STUCK FOR IDEAS? Who hasn’t been there? Here is an interesting approach worth considering if you sometimes need a nudge to write. The Globe Soup 7 Day Writing Challenges is an England-based writing competition. Register and you are assigned by weekly email a random genre and a secret challenge theme. It’s up to you whether you take part each time. Word limit is 2000 words, entry is free, and prize money is £500. The way it is run is interesting. Each challenge runs for exactly seven days. Before each new challenge begins, those who are registered are randomly divided into 12 groups. Each group is set a different genre. At the start of each challenge, everyone receives an email with their randomly assigned genre and the secret challenge theme. All participants receive the same theme. If you accept the challenge, a short story inspired by the theme must be written in your assigned genre. One finalist from each group is chosen, with one overall winner chosen from those twelve. Each challenge has a new theme. WHAT'S NEW
Neive Denis’ latest book was released in both paperback and digital formats in June. A Dark Place is Book 10 in her Sonoma Whittington series. See the cover image on her books page. How do you prove you are who you claim to be? After the death of the only parents she ever knew, Kirsty McGregor is devastated to learn she was adopted. In the course of trying to establish her true identity, she uncovers a possible link to a longstanding deceased estate which includes a substantial property and a big old house. The gruelling process to prove her identity, necessary to substantiate her claim, leaves her psychologically fragile and in a dark place. Long-time friend and Private Investigator, Sonoma (Sonny) Whittington, steps in to help search for any surviving members of Kirsty’s family, and to help and support Kirsty in discovering her tragic background SOME LIGHT READING For your pleasure, below is an extract from Neive Denis’ latest book A Dark Place. “Is this where I might find Ms Sonoma Whittington?” a vaguely familiar voice asked. I looked up to see who owned it and saw no one. Pushing my chair back from my desk, I was about to stand up, when a head slid into view in my open doorway. The body it belonged to remained hidden in the corridor outside my office. I didn’t need to see the rest of my caller to recognise who owned the shock of ginger curls and the dimples. “Kirsty Williams! What are you doing back in Millhaven… and when did you arrive? Come in. Come in and explain yourself.” The rest of Kirsty emerged and, giggling, came towards my desk. I hurried to meet her halfway and wrapped her in a hug. After a moment, she wriggled free. “Is that a coffee machine I spy on yonder bench? Perhaps my explanation should be accompanied by coffee,” she suggested. After as long as it takes for the machine to do its thing, and for me to open a new packet of TimTams and tip a few onto a plate, we were seated in the two ancient lounge chairs in the front corner of my office. “Okay, now we are settled, tell me what brings you back to Millhaven after all these years. God, I haven’t seen you since about twelve months after we left university. Sarah’s wedding was the last time we saw each other, wasn’t it? Come on, we’ve more than a decade of catching up to do. Let’s start with why Millhaven, and why now? When did you arrive and where are you staying?” “It’s good to see you haven’t changed. As soon as you stop talking for long enough, I’ll make a start on my story – and it might even provide you with some answers.” “Apologies; please continue.” I gave her a contrite gesture. “You have the floor. So, please get on with it.” “Where to start…? Well, I arrived in Millhaven about a week ago. Crikey the place has changed since I left here at the end of primary school. I suppose it was a few years ago now, so change is to be expected. To answer a couple of your questions, my return to Millhaven is all part of a long story, and my stay here looks like being a lengthy one. For the time being, I’ve rented a unit in the new tower block in the city heart, and probably will be there for about another week – or two.” “You could have stayed with me. About how long is this ‘lengthy stay’ you’re planning to spend here?” “The simplest answer, and best guess for the moment, might be for the rest of my life.” “What… here in Millhaven? You must be mad. What prompted this … this prodigal-son-like return after all these years? There has to be something quite traumatic behind it.” “More like a series of events rather than one major episode. And it brings me to the reason I’m here… here in your office, I mean. Sonny, sometime after I arrived, I discovered you were a private investigator.” I nodded, but didn’t see the need to do, or say, more. She seemed troubled and I wanted her to continue. After appearing to have gathered her thoughts again, she did. “Sonny, I think I need your help... probably both as a private investigator and as a friend. While I don’t know exactly what you do, or how you operate, I need help and you are the only person who might be able to provide it.” Although I was stunned and couldn’t think how to respond, I was saved the embarrassment of stumbling through an unprofessional reply when my phone opted to play its tune at the appropriate moment. She motioned for me to answer it. “Ben… what has you calling me at this hour of the day? ... Tonight…? I don’t know yet. I have enough to wrap up the case I’ve been working on, but I might give it one more night for good measure. Will it cause a problem if I do work tonight? ... Oh, I see. Well, it might be better if you plan on eating alone. Okay, I’ll see you in about a week, or whenever you return, whichever comes first.” As the call ended, I looked up to see Kirsty standing, and preparing to leave. “Kirsty, what’s wrong. I’m sorry I interrupted our conversation to take the call. Please sit down and tell me what is going on.” “You don’t need to apologise. I just realised this is your office, and not your lounge room. I came blundering in here totally oblivious of the fact you probably were working and had appointments and other commitments lined-up. I’m sorry; I just didn’t…” “Oh, do shut up, and come and sit down again… please. You asked for my help. I need to know why and what has happened. Now, do you think we might be able to get on with this long story of yours?” She hesitated for a moment before resuming her seat. “I don’t know how or where to start my story. It all seems so… so surreal … even to me and I’m living it. So, I don’t know how you’re ever going to understand what has happened.” “Right; trust me. I’ve had plenty of episodes like this. I’m not nearly as dumb as I look, and I usually manage to follow a story along okay. So, pick an event that might have been the one to precipitate everything you’ve encountered since then. Or, if you find it easier, just tell me what it is you need my help with now.” “I’ll choose the latter option if I may.” I nodded and gestured for her to continue. “You have the floor.” Another brief pause followed before her story began tumbling out. “Sonny, I’ve found some bones – human bones.” Until next time Keep reading keep writing stay safe
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