2011

Keith Ridley, Editor in Chief of the Eastbourne Herald and Gazette, gave a lively presentation at the January meeting.

In March Radio DGH recorded six submitted stories from Anderida Writers, read out by Ian Clegg and Sue Long.

At the AGM, Tony Flood was elected chairman.

Liz Baker was awarded the Anderida Accolade for all her work producing the monthly newsletter and a new website.

Tony Flood gave a talk on his experiences as a journalist and Sky Television executive at the Langham Hotel.

The Mayor of Eastbourne launched Jill Rutherford’s new book, , Cherry Blossoms, Sushi and Takarazuka – Seven Years in Japan in the auspicious surroundings of the Council Chambers at the Town Hall.

Proof reader, John Petley, gave members some useful advice to consider before submitting a book or story for publication.

Entries to the annual short story competition were read out by Jeffrey Holland and his wife Judy Buxton. Heather Flood won with My Fatal Mistake.

Successful workshops at The Little Polka Restaurant continued.

Tony Flood wrote a comedy play called Hacking It which greatly impressed theatre director Alan Baker and film makers Harry Lederman and Alan Tutt, who decided to turn it into a short film using actors from Seaford Little Theatre.

At two of the Langham Hotel Literary Lunches, Holocaust survivor and Anderida member Dorit Oliver Wolff talked about her life.

Author Nigel Goodall, one of the country’s leading celebrity biographers, assured 22 fascinated members that even well-established writers can suffer from ‘writers’ block’ as he had once spent 3 hours staring at a blank computer screen when trying to write about Winona Ryder’s life.

The readings of the semi-open writing competition on the theme of ‘Beautiful Sussex’ had to be moved from the Langham Hotel meeting room to the much larger premises of the Fishermen’s Club.

At the October meeting, Jacq Molloy, a writing tutor for the Open University and Sussex Downs College, spoke about characterisation and making characters come alive.

Dorit Oliver Wolff received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Sovereign FM radio at the Grand Hotel on December 3rd.

Heather Flood was pleased to announce that her latest book, Giant Sticker Monster and other Children’s Stories has been published by ‘My Voice.’

Brigitte Sumner also had publishing success with Teenage Relationships – The Breakthrough Guide to Untangling your Heartstrings, available as an e-book and a paperback.

Anderida’s ‘Beautiful Sussex’ semi-open competition resulted in a large audience hearing the entries read by Seaford Little Theatre chairperson Sue Shephard and judged by Dec Cluskey, Keith Ridley and Jay Dixon.

Stuart Conde from Burgess Hill won the short story competition.

Mike Fleming from Eastbourne won the Poetry competition.

Harry Bankhead (aged 92) from Eastbourne won the non-fiction category.

Anderida member Brigitte Sumner organised the Eastbourne Writes Festival, where a competition and various writing related activities were held at the Enterprise Shopping Centre, Tome Book Shop and the Towner Art Gallery. There were several guest speakers, including crime writers Tom Beale and Elly Griffiths, and workshops throughout each day.

At the meeting at Alice Croft House, American best selling author James Lovegrove gave a talk about his science fiction/fantasy novels, and mentioned his latest project, a Sherlock Holmes book.

At the May meeting author Leslie Tate stated that it was now much harder to be accepted by mainstream publishers; authors needed to produce startling, shocking and powerful story lines, containing strong, original characters and excellent visual images that could lend themselves to a film or TV drama. Self publishing might be the answer for many writers.

Diane Brookens, a member of the actor’s union Equity, and an experienced speech and drama teacher, was willing to give Anderida members lessons in public speaking.

In July at the Annual Members’ writing competition Jeffrey Holland, and his wife Judy Buxton, once again read the entries. Chairman Tony Flood won the competition for the second successive year with his short story, Reflections on a Sexual Fantasy. New member Hazel Elrick won the poetry competition with Reflections on Elections.

New member Josephine McCauley joined the list of Anderida’s published authors with her book, Romano-British History, which tells the story of how the Romans invaded Britain.

Francis Wait launched his recently published book, The Survivalists- Getting There at Tome Bookshop, Terminus Road, Eastbourne. Although fiction, it is based on the fact that the Yellowstone Caldera in America is threatening to explode again and cause global devastation.

The guest speaker at the September meeting was 82-year-old actor and writer Anthony Chamberlain-Brothers, who also talked about his role as curator of Eastbourne’s Heritage Centre.

Liz Wright had a successful book signing at the Hampden Park Sainsbury’s. She sold a good number of copies of Belle Tout-the Little Lighthouse that Moved, as well as a few of her other two books, From Fancy Pants to Getting There, and Made in Sussex. She was also interviewed by Danny Pike of Radio Sussex.

Heather and Tony Flood went to W.H. Smiths at Brighton for book signings of The Secret Potion, Twist in the Tales, My Life with the Stars, Giant Sticker Monster, Mousey, Mousey and the Witches’ Revenge and Mousey, Mousey and the Witches’ Spells.

Welcome and valued tips on blogging were offered by Lynne Hale and Mike Wallagher, and author Leslie Tate was willing to help members improve their poetry or prose.