I'm taking a step sideways today to blog about something not to do with France.
In my other life I’m a writer (what do you mean, you couldn’t
tell?) and something exciting is happening there.
On November 12th, an e-book is being published: One
Word Challenge, by Talkback Writers. This is an anthology of poetry and flash fiction
written by the members of the Talkback forum of Writing Magazine (UK). The pieces
are all written in response to a monthly challenge: a word is chosen, and we
have to write about that word in any way we like, within strict limits - 40 lines of poetry, or 200 words for fiction. The winners of each month’s competition choose the next
word, and judge the entries.
We have decided to bring out a collection of some of the
entries, with the intention of raising funds for a charity, inspired by a very
special little dog. This is Medical Detection Dogs. http://www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk/
The charity trains dogs – not any particular breed, but
chosen for their intelligence and their ability to learn – to accompany people
with certain medical problems. Our little friend, Lola, lives with poet Liz, who
suffers from diabetes. Her blood sugar can drop without warning, even with all
the modern aids available. Lola, with her heightened senses, can tell when it
is about to happen and will warn Liz, so that she can take glucose and stop
herself from falling unconscious. You can read more about Lola (and Liz) here.
http://lizbrownleepoet.com/lolas-charity-to-receive-benefit-from-ebook/
This is vital work, and could help a lot of people with Liz’s
condition. The dogs can also be trained to help with other illnesses, and
possibly even to sniff out cancers. We’d very much like to help them, and so
10% of all proceeds will go to supporting them in their work.
I hope some of you will think of buying the ebook ; it will be for sale through Amazon and Smashwords, but also direct from
the publisher at http://alfiedog.com/ebooks
where it will be 99p. I am proud to say that I have four stories in there,
which I hope you’ll enjoy.
If you’d like to read more, there will be an article in
January’s Writing Magazine, in the shops on December 6th. https://www.writers-online.co.uk/
Go on – that’s a good read for under a pound; and it could
help a lot more people to live normal lives.
Lovely post, Lorraine.
ReplyDeleteAnd such a valuable cause to support. I'm sure anyone who buys the anthology will get a very entertaining read.
Thanks, Carol.
DeleteWell, Lola sounds a bit French!
ReplyDeleteNice post, Lorraine. :]
marion
Well, she is half poodle!
DeleteThanks for your comments, Marion.
In my usual slow on the uptake fashion it has only just come to my attention that the OWC Anthology isn't just about the monthly winners. I'd have submitted if I'd known! Now I shall have to open a Paypal account - or could I use my credit card with Alfiedog?
ReplyDeleteThrough Paypal on Alfiedog, and no e-reader needed - apparently you can read these things on computer or print off a pdf file. Marvellous, isn't it?
DeleteNext time, submit!