Anthologies for Christmas

I've written before about how much I love Christmas anthologies. Over a busy period they're perfect to dip into - either to read one or two stories or poems, or to read from cover to cover over the holiday period.

And I'm always on the lookout for more to add to my collection. It was lovely this week to drop into my local independent book shop, 'The Secret Bookshelf' as they and neighbouring  shops began to get into the festive spirit.  On a cold, windy November evening we were cheered by the brass band playing Christmas carols in the courtyard while we browsed in the local shops and I spied another book destined to join my Christmas anthology collection.

I'm trying to keep it until December but I have to confess I haven't been able to resist dipping into it already. And it's just as gorgeous inside as the cover is.

If you're stuck for Christmas gift ideas, I'd suggest an anthology can be a perfect present. And unashamedly there are three which feature some of my work which I'd suggest:

'Travel Write', a Bradt guide, is a beautiful collection of travel writing short stories taking you on journeys around the globe.

'Places of Poetry' is a gorgeous treasury of poems taking you around all parts of the United Kingdom.

'Underneath the Tree' is a delightful selection of Christmas stories by writers from Northern Ireland.

While they're all available on various online platforms, why not drop into your local book shop, and you'll also find other wonderful gifting ideas.

Communications

I had a very pleasant surprise today when a colleague sent me a photograph of some of my work. 

A poem I'd written earlier in the year as part of our local council's Centenary Scripts project is now on display on a local woodland trail. I'm looking forward to getting out to see it for myself soon.

This news came at a good time, after several rejections and being pipped at the post to be runner up in a couple of writing competitions. And while it was very thoughtful of my colleague to take the photograph and let me know about my work, I did wonder why the organisers hadn't thought of telling me about this themselves.

Communications in writing competitions was a hot  discussion topic at Coney Island last weekend when a few of my writing friends met up. 

On a windy wintry morning, we shared our experiences of competitions/ book events that have run like clockwork and have been a joy to be involved in, and those that 'could do better'. I think there's definitely a blog post or article on that topic itself!

And fuelled by coffee and apple and cinnamon muffins we also managed to put pen to paper and write!