It’s been a while since I did a personal blog, but I have a little time for updates today.
I now write a monthly article blog for Felixstowe Magazine app, and I’d recommend this mag app. It’s full of exciting things to read. My feature is called PENspiration, and it’s mix of things I do, interviews, books to read and creative tips. Download the APP and take a look.
The big highlight and massive amount of work, which has meant I haven’t been updating this regularly, has been taking the lead part in Pat and Ron: Writers in Crime, by Suzanne Hawkes. We had a very short time to rehearse this to perfection and we did it! For six nights I transformed into Patricia Highsmith, writer of The Talented Mr Ripley and many other ‘Not crime’ thrillers. It focussed on the relationship between Patricia, an American, and Ronald Blythe, poet and writer (Akenfield) in Suffolk. It was an amazing and intense time and the play received excellent reviews. It returns in the Autumn to tour. Read a review here: https://suffolktheatre.co.uk/2024/03/27/pat-ron-writers-in-crime-by-suzanne-hawkes-review/
There has been other exciting news too. I am performing my poetry on stage several times this year. First up is the Steamboat Tavern tonight, and following that The Klinker Club at Cuppa in Felixstowe on May 4th (be with you!) from 5pm. Also, on May 19th I’ll be at the Spread Eagle to do a Soapbox People event.
ON May 16th, I will be representing the Writer’s Guild Great Britain (East Anglia branch) on stage at the Theatre Royal in Norwich, and I am very excited about all that. I’m also lined up to do talks in October for the Women’s Institute, and at U3a in January 2025!
I’m busy pressing on with my Punk Noir novel – and have nearly got to 50,000 words. I hope to have it published by the amazing Urban Pigs Press in the Autumn if I finish it by then, but I’m awaiting the publication of my new poetry book, That Little Voice, by Anxiety Press any time now. And by some sort of accident, I’ve already written 17 new poems for my third poetry book, which is under the working title SKINZ.
Finally, most pressing on the agenda is the play I have co-written and directed, 5th AUGUST 1986, which is the brainchild of Ryan Curtis. The scenes are all based on songs from that week and year in the charts! It promises to be very surprising and thank you so much to the amazing cast and the Headgate Theatre! Also to Jacob Rush for sound and design.
So, it has been an incredible year so far and really busy creatively. Please do have a read of my column in the Felixstowe Magazine app to find out more!
Virginia Betts 