Happy New Year to all my writing friends, and other friends who may read this writing blog too of course. This is the cover of the new book being published in May 2010. This one is set in Wiltshire where we lived for nine years.

Other events in my writing calendar so far confirmed are two tutoring weekends at Earnley Concourse, which is near Chichester. If you have never been there you are missing a treat. It is a great place, comfortable rooms, fabulous food, an indoor swimming pool and the chance to attend weekends learning or improving on some of your favourite subjects. I am running a weekend course there in April, about writing a novel, and another weekend in October on general writing. You can send for their brochure or go to my website (http://www.joanmoules.co.uk/) for further details.

Have a good writing year everyone, and I will try to put something on this site every month or so. I know I have been rather spasmodic about it. Several times I have written something about writing and put it on only to have it disappear before I can'publish' it. However I think I have the hang of it now. All good wishes and happy writing, from Joan.

January 2010



Happy New Year. Still have snow here, but it is clearing. January is definitely not my favourite month. I like February though. It's short, there is the promise of spring, there are the snowdrops and often crocus peeping through, and because it is my birthday month I usually get taken out for a meal.



Not done much writing since before Christmas what with the celebrations and my husbands birthday party three days after Christmas. However am back at my desk and hope to get some of the ideas buzzing around in my head onto paper during the next couple of months. My latest book, FRAGILE MEMORIES is due to be published in May 2010 so there's that to look forward to. It is set in Wiltshire where we lived for nine years and I really enjoyed writing it. But then I enjoy writing - full stop. Wouldn't do it otherwise. How about others. Will be interested to hear your views and feelings about your work.



I retired as chairman of our local writers circle last year, but stayed on the committee for twelve months and now I have retired from that and am an ordinary member. The idea is so I can spend more time on my own writing, but we shall see. I have a theory that the more time you have the less organized you become. (I have proved this in the past!!)



I will post a picture of the cover of FRAGILE MEMORIES and hope some of you will look out for it, buy it or borrow it from your library, and most of all I hope you will enjoy the story. That's it for now, a very happy new year to all you writers

WRITING EVENTS AND AUTUMN NEWS

AUTUMN 2009 WRITING NEWS AND EVENTS

Script for Murder is selling well and I have just finished another romance. Now my mind is buzzing with the next crime book featuring Inspector Carding and Sergeant Binns. Here is a picture of the double launch at Waterstones in Chichester for Script for Murder and for Roberta Grieve's book, On Wings of Song. It was a good day for us both.

Since then we have had our annual Selsey Festival which included our writers' circle Meet the Authors afternoon. Nineteen authors were there and it attracted crowds of people to come along and meet and talk to them. Sophie Smallwood (Enid Blyton's granddaughter) was our guest and she told us about the new book she has written which will be published this autumn to celebrate Noddy's 60th birthday.

On NOVEMBER 17th I will be running a day course on article writing. This will take place in Selsey and if you are interested in coming please email or telephone me for further details. email me at writer@joanmoules.co.uk or telephone me on 01243/607587. Until next time, happy writing, Joan.

Joanmoules: August 2009 chat

Joanmoules: August 2009 chat

August 2009 chat

Last day of August and it has been a busy summer. In May I ran a short story day workshop and we really did work. Lots of enthusiasm and positive feedback . Am planning an article one in late autumn and will post date and other details when it is arranged. Thoroughly enjoyed Southern Writers' Conference at Earnley in June, where I led a discussion group. Talking about Earnley I am running two weekend courses there next year - details will be in their 2010 brochure which will be available this autumn from The Earnley Concourse.

Last week Selsey Writers' Circle took part in the three week annual Selsey Festival with a Meet the Authors afternoon. This was interesting and fun. We had 19 authors there displaying their books and chatting to readers and we also had Enid Blyton's granddaughter who told the assembled crowd about the new Noddy book she has written to celebrate Noddy's 60th birthday. Seems incredible to me that that famous character is now 60 years old. It was lovely to have Sophie Smallwood there in person to tell us about all the interesting things that are happening regarding the Enid Blyton legacy. Had my new book on display at this event too. It is called Script for Murder and is available from Waterstones in Chichester, who launched it two weeks ago and all good bookshops as they say. I think all bookshops are good, lovely places to browse and I hope we never lose them although the danger signs are there, aren't they, and we have already lost a few. I will post a picture of the new book, please look our for it. Greetings to writers and readers who log onto this blog. Best wishes, Joan.

August Writing News

On the 19th August Selsey Writers' Circle ran the annual Meet The Authors afternoon and it proved to be the best so far in as much as we had many more people through the doors. It was a great afternoon. There was a real buzz in the hall all the time, authors and readers' chatting to each other, books being bought, discussed, etc, and a grand raffle at the end. Neil Somerville did the 'entertainment spot' this year and it was fascinating. It was called Mysteries of The Mind and if any of you have a chance to see it anytime I would recommend that you do. Very, very interesting.

August is always a busy month with family and this was no exception. They couldn't get down for the MTA this year, which was disappointing for them as well as us, but they were here the week after and that was great.

Soon I am off to the SWJ weekend at Chester, lots of networking with other writers, lots of workshops and talks and hopefully will come home refreshed and inspired. Well inspired anyway, with late nights and lots of creative work I'll keep an open mind on the refreshed bit!

Tin Hats and Gas Masks is now out in CD and audio tape, beautifully read by Annie Aldington. It is also out in large print and in October The Straw Halter will be published in large print too. It's One of Ours comes along in LP in January, which will come round quickly enough I don't doubt. Love to hear from any of you writers and readers out there with your news, but for now, it's time to sort out the papers and lists littering my desk. Who knows, I might even find my watch I lost last week, loitering beneath the masterpieces waiting to be revised there!! All good wishes everyone, from Joan.