"My local Waterstones is going to do a display for the new book and our town magazine is going to feature my work in its Monthly Good Read section," reveals Frank McMahon from Cirencester, Gloucester, whose new book The Light Will Always Return is published by Tim Saunders Publications. "It was a great launch event," adds Frank (photographed below). "Fifty in the audience, great readings, good sales, quality of the publication very well received. The cover photo went down really well. It was a happy and relaxed event all round. Thank you for all you did to make this possible." Frank is now embarking on a book tour where he will visit various venues in Gloucestershire. There are further readings scheduled on April 26 - 1pm, Poetry Cafe, Cheltenham. June 10 - 2pm, Cirencester Library (Writers in the Library), May 1 - 7pm, online Crafty Crows, Gloucestershire Poetry Society and September 8 - 6pm, Buzzwords, Exmouth Arms, Cheltenham.
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PRESS RELEASE The Tales of Helen and Lysander – a new and exciting historical children’s book Today's children don't know they're born! In ancient Sparta the age of seven was a very important age. It was the age that children grew up and started to prepare for adult life. For a Spartan boy this involved going into a training academy called the agoge to learn how to be a warrior and for a Spartan girl her training involved an education programme almost as tough as that faced by the boys in order to make her physically fit and tough. This is the story of two such seven year olds - Lysander and his twin sister, Helen. “The story joins them at home on the eve of their seventh birthday,” says author Stephen Hodgson from Reading, Berkshire. “The next morning they are introduced to the very different worlds of their harsh new training programmes.” They must overcome hunger, pain and injury in a series of life-threatening challenges in order to survive to the next stage of their training. The Tales of Helen and Lysander will be officially launched at the end of April and will be available online and in all good bookshops. PRESS RELEASE A Nottingham writer has won top prize. Pete Pitman from Stapleford has won the Best Short Story (age 12 and under) in The Paul Cave Prize for Children’s Literature 2024 for his story Rumpleskin’s Stilt and won himself £100 and a copy of the book. Judges’ comment: Rumpleskin’s Stilt is a lovely dreamy story that is fun and has a generally positive ending albeit tinged with sadness. In this enjoyable, believable tale, we are transported back to a different time. The children love the characters and the escape from reality to the land of make-believe. The prize which also has categories for poetry and flash fiction received entries from the UK, France, America, Australia and Korea. Other winners: Best Short Story (age 8 and under) Writer Alwyn Davies and illustrator Maud Bazillier – Gogo the fireman Best Poem Hazel Bowden – The Key Best Flash Fiction Daan Spijer – Celeste Bear The Paul Cave Prize for Children’s Literature 2024 is available online and in all good bookshops. Merseyside PRESS RELEASE An ‘adopted Scouser’ is celebrating after having her debut novel published. The Pier by Em Coombes from Liverpool looks at the lives of residents who live around a pier in a fictional seaside town. “Although to publish a book has been a desire since putting pen to paper,” says Em, who studied a media and drama degree at Wolverhampton. “It was an aspiration I couldn’t ever see myself achieving. Now having published a full-length novel, it still doesn’t feel any less real!” After graduating, Em spent a year in Africa, and then twenty-five years ago she moved to Merseyside. “Em is a very talented writer,” says publisher Tim Saunders. “Each character is very believable.” As a child, Em was intent on scribbling down numerous subject ideas. However, they were mainly separate, random pieces of unstructured writing. “I’m unable to adequately describe how honoured becoming an author has made me. After all, what aspiring writer doesn’t dream of walking into a bookshop and seeing their own work on display!” Em is available for book signings in Liverpool and hopes that local bookshops and libraries will stock her book. Somerset PRESS RELEASE A Taunton born and educated writer is celebrating after having her debut novel published. The Pier by Em Coombes looks at the lives of residents who live around a pier in a fictional seaside town. “Although to publish a book has been a desire since putting pen to paper,” says Em, who studied a media and drama degree at Wolverhampton. “It was an aspiration I couldn’t ever see myself achieving. Now having published a full-length novel, it still doesn’t feel any less real!” After graduation Em spent a year in Africa. “Em is a very talented writer,” says publisher Tim Saunders. “I am sure Em has drawn on her skills as an avid people watcher when crafting each character because they are all so believable.” As a child, Em was intent on scribbling down numerous subject ideas. However, they were mainly separate, random pieces of unstructured writing. “I’m unable to adequately describe how honoured becoming an author has made me. After all, what aspiring writer doesn’t dream of walking into a bookshop and seeing their own work on display!” Em is available for book signings in Taunton and hopes that local bookshops and libraries will stock her book. PRESS RELEASE The third novel in a gripping murder mystery series has been released. A Long Game by Lin Bird sees DI Kate Medlar return to solve another murder, this time in the world of theatre. Lin is donating all her royalties from the entire series to South Wales Blood & Marrow Transplant based at the University of Wales (The Heath). She is working the fourth Medlar at the moment... PRESS RELEASE “The Light Will Always Return” is the title of Frank McMahon’s third book of poems. “Things which stopped me in my tracks inspired some of the poems in my book, alongside work which celebrates the work of other artists and craftspeople,” says Frank from Cirencester. “Other poems draw inspiration from the natural world, starting with winter light. There are shadows in the book: loss, environmental concerns, conflict but the abiding theme is hope and optimism. These essential qualities of living are there around us but also need to be generated by our resilience and our willingness to work towards protection and restoration.” The Light Will Always Return is published by Tim Saunders Publications and is available in paperback, hardback and as ebook online and in all good bookshops. It is being officially launched at 2pm on April 17 with a reading at Cirencester Rugby Club. There are further readings scheduled on April 26 - 1pm, Poetry Cafe, Cheltenham. June 10 - 2pm, Cirencester Library (Writers in the Library), May 1 - 7pm, online Crafty Crows, Gloucestershire Poetry Society and September 8 - 6pm, Buzzwords, Exmouth Arms, Cheltenham. Author bio: Frank McMahon lives in Cirencester and is a member of Somewhere Else Writers. His previous books, “At the Storm’s Edge” and “A Different Land were published by Palewell Press. He has won prizes for his work and read at The Cheltenham Literary and Poetry Festivals in 2023. Here's the latest of many testimonials for Hong Kong by Mary Levycky: You could not have known that I took Hong Kong to Seville where I ran the marathon a week ago today. When I read your book at night it eased the tension of the race that was looming. I just wanted you to know how much I thoroughly enjoyed your book, it was charming and a delight to read. You are a great story teller, and it was as if you were telling them to me. I could hear your voice. Many stories struck a chord with me, although they were at an earlier and more preserved period of life in HK than when I was there: the boat trip in your early years, when we too were traveling across the oceans on military transport ships, not as glam as yours. I could smell our boats and see the crew, and your description of the layout of the cabins etc brought it all back to me! typhoons and taping windows, the torrential rains and the aftermath the importance of amahs in our lives, although mine were Filipinas Lantau and Lamma Islands and junk trips your wonderful characters who still stand out for you, as do the ones who were a part of my life in HK etc etc etc I loved it, so thank you for recording your memories. Brilliant. - Marilyn Nelson "I have had a write up in the local paper in regards to my research into honouring Edel Wignell, a local author who died last year, who wrote over 100 children’s books," says Karen Lee Mills in Australia. "I will be speaking about her on International Women's Day."
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