Cheryl's 'By the Letter'


Free Keepers ebook - Forest childhoods - Author Kathleen Cranidge - K.M. Allan guest writer's corner	View in browser

Welcome (back)!

It's October (already, so soon) and good to see you here to share my birthday. David's taking me to lunch at a swish nearby pub, so I'm sending this out, wisely, beforehand.

And I have a small present for you all. Read on! (If you want to give me a present, simply write that review you've been thinking about. That's the best gift, thank you!)

THE NEWS - free Keepers ebook (exclusive)

Eternal gratitude to my brilliant friend Rue Sparks for this stunning new cover for Keepers. Those who have read the book tell me it's so evocative, so just right, and I agree.

The combination of cover and birthday was too much to resist.

Here's the link to a website page where you can download the ebook for free. Happy birthday to me!!

Other writing news

The literary evening at Coalway Hall to help raise funds for kids' play equipment was much fun - especially for Sammy who sold all of his books. (Who's jealous of a dog??) The audience appeared to very much enjoy the different styles of the readers (and I also collected a few new fans). Many thanks to the committee and especially the tea and cake providers for an enjoyable evening. I understand more are planned and hope word spreads and it does well.

At the end of this month I'm talking to a local book club about Keepers. Very excited that I'll have my paperback copies with the new cover to take along. They WILL love it!

Now for trumpets please

The High Alps of Asfarlon has finally reached its dramatic conclusion. Into editing mode and when done, will need betas (here's an explanation of what they are). If you're a Guardians of the Forest fan, please feel free to volunteer. To tempt others into the series, take a look at my Guardians website page, where you can also access extracts from each book.

poster for event 17 sept Coalway Hall 7.30 pm

St John's School Coleford

Keeping memory alive

Our Dean Scribblers day with Coleford St John's Yrs 5 and 6 went brilliantly. The previous day the children learned about Winifred Foley's A Child in the Forest, and we followed that up with some illustrations from Bernard Kear's wonderful books, Scenes of Childhood (as pictured here, with many thanks to Bernard).

The teacher told us she saw some of the best work ever from some of these students. We are now putting their stories and drawings into an anthology, the cover of which will doubtless appear here when done.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - Kathleen Cranidge

Kathleen Cranidge is a flexible author. From cosy mystery to full-on psych thriller is no mean feat, yet Kathleen managed it. I've enjoyed both books, am looking forward to the next Union Street mystery, and I'm sure she will appeal to many of you. PS She also paints and has shared some of her work in her interview.

Go here to read about Kathleen's writing and her life in Canada close by the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

And here for Christmas on Union Street , and here for her very new release, Claire's Cell.

WRITERS ARE READERS TOO

Where the Crawdads Sing

It's had a few reviews elsewhere, but I had to chip in with my own views.
Read them here.

Seasonally appropriate story from Dragon's Gift

A Voice Rosie Trusts

Several readers chose this short tale as one of their favourites in their reviews of Dragon Gift. (Be prepared for the nicest kind of welling up, though.)

Rosie gasps for air which is too slow to fill her lungs. Her tongue lolls, catching at mist. She lifts a sodden paw, sets it down, lifts another – and slumps to the decaying mulch.

Image by Brigitte makes custom works from your photos, thanks a lot from Pixabay

Read it here - 3 mins

WRITER'S CORNER

This month the writers among us get a break from my lecturing and a chance to learn from a talented author. The fact she's also Australian has nothing to do with it of course.

K.M. Allan is a blogger and YA author whose Blackbirch books have been a hit with readers. She is currently working on books three and four in the series.

Recently, K.M wrote a post on 'underwriting' - not the insurance and actuarial kind but the writer kind. This often happens in a first draft where you're so keen to get the plot down that it's action, dialogue (we hope), action... the end, all in 50 pages. There are other reasons for underwriting and in this blog post from her site she outlines what they could be and how to address them. I hope you find it useful.

COMING UP

A bookshop for Christmas! In November I'm hoping to bring to your computer a selection of books by my fellow writers, some of whom have featured here. YA, romance, historical fiction, women's fiction, kids books, short books and long books... all kinds for wide appeal. And a Christmas game too as our special feature. Your Christmas shopping sorted.

I'll also report on an event taking place on 6th November. Run by Reading the Forest, with support from Dean Writers Circle, we will commemorate authors past and present with connections to the Dean. Historical fiction novelist, Andrew Taylor, is among the guests, which is pretty exciting. More info here soon (or email me).

Thank you for reading!

Cheryl

Cheryl Burman

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