Your Présidente, now a fifth of my bodyweight lighter. Mind you, I don't recommend going through what I went through to lose weight. I kind of miss my old chubby self. After all she'd been there for a long time.
Keep writing. You're more talented than you think you are.
Love and kindness to you all.
Our first cool day for months and it's Corgnac's local 'Soirée magrets' by the River l'Isle. It's good to see the tourists again.
I'd like to say we thoroughly enjoyed running the competitions. We did, we loved reading your entries, we loved your originality and we learnt a lot. Thank you
So where did it go pear-shaped? Covid didn't help, of course, and I'm sure reduced the entry we would have had otherwise. Then again, nobody goes round anticipating that they will tear a ligament, break two vertebrae, break a hip and a collar bone within 6 - 8 months, yet that's what happened to me.
The final straw has been the Bank. We have had nothing but problems. Is it really so demanding of us to be able to pay out the winner's prizes by cheque or wire from our account? For our treasurer to be able to access the account on line? If you hear of a Treasurer and President of an Association murdering a bank counsellor you'll know where to look.
So while we tie up the ends, where to now? The Association was set up so a number of projects could be had under its umbrella but in order for that sort of thing to happen there would need to be serious commitment from a younger, determined team.
We plan to have our AGM, probably in September now. If you have any ideas please feel free to contact me or one of the team to discuss them.
Brenda Henderson,
Your President
Feel heard: feel read: feel free: feel you matter.
Competition now closed
Poetry:- under 50 lines First prize £150
Essay: A matter of concern - 1500-2500 words First prize £150
Amuse bouche: A short piece, possibly illustrated First prize £50
Also a selection of prizes including
2 nights gîte accommodation for two (As seen on TV) for the price of one night's stay,
Signed original paintings, books and cards plus further cash prizes if numbers warrant.
Results will be announced early February 2022. Winning entries will be published on this site.
(Copyright remains with the authors.)
Sponsors and Friends Meet the Judges The Team
Mark Ring
No5 Chambre D'Hotes et Glamping
http://No5france.com/
I'm pleased to share our list of prize-winners and prizes now available on its own page. We hope to have all prizes out by the end of July.
Our condolences to the family and friends of Angela Gilligan, who came third in the 'Amuse Bouche' competition. Sadly Angie is no longer with us.
Cordialement
Brenda (Présidente) July 2022
pennibwritingcomp@gmail.com
Katherine Gallagher
Poetry Judge
Katherine Gallagher is a widely-acclaimed poet with eight books published as well as four chapbooks. Born in Australia, Gallagher has lived and worked in London since 1979. She has been an active force in the community, giving poetry readings, running workshops (for adults and children), judging poetry competitions, and participating in poetry festivals.
Her work has been widely reviewed. In addition, Gallagher has undertaken translations (from French) and her reviews of the work of other poets have been extensively published. Gallagher’s own poetry has been translated into French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Romanian, and Serbo-Croat.
Liv Rowland
Essay judge
Liv has been working in journalism for over 20 years, previously on newspapers in the UK then for 14 years with The Connexion, the national newspaper and website for English-speakers in France.
At The Connexion she works as sub-editor and chief reporter on areas including practical information and French current affairs. She has enjoyed doing many interviews, from ambassadors and MPs to charity presidents, Académie française members and TV presenters or chefs.
In the last five years she has written over a thousand articles on Brexit alone – the biggest single issue to have affected the paper’s readership.
Liv originally studied French language and literature at university and enjoys using both French and English in her work and helping the English-speaking community in France.
Brenda Henderson - Présidente
Author, poet and screenwriter
Howard McCann Trésorier
Bookstop
Owner of one of the favourite watering holes for local writers and creatives, hence our Association title Assocn. Les Projets Bookstop/ The Bookstop Projects. bookstop24@gmail.com
Mike Harries
Writer - Greece
Jocelyn Simms
Prize-winning poet, tutor and judge
Gordon Simms
Prize-winning playwright, judge and tutor
Dan Bessie
Retired Hollywood cartoonist and director. Tutor and author
Joy Milton
Writer
