It was a full house at the very welcoming Greenwich gallery, Made In Greenwich yesterday when I and three of my Ward Wood Publishing colleagues gave our first collective reading together. Like a band on the road, the four of us had a great time and have vowed to do this again in the spirit of The Beatles movie, A Hard Day’s Night.

An idea dreamed up months ago in a conversation at London’s Poetry Café finally came to its very enjoyable conclusion last night in front of a large and encouragingly receptive audience (many of them were poets from the Greenwich area) hosted by the wonderfully informal and enthusiastic Irena Hill, co-owner of the gallery who stepped in at the last minute to replace our publisher, Adele Ward, who had become a victim of the London Underground strike. Thanks, Irena, you were great.

First up was Peter Phillips who fully engaged the audience right from the start with his wryly humourous and yet passionate readings from his two Ward Wood poetry collections, No School Tie and Oscar And I.

The No School Tie poems provide a vivid poet’s impression  of a boarding school childhood as well life as a writer,  a husband and a grandfather. Then Oscar And I, the confessions of a fictional minor poet George Meadows who experiences all the fragile hopes and stoically received disappointments of any writer’s life but with irony and honesty and humour. If you have read the poems but not heard Peter read them then you’ve missed a treat. Once heard, his voice always sounds in my head when returning to these delightful collections.

Next was American-born but London-based novelist and poet, Sue Guiney who is working on a series of novels set in Cambodia where she has founded a writing workshop for street children in Siem Reap and now spends about two months each year teaching there.  Her most recent novel, Out of the Ruins, the second in her Cambodia series, was published by Ward Wood in January. 

Sue read from Out Of The Ruins continuing her exploration of what happens when East meets West, in this case when two European doctors set up women’s clinic in Cambodian town of Siem Reap with the passionate assistance of a young Khmer nurse. Sue read this and some of her new Cambodian poems with the real passion and commitment she feels for this much put-upon country. She also read from her Ward Wood poetry collection, Her Life Collected, my latest “loo read” – a collection of wonderfully direct and personal poems that are my current inspiration.

Then there was Joe Stein, Ward Wood’s impressive crime writer, who is much more than that. He is a terrific writer who draws on, amongst other things, his life as an amateur boxer and professional bodyguard. His main character, Garron, is a body-guard with a philosophical soul and an ever-questioning attitude that gives the Garron books their special quality – I would say literary quality if that didn’t sound dull which the books most certainly aren’t.

Joe read from his latest Ward Wood novel, the third in the series, That Twisted Thing Called Truth and then, a special treat for people like me, hooked on what is going to happen next with the intriguing existentialist Garron, Joe read from his new novel, Through Another Night due to be released in October. I can’t wait.

And then there was me, the newest of all the Ward Wood novelists. I read some extracts from my book Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love enjoying the contrast between my hapless young fogey character Stephen and Joe’s much more muscular Garron. Afterwards, Joe and I pondered what it would be like if the two of them met. As Made In Greenwich usually hosts poetry events, I read part of my Fibonacci poetry sequence, Brief Encounters, a work still in-progress, but one day, I hope, a collection in the spirit of the Romantic song cycles by two of my heroes, that I used to sing as a young music student, Schubert’s Winterreise and Schumann’s Dichterliebe.

Peter, Sue, Joe and I are enthusiastic about doing this again. Our work is so contrasted that collectively the readings really do add up to something greater than it’s individual parts. More important than that though, it was fun.

STEPHEN DEARSLEY’S SUMMER OF LOVE BY COLIN BELL

My novel, Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love, was published  on 31 October 2013. It is the story of a young fogey living in Brighton in 1967 who has a lot to learn when the flowering hippie counter culture changes him and the world around him.

It is now available as a paperback or on Kindle (go to your region’s Amazon site for Kindle orders)

You can order the book from the publishers, Ward Wood Publishing:

http://wardwoodpublishing.co.uk/titles-fiction-colin-bell-stephen-dearsleys-summer-of-love.htm 

…or from Book Depository:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Stephen-Dearsleys-Summer-Love-Colin-Bell/9781908742070

…or from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Stephen%20Dearsley’s%20Summer%20Of%20love

The post Four have fun in Greenwich – the Ward Wood Writers hit the road. appeared first on Wolfie Wolfgang.

It’s today, folks. I’m reading from my novel, Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love and my fellow Ward Wood Publishing writers are reading from their work too. Come along and lend us your support – come and say hello too.

For more information here’s the link to my previous blog on this event:

https://wolfiewolfgang.com/2014/04/im-join-some-of-other-ward-wood-writers.html

STEPHEN DEARSLEY’S SUMMER OF LOVE BY COLIN BELL

My novel, Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love, was published  on 31 October 2013. It is the story of a young fogey living in Brighton in 1967 who has a lot to learn when the flowering hippie counter culture changes him and the world around him.

It is now available as a paperback or on Kindle (go to your region’s Amazon site for Kindle orders)

You can order the book from the publishers, Ward Wood Publishing:

http://wardwoodpublishing.co.uk/titles-fiction-colin-bell-stephen-dearsleys-summer-of-love.htm 

…or from Book Depository:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Stephen-Dearsleys-Summer-Love-Colin-Bell/9781908742070

…or from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Stephen%20Dearsley’s%20Summer%20Of%20love

The post Come and see me and my writer friends today in Greenwich. appeared first on Wolfie Wolfgang.

I went back to my secret wood yesterday knowing that it was time for the ground to be covered in a unique mass of misty blue. Time for English Bluebells – one of the wonders of English woodlands. It might not have been a sunny Spring day but the liquid light and a small sprinkling of rain made the whole seen even lusher than usual.  Sorry not to tell you where it is but I’m selfish like that and, anyway, you can enjoy those bluebells here.

Now I’m really sorry about this but going to that magical place always reminds me of my childhood and those innocent times when the whole world seems as beautiful as a bluebell wood. If that makes me feel “young at heart” so be it but it’s really no excuse to play this wonderfully corny video from 1984. My apologies all over again.

—————————————————————————————————

 I’m going to be appearing with three of my fellow Ward Wood writers in Greenwich,  London on Wednesday, 30th April.  Come along if you can – it would be good to see you.

——————————————————————————————————–

STEPHEN DEARSLEY’S SUMMER OF LOVE BY COLIN BELL

My novel, Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love, was published  on 31 October 2013. It is the story of a young fogey living in Brighton in 1967 who has a lot to learn when the flowering hippie counter culture changes him and the world around him.

It is now available as a paperback or on Kindle (go to your region’s Amazon site for Kindle orders)

You can order the book from the publishers, Ward Wood Publishing:

http://wardwoodpublishing.co.uk/titles-fiction-colin-bell-stephen-dearsleys-summer-of-love.htm 

…or from Book Depository:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Stephen-Dearsleys-Summer-Love-Colin-Bell/9781908742070

…or from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Stephen%20Dearsley’s%20Summer%20Of%20love

The post Time for the bluebells when our ancient woods burst into life. appeared first on Wolfie Wolfgang.

I’m getting ready for next Wednesday when I’m off to Greenwich for a reading from my novel, Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love with some of my fellow Ward Wood Publishing writers, Peter Phillips, Sue Guiney,  Joe Stein and Adele Ward (the Ward in Ward Wood).

I hope Peter Phillips will read from his latest poetry collection, Oscar And I, a funny and poignant collection telling the story of a very minor poet and his dog. Peter always makes me laugh – he can make me cry too. Joe’s latest novel, That Twisted Thing Called Truth is the third in a series of novels about the ex-boxer, Garron and his fight to survive in London’s criminal underworld.He has a new one coming out this Autumn and, who knows, he might even give us some clues about what’s next for the fascinating and much put-upon, Garron. In the meanwhile, I’m hoping to finish Sue’s new novel, Out Of The Ruins, the second in her absorbing series about the problems and joys in being a Western ex-pat in modern day Cambodia where tradition collides with science when two European doctors try to set up a clinic for the poor women of Siem Reap – I’m already a fan of Joe’s and Peter’s books and of Sue’s previous Cambodian novel, A Clash Of Innocents, now I’m hooked on Sue’s latest. I shall read from my novel Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love and I might decide to give some of my new novel an airing – it’s called Blue Notes, Still Frames and it too is set in Brighton.

We’ll be at the Made In Greenwich Gallery and Meeting Place at 7.30 on Wednesday along with some regular Greenwich poets so it would be good to meet some of you there. I’m hoping we can persuade Adele Ward to read from her novel too. It will be fun so come along if you can.

——————————————————————————————————–

STEPHEN DEARSLEY’S SUMMER OF LOVE BY COLIN BELL

My novel, Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love, was published  on 31 October 2013. It is the story of a young fogey living in Brighton in 1967 who has a lot to learn when the flowering hippie counter culture changes him and the world around him.

It is now available as a paperback or on Kindle (go to your region’s Amazon site for Kindle orders)

You can order the book from the publishers, Ward Wood Publishing:

http://wardwoodpublishing.co.uk/titles-fiction-colin-bell-stephen-dearsleys-summer-of-love.htm 

…or from Book Depository:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Stephen-Dearsleys-Summer-Love-Colin-Bell/9781908742070

…or from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Stephen%20Dearsley’s%20Summer%20Of%20love

The post I’m joining some of the other Ward Wood writers for next week’s Greenwich readings. appeared first on Wolfie Wolfgang.

I need to keep reminding myself that I live in a very attractive English town. I’d been pretty house-bound until recently with a lung condition which is, hopefully, now on the mend and I’ve been trying to get back to full fitness by taking exercise again. I’ve start my martial art practise, began to do a few weights and gone on walks around town. Mostly it has been in delightful Spring sunshine when the town, Lewes, looks, well, perfect. It is pretty good at night too, I noticed when I went to a party last night.

Lewes’ medieval remains look particularly evocative at night. This is the 14th Century Barbican gate.

 Wandering round in the dark, I remembered how much I liked night-walking and why I’ve always thought Lewes was a good place for a wolf.

—————————————————————————————————

 I’m going to be appearing with three of my fellow Ward Wood writers in Greenwich,  London on 30th April.  Come along if you can – it would be good to see you.

——————————————————————————————————–

STEPHEN DEARSLEY’S SUMMER OF LOVE BY COLIN BELL

My novel, Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love, was published  on 31 October 2013. It is the story of a young fogey living in Brighton in 1967 who has a lot to learn when the flowering hippie counter culture changes him and the world around him.

It is now available as a paperback or on Kindle (go to your region’s Amazon site for Kindle orders)

You can order the book from the publishers, Ward Wood Publishing:

http://wardwoodpublishing.co.uk/titles-fiction-colin-bell-stephen-dearsleys-summer-of-love.htm 

…or from Book Depository:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Stephen-Dearsleys-Summer-Love-Colin-Bell/9781908742070

…or from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Stephen%20Dearsley’s%20Summer%20Of%20love

The post Lewes’ wolf is allowed out at night again. appeared first on Wolfie Wolfgang.