it was held in Trent Park, Enfield. This year Middlsex Uni have changed the name to the North London Lit Fest and now it's in Hendon and takes place 26th and 27th March, 2-7pm each day. The line up is interesting and there are some great workshops such as the Speed Pitch - speed dating for writers. To find out more see: Middlesex Lit Fest Don't forget to come back so you can read all about the Greenacre Writers Festival!

Another local group, Barnet Borough Arts also held a small event that started life as a literary festival but grew into a folk and poetry concert at the Old Bull Arts Centre in Barnet earlier this year. One of our coordinators, Allen Ashley, held a creative writing workshop for them.

'This year Finchley, next year Hay-on-Wye', that's what we said at the end of last year's festival.  We didn't mean we wanted to perform at Hay-on-Wye (although as writers that would be nice) but to have a bigger festival. It's growing! This year the festival is running over two days, 17th and 18th May. And we have two venues: the liberated and saved Friern Barnet Community Library - The People's Library and Trinity Church Centre, North Finchley, where we'll be part of another growing arts festival, Trinity in May. Trinity Church are one of seven churches that provide shelter for the homeless during the winter months - and last year a couple of Greenacre Writers who were also 'Givers' for World Book Night held events there and gave away books to the people seeking shelter. This year I'll be back at Trinity in April, giving away copies of Jeanette Winterson's, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? And then I'll be back there, 18th May, for the main Greenacre Writers Literary Festival.

This year we have a small committee which means we can share the workload and it also means that more of our Greenacre Writer members are getting involved, getting committed to our literary view of the world. As Margaret Mead said, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.' Well we may not have changed the world, yet, but we are changing the London Borough of Barnet. The world has shifted and great things have been happening in our borough over the last couple of years. The people, the community, have woken up, have risen up, and they are bringing literature to North London, liberating libraries and making good stuff happen.