Arts for Arts Sake

The other day I was invited to join a networking website designed by a retired literary agent turned writer, Roger W Povey, based in Hastings in the south of England.  

To be honest, I did not have time to look at his site, Arts for Arts Sake, when the invitation came in.  I was up to my ears in work and would normally have hit the delete key without bothering to investigate, as I usually do with unsolicited emails.  However, it was precisely because I was so busy that the email stayed in my inbox as I missed it when I was housekeeping.  Today I have looked at the site in detail.

It was set up in October 2008, so it is a fledgling still.  However, to date it has 409 members from all over the world. Myself being its 409th.  Most members are artists working in every conceivably medium, from conventional oils to junk.  Their profiles make interesting reading and give an idea of the scope of what is called 'art' in this day and age.  As an art historian I find this fascinating.

There are not too many writers on the site and only one other that I could find, apart from the sites' founder, who lives in England.  It will be interesting to see if my joining brings others out of the woodwork.  It is always good to hear from fellow writers and I look forward to hearing from my peers.

If you are interested in looking at the site click here and to read my page, which is brand new as of minutes ago, click here.  Let me know what you think of each!  

The Lady

Imagine my surprise when, first, the post was delivered before noon this morning and then, I found that there was a copy of The Lady inside the single envelope delivered!

Not only that, but on page 48 (yes, I know, a fair way into the magazine) there was my article on Eling Tide Mill, just outside Southampton, which I mentioned on this blog a little while ago. 

To say that this was unexpected is not quite true as I heard a little while ago that the article had been accepted but I did not know when it would be published.  Today is the day!

So, if you are going past a newsagent today, you might like to look in and pick up a copy of The Lady.  It really is a good read!

Penny everywhere!

Crumbs!  Hot on the heels of my name mentioned by Chris, at the Torrevieja Writers Circle, I find that I pop up on another blog!  This time it is Rob Innis' excellent read, which you can look at here.

Yes, he and I are interested in collaborating on a book together.  Fingers crossed it will work out. Watch this space!

Going Online

Further to my visit to the Torrevieja Writer's Circle, one of the group, Chris, has now set up a blogsite.  You can visit it here.

I advised the group that, in this day and age, it is professional to have an online presence.  The message seems to have gone home and I am really pleased to see Chris on the web now.  She has also kindly mentioned me, which is an added bonus!  Enjoy.

Torrevieja Writers Circle

I was made to feel very welcome at the Torrevieja Writers Circle (TWC), just outside Alicante, yesterday.

Novelist Nik Morton heads the group of local expat writers, who had come to read their latest works, chat about markets and local trends and generally talk writing. It was good to see so many enthusiastic writers and to hear a range of work read out for comments.

Freda Lightfoot, novelist and author, made the long trip from Almeria to attend and was an interesting writer to talk to. The author of over thirty sagas of life in the north of England and several other works, she was able to offer experienced advice to the TWC members.

I talked, as asked, on my life and my work for the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. It is hard to pack several decades into half an hour and so I concentrated my talk on the value of building up and utilising life experience when writing. To illustrate this point I picked out such of my interests that have been particularly invaluable to me, for example, directing amateur dramatics, fund raising for local charities and the strange chance things that can happen when you least expect it, such as meeting an elephant in Starbucks. I illustrated some of these points by circulating articles in magazines which I have recently had published.

I then spoke on the Society of Women Writers and Journalists (SWWJ) and the services this 115 year old professional organisation can offer to writers of all genres and both sexes, whether published or working towards publication. I am the new editor of The Woman Writer, the SWWJs magazine, which builds on my experience of editing ACOCI Connection in the British West Indies and other magazines in the past, most notably for the British Women´s Association in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

A short question and answer session finished the talk.

Nik Morton has written on the session for the TWC blogsite, which can be read here.

I would like to thank the Torrevieja Writers Circle for inviting me to their meeting.

Off to Spain - hopefully....

Well, today is the day I am off to Spain to speak at the Torrevieja Writers Circle.  

Or, at least, I am supposed to be.  The Legg household has awoken to find that the world is a winter wonderland with snow picturesquely covering everything.  Beautiful, but, oh dear!  Travel disruption is widespread.  Will we manage to get to the airport?  I hope so.  We are flying from Bournemouth, which, according to the airport website, is still open, unlike Southampton, Gatwick, Luton and several others.  Let us hope the roads are passable to allow us to actually get to the airport...

Well, this is unexpected!

My first edition of The Woman Writer, the magazine of the Society of Woman Writers and Journalists (SWWJ), has hit the stands and has been very well received indeed.  I have been the recipient of calls and emails to congratulate me on the magazine and there have been a great many complimentary words said about my first effort.  

This is unexpected!  I just do my job.  I hope people like what I write, edit or photograph but I am always surprised when I hear that there are people out there in readerland who appreciate what I do.  So often there is no feedback to work and writers just hope they have it right, carrying on regardless.  It is therefore great to hear that not only is your work read but appreciated too.  

Sylvia Kent, the SWWJ's wonderful public relations member, as well as prolific author, freelance writer, journalist and photographer, has kindly blogged about me and my first edition of The Woman Writer.  To read what she has to say click here.  Thanks Sylvia!