History
1990 - 1999
1990
Anderida Writers was formed in 1990 by Cass and Janie Jackson, who ran evening classes at a local College. Janie said, “At the end of the term we suggested to the students that a writing circle would be a good idea and most of them agreed. I think there were about 8 to 10 people in the group, and we met once a month.”
1991
The 1991 Anderida Yearbook listed the following contributors-
Ralph Ashton (a founder member), Amy Wooler, Elizabeth Baker, Stuart Bentham, Dorothy Clark, Sharon Bloor, Fredrica Say, Michael Harris, Joan Lee, Graham Durey, Sheila Howes, Audrey Lash, Tamara Soleimani-Babadi, Robert Crouch, Vivienne Lewis and Ann Botha.
The Shorties group was created and met in the afternoon once a month to discuss and share shorter forms of writing, such as short stories, articles and poetry.
1992/1993
The 1992/1993 Yearbook confirmed that Anderida Writers’ authors shared an interest in all forms of creative writing. The active membership included published and aspiring writers, as well as absolute beginners, who met in Eastbourne twice monthly for workshops, talks and other activities. They held competitions, brought members into contact with professional writers, publishers and agents, and published an annual anthology of members’ work.
Anderida Writers supported The County Library and ECAT ‘Word Fair’ held at the Central Library on November 3rd, 1993. In September historical novelist Rhona Martin, author of Gallows Wedding and Mango Walk shared many secrets of her writing successes. Cass and Janie Jackson gave a talk at the November meeting on ‘How to Get Ideas.’
1993/1994
At the AGM in March, Mike Harris was elected as chairperson.
At the April meeting, guest speaker Brian Darby talked about short stories and how to write them.
In May, Sharon Searle and Tamara Babadi spoke about ‘Viewpoint.’
In June, guest speaker Michael Morley talked about playwriting and dialogue.
A novel group was created for those wishing to share, discuss and critique their novels. Like the Shorties group, it met in members’ houses once a month.
At Chaseley Homes on January 4th, 1994, Anderida Writers held the Annual Writing Competition. Those in attendance voted Frederica Say’s entry first.
Michael returned in February and June 1994 to talk about dialogue.
1995
The New Year Writing Competition held in January, was for the first 500 words of a novel about the theatre or a casino. The ten entries were read out in professional style by Jo Sands and Nick Reynolds. Ralph Ashton, whose story, Murder Most Foul won first prize.
Sharon Searle had her non-fiction book published, Sussex Women – Famous, Infamous, Unsung. She was also commissioned to write articles for the Sussex publication Magnet.
Elizabeth Wright had illustrated features accepted by Sussex Life and Birdkeeper magazines.
Mike Harris was re-elected as chairperson at the AGM.
Rhona Martin was welcomed back as guest speaker at the September main meeting, talking about Theme, Plot and Structure. The Central Library hosted an Arts and Crafts Exhibition and Anderida Writers had a stand where Sharon’s newly published book Sussex Women was on display alongside informative literature about the Club.
In November Malcolm Heaven, from School Hill Bookshop, Lewes, spoke about What Makes a Book Sell?.
And it was congratulations all round for Tamara Babadi when she revealed the brilliant news that Hodder and Stoughton had accepted Reap the Whirlwind and offered her a two-book deal.
The 1995 Year Book reported: "We have now been running for five years. Not only do we have our monthly meeting at Chasely Trust, but also our smaller specialist groups get together regularly to work on novels, short stories, etc. The years of work have brought their rewards – improved writing, finished novels, published articles. It is only a matter of time before someone hits the jackpot!”
1996
Tamara Babadi (later known as Tamara Lee and Tamara McKinley) hit the publishing jackpot with her thriller, Reap the Whirlwind, which was acclaimed as “one of the most exciting books of 1996.”
It took six unpublished novels, seven years of trying and stacks of determination before this was snapped up by publishers Hodder and Stoughton. Another thriller followed, Queen’s Flight.
The January Writing Competition was a short story of 500 words which was won by Liz Wright with Ricki, centred on a rock star and a tramp.
To cope with a rapidly expanding membership, the back-up of smaller workshops, a Novel group for those writing books, a Shorties group for articles, short stories and poetry and an afternoon group on all forms of writing, began to pay off.
Members including Harry Bankcroft, Sharon Searle, Robert Crouch and Elizabeth Wright continued to have articles published in local, national and international magazines.
Ann Botha published The Crumbles Story, which was so popular a second print run was needed.
Speakers included Amanda Wilkins (a feature writer, specialising in the arts and show business interviews), Nicky Hartle, from radio station Hope FM, asked for poetry readings to be broadcast, and Robert Stevens, who spoke about his self-published four books on local ghosts and how he had taken them all around the bookshops on a sale or return basis.
The Novel Group continued to flourish with a small number of dedicated writers who were unfailingly determined to see their books through to completion.
The 1996 Yearbook contained 25 contributions from club members.
1997
At the March AGM, the Anderida Accolade, awarded in recognition of the effort and work members put into their writing, was presented to Harry Bankhead.
Robert Crouch took over as chairperson, while Liz Wright became Anderida’s Press Officer.
A supplement was added to the standard monthly newsletter giving members details of possible markets and writing competitions.
Speakers included author Ann Botha, Editor Pauline Bentley, Trevor Jones, who spoke about writing for radio, Steve Benz who gave an insight into small press publishing, and Tamara Lee, who helped members to write a synopsis that would intrigue a publisher.
Members were also having articles published in many magazines.
Robert Crouch who was writing a regular column for Writers’ Monthly, also sold articles to Practical Gardening, Aspect and Annabel.
Elizabeth Wright was building up an impressive number of publishing successes with Downs Country, This England, All About Dogs, Bird Keeper, Dogs Today and All About Cats.
Ella Harris had one poem published in Good Housekeeping and performed a number of poetry readings in The Poetry Café in Covent Garden.
Margot Field appeared on Woman’s Hour, and got into print with articles, short stories and a novel, plus scripts that had been accepted by Capital 1 Radio.
The 500-word competition was won by Roy Johnson for his entry Far Away Places. Entries were read out by local actresses Jo Sands and Judy Norris.
1998
In April 1998, Alan Edgar published his novel, Trust, a sexy, gritty tale of derring-do in a National Health Service Ambulance Trust. Harry Bankhead’s Salute to the Steadfast (A History of the 151/156 Parachute Battalion) was published.
Ella Harris won the short story competition in May, with the theme of An Unknown Quantity.
Guest speakers included best-selling fantasy writer David Gemmell, who provided a fact-filled evening, revealing not only the secrets of his writing success, but the agonies of his early years, when editor after editor advised him to give up writing.
Tamara Lee gave an enthralling account of her life, and her travels in Australia, where she promoted her novels, Reap the Whirlwind and Queen’s Flight.
Another novel, Jacarinda Vines (a work in progress), ‘contained vivid characterisation and description to set a striking introduction to early Victorian life as a servant.’
Peter Lindsey, Editor of the Eastbourne Herald, revealed the controversial style which he’d introduced that had pushed up ratings and stirred fierce debate about the newspaper.
Stella Freshney was presented with the Anderida Accolade.
1999
Tamara McKinley joined the Crime Writers Association and The Romantic Novelist’s Association. She was spending an average of seven hours a day on her writing, and, after a well-supported book launch, her third novel, Matilda’s Last Waltz, was nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award. The publishing rights were sold to Germany, Finland, Norway, Sweden and America.
Elizabeth Wright continued to sell features to a growing number of popular magazines, such as The Lady and This England. Having received a commission from S.B. Publications to write a book called Made In Sussex, she started putting together the details of 23 crafts and industries special to the county.
Stella Freshney won first prize in The Short Story Competition, with the theme Off the top of my head.
Robert Crouch set up a basic website for Anderida Writers, which contained details of the group, books written by the members, and book reviews.
Harry Summerton was presented with the Anderida Accolade.
The 1999/2000 yearbook carried brief biographies of 19 contributors.