Write-Place

 There is something about a real book that is unique and gives such pleasure to reader and author alike. By real book here, I mean one made of paper that you can hold in your hands, feel the pages, smell the newness of and watch grow older and change as you do. Of course, the benefits - and drawbacks - of ebooks and digital technology is constantly discussed and the 'which is better' debate I think, will always be with us. Most of us have our views on which is 'better' but also most of us these days appreciate that all formats of written words have their place and deciding which is appropriate for which occasion is a personal preference. The One Word Anthology by Talkback Writers  was published as an ebook in  November 2012 by Alfie Dog Ltd  and is available there. It can also be purchased at  Kobo Books  and at  Amazon The authors, editors and publishers of the One Word Anthology are now very happy to announce the publishing of the real Pa...

Make me whole Just what are you seeing when you close your eyes? Is the sun always shining in perfect blue skies? Do your thoughts float through fluffy white clouds in your dreams? Or do you ever think this is not as it seems? When I sleep I still feel I have your hand in mine And I’m not alone and all things should be fine  for you’re there to protect me from all that I fear when the darkness comes closer and nightmares are here. Yet I’m lost in a world that’s not real but seems true Searching always for someone, and always it’s you Though I think you’re beside me as I feel your touch I’m still scared of these feelings that overrule much. So if you see sunshine and perfect blue skies When you lay down beside her and you close your eyes will you push past my dark clouds and look deep in my soul for the love that we once had and so make me whole.

He first went there with his school, long ago.  The teachers had told the classes that the stone work was from Roman times; remnants from hundreds of years back.  It turned out that it wasn’t Roman at all.   It was an old mill first used for smelting lead in the late 1600s and then between around 1760 and 1850 fine paper was produced there to wrap the products of the nearby iron and steel industry - often cutlery and probably the pins, needles and wire made in the local area. All that remained today was the pond which had provided power by supplying a water wheel  and some and some ruinous buildings.  Romantic maybe – but not Roman. When they had met years later, he could not wait to take her to this place, high up on the hillside in the depths of the forest with the stream trickling, then rushing down from the tops. Tawny, hazel, mustard and coral tainted leaves and ferns painted the background for the scene. And she had loved it too.      ...