The latest feature in our Memoir Showcase is another moving extract from Tina Wagner Mattern's forthcoming memoir.

You can read A Journey to the Past here.

It gives me great pleasure today to introduce Thomas Laver, a newcomer to the writing features here on Fred's Blog.

His contribution to the Memoir section of the 2022 Creative Writing Showcase is titled Joey, Harry, Lilly, and Me, and you can read it here.

Many thanks for getting involved Mr. Laver.

It is an honour to feature a contribution in the Memoir Showcase from well-known blogger and author Sue Bavey. It is an evocative piece written by her late father.

As Sue explains, "I'm currently putting together his memoirs and poems for a book hopefully to be published later this year. Working title "Verse and Worse".

You can read Memories of Scarborough here.

John Cornelius Rogers - Author Bio
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​Father of Susan Bavey and husband of Elizabeth Mary Rogers, John was a lifelong sufferer from narcolepsy and cataplexy which led to him taking early retirement in his late fifties.
A veteran of World War 2, John served his country with the RAF as a navigator onboard a Tiger Moth.
After the war he trained to be a schoolteacher in London. An unforgiving profession at the time, which got the better of him, and he gladly returned to accountancy after three years, eventually moving from Sussex to Lincoln in 1974 to work as a Lincolnshire County Council auditor of schools and nursing homes until his retirement.

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It is a pleasure today to feature another excellent contribution in the Fiction Showcase from Tina Wagner Mattern.

You can read Tina's latest story Negative Images here.

Our latest contribution in the Memoir Showcase is the second this year from Roger Knight, a regular contributor to the writing features here on Fred's Blog.

You can read his story ​My errant employment experience recalled here.

I am very pleased today to be able to feature the second story in this year's Memoir Showcase from Patsy Hirst.

You can read her latest contribution MOM’S BEST FRIEND here.

Patsy Hirst describes herself as an island girl, accidently born amidst the cornfields of Indiana.  After living in a few other states, she visited St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and knew that was where she belonged.  She moved there in 1976 with her two daughters, aged 8 & 10, and began looking for ways to support the three of them.  Working as a bartender was quite a challenge for a teetotaler who didn’t know a brandy from a Beaujolais, but the waitressing part was easier, with her natural hospitality instincts.  After several years in various hotel and accounting jobs, she started her own destination wedding business.  Acting as planner, florist, officiant, whatever was needed, she declared it the best job ever:  she could go to work barefooted on the beach.

Shortly after moving to St. Croix, Patsy met her future husband, Jack Hirst.  They both retired in 2005, declared themselves the ‘Gypsy Hirsts’, and began a delightful 14 years of housesitting.  They spent six months or so sitting in Europe or Canada, returning to St. Croix for the winters.  After 11 countries, 37 different locations, 61 cats, 24 dogs, 18 chickens, 10 cows, 5 tortoises, 2 horses, and assorted birds and fish, not to mention zero remaining funds and no chance of any inheritance for the girls, they had to call it quits.  Covid made the decision easier and final, though Patsy still drools reading the housesit listings.  She is, however, quite happy in her role as Beachbum Grandmum.
 

In this latest contribution to the Memoir section of the 2022 Creative Writing Showcase, it is a privilege to feature the second part of Syd Blackwell's moving tribute THE DÉNOUEMENT OF VINCENT B. You can read it here.

If you missed the first part, or would like to catch up with Syd's bio again, then just click the link here.

It is a real pleasure today to feature a contribution in the Fiction Showcase from author and writer Lindy Viandier.

Enjoy reading Lindy's story Remember to Write here.

Lindy Viandier

​Lindy is the author of number one Amazon best seller in French travel, ‘Damson Skies and Dragonflies’, a journey through the seasons based on the first 12 months she and her husband spent at Les Libellules, their house in the Burgundy countryside.

Following her move to France 13 years ago, she has worked in many of the Parisian teaching hospitals, giving specialised courses in medical English to doctors, nurses and midwives, before dividing her time between Paris and Burgundy.

Apart from writing Lindy loves to read and cites, Gerald and Lawrence Durrell and Laurie Lee as her inspirations.

She is a keen photographer and has a great love of the countryside and nature which is reflected in her writing. She also loves to cook and a selection of her own seasonal recipes feature in the book.

Lindy has worked as an advertising feature writer and freelance short story writer for UK national magazines. And has also had many articles on language and culture featured in French Property News. She is currently working on a sequel to ‘Damson Skies and Dragonflies’.

www.smarturl.it/LesLibellules1

Today's feature in the Memoir Showcase is the first part of a piece written by a long-standing supporter of this blog, Syd Blackwell.

As Syd explains, "This memoir was written in 2008.  It is too long.  Rather than edit it, I will present it in two parts."

You can read Part 1 of THE DÉNOUEMENT OF VINCENT B. here. 

​Part 2 will follow within the next few days.

Our latest contribution in the Memoir Showcase is a moving tribute from bestselling author Sharon Hayhurst.

Sharon sent me the following caveat to her story, "I have used my Mother’s words (although I have toned them down a bit), so I apologise in advance. "

You can read The Monarch here.

Sharon Hayhurst

Sharon is the bestselling comedy memoir author of `Travels with Geoffrey,’ a writer who uses her customary wicked sense of humour to share her madcap adventures. She is a kindergarten teacher with a special talent for attracting trouble and falling over her own feet. Sharon lives on a rural property in New Zealand with her husband, Geoffrey, and an assortment of animals. Her writing draws the reader in, making them feel as if they are along for the ride, with plenty of laughs along the way.
 
Universal: www.smarturl.it/SHayhurst1