Online book launch event, 26 Jan 2022, for DSW member Johnny

Local Nottingham writer and DSW member JF Sheehan has his book ’No Borders to Poetry’ released on 26 January 2022. For Johnny, as he’s known locally, it’s his first book, and while he could not read or write till he was eleven years old, he admits his book might have taken a little time to develop. You might still be in time to catch his Zoom Book Launch on 26 January at 2-3pm – you can join the zoom meeting by clicking this on link https://zoom.us/j/98552235502?pwd=ZUtpeTZKVklZZGhmOHBuWFo2V0VHQT09

The book is a mixture of poetry, short stories and plays, and it’s available on Amazon – £4.99 for the paperback or £2.99 for the Kindle version, with half of all book sales going to The Canaan Trust, a Nottingham homeless charity. If you’d like any more information about the book or its author JF Sheehan, you can log in to his website at www.jfsheehan.com

JF Sheehan Book Cover

DSW member takes a trip back into Derby’s holiday memories

DSW member Chrissie is thrilled to have been commissioned by Magna Vitae to write a soundscape script for the East Lindsey Audio Trail project in Lincolnshire.   

In the past, Derby’s industry closed for ‘Royce’s Fortnight’ at the end of July- the town emptied and every family who could afford a holiday were ‘Going East’ to the glorious Lincolnshire beaches.

Chrissie will be writing the audio trail soundscape story of a unique 1950s craftsman built bespoke caravan, the generations of the family who loved it, and Mablethorpe’s glorious golden sands!

Using words and images to inspire change

DSW Member Chrissie and Leicestershire based photographer Linda Young,  are working with two groups of young people engaging with Youth Services in Leicestershire, to support and inspire them to create words and photographs marking Leicestershire’s contribution to the international campaign,  ‘Sixteen Days of Action Against Gender Based Violence‘.
The exhibition will include work created by groups who attended other workshops led by other artists. 

Chrissie writes: ‘The young people relished using their phones (and Linda’s swish cameras) to take photographs, but encouraging some young people to engage with ‘words’ was a challenge! For a number of the participants writing meant school work, and negative associations.  However, with conversations came trust, and with trust came engagement.’ 

This short project is intended as a pilot for more substantial engagement with young people and other groups in the future. 

Crits and congratulations for October

It’s great to share good news as well as our work, which is why October’s meeting went so well – DSW member Lynda couldn’t make it to the meeting, but thanks to Johnny lending us his telephone we could still offer feedback to her as a group, and congratulate her for ‘Voltaire’s Garden’ being a successful runner up in the 10 minute play category in this year’s NAWG member’s competition – congratulations, Lynda!

A cup of coffee at a table reserved for Derbyshire Scriptwriters