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AyrWritersClub

Kicking Off AWC’s 2025 – January Successes

Unsurprisingly, despite a dreich and mega stormy January, our members have kicked off the new year with a fantastic roll call of successes.

First up – we will sneak in Suzy Kelly, who had a fabulous opportunity at the end of 2024 which needs to be added here. Suzy was asked by the National Autistic Society and Autistic Knowledge Development to write and submit a short video essay on her experience of being diagnosed as autistic. How I learned to stop loathing and love my neurotype, is a memoir piece and Suzy presented it to MSP’s at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood thanks to her involvement with Embrace Autism. Congrats on your achievement Suzy.

Suzy’s Video Presentation –  https://youtu.be/ZTE77OvsMOo?si=hO5y7DsGus5vZa8G5r4

Embrace Autism report – https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/embrace-autism-celebrates-report-launch 

Bob Bower has had a series of three articles commissioned by the Radio Society of Great Britain for their Radcom magazine. His article published in Radcom’s February issue is the first instalment of his account of his one-man Amateur Radio expedition last year to New Zealand, Chatham, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, plus Tasmania.

Five members, wearing their Litereight hats (and T-shirts) went on an expedition to entertain Lugar Guild one afternoon. A selection of pieces, including Greta Yorke’s short story A Quiet Night In, Fiona Atchison’s flash fiction The Manoeuvre,  Maggie Bolton’s Wonderfully Supportive short story and two poems  Linda Brown’s Pilgrims’ Path and Helena Sheridan’s Epitaph of Emmanuel Gray, were hugely enjoyed by the audience

Meanwhile, on a snowy January afternoon, Marion Husband was the guest speaker on the subject How I Became an Author  at Straiton Guild. Her talk was well received by the enthusiastic audience.

Last, but by no means least, mid-January saw the publication of issue no 59 Jan/ Feb The  Romance Edition of Ayrshire Magazine.

Marion C Husband and her young children’s picture book Is This The Way To Brodie Castle? are featured. The interview, conducted by AM magazine editor and AWC member, Gill Sherry, gives the reader insights to the inspiration behind Marion’s books.

Maggie Morton is ‘feline’ good (sorry!) about her debut article The Kitty Cat Café – Stop Here for Coffee, Cake and Cat Cuddles. Maggie pays a visit to Ayr’s newest coffee shop and enjoys meeting the resident kitty cats.

Kirsty Hammond also debuts in AM. Her article Newmilns Snow & Sports Complex shines the spotlight on the community spirit and activities at the Irvine Valley town’s ski slope.

Regular contributor Chris Palmer entertains with his gardening article – Small Victories and An Absent-Minded Squirrel (great title, Chris!)  – Chris gives us the lowdown on how a horse chestnut sapling, thanks to that forgetful squirrel, comes to be thriving in his garden.

Linda Brown’s double whammy Park Life – A Visit to Belleisle and Rozelle explores the nature, gardens, quirky statues and other highlights of Ayr’s two well-loved public parks. Squirrels feature heavily – absent-minded or otherwise.

Well done, folks….let’s see what February brings!

 

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