We have come a long way in the two years since we first met; from strangers joining a creative writing class to a cohesive group of friends.
Our stories and poems have benefited from the feedback we get from one another each week, our latest anthology is now in print. Our aim is to produce at least one collection a year.
We have set up our own publishing division so are now able to invite writers from outside the group to submit manuscripts for consideration, and it is hoped that we will be able to offer a critiquing and proofreading service in the future.
Not bad for a group of enthusiastic amateurs, doing all this in our spare time!
The new ScribesRus anthology, "And Having Writ..." priced at £6.99 is available from bookshops or direct from Scribesrus1@aol.com
A more substantial read than our last anthology, "The Long and Short of It", its 200 plus pages contain another collection of short stories and poems. Some will make you laugh, some will make you think and some will make you wonder at the perversity of human nature.
I am also thrilled to say the book has been shortlisted (one of four) for the David St John Charitable Trust Fund prize, the winner to be announced in London on the 30th April.
Copies of "The Long and Short of It" are still available as are copies of "Uninspired", a collection of poetry, both priced a £5 from our website, or by email to Scribesrus1@AOL.com.
Jan Slade
Extracts from the Anthology.
Beryl Henshawe
Born in Wallasey, but has lived in Wales for such a long time she is almost a native. Don't let her depiction of everyday family life fool you; things aren't always what they seem.
|
Lost Soul
"Almost there," Ron turned and smiled at his wife, Sheila, sitting beside him in the van they had bought to move to their new home. Glancing in the rear-view mirror he saw the children, Josh and Ellie, still asleep: the long journey had finally got the better of them and even their excitement had succumbed to the drone of the engine and the gathering dusk outside and slowly given way to sleep...
John S. James
He has lived in Wales since childhood. His writing is gritty, his characters dark and the stories rush you through to an often-surprising ending.
|
One Winter's Night
How could she have forgotten all the good times? When she locked the front door and we cuddled up on the sofa, just me, her and a cup of cocoa. I'd suspected there was someone else for a while. She seemed preoccupied all the time and she was off her food, which meant I was off mine. I'd never been one for eating out, so I had to resort to nagging and pestering before she would take up the tin-opener....
Richard Jones
Coming to the Swansea area in the Sixties, and there are no 'Sacred Cows' in his lexicon, he'll tackle any subject with his edgy prose or poetry.
|
A Place of Safety
She tumbled headlong into the space and, as the light vanished, heard the door slam behind her and the bolts click into place. The darkness was absolute. There was not even a crack of light where the open door had been. She remained frozen, crouching on her hands and knees, listening. Nothing, but the sound of her own laboured breathing.....
Colin Jones
Born in Cwmllynfell Colin has subsequently travelled the world with the Army. His writing, sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, evoke life in Wales as it used to be.
|
An Embarrassing Misunderstanding
The first Monday of September was a very sunny day back in the summer of 1960, when I was a young fifteen year old and easily led. Just out of school and one week into a man's world of working in a noisy factory where I was te learn new words and new skills that would eventually make me into an engineer. This day was going to stay in my memory for a long time and it started with a request from my foreman to go to the locker room, put on some old shoes and overalls and meet him at the 'bog'...
Continue to read extracts from The Long and Short Of It - Part Two.
