It has been a real pleasure this year to feature monthly episodes of Ronald Mackay's stories from his time in Argentina with his wife Viviana.

You can read the final episode (for now) Confessions of an Accidental Wino - Episode 6
​by clicking here.

Thank you so much for your unstinting support Ronald.

Ronald Mackay

With Episode 6 of Confessions of an Accidental Wino, Ronald draws to a premature end this brief series recounting some of the trials, tribulations, and joys of running a vineyard and a wine business in San Rafael in the Province of Mendoza, Argentina, from 2003 until 2012. These six tales merely scratch the surface of the decade that Viviana and he enjoyed there. Ronald has many more tales to tell and many close friends – to say nothing of close encounters -- to remember and celebrate. More may be revealed at some future date once he and Viviana settle down in their new home in Voorburg, the Netherlands where they only recently arrived on the 18th of August 2022.

I am honoured to be able to feature this latest story from Valerie Poore in the Fiction Showcase. It is the first part of the sequel to her wonderful book Skipper’s Child.

You can read Val's contribution The Skipper’s Art here. 

Valerie Poore

Val is an English language teacher by day and a writer during her free time. Born and educated in the UK, she spent twenty years in South Africa and another twenty living on a historic barge in the Netherlands, a lifestyle she adores despite the hard work it involves. Nowadays, she shares her time between the barge and a cottage in Zeeland.
 
These diverse worlds have given her some wonderful experiences, and she enjoys sharing her stories in her books and on her blog, which she started in 2006.
 
To date, Val has published nine memoirs and three novels, as well as a collection of anecdotes. She has also contributed to a number of anthologies and writes barge-related articles for the women’s sailing magazine, Sistership. 
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With under two weeks left in this year's Creative Writing Showcase, it is a pleasure to feature a memoir contribution from Kelly Reising.

You can read Kelly's story The World Is Ending, and I Just Want a Sandwich here.

The latest contributions to the Memoir Showcase are two 'strange' recollections from Carolyn Muir Helfenstein.

You can read them by clicking the links below:

1/.     A Strange Day Indeed, A Treasure Forever

2/.      Strange School of 67 years ago 

Carolyn Muir Helfenstein 

1955 At the age of 17 Carolyn Muir began her teaching career in a one-room rural school, near Toronto.   Attending Toronto Teachers’ College to complete her certification followed. She received the highest academic standing award that year.

After a period of teaching and marriage to British-born Harold Helfenstein, they fulfilled a dream to farm. And they had three children. Many of Carolyn’s short stories come from that era.

1986 The opportunity to buy the local newspaper arrived in the mail; her answer — Why not? CBC-TV learned of the farmers who bought a newspaper. Well-known entertainer Wayne Rothstad and CBC-TV crew spent three days filming the scenes and the interviews and the Teeswater News went prime-time in “Out Your Way.” 

Carolyn was elected to the Board of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association; and eventually sat as president.

1991 The News produced an Extra that helped in savings a seniors’ home from being relocated. The community revolted. Another 1st prize provincial win.

1993 After reading of the government’s decision to close institutions for adults unable to live independently, Carolyn wrote Belonging. Her readers began to understand all they wanted was to belong and local communities made that happen. Belonging won 1stprize, provincial competition. 

2008 Carolyn’s memoir Why Not? was published, filled with stories about running the Teeswater News. Her readers say they can follow the experiences, the laughter and the tears, as they read.  
​
2010 Carolyn knew she wanted to regain her connections with Newfoundland where she was born. She learned that Waterloo University’s three-year Independent Studies Program would help her research. But she was 73… She graduated with a Bachelor of Independent Studies in 2013. Both Rock Solid and Why Not? are now in the Newfoundland Folklore Archives of Memorial University, NFLD. And Carolyn has regained her Newfoundland identity.
 
For more info— Google: Carolyn Muir Helfenstein -Spirit of the Hills

A warm welcome to a newcomer to our blog, ​Therese Marie Duncan. Her contribution to the Memoir Showcase is an extract from Book Three of her upcoming LION TAMER series.

​You can read Therese's story The Snow by clicking here.

Therese Marie Duncan

I live in Oak View, California, with my partner and our cat Delilah. I'm getting ready to publish Book One of the LION TAMER series. It's a story about my journey to freedom from the effects of sexual abuse and how I healed my relationship with my father. Early chapters can be read at my website theresemarieduncan.com. Our cat Delilah is fiercely independent, on the one hand, to the extent that she lives in the yard and only visits for meals. On the other hand, she's deeply in need of affection and connection and often calls us over to her place, the yard. Delilah is the kitten who tames the lion. She is I.​

The latest contribution in the Memoir section of the 2022 Creative Writing Showcase is the third one from Jennifer Rae.

You can read her poignant recollection Grave Matters – an atrocity unearthed here.

For our next contribution to the Fiction Showcase, it gives me great pleasure to introduce a newcomer to our blog, Daisy Wood.

​You can read her wonderful story The Journey here.

Our next contribution to the Memoir section of the Creative Writing Showcase is the third this year from Patsy Hirst. I am sure you will enjoy reading her travel recollections as much as I have.

You can read Patsy's story Checking Out Czechoslovakia – 1990 by clicking here.

For our second contribution in the Fiction Showcase today, it is a pleasure to feature an excellent piece of writing from Philippa Hawley.

You can read Philippa's story Crossings here.

Philippa Hawley is an English author, who has recently published her fourth novel ‘To Be Frank’ with http://www.blossomspringpublishing.com/. Prior to this she self-published three earlier novels. She has also written items of travel writing and short stories whilst being an active member of two local writing groups in the beautiful riverside town of Wivenhoe in North Essex where she lives with her husband. The couple have both enjoyed travelling as much as possible since retiring from their work as NHS GPs.
​
Philippa has a webpage and blog http://www.philippahawley.com/
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The next contribution in the Fiction Showcase is a much anticipated third piece in this category from Tina Wagner Mattern.

You can read Tina's intriguing story Antonias Big Lot Christmas here.