Unknown Kent and Sussex

08/11/2024

What goes on in Battle every last Friday of the month:

ELF night in Battle, every last Friday of the month. Musical variety brought to the audience where they sit. Such a fun night.

31/10/2024

Do read this. It's not the youngsters who are dishonest! Sad.

Last year we went to the Newick Pumpkin Farm and we loved their colourful selection of pumpkins

26/10/2024

Our fabulous local charity - WRAS - handle yet another deer entanglement:

09/10/2024

Review of last Saturday's musical outing:

Leo Sayer wows back on home territory. Playing hits from his extensive songbook. Currently touring the UK. Catch him if you can find a ticket.

02/10/2024

Forthcoming Masterclass for Writers

Highly respected tutor and author Nicola Garrard will provide advice and a mini-workshop in a Master Class for Writers at the next meeting of Anderida Writers at the Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne, on Tuesday, October 8th at 7.30 pm.
The topics she will cover are: 'my journey to publication'; the importance of engaging an editor or, if you cannot afford one, asking friends or fellow authors to read your manuscript and give you suggested edits; tips and advice for writers; a writing prompt for a practical writing exercise, with a focus on voice and point of view.
Nicola's debut novel, 29 Locks (HopeRoad, 2021), was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize and the Mslexia Children’s Novel competition and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2022. It was picked by Suzi Feay (Financial Times) for their ‘Best Books of 2021’.
Her second novel, 21 Miles (HopeRoad, 2023) was described by Aoife Fitzpatrick as ‘spectacular and unforgettable...with one of the most moving endings that I have ever read.’
The books are 'YA Crossovers' to be enjoyed by both adults and teenagers.
Nicola, a regular guest on BBC Radio London, was a speaker at the Hay Festival 2024 schools' programme and the UKLA International Conference 2024.
She says that 'word and mouth' is the best way to sell books in what is a saturated market.
Articles in the media can help and Nicola recalls that after The Guardian published a piece she'd written about being a teacher in London it greatly boosted sales of her book 29 Locks.
You can check out this most interesting article headed A MOMENT THAT CHANGED ME: THREE SCHOOLBOY TRAUNTS CONVINCED ME TO BECOME A TEACHER in The Guardian by using the link:
https://www.theguardian.com/.../a-moment-that-changed-me...%
Nicola will be offering Anderida Writers and guests the chance to buy signed copies of her books at the meeting on Tuesday, October 8th. They will be available at £8, or £10 if the purchaser wishes to include a donation to Minority Matters/Trussell Trust charities.
For more information see www.nicola-garrard.co.uk or follow on X.

Nicola Garrard is the author of Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize-shortlisted debut Young Adult novel Twenty-Nine Locks

30/09/2024

More beautiful photos of Sussex by Ann Ritchie in today's article:
https://unknownkentandsussex.co.uk/sovereign-harbour-an-alternative-view/

Ann Ritchie looks at Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour through her lens, capturing wonderful landscapes featuring sea and skies

26/09/2024

Read about one of our wonderful local artists working in clay

A visit to view pottery by Nicola Bagge, an artist whose work reflects the natural environment of the Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

25/09/2024

Gosh, where is our coastline going?!
https://unknownkentandsussex.co.uk/todays-coastline-will-not-be-tomorrows/

Our coastline is eroding at a rate of knots, taking homes and beloved structures with it. Mind the (Birling) Gap.

25/09/2024

Friend Ann Ritchie has already smashed her target for her fundraising walk for Alzheimers this weekend but I'm sure she won't turn down a few more pennies, if you've a mind:

Help Ann Ritchie raise money to support Alzheimer's Society

24/09/2024

Ann Ritchie highlights a most important issue through her wonderful photography: https://unknownkentandsussex.co.uk/no-bees-no-humans/

Thiamethoxam, banned in the UK since 2018, yet approved for use on sugar beet crops in England once again in 2024. What hope for our bees?

18/09/2024

Veronica Sbergia & Max De Bernardi play Punnetts Town Village Hall on Saturday 21 Sept with support by Red Green and Blue. 7:30-10.00pm. A chance to see them for only £13 and BYO refreshments. Their show at Uckfield Civic Centre the eve before is sold out. Clip of them here: https://youtu.be/T-2UFyaac2o?si=bGtcpM3i87v1P1ir

16/09/2024

https://unknownkentandsussex.co.uk/you-can-make-hummus-out-of-almost-anything/

You can make hummus our of almost anything edible, including leftovers. Here are some ideas for your delectation.

14/09/2024

Folly Wildlife Rescue is facing closure. Please throw a few pennies to them. Together, we can prevent this happening and allow them to continue rescuing our beleaguered wildlife :

Difficult times lay ahead for us all at Folly Wildlife Rescue as we face closure in the coming months. Please support our campaign to raise emergency funds and help our work for wildlife continue.

13/09/2024

Spooky stuff in today's article:

Did Malta control the nerve centre of the lost continent of Atlantic? At least one professor believes this to be the case.

12/09/2024

Step back into 600 years of history at Hever Castle - gorgeous grounds, too


https://unknownkentandsussex.co.uk/the-most-magnificent-castle-visit-hever-edenbridge-kent/

08/09/2024

MINI-WORKSHOP AND CRITIQUES FOR BOTH AUTHORS AND READERS

Anderida Writers' meeting at the Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne, on Tuesday (September 10th) will cater for both writers and readers, and includes a mini-workshop by Robert Crouch, the author of the Kent Fisher Murder Mysteries.
Some of Robert's books will be available at the interval at discounted prices from £5.
Then, in the second-half of the meeting, members have the opportunity to read their work and have it critiqued by those present including club patron and best-selling author Tamara McKinley.
In addition, Anderida will continue the successful promotion of providing a £5 subsidy to each of their authors who would like to offer one of their books FREE to those members willing to review them on Amazon.
Robert Crouch will kick things off in the Hydro's Garden Suite at 7.30 pm by briefly highlighting both the mistakes and successes he has had leading to the publication of No Accident by a US publisher.
His workshop will focus on writing in a way you’re comfortable with while still following the ‘rules of writing’. He will also touch upon marketing, social media, blogging and promotions.
Anderida chairman Tony Flood says: "Members and guests should bring a pen and paper (or notebook) with them because Robert will set a short writing exercise. He'll provide an opening paragraph and ask us to continue writing from that starting point whatever comes into our heads.
"Non-members are welcome and will be charged a guest fee of £4."