Writing for Winchester

Having had a dryish period with my writing in the last few weeks, I've at last started re working Granny Liz a short novel idea for 7-9 year olds. Having cut out half the text from the first couple of chapters and dumping the last four I'm now flying along with the story. It is like cutting your manuscript up into a jigsaw puzzle and then tossing half of it away. Then you try to fit the pieces together with other pieces from a different jigsaw. Not easy, but once accomplished it is exhilarating.

Just back from Harrogate

Hi all, it seems such a long time since I've posted anything on my blog, so I'm deeply sorry to those who have been awaiting news.
I've been to Harrogate and had a wonderful time meeting up with other writers, all or most of them winners. I caught up with writers from the Talkback on the Writers' News website and put faces to names. It will make contacting and forum chat a bit brighter I feel.
Harrogate as a place was steeped in history. I'm just sorry I didn't get a chance to spend more time looking around. I will however book a break there very soon. I was fortunate to stay in the magnificent Majestic Hotel, and could imagine it in its hay day. The chandeliers were impressive and so many of them. I couldn't help imagining the glamour and elegance of staying in a place like this in the 1920/30's.
In the town my friend Lesley and I discovered the Harrogate Brassiere - It was beautiful, just how it should be. Dark burgundy walls, black and white images depicting various scenes. Small beautifully laid tables and live music gently playing in the back ground. The food was excellent. Both Lesley and I went for the lamb on a bed of mash with a redcurrant sauce with seasonal vegetables. It was perfectly cooked and the presentation extremely pleasing. We didn't have a starter but all were tempting. We instead both seem to have a sweet tooth. Again the menu was vast and all elegantly presented. We went for the brandy snap basket and three flavours of ice cream. Hmmmmmm it was scrummy. We finished off with a bottle of champagne to celebrate our successes so far and to toast our future achievements in writing to come.
During our stay we attended the Writers News prize giving where I picked up a cheque for £100 my prize money for winning the Foster Mum short story competition. I'm hoping to invest it in more ink. I've added a couple of pictures of some friends and myself at the awards.