Ayr Writers’ Club final summer Readaround of 2024 was hosted by Stephen Cashmore in his haunted house! What inspiration for us writers! Tales of a ghostly spectre had us intrigued! (Well, Halloween’s not that far off).
Marion read her story first – a memoir of a trip to Arran. Quite literally a trip. Quite a serious fall actually, resulting in a mountain rescue. Despite the gravity of this, her story was so comical, telling us how her and her family had unknowingly picked the day of the Brodick Highland Games to go and climb Goatfell. Hence a packed ferry and folk going up Goatfell in flip flops with babies in carriers.
Gail went next with a script for a short, funny, adult Christmas Panto, Cinderfella, which was hilarious. In this panto, Cinderfella as the name suggests, is played by a guy, and Santa is very scantily dressed. Cinderfella was performed last year at a screenwriting group in Glasgow which Gail attends.
Damaris went next, continuing her suspense novel about a wee boy who runs away from boarding school. We have been following this with great interest at the readarounds, and last night’s point of view was from the headmaster of the school. The setting is intriguing, we were able to visualise the gothic, imposing school on the cliff top, the sea behind it.
After a caffeine and chocolate biscuit refuel, it was Stephen’s turn to read us the second part of his Kafka inspired story of a young woman who wakes up to find herself in the body of a middle aged man. Stephen’s story is now ready to find a suitable literary magazine to be published in.
I finished off by reading ten minutes of my 30 minute play, “Christmas Carole” which I have adapted from a long poem I wrote years ago. My producer friend, Isi, is going to take it forward with two actors for me, hopefully to be performed in Kirkmichael in late November. Thanks to Gail for playing the part of Brenda the ghost!
Thanks to Stephen for hosting a lovely and very interesting evening. We all agreed that the home readarounds are very helpful and we are lucky to have such a forum for sharing and to obtain feedback from other members of Ayr Writers.
Tracy Harvey