Quick & Quirky Questions with Abigail Ottley: Rubella, Watercolours and Air Rifle Pellets
Abigail Ottley is an English teacher turned poet who has published several pieces of work and was nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
All posts by Gillian Hamnett
Dementia and Memory – Runners Up Entry
Last week, we announced the winner of the September flash competition on the theme of ‘dementia and memory’. This week, we’re publishing the runner-up entry as it was such a close vote and we think it’s an excellent piece our readers would like to see. The entry is by 70-year-old Abigail Ottley and we know … Continue reading Dementia and Memory – Runners Up Entry
Quick & Quirky Questions with Donald Adamson: Scots in Finland
Donald Adamson hails from Dumfries and won the Autumn Voices flash poetry competition for September 2022. Having worked as an English teacher in France, Finland, Iran, Kuwait, he now works as a lecturer in Finland.
Dementia and Memory – Winning Entry
We’re delighted to let you know that the winner of the September flash prize on the theme of ‘dementia and memory’ is 79-year-old Donald Adamson. Donald is originally from Scotland and is now based in Finland. His entry, ‘Scratching To Be Let In’, was picked by the staff team as their favourite and he wins … Continue reading Dementia and Memory – Winning Entry
Quick & Quirky Questions with Caroline Johnstone: Rabbit Holes and Judi Dench
Caroline Johnstone is a senior legal advisor, workshop facilitator, coach, writer, poet, and hypnotherapist. She runs poetry for Write Lines, a wellbeing group, and is the poet in residence for Dundonald Castle and Visitor Centre in East Ayrshire.
Quick & Quirky Questions with Sara Baker: Artists and Antiques
Sara Baker trained as a social worker in the 80s, before opening antique and book shops in the Highlands and France. She has now settled in Linlithgow with her partner.
Quick & Quirky Questions with Kay Ritchie: Reinvention, or Life as a Pinball Machine
Kay Ritchie was a photographer and radio producer; her poem was highly commended in the Autumn Voices’ Living Our Dying competition.
Cats/Edinburgh/Allotments – Winning Entry
Throughout August we asked you to send in your flash entries about cats, Edinburgh, or allotments. The twist being this had to be photo instead of a piece of poetry or prose. We loved looking through all your photos! There could only be one winner though and we’re pleased to announce Sara Baker, aged 72, was … Continue reading Cats/Edinburgh/Allotments – Winning Entry
Money Matters 💰
We’re now almost halfway through September and we find ourselves in Pension Awareness Week, running from the 12th to the 16th of the month. With the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the public response to the events of the last week dominating the deadlines, it’d be no surprise if this particular theme had completely … Continue reading Money Matters 💰
Quick & Quirky Questions with June Webster: Poetry and Caring
June Webster, a retired accounts manager, writes short stories and poems. After living in Rome, she returned to writing, completing courses and working on a book of poems for her daughter who passed away.
Food For Thought
Our journey through the calendar year brings us anniversaries, events, important milestones and themed monthly celebrations in honour of worthy and vital issues. We find ourselves now in Autumn – a season traditionally associated with advancing years and one which inspired our name, Autumn Voices. It’s also September, a month often connected with growing older. … Continue reading Food For Thought
A Cat Writer’s Journey
Cat writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cosy series, the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries, featuring a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Tenth Life Paranormal Mysteries involving a ghost cat. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy presents extraordinary cats saving the world. She also … Continue reading A Cat Writer’s Journey
Quick & Quirky Questions with Mary Goggin: Movement and Dance
Mary Goggin wrote a piece on our website about her play in Edinburgh which explores her turbulent upbringing and youth.
The Water – Winning Entry
Throughout July we asked you to send in your flash entries about water. It turned out to be a very popular topic with lots of entrants to wade through! There could only be one winner though and we’re pleased to announce Eleanor Fordyce, aged 74 from Angus, swept us away with her poem, “Seafarer”. She … Continue reading The Water – Winning Entry
International Cats Day
You may have noticed that we like cats around here. Our resident cat, Orlando, regularly makes an appearance on the blog and last week he was helping a fellow feline get in the back door! Orlando was given the makeover treatmeant in a competition to draw him. That competition was won by Louis Dunn and … Continue reading International Cats Day