At The Melting Pot

'Indiana Bones and the Temple of Croon'.
Many thanks to Nick and Fee Ryall for inviting me to perform at the above event on Saturday, 23rd July. Well done, Mr Bones!  It was a great show and I am sure that everyone who was there is looking forward to the next one.  I read my poem in praise of chocolate cake and 'Survival in the Jungle, An Innocent's Guide'.  This last written specifically for this performance. Feedback was positive, I think, and, for someone like me whose heart is usually in darkness, it was nice to do something light for a change. I think I have enough for a whole comic set now. Any takers? :0)

Update for the end of July

'The Poetry of Food: The Joys and Sorrows of Eating' was the theme for the evening at Penryn Library (Friday, 22nd July) and, thanks to the efforts of the organiser, Patricia Finney, the evening was well-attended and enjoyable.  Wine was drunk, cake was consumed, a great deal of fun was had.  My own contribution consisted of  two poems, one in praise of cheese and the other a hymn to chocolate cake.  These were followed by a piece that offered invaluable, if lighthearted, advice on the subject of survival in the jungle.  It was the second public outing for the first two pieces and the debut performance of the the third and, all in all, I was pleased with the manner in which all three were received. Patricia read a delightfully rude and witty piece on the subject of praline. (Enough said, I think.) I do hope that I shall be invited back for 'Penryn Week' next year.

New Developments and New Links

New stufff up at 'The Recusant' this week.  My thanks to Alan Morrison for publishing 'Mother Hubbard', a poem, and my short story 'Voices of Sweet Reason'. I have also added a new link to 'Short Humour' which has recently published a number of my lighter pieces, one of which, a hymn of praise to chocolate cake, is due to be performed at Penryn Library's 'The Poetry and Prose of Food' later this month. Another new link is to 'Poetic Diversity' (Los Angeles) which published my poem 'Moon' quite some time ago.  Unfortunately, in the hustle and bustle of life I somehow managed to miss it  Better late than never, though, and my thanks go to the editors. 'Long Story Short' is a long-standing link but the current issue carries one of my poems which can be found by going to the 'Poetry Page' and scrolling down.  Over the past two years, LSS has taken quite a number of poems and, if you are interested, these can be found in the archives.

A Quick Update

I am pleased to say that I am so far managing to keep up with the 'One Million Stories Shorts Challenge. I have just submitted my latest story, 'The Worst Thing, and I am thinking over this week's prompt which is 'Made in Hollywood'. 

Recently, I have had three poems accepted by 'A Long Story Short', the first of which, 'A Bird at the End of Winter', will appear in the March edition.

The latest edition of 'Poetry Cornwall' is now available from Les Merton at Palores Press.  It includes my poem, 'Scar on the Landscape' as well as my reviews of two poetry collections and one book of Cornish tales.  I am grateful to Lesley Pengelly for the review of my own poetry collection, 'Moths in a Jar'.

I am also grateful to Richard Thomas, the editor of a new online magazine, 'Symmetry Pebbles'.  Since January of this year, he has published a number of my poems.  I will add a link as soon as I am able to do so. 

Moon Poems in 'Fruits of the Moon'

I am happy to have heard today that a four of my poems have been accepted for inclusion in a book of artwork and poetry being being created by Jade Moon .  The poems in question are: 'The Moon', 'The Moon and I', 'Lilith' and 'In the Face of Fire'. My thanks go to Jade for her sympathetic response to my work.  I will post more details on the availability of the book as and when they become available.

Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa...

I am remiss.  I note with shame and horror that many months have passed since my last entry.  I cannot possibly hope to 'catch up' on all developments so I have no choice but to start from here and to resolve to do better this time.

So, what is the news?  Well, I my poetry collection, 'Moths in a Jar' is reviewed in the current edition of 'Words with JAM'.  I will try to add a link that will enable readers to subscribe to this excellent magazine, which is all the more excellent for being totally free.  Also, I have a piece of flash, 'Evening Prayer', and story, 'The Gecko's Tale' which has just gone on line at millionstories.net. My good friend, Richard Thomas, is now the editor of Symmetry Pebbles and he has been kind enough recently to publish a number of my poems.  I will try to provide a link for this also but, for those of you who may be impatient, both 'Words with JAM' and 'Symmetry Pebbles' are easily located with the aid of Google.

In a rather different arena, I have recently had an enormous amount of fun playing Pussy in 'Pussy in Boots', an adult pantomime that raised £380 for children with cancer.  Our next project is Old Time Music Hall so I am preparing to be Marie Lloyd.  Anybody out there in possession of a parasol and a suitable hat?  If so, do speak up.  It is all in a worthy cause. :0)

Thursday, 1st July

Update

Life is hectic at the present time that I have been forced to neglect this blog. However, here are just a few points of information.  Firstly, the 'One Million Stories' anthology for the 'Best of 2009' is now available on line via Amazon. (I have my copy so please support this project and purchase yours.) The anthology includes my short story 'On Walking Carne Brae'. 

Secondly, 'Ink, Sweat & Tears' have accepted my poem 'Ensign' which was inspired by and is dedicated to the very wonderful David Rowland. (Thank you, David, just for breathing in and out.) 

Thirdly, 'Creature Comforts', a quarterly journal that publishes poetry and prose connected with the animal world, has taken four poems and a photoraph (to appear in the next issue).  'Creature Features' is published in Cyprus and circulated world-wide.  My thanks go to Les Merton of  Palores Press for providing the lead.
 
Finally, I am in the early stages of preparing copy for my collection of poems, 'Moths in a Jar'.  It is expected that this will be available around October at a cost of £4 for 40 pages.  I will, of course, be very happy to take advance orders.  Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to sneak a peek at the 'real' Abigail Wyatt. As  a certain Sunday rag used to promise, 'all human life is there'!

P.S. I have just remembered that 'Words With Jam' have accepted my poem 'A Year Ago' for inclusion in their 2010 Christmas Book.  I think that is about all for now.  Back soon, I hope.

 Here is the Amazon link referred to  in my previous post. :0)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1445735806/ref=sib_rdr_dp

Sunday, 6th June, 2010

At last, a return to blogging.  Assignments completed and 'Massacre at St Hilda's' concluded, I have time to think and write  - though not, of course, necessarily in that order.  My latest news is that the 'One Million Stories' Anthology for 2009 - which includes my story 'On Walking Carne Brae' - is now available on Amazon price £7.99.  (I will add a link for this shortly.) Also, my poem, 'On a Beach in Winter' will appear in the October edition of 'Poetry Cornwall'. I have been foolhardy enough to sign up for Write a Damned Novel in June and I am currently roughly 2,000 words behind.  I am not, in fact, writing a novel but rather a number of short stories.  This is permitted so long as the target of 50,000 words is reached.

Thursday 1st April, 2010

The April edition of 'Word with JAM' is out NOW.  It contains a small collection of my poems which have been most attractively presented.  If you have not seen it, you are missing a treat; this is an excellent magazine for anyone with an interest in writing.  It is available FREE online if you complete the subscription form.  Just google 'Words with JAM'.
      Also, today I have signed up for NaPoWriMo, an event that is linked to the Open University and that runs throughout April.  The idea is to write a poem a day every day for a month.  I have set up a blog page especially for this purpose and have added a link. That said, I had better be off - to do some writing...

Monday, 29th March, 2010.

The One Million Stories Creative Writing Project is thrilled and delighted to announce the launch of its first publication:

Good news today.  I received this e mail very late last night. (It was reassuring to know that I am not the only one who sits at my desk until three or four in the morning.) The story in this anthology is not the one that is currently on line at One Million Stories but another published right at the end of last year.  It is called 'On Walking Carne Brae' and, while it is not autobiographical, I would like to dedicate this piece to the indelibly painful memory of Jonathan Paul Anthony Wyatt - wherever he is and whatever name he is using at this time.. Bitter? Moi?  How could you think it?  :0)

"The One Million Stories Creative Writing Project 2009 Anthology"!

Congratulations to all our fabulous contributors:

JF Chavoor, Claire Snook, Vivienne McCulloch, Lilit Hotham, Linda Davies, M King, Bryan McGuiness, Simon Kellow-Bingham, Joe Miller, Peter Forester, Clare Glennon, Cecelia McSweeney, M Johnson, Jaume Munoz, Vivian McInerny, Maureen Simpkin, Dark Alley, Alan Hutcheson, and Abi Wyatt.

The book looks fantastic and the stories are all terrific reads! This really is a very strong collection! We have to thank all the writers who contributed and all the readers who gave their time in order to polish the final draft.

Friday, 26h March, 2010

I have just popped in this morning to add a new link to 'Rumble'.  The current issue, out today, contains my 'micro piece' 'Outline'.  If you have a minute to spare, you could do worse than have a look.  Even if you don't like my piece, 'Rumble' is a great magazine.  :0)

Thursday, 25th March

Here we go again.  Far too much to do and not enough time to do any of it properly.  Why do I keep inflicting this kind of panic on myself?  I have two short weeks in which to work out the structure of a screenplay - I am still fannying around re-defining the action-idea - and then write enough of it to demonstrate that it's utterly brilliant.  At the same time, I have lines to learn for the new murder mystery - which was penned by my good friend, David Carlisle, and is utterly brilliant - and in which I play - titter ye not! -  the part of Twiggy St Clair, super model.  Now, I have lost twelve pounds since January but I will need to lose another twelve to make even  a passable Twiggy.  Fortunately, it's a comedy - and I will be wearing a wig and a hat.  By the way, my thanks go to the talented and tireless Barbara Laffin for her 'Garage Entertainment' fundraiser which took place last Saturday.  This proved to be a show that was truly fun for all the family.  I enjoyed it so much that, in a moment of weakness, I agreed to do a'turn' next time.  See what I mean?  Maybe I should deliver my rendition of 'I'm Jest A Gal Who Can't Say No'...  Back to the screenplay!

Sunday, 7th March, 2010

Today the weather is bright but very cold and I am torn between the desire to be out in the sunshine and the need to stay warm.  Two bouts of flu over the past three months have left me with a persistent cough and the fact that my heating sytem is broken beyond repair is not helping matters.  However, the March issue of 'A Long Story Short' is now available and includes my sonnet 'Dead Letters'.  Do have a look if you can spare the time.  Meanwhile, I must return to the business of preparing new submissions, a process which I quite enjoy but which can be very time-consuming.  Sometimes, though, when one is not feeling terribly creative, it is a useful displacement activity...

Thursay, 4th March, 2010

Today is my father's birthday.  This is both a sad and a happy occasion because he died on the16th June last year.  My mother and I have placed a bouquet of white flowers next to his photograph and we will be thinking of him throughought the day. We will remember him as he was when he was still strong and healthy. He was a good man, a man who loved to cherish things and to watch them grow. May he have found lasting peace and a release from constant pain.

Today, too, I have heard that Words with JAM are to publish four of my poems as a small collection at the end of this month.  This is a new outlet for me which is always exciting.  As soon as the poems become availabe, I will add a link.

I have also heard from 'One Million Stories' that my story 'On Walking Carne Brae' is to be included in their annual 'best of' anthology so my thanks go to the editors there. 

All this is helping me to 'come back to life' following the tragic loss of my sister-in-law and very best friend, the lovely Estefania Maria Garcia Poole who lost her ten year battle with breast cancer on the 5th February this year.  Among my photographs are those taken at last summer's 'Race for Life'.  She leaves two sons, Samuel and Miguel, and the husband to whom she was devoted.  She will be missed by many and always in the hearts of those who loved her dearly.

New Link to Ink, Sweat & Tears

My poem 'After the Deluge' came out in 'Ink, Sweat & Tears' yesterday so I have added a link as promised. Life has been rather difficult and fraught of late and, quite apart from these problems, I am currently struggling to formulate a proposal for my ECA (which is a major assessment piece) and  attend almost nightly rehearsals for 'Dick Whittington' in which lavish theatrical spectacle I take the part of King Rat.  I hope to get back to making regular submissions as soon as all this is over.  Onwards and upwards. 

6th January, 2010

Good news, good news! Yesterday brought my first acceptance of 2010. Ink, Sweat & Tears have accepted a short poem, 'After the Deluge', something I actually wrote some time ago but 'tweaked' just ecently.  The editors have not yet advised me of the edition in which the poem will appear so I will add a link in due course.  MT New Year Resolution is to be both more organised and more disciplined in the business of submitting work. In the past, it has been something I have done too sporadically.  Time to pull myself together!

A New Piece Out Today

The first of my three pieces with million stories.net is out today.  It is called 'On Walking Carne Brae'.  I am adding a link that on One Million Stories right now. :0)

Good News

Yesterday was a good day.  I came home from the gym feeling too weak to switch on the laptop.  Later, though, I was so pleased that I made the effort because I had two acceptance e mails, one from A Long Story Short and the other from One Million Stories.  A Long Story Short have taken two poems, 'The Far Side of the Hill' and 'Moving On'. These will be in the July and September editions respectively.  (I already have poems due out with them in January and March.). One Million Stories have taken three stories the first of which, 'On Walking Carne Brae' will be available before Christmas.  The others, 'Good News' and 'Marital Hystery', will follow in the the new year.  I will add a link for One Million Stories in the very near future. It is an excellent site for readers and writers of short prose fiction and well worth a look.

Sunday, 1st November, 2009

 On Death, Life and End of Course Assessment

I have settled on the general direction of my ECA writing project (OU Advanced Creative Writing A363).  Broadly speaking, I am interested in bringing together the ideas of 'death' and 'narrative'.  I hope to consider stories that turn on the imminence of death or the presence of 'death in life'; also, those tales and enduring myths that seek to explore death's power and mystery.  There will be those, no doubt, who will think me odd,  if not actually perverse - we are living in an 'Icarus culture' that has scant regard for the dark -  but I do I believe that, at this time,  it is into the darkness that my soul wants to go; consequently, I find I have no option but to follow it.  In any case, any lingering doubts that I may have felt have been dispelled by my recent reading of James Hillman's 'Suicide and the Soul' (Fifth Spring, 1978 ) in which - apart from much food for thought - I found the following quotation from 'Healing' by D.H. Lawrence:

I am not  mechanism, an assembly of various sections,

And it is not because the mechanism is working wrongly that I am ill.

I am ill because of wounds to the soul, to the deep, emotional self

and the wounds to the soul take a long, long time, only time can help

and patience, and a certain difficult repentance

long, difficult repentance, realisation of life's mistake, and the freeing oneself

from the endless repetition of the mistake

which mankind at large has chosen to sanctify.'

                                                  From 'Healing' by D.H. Lawrence 'Selected Poems' (1916) Viking Press

which struck me as being so completely pertinent to my situation as to constitute a providential blessing.  Please, if you can point me in the direction of a text you think I need to read, do not be shy about saying so.  Help me 'build my ship of death'!