Saturday, July 28, 2012

Writing for Young People at Moniack Mhor

A very few places remain on the Arvon course Writing for Young People - perhaps you should consider joining me and the prolific Paul Magrs - with a mid-week visit from no less than the Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson - 6-11 August, at Moniack Mhor.  I had the good fortune to be there for 5 weeks in the winter of 2011 as the Jessie Kesson Fellow, and I can absolutely vouch for the writerly magic of the place.  Not to mention the fineness of the food and the beauty of the location.* 



For me, it was heaven on a hill.  I think it could be for you too.

Cheers, Joan.

*(My best photos from my stay are of the Centre thigh-deep in snow.  Even with the summer we've been having, participants shouldn't be expecting that!)

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Happy Cello Man


Many thanks to Jo Kenrick for alerting me to the Piano Guys via Cello Wars - this and the return of the sun after so long are going to make for a great writing day - you see if they don't!

Cheers, Joan.

P.S.  Sorry about the ads - just click them away.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Photo Essay - 9-13th July 2012 - Charney Manor and the V & A






(Short on the right words for such an intense week, but it also doesn't seem right to not tip the time a nod, so this is my compromise.  Please perceive metaphors at your own discretion.

Cheers, Joan.)

Saturday, July 07, 2012

Every Which Way


My mind is being drawn every which way but here just now.

North:  to Orkney where my novel in progress, Silver Skin, is set.  And then even further up the way to Shetland - I'm working on a poem about the herring girls for the Farlin Project.

South:  to Oxfordshire.  (Well, all right, not all that south, but work with me here)  On Monday I'm heading off to the annual Scattered Authors' Society gathering/retreat/conference/thing at Charney Manor for the first time.  Certain trepidation level, but the long range weather report says it's going to be raining the whole time so that at least will be familiar.  (I'll be reporting on how it all went next Sunday)

West:  to Canada.  It was my mum's birthday last week - she would have been 91 - and my brother is in the midst of the long process of getting her belongings distributed.  It's hard to imagine her place without them or her in it.  But since she was born in China, her birthday also sends me to the ...

East:  to China where she was a tiny girl.  And to Cambodia/Thailand/Burma, from whence my oldest son is returning next Friday.  With stories to tell!

And, while all this mental gallivanting is happening in my mind, my cat just goes on sleeping.  Though the occasional twitch of whisker or paw suggests that she, too, may be having her moments ...

Cheers, Joan.