Founder member of Somewhere Else, Sophie Livingston is celebrating a two-book publishing deal with Fig Tree, a boutique imprint of Penguin.

Publishing director Helen Garnons-Williams described The Green March Hotel as: “an irresistible debut novel which, with its cast of unforgettable characters and beautifully depicted setting, beguiled us from its very first line.”

The novel begins in 1984, when Morris Spencer, reeling from news of a terminal diagnosis, checks into a crumbling cliff-top hotel on a small island off the English coast, intending to die quietly and unobtrusively, the same way he has lived his whole life.

At the same time, two young women arrive looking for work: Natalie, quiet and contained, with scars both inside and out; Rachel, ablaze with life, mischief, and possibility. And then a dead girl washes up on the beach… Morris finds himself drawn into the mystery of her murder, but far deeper into the lives of the people around him, in a funny, eccentric, surprising and heartbreaking novel about the stubborn, ridiculous, magnificent business of being alive.

Sophie, who chaired the group for three years, said taking chapters to meetings for comment had been an enormous help in bringing the hotel’s world to life.

Sophie worked as a news and feature writer for two Kent-based newspaper groups for 15 years. Her short stories have appeared in various publications and anthologies, and she was longlisted for the InkTears flash fiction competition in 2017, the Mslexia/Poetry Book Society Women’s Poetry Prize in 2019, the Fish Short Story Prize in 2020 and the 2024 Bridport Prize. The Green March Hotel was a finalist in the 2021 Mslexia First Novel Competition judged by Hilary Mantel.

This month’s featured work is a contemporary haibun by Norman Smith. This Japanese form combines a brief prose piece with a haiku. The prose is usually simple, reflective, and focused on a moment, journey, or observation.  The haiku at the end deepens or contrasts with the prose rather than merely repeating it.

Norman said: “I capture fleeting thoughts and moments. This poem is about all of us and how we interact with art and music.”

He travels slowly to places that will inspire him. He started writing for his school magazine ‘The Retfordian’. Then, as a student, he wrote short stories in The Irish Mountaineering Club Magazine. While working in Japan, he became fascinated by the haiku; the short, intense poems still fill him with joy.

You can read the Haibun here.

It’s with great sadness that the group learned of the death of member Robert Hart on 17 August.

Robert was a huge presence within the group with his enthusiasm and skill as a writer. He will be greatly missed.

At the time of his death, Robert was working hard to complete his third novel, a supernatural thriller titled ‘The Dark Peak’ — despite his illness. His determination was both impressive and moving. Other members of the group are now working on a final edit of his work. Robert’s two previous novels, ‘Rebecca’s Secrets’ and ‘Twice Born,’ are available on Amazon. The link can be found on our publications page.’

Our story of the month is an extract from Peter Deacon’s latest novel ‘The Time of Falling Shadows.’ You can read the extract here.

Peter is the author of two novels that blend historical authenticity, suspense, and human drama. After senior roles in the Ministry of Defence and later building a successful business, he turned to fiction inspired by history, aviation, and intelligence operations.

A Chartered Engineer with a BSc in Electrical Engineering, Peter also holds an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, where he studied under several distinguished authors.

His first novel, The Time Just Before, follows a Lancaster bomber pilot and his crew during the Second World War, recreating the tension, camaraderie, and ever-present danger faced by RAF Bomber Command crews on missions where survival was far from certain.

His second novel, The Long Double Cross, is a crime mystery filled with deception and unexpected twists that keep readers guessing until the final chapter.

The Time of Falling Shadows, continues the story of the Lancaster crew as they become involved in clandestine intelligence operations and hazardous special missions. Inspired by real wartime exploits, it will be published later this year. You can find details of all Peter’s published novels in our publications section here.

Many congratulations to Frank McMahon whose poetry was picked from a total entry field of over 10,000 to be Highly Commended in the Erbacce poetry competition. The Erbacce Press is based in Liverpool and the annual competition attracts entries from all over the world. Frank’s work was highly commended and four of his poems will be published in Journal 88 of Erbacce.