This book may be of particular interest to any of you who are taking or considering a university course in creative writing, especially with The Open University. It will also appeal to those who are interested in emerging writing talent.
First Class: Early Works of the Nearly Famous - Orchid Station, an anthology containing work by a group of students from the first presentation of the Open University's A215 Creative Writing course, has just been published.
This isn't a review, because I haven't seen the book yet, but the lovely editor, Graeme K. Talboys, informs us that copies are winging their way to Amazon right now. What I can tell you is that I have previously read work by most, if not all, of the contributors and can vouch for their collective talent. There are also many more great writers where these came from and support for this book may pave the way for future such ventures, giving even more new writers a voice.
The anthology contains work by Carole Crickmore, Susan Felix, Julie Anne Gilligan, Dragana Hartley, Leanne Iliffe, Anne Kennedy, Viki Lane, Lynne McAllister, Elaine Nadjm, Kim O’Brien, Jude Parsons, Alison Roughsedge, Andrea J Smith, Graeme K Talboys, and Olga Wojtas.
You may already be familiar with some of these names if you have picked up my previous links to two websites showcasing work from A215 students, namely Both Sides of the Story and WikidWords (which also contains two of my own poems).
Best of all, half the proceeds of this anthology are going to charity, with the rest covering production costs.
I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.
Three notable things:
1. Son 2 has a nasty cough. Urgh.
2. It has been very interesting reading contributors' responses to questions on how the Your Messages collaborative project has influenced their writing processes. I'm afraid my reply, which was written quickly, is rather bland, but I cannot underestimate the boost that participating has given my creativity and writing.
3. The missing canoeist and the Panama link...stranger than fiction?
5 comments:
Good to hear that some of the money is going to charity!
Yes, I think all the profits are, after costs (as it is being independently published)
One of the charities being supported is The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, which I'm sure we both appreciate!
Cx
Very strange on the canoeist I have to agree. Hope your son gets better soon and thank you for for the advice on the books.
Crystal xx
Sounds good to me. ( The book)
Yes, the Panama story weird...it's the sons who must be suffering the most as I imagine the couple probably realised The Truth Would Out...
Crystal and Jan, I'm following the story with interest, partly because of part of the plot I have planned for my novel!
Cx
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