Anita has been a member of the Thatcham Writers since it began. She used to be a primary school teacher but, turned her hand to writing after the birth of her third child. She started her writing career, writing short stories for the national women’s magazines and feature articles for county magazines and her local newspaper. She had quite a bit of success doing this and learnt a lot. Now, she mainly writes teacher resources, children’s non-fiction and the occasional article for Writers’ Forum. Her aim is to write a best-selling children’s novel.
One of the founder members, Geoff prefers thrillers and invents Eastern European oddballs for the group writing ventures with depressing regularity. The highlights of Geoff’s literary career include a short story, chosen from thousands of entries to appear in the Bluechrome Anthology 2003 (although he suspects this was a cunning ruse to encourage him to buy a copy) and acting as one of eight national judges in the 1996 W H Smith ‘Thumping Good Read Award’, which was great fun. Ever the optimist, Geoff hopes one day to release ‘the big one’, which he kids himself is in there somewhere.
Steve has been writing since 1992. Originally short stories and more recently poetry. Biggest successes have been co-writing a radio soap which was aired on Warminster local radio, and being placed in a local National Poetry Day competition. He has also had a poem included in an anthology ‘ A Passion for Poetry’, although, like Geoff, it was probably a means of getting him to buy one for his mum. He has been a member of Thatcham writers since 2003 and enjoys the collaborative aspect of writing as a group, especially continuing stories from different people and trying to hide the joins! Favourite moment was receiving a passage which ended ‘Now all we need is a bucket and some fish.’ When not writing fishy stories, he rides motorbikes, runs, cycles and repairs his house.
Ten years ago, Dave used to win short story competitions so often that he gave up entering, having decided that real men do it with novels. Since then he has completed just one book, which makes a great doorstop, and has abandoned a second since it proved easier to move the first from door-to-door. Dave has realized it’s important to stick to what you’re good at which, though currently is mostly drinking and talking, may one day again be writing. Dave has oodles of fun going to Thatcham Writers, and may one day even move to Thatcham.
Ian trained as an art and drama teacher, subsequently spending 10 years in retail management before becoming a carpenter. His interests include music, which he often uses for inspiration in his writing, and always listens to when he writes. The only thing he’s ever had published to-date, was a small, unpaid album review in Virgin Record’s 2nd free paper back in 1978. Still, there’s always hope as he continues to write short stories, novels and children’s fiction, along with the collaborative efforts with his Thatcham Writer’s friends.
Lynda was a landscape architect for 15 years before turning to writing. She has two published novels, That Devil Called Love (1999) and Makeover (2000), which have both been translated into five other languages. She then became a director of a successful web-based company providing legal information, but left this in 2009 to pursue personal projects. She enjoys working collaboratively with Thatcham Writers and hopes to find more time for writing in the near future. Her interests outside writing (and reading) include cookery, painting, and running to keep fit.
Lisa works as an architectural technician in Reading, but dreams of becoming a full time writer of leisure. Her stories have featured in several e-zines and a few anthologies, and Lisa won her first prize with the Spinetinglers monthly competition. Her highlight this year was winning a free professional critique on her book Coombe’s Wood on the Arts Council website, You Write On. Lisa enjoys working, drinking and laughing with the Thatcham Writers.
Tom attended several literary short courses in 2005/6 and joined the group in time for their 2006 Xmas dinner. His background is principally in scientific and managerial areas and his many interests include keep fit, golf, wine tasting, ethnic dining and soccer (now only as a spectator!) as well as travel, theatre and music (slowly learning to play the piano). He has yet to submit a literary competition entry but feels under pressure to do so to preserve his invite to the 2007 Xmas dinner. He is writing a first novel which he plans to complete before 2008, Xmas 2008.
Tony has been a member of the group for about two years. He enjoys writing fiction as a complete change from the technical report writing that is part of his work in the telecoms industry. Tony’s other spare time activities are sailing, hiking and gardening and he enjoys travel and visits to the theatre. Tony has just finished the first draft of a book about his family’s experiences and how they and he coped during his son’s serious illness with cancer.
Who we are
Anita has been a member of the Thatcham Writers since it began. She used to be a primary school teacher but, turned her hand to writing after the birth of her third child. She started her writing career, writing short stories for the national women’s magazines and feature articles for county magazines and her local newspaper. She had quite a bit of success doing this and learnt a lot. Now, she mainly writes teacher resources, children’s non-fiction and the occasional article for Writers’ Forum. Her aim is to write a best-selling children’s novel.
Visit Anita’s writing website
One of the founder members, Geoff prefers thrillers and invents Eastern European oddballs for the group writing ventures with depressing regularity. The highlights of Geoff’s literary career include a short story, chosen from thousands of entries to appear in the Bluechrome Anthology 2003 (although he suspects this was a cunning ruse to encourage him to buy a copy) and acting as one of eight national judges in the 1996 W H Smith ‘Thumping Good Read Award’, which was great fun. Ever the optimist, Geoff hopes one day to release ‘the big one’, which he kids himself is in there somewhere.
Steve has been writing since 1992. Originally short stories and more recently poetry. Biggest successes have been co-writing a radio soap which was aired on Warminster local radio, and being placed in a local National Poetry Day competition. He has also had a poem included in an anthology ‘ A Passion for Poetry’, although, like Geoff, it was probably a means of getting him to buy one for his mum. He has been a member of Thatcham writers since 2003 and enjoys the collaborative aspect of writing as a group, especially continuing stories from different people and trying to hide the joins! Favourite moment was receiving a passage which ended ‘Now all we need is a bucket and some fish.’ When not writing fishy stories, he rides motorbikes, runs, cycles and repairs his house.
Ten years ago, Dave used to win short story competitions so often that he gave up entering, having decided that real men do it with novels. Since then he has completed just one book, which makes a great doorstop, and has abandoned a second since it proved easier to move the first from door-to-door. Dave has realized it’s important to stick to what you’re good at which, though currently is mostly drinking and talking, may one day again be writing. Dave has oodles of fun going to Thatcham Writers, and may one day even move to Thatcham.
Ian trained as an art and drama teacher, subsequently spending 10 years in retail management before becoming a carpenter. His interests include music, which he often uses for inspiration in his writing, and always listens to when he writes. The only thing he’s ever had published to-date, was a small, unpaid album review in Virgin Record’s 2nd free paper back in 1978. Still, there’s always hope as he continues to write short stories, novels and children’s fiction, along with the collaborative efforts with his Thatcham Writer’s friends.
Lynda was a landscape architect for 15 years before turning to writing. She has two published novels, That Devil Called Love (1999) and Makeover (2000), which have both been translated into five other languages. She then became a director of a successful web-based company providing legal information, but left this in 2009 to pursue personal projects. She enjoys working collaboratively with Thatcham Writers and hopes to find more time for writing in the near future. Her interests outside writing (and reading) include cookery, painting, and running to keep fit.
Lisa works as an architectural technician in Reading, but dreams of becoming a full time writer of leisure. Her stories have featured in several e-zines and a few anthologies, and Lisa won her first prize with the Spinetinglers monthly competition. Her highlight this year was winning a free professional critique on her book Coombe’s Wood on the Arts Council website, You Write On. Lisa enjoys working, drinking and laughing with the Thatcham Writers.
Visit Lisa’s Coombe’s Wood blog
Visit Lisa’s new website
Buy Coombe’s Wood from Amazon
Buy The Ultimate Choice from Amazon
Tom attended several literary short courses in 2005/6 and joined the group in time for their 2006 Xmas dinner. His background is principally in scientific and managerial areas and his many interests include keep fit, golf, wine tasting, ethnic dining and soccer (now only as a spectator!) as well as travel, theatre and music (slowly learning to play the piano). He has yet to submit a literary competition entry but feels under pressure to do so to preserve his invite to the 2007 Xmas dinner. He is writing a first novel which he plans to complete before 2008, Xmas 2008.
Tony has been a member of the group for about two years. He enjoys writing fiction as a complete change from the technical report writing that is part of his work in the telecoms industry. Tony’s other spare time activities are sailing, hiking and gardening and he enjoys travel and visits to the theatre. Tony has just finished the first draft of a book about his family’s experiences and how they and he coped during his son’s serious illness with cancer.
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