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Meet our Authors
Mike Adshead
Born in 1954 Michael Adshead has lived in the Potteries or Newcastle under Lyme
all his life. He went to Hanley High when it was a Grammar School and was one
of the first students to go through the Sixth Form College at Fenton when it
opened. From there he became a teacher, training at Crewe and Alsager College
of Education after which he taught either in the Stoke area or Newcastle under
Lyme for 23 years. His opinions of this time are summarised in Grey Fog. He
still lives in Newcastle, runs an internet business, restores antiques, is a
musician and, of course, writes.
He began to write as a teenager, concentrating on poetry, songs and short
stories. Over the years he has given up writing on several occasions and for
long periods of time but has always gone back to it. This collection is his
first collection to be published.
Pete Boot
Pete Boot born in West Bromwich, had his first set of drums at the age of
eight. It came complete with a manual but he says the last page was missing and
so he he's been drumming ever since. In fact he's drummed his way through a
wide variety of Rock Groups including 'Blue Condition', 'Bullion', 'Budgie',
'Lion' and 'The Hole In The Head Gang'. What is more he is still going strong
with a reformed 'Lion'. Since his career began in the late sixties, he has not
only become well known for his drumming or his humour, earning himself the name
of Pete (Madness) Boot, but as a lyricist.
A short while ago he was diagnosed as having Parkinsons disease and has
astounded his specialists by still drumming - evidently it's the sense of rythm
that is usually affected first. This has let rise to some poignant poetry which
he has allowed us to showcase.
All payments for downloading will be donated to
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE
RESEARCH AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM
which he has supported
strongly since he was first diagnosed.
Roger Bradley
Roger has been writing stories and poems for children for as long as he can
remember (although he is known to have a fairly short memory). This was the
first novel that he finished, though not the first that he started. In his 56
years on this planet, he has been a cowboy, a comic collector, a schoolteacher
and a thousand other characters all trying to get out of his head onto the
written page. Most of these have not as yet succeeded, but there's still time.
"I wrote Charlie's Line about the places and people I met as a child on
holiday with my Grandparents in Glasbury-on-Wye on the Welsh Borders, although
the two girls in the story really belong somewhere else. They were all people I
loved, and have never forgotten, but some of the events in the story may not be
so accurately recalled, especially the ghosts and the very, very scary creature
that is lurking around the corners of Davy's vision. Did I mention that the
story gets a bit frightening in places?
"My favourite pastime is probably reading comics and remembering those days
long ago when I was a cowboy on the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire (roughly
between the ages of six and thirteen, although Mum thought I was never going to
pack that Roy Rogers six-gun away).
"My favourite authors are Ray Bradbury and Terry Pratchett, although my
favourite book of all time is "The Master and Marguerite" by Mikhail Bulgakov.
My favourite children's book is "The Magician's Nephew" by C. S. Lewis, but
yes, I do like J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter books as well. For me, the pictures
in my mind were far more exciting when I read Lewis's books for the first time.
I love reading poetry written for children as well, and it is hard to choose a
favourite but I guess it would have to be "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel
Silverstein.
One thing further; so many people have asked me to reveal the Secret of Where
Ideas Come From. It's simple really. What you have to do is this…"
(Regrettably, at this point we were interrupted by the arrival of a large black
horse, and Mr Bradley, quickly donning a black mask, leapt into the saddle
yelling "Yip! Yip! Yip! Hi-yo! Away!" and rode off into the sunset.)
Steve Emmanuel
Born in Sicily and writing in Italian, Steve Emmanuel first had success as a
poet when his work was anthologised in the 1970's. To many people this may be a
surprise, since he is more well known nowadays as a talented writer of epics
with colourful plots and settings in his native Sicily. But digging beneath
the surface of style the same man and writer can be seen in all of his work:
poet and novelist, addressing the eternal verities, and affirming - through all
vicissitudes - the final redeeming value of human existence. We look forward to
showcasing one of his novels later this year.
Ian Dyer
At the time of showcasing 'The Watchman' Ian was 29 years old and living in Portsmouth, England where he has lived for his whole life. He says he likes to read whenever he gets the chance but writing always seems to take most of his time. He also plays the guitar and loves to ride his motorbike.
Writing mainly fantasy, he likes to include a realistic edge but he says he doesn't know where his ideas come from. "They just appear like stars in the night sky, " he says, and when the idea pops in his head he has to write it down.
Malcolm Graham
After five years living in North Wales, Malcolm has moved back to Newcastle
upon Tyne and has two grown up children Keith and Jill.
His hobbies include hill walking, which gives him plenty of time to think up
plots for another of his keen hobbies writing children's adventure/fantasy
stories. As well as playing badminton he has done a lot of voluntary work over
the last 25 years, running community groups, youth clubs and adventure clubs.
In October of last year he went to India for six weeks and toured down the west
coast, as he wanted to look at the possibility of living and working out there
helping some of the street children. Unfortunetly the situation there is that
bad that he felt the contribution he could make would be minimal. Plus it is
still very much a third world country and he was happy to come home and put his
time in India down as an experience, but not one he would like to repeat.
He told us:
'I write because I enjoy it. I have great fun writing, because though I have
some idea of what the story is about when I start a new book; the story has a
mind of its own and most of the time I don't know what's coming next.'
He started writing for the 8-10 year old age group, then progressed to the
10-12 age group and now has moved up to the 13+ age group.
Ray Hardy
Award winning author Ray Hardy has been publishing since 1995. His work ranges
from detective stories and dark political thrillers to science fiction. You
might detect the influence of H.G. Wells in his early work but increasingly he
is developing a taut and thrilling style full of twists, that is uniquely his
own. We all eagerly await the completion of his latest novel "Dawn's Dusk Over
Heaven's Gate."
Jacki Jackson
Jacki is a published writer of articles, short stories, reviews, interviews,
BBC radio story series, and more. She lectures in Journalism and related
subjects at Keele University, Staffs.
She's also a singer/songwriter and a keen diarist, with a bohemian attitude to
life and a peculiar sense of humour!
She's just setting up her own website, which you'll be able to log onto at
www.creativewritingdirect.co.uk
and which will be up'n' running from the beginning of May 2001.
Ian Hassall
Ian Hassall's poetry has not only received radio performances but also
publication
in a number of literary magazines including Outposts, The Rialto and Envoi. A
former editor of Lexikon he is a member of the Newcastle and Keele
writer's group and publishes short stories and literary criticism.
He is a
prize winning playwright and has had his work performed on stage at the
Coventry Belgrade and Birmingham Repertory theatres. His latest play will be
performed at the Hereford Courtyard later this year.
Dick Lamot
Dick Lamot is a pseudonym for a published author better known for other styles
of writing. He has asked us not to say too much about him and we respect his
confidentiality.
Stephen Leese
Stephen Leese is 33 and was born in Australia, though he's lived almost almost
all of his entire life in Stafford. He works for a micro-electronics
multinational and writes in his spare time. Creative writing was his best
subject in school and he has always wanted to take a hobby he enjoys and turn
it into a career.
He says "During my 'learning period' I wrote tales of macabre Lovecraftian
horror, several of which have been published to positive reception in an
American E-zine. Now, having picked up both the writing knack and the writing
bug, I've started to branch out. 'FJD' is the second novel I have completed,
though I have written four in total.
When I'm not warping the world with my dystopian dreams I enjoy computer art,
online flight-simulators, reading, and watching DVDs on my state-of-the-art PC.
Unfortunately I'm not sure exactly what art my computer is state of, though it
might be woodwork. Needless to say, my computer chair has worn deep ruts into
the carpet. I look forward to making a career out of my writing, and using the
profits to by a new carpet before the old one wears out and the floor gives way
completely."
Duane Locke
Duane Locke, Doctor of Philosophy in English Renaissance literature, Professor
Emeritus of the Humanities, was Poet in Residence at the University of Tampa
for over 20 years. Has had over 2,000 of his own poems published in over 500
print magazines such as American Poetry Review, Nation, Literary Quarterly,
Black Moon, and Bitter Oleander. Is author of 14 print books of poems, the
latest is WATCHING WISTERIA ( to order write Vida Publishing, P.O. Box 12665,
Lake, Park, FL. 33405-0665, or Amazon or Barnes and Noble). Since September
1999, he became a cyber poet and started submitting on-line, and since
September 1999 he has added to his over 2,000 print acceptances with 1,291
acceptances by e zines.
He is also a painter. Now has exhibitions at Thomas Center Galleries
(Gainesville, FL) and Tyson Trading Company (Micanopy, FL) Recently a one-man
show at Pyramid Galleries (Tampa, FL)
Also, a photographer, has had 116 of his photos selected for appearance on e
zines. He photographs trash in alleys. Moves in close to find beauty in what
people have thrown away.
He now lives alone in a two-story decaying house in the sunny Tampa slums. He
lives isolated and estranged as an alien, not understanding the customs, the
costumes, the language (some form of postmodern English) of his neighbors. The
egregious ugliness of his neighborhood has recently been mitigated by the
esthetic efforts of the police force who put bright orange and yellow posters
on the posts to advertise the location is a shopping mall for drugs. His alley
is the dumping ground for stolen cars. One advantage of living in this
neighborhood, if your car is stolen, you can step out in the back and pick it
up. Also, the burglars are afraid to come in on account of the muggers.
His recreational activities are drinking wine, listening to old operas, and
reading postmodern philsophy
Jason Mundy
Jason Mundy, younger brother of Mick Mundy has a wonderfully humerous but
wicked style of writing and has delighted readers for a number of years now.
Many of his well balanced tales have an impish twist to the end which rarely,
if ever seems contrived.
As well as short stories, many of which have been published, he also writes
poetry and whilst he says he's no poet, he has also had a number of them
published in a fair number of publications.
Mick Mundy
Has had a number of short stories, articles and poetry published. Of
'Cow Byres and Elephants' is his second novel and was short listed
for the
Emissary humerous novel competition under the title of 'The Great Escape'
since when it has been completely re-written.
He has a sequel ready planned set in Scotland, this has the chance to meet many
of his wonderful characters again and to savour an extremely unique plot.
Unfortunately, this is on hold at the moment while he tests the water with 'Of
Cow Byres'. I had the fortune to meet Mick on a couple of occasions and know a
number of readers who are eagerly awaiting the day his next in the (possibly
long) series comes out.
When I last met him him I asked him what he's doing at the moment - He told me
it was top secret (it always is with him) but whatever it is, I know that his
pen will never hold enough ink and it's only a matter of time before his name
will regularly appear on the bookshelves.
Annmarie O'Connor
Poet, Annmarie hails from Long Island, New York but has been living in
Ireland for nearly 17 years. With a mother from Inishbofin and a father from
Brooklyn, she seems to literally be caught between "a rock and a hard
place"! If you ask her what nationality she considers herself to be, don't
be suprised if the answer is "a cross-cultural hybrid".
She attended University College Galway where she read English and Italian at
B.A. level and Literature and Publishing for her Master's. She also studied
Italian Renaissance theatre for a year in Bologna where she cultivated her
love for all things Italian (which currently includes The Sopranos ).
She is currently working for a publishing company but has taught at both
third and second levels and apparently suffered an ill-fated stint as a
recruitment consultant.
Her favourite writers include Douglas Coupland (the subject of her thesis),
Bret Easton Ellis, Umberto Eco and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Her influences as a poet are her own personal experiences. She paraphrases
Coupland in referring to them as "these small silent moments which are the
true story-making events of our lives". (Life After God: p.255)
Her work has been published in Write Here! Right Now! and will also be seen
in the following magazines during the course of the year: Voyage, Mslexia,
Lexikon, The Gentle Reader, Snakeskin and Purr. You can currently view her
work online at http://www.scriobh.com and
http://members.tripod.com/coilzine.
Philip Neptune
Philip Neptune's work is enjoyed as much by adults as children. With a
magical style he transports us into other worlds - of fairies and badgers and
dragons and gongles. But however far we may travel we are never distant from
the eternal verities: from the value of friendship and love and of simple human
kindness. Always in his stories we seem to be inside a just and caring universe.
Janis M Robertson
Janis has been telling stories since she first opened her mouth, and writing
them down since she discovered what paper and ink were for. Over the years, she
has had many short stories, articles and poems published, and is currently
working on a new novel.
As a working wife, mother and grandmother, she juggles the many roles life has
handed her to find the time to caress her beloved keyboard; there are never
enough minutes in an hour.
A firm believer in adult education – in which the written word still has such a
leading role - Janis graduated from the Open University in 1989, and is
currently doing a course in business computing; she feels that you have to keep
abreast of the times in order to make the best of what life has to offer.
Dorothy Spry
DOROTHY SPRY was fortunate to have been born in North Cornwall, United Kingdom,
where she learned to surf at an early age. She is married and still lives in
her home town. She has a daughter and a son and four grandsons.
She has written five novels, two of which were published in the internet. Not
Alone and Parallel Lines
Her latest novel, Shock Waves is due to be published in the Showcase of
Ascriber/Writerseyes website..
Roger Stapenhill
Has had a number of short stories, articles (including those on creative
writing) and poetry published. He has also written two novels including
this one. At the present time he is busy writing a crime thriller which
has already caught the eye of one well known publisher.
Gabby Tyrrell
Poet, Gabby Tyrrell has an MA in performance studies, and in these days of
getting poetry published, has had her work published in small poetry magazines
and had four books published by Writers Forum, the latest being launched on
the 17.11.2001 in London. She publishes mainly through performance but with no
circuit near her home town of Preston, she hopes to move back to London in a
year.
Click here
for an interview with Gabby
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