This is an old, old photo. My baking and decorating skills have been much improved, but this is still great book/cake blog fodder, so indulge me!

​During 2010-12 I chaired a writing group in Towcester, Northants, and became really involved with all things books in the town library, where we would meet each month. World Book Night came along, and I baked for the event.

​Can you guess which books these are based on? Probably not, haha, they're not very well done with hindsight, but hey, it was a lot of fun. Answers below this photo, if you're interested.... 

​FYI - World Book Night is on 23rd April - get involved!

Answers: The ugly, blobby cupcakes are based on the idea of Small Island - Andrea Levy. The cake with 'Room' written on it is about, you guessed it, the fab novel Room by ​Emma Donoghue. My piping skills have improved somewhat since then!

​Cake amateur-ness aside, both books are a great read, in my top 10, I think. I'd definitely recommend them if you haven't already had the pleasure.

​If you want to see some of the more impressive and professional cakes I now make, take a look at my company website: 280 Bakes.

Lou x 

My sister's a cleaver old stick. She's the showstopping baker in our family. Mum is technical (having trained in food) and I'm firmly in the signature bake, a bit more experimental. We threw my dad a surprise retirement party earlier this year and my sister baked this bang on theme treasure. Dad was a pilot. 

The cake was a tripe sponge layered delight covered in chocolate icing and shortbread plane cookies. Well done sis!

Before you ask, the marzipan man was a throwback to my wedding party in February. It's a model of dad, helping to give me away. I still have to post a picture of that cake - it was epic!

Into bakes? Feeling hungry? Check out my less show stopping but equally tasty contribution to the party's cake display, inspired by the Great British Bake Off. 

Lou x

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Take note, writers - here are the writing competition you need to know about which close in the last few weeks before 2016!

STORGY Short Story Competition  Closes December 30th, max words 5,000, £5 entry, prize of £500
Coralle Short Story Competition  Closes December 5th, free entry, max words 2,000, prize is publication
The Growing Unease: NEW Journalism Competition  Closes December 18th, max 2,000, publication is the prize, £5 entry
Boulevard’s Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers  Closes December 31st, max words 8,000, entry is steeep at $15 but the prize is huge: $1,500
Hourglass Literary Magazine Contest  Closes December 31st, max 7,000 words, entry is $8, prize of $1,000
99 Words Monthly competition, max 99 words, entry is free and the prize is publication. 
First Story - schools get £30 if they enter!!! - Closes 4th December, no fee, prize is publication on Sunday Times Online and a writing residential course. 
Magic Oxygen Closes 31st December, entry £5, prizes up to £1000.
​Henshaw Press Closes 31st December, £5 entry, up to £100 prize.

Get writing!

​Lou x

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To say ‘so shoot me’ seems a little inappropriate, but that’s how I felt this weekend when a friend of mine (let’s call her ‘L’) told me she’d been told by a ‘mate’ that her inaction on changing her Facebook profile picture to a French flag was ‘offensive’.
 
I too haven’t changed my Facebook profile picture to the watermarked French flag. 
 
The reasons I haven’t changed my picture to the red, white and blue in support of Paris and the French after the atrocities, sadness and horror over the last few days is because I refuse to be a part of a minute symbol going viral over social media. Of course I feel angry, scared, horrified, sad following the events of the Paris attack, but I refuse to jump on the band wagon here. Many won’t know Beirut (Yemen) and Baghdad (Iraq) also suffered Isis attacks in the same 24 hours. Where are those two flags on Facebook?
 
There’s been 289 terror attacks so far in 2015. Given 16th November is the 320th day in the year, that’s pretty astounding.Sure, some of them happen on the same day, but that’s still not far off one a day in the world.
 
Where are the Facebook flags for the other countries hit by similar horrors?
 
My point is, as you can hopefully gather, that similar events of terror happen around the world almost every day, yet why do we give special attention to the Paris attack? Yes, France is our next door neighbour. Yes, the attacks are creeping into western nations, not just restricted to ‘dangerous lands’, but this has been happening for decades now, I think it’s fair to say. My awareness of terrorism started on September 11th 2001, news coming in from New York city and Washington.
 
But why the media storm and public support for this one? Perhaps it’s because of the British links. We’re more than just neighbours, with 0.8% of the Parisen population being British (17,500 people). There’s been no census taken in Lebanon (capital being Beirut) since 1932, so this kind of data is just not available, but my assumption would be there’s far fewer British people living there. Same goes for Baghdad – I can only find stats for British Iraqis living here, or troops in Baghdad, but no population numbers of British people living there.
 
Maybe that’s the secret: France features strongly on our radar for jobs, second homes, holidays, politics.... From an early age we’re aware of France. History education when I was at school focused strongly on the Allies in the two world wars and the royal family tree, with French ancestry. My school also taught French to all students from the age of 11-16. And how many British people haven’t visited France? Myself, I’ve been to Nantes (French exchange at school), skirted in and around Calais and the surrounding villages (booze cruise), I’ve spent at least three family holidays in and around Frejus, I’ve driven through it on a road trip to Rome, and spent a weekend in Paris with a friend. There’s probably more occasions, but memory fails.
 
Should the fact France is our close neighbour be the reason why we bowed our heads this morning, and leave other nations, like Iraq and Yemen, ignored? The close relationship link does make sense why we may be more supportive to the French, but then why would USA-owned and Latin America dominated Facebook choose France to support so openly over all the nations under the force of terror? No one created a widget for the Yemen flag this week.
 
The two minutes silence today held across Europe was, of course, respectful and supportive. After all, why shouldn’t we show our respect for those who died and support for those who live on? We did the same for the Charlie Hebdo terror attack in Paris in January.  
 
Perhaps it’s the sheer numbers of casualties involved that we feel so connected and shocked? It’s obvious the attacks with bigger impacts will make more of a global media impact.
 
Here are the terror attacked in 2015 (so far) which, as in Paris, killed over 100 people each time:
 
137 people were killed in Yemen’s Sana’a mosque on 7th March
25th June: 148 people died in Syria in a massacre involving car bombs on the Turkish border
In July, 145 people died in a shooting in a Nigerian market place
It’s estimated that 100-180 people were killed in July’s car bombs in Iraq
In Turkey itself, 102 people were killed in Ankara in October, 508 injured, when suicide bombers decided to destroy a peace rally.
 
There’s similar numbers of dead involved in all cases, and it makes it no less horrifying when the attacks happen somewhere most Europeans probably won’t ever set foot in (with the exception of Egypt), and most know nothing about the atrocities.
 
Perhaps terror is accepted as inevitable in these countries? How awful. Just because France is deemed safer than many parts of Asia or Africa or compared to the Arab nations… but those innocents affected by the violence won’t care about that. That’s their town, their country, their family. The one glimmer of hope is that the Egyptian plane bombed last month, killing 224 people, was in the news for weeks, and there were no British people on board for national morbid interest. However, although Egypt is not seen as a particularly ‘safe, western area’, we as a nation have been happy to holiday there. The incident being a bombed flight was also bound to produce more media attention than a terrestrial attack. So that’s why. Horrendous. Still no Egyptian flags on Facebook.
 
I wonder if Syrian, Yemen, Turkish, Nigerian, Iraqi nationals posted their flag on Facebook in solidarity? I don’t have any Facebook friends from these countries, but it sure didn’t make the viral waves the French flag did. (PS. Wonder what Syrians are posting and searching for on Facebook?)
 
It’s all politics. That’s what sucks. Often devoid of human traits, politics is a powerful thing. Egalite, fraternite et liberte, indeed. However, I am no politician. I am a member of no political organisation, but I try to keep up with world events. I don’t watch the news, preferring to get snippets when I choose instead of being bombarded constantly with negative stories.

So, what was ‘L’s’ response to her offended friend on Facebook? “If you’re offended, that’s your problem”, she argued, and pointed out that L’s profile picture is too small to host all the flags of terrorist tormented nations and peoples. Well said. I, like ‘L’, would rather reflect in private, and pray on a wider scale. Pray for the world. 

​I’m a caring, thoughtful, sympathetic person and I don’t need to colour my photo to prove it. I choose to pray for the world and I don't believe it's all French. No offense.

Lou x

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P.S. What's worse that posting the flag as a watermark on your face - and I won't go on about this for long, I promise - is when people have posted pictures of them on holiday in Paris, perhaps under the Eiffel Tower. So what, you've been? Show off. 

Tomorrow, I’m off to my first writing course since… ooh, 2010? A whole day dedicated to writing and learning more craft. I’m excited, and very grateful – it was my present for our first wedding anniversary from El Husbandio, back in August. I’m so thankful he’s supportive of my writing, and I can’t wait to meet some new like-minded faces.
 
So what do I hope to gain from this course? It’s entitled “Tools for Fiction Writing” with Louise Green, and, quote, aims to “help you start, improve and develop your stories by looking at some of the key elements in any fiction writing such as plot, character and form.” Last time I went on a course (Winchester – highly recommended!) I learned a lot about structure in writing 60,000+ word stories, which I’ve managed to capitalise a little on for my current work in progress. This time, I hope I can learn skills so I can reach that 60,000 word count goal and get past the 35,000-40,000 brick wall I crash into. This book has legs for a marathon, but it’s slowed to a crawl.
 
In comparison to my writing from 2010, I believe I’ve grown. I’m working on including more emotion in this work, trying to really touch the reader, and I have a lot more experience with a wider audience, having blogged for various new websites this and last year. My portfolio has expanded, adding the ‘bake’ aspect to this Miss Write blog, and I’ve grown in my own personal experience too. This all, surely helps in improving my writing skills. Meeting new writers also helps me by inspiring work and enthusiasms, so I can't fail tomorrow - even if I'm surrounded by anal academics and proffering poets!
 
I know this course, even if there’s no specific gems I leave with, will encourage me and give me the boost I need going into a winter of writing. I haven’t been as dedicated as I should have been in re-starting the penning of my second book, since pledging a re-visit to the script back in August. You know, a two week holiday, a full-time job, buying a house and moving twice has its distractions!
 
So, tomorrow, look out Bristol University. I am reminding myself of my WIP tonight – it’s only 20 pages at the moment, so that’s no challenge. I’ll be writing like a beast, hopefully, through November – my own scaled down, more sociable, gentler version of NaNoWriMo.
 
Pens at the ready, I’m ready to write!
 
Lou x
 
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I don't have any kids (yet), so I can't really trick or treat, but I'm a big fan of Halloween all the same. Here's how you Halloween with no one under 20 years old...

​After all the lead up, here's how my Halloween went down. Like a bat out of hell, if raced past, even with a bed time of 1.30am! We had soooo many trick or treaters - love it - the food was a success, and everyone got in the spirit/booze. Check it out!

Feeding Frenzy

I made 'dragon's blood' cocktail (sangria, essentially) and non-alcoholic bat's piss (a jug of lemonade) for the t-totals. 'Wink Murder' made an appearance once the food had been devoured. Halloween themed tunes were playing all night - just google 'devil' songs!

That's how you Halloween like an adult. 

Lou x

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I love a good literary festival, and most of my dear blog readers hail from the USA, so here's my unmissable list of upcoming lit fests in the USA. 

Enjoy - let me know if you go to any, but be careful not to let the literary festivals ruin your social life!






National Book Festival, Washington DC, USA, August

Miami Book Fair, USA, November

Brooklyn Book Festival, USA, September

19th Annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival October 10, 2015 Rockville, MD, USA

National Book Festival – Library of Congress

National Mall, Washington DC

Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison, WI (October)

Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX (October)

Louisiana Book Festival, Baton Rouge, LA (November)

Decatur Book Festival, Decatur, GA (September)

------

Check out more great America book festivals via @travelleisure. 


Lou x


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SMASH - Swindon Mentoring And Self Help. It's a fantastic charity based in Swindon, UK. 

Why do you need to know about this organisation? Well, since 1999 SMASH has been 'bringing young people together with willing and committed volunteers who can support, advise and listen to them in a sustained long term mentoring relationship.' The charity gives young people at risk the chance to develop and reach their potential, giving them confidence to grow into responsible and happy adults - sometimes when no one else believes that this is possible. 

How do SMASH do this amazing job? With their amazing volunteer mentors, that's how! This month saw a new intake of mentors who spent a day mixing with their potential mentees and other new mentors. The lively group took on challenges like raft building, archery contests and assault courses, all with the aim of matching up the young people with an appropriate mentor. Kind of like mentor speed dating, they had a fantastic time meeting each other, and word has it, mentors and mentees alike are excited to find out with in the near future who they've been paired with. 

Exciting activities aside, SMASH encourage the volunteer mentors to befriend the young person they're paired with. The idea is to be someone they can trust, someone they can possibly use as a role model, someone they can confide in - if they wish. Mentors are trained to recognise signs of abuse, and they are briefed on child safety (among other important issues). They are told not be step in to cover an absent or disinterested parent, but simply to 'hang out' with their charge and give them something they can depend on. If the mentee chooses to open up about problems they may be having, the mentor is there to offer an ear - but no advice. The mentors are only linked to their young person for 12 months, but the benefits to both mentor and mentee are significant. 

Taken from a recent news article on SMASH:

Luke Withington, 17, was matched with one of the charity’s mentors two and half years ago. Since then he has become a SMASH trustee and a spokesman for the organisation. He is one of the many youngsters preparing for the [10 mile run] challenge in September.

“The charity helped me come out of my comfort zone and I got the help I needed to get my own problems sorted,” he said. “I was diagnosed with depression after they helped me out and it turns out I had had it for four years without knowing it. They taught me not to give up on myself. The service they provide is astounding and I am a living, breathing success story.”

Do you think you have it in you to help a young person discover their confidence?

Can you offer the companionship just one boy or girl needs to develop?

SMASH are looking for Swindon area volunteers who wish to become a mentor for these young people (normally from 13-16 years old), so if you think you could offer friendship and adult role model competencies, get in touch!

Contact SMASH:

Tel: 01793 729748

www.smashyouthproject.co.uk

Find SMASH on Facebook or check out their Twitter page.

Have a fulfilling weekend guys, see you next Friday! 

Lou x

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Images courtesy of SMASH

Today, there are commemorations happening in France and the south-east coast of the UK to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in World War Two. For anyone who's not aware, D-Day was the start of "Operation Overlord", the 1944 Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied western Europe, involving a landing of 156,000 troops. This operation began on the beaches of Normandy on the western French coast. It was the amphibious manoeuvre which marked the start of the end of the war. As many as 4,000 Allied troops and 9,000 German died in one day.

Here in the UK, it is easy to let commemorations of both world wars wash over you a little - there are so many things going on throughout the year to remember the events of this key part of British (and indeed, world) history. Poppies in November, various key events which are remembered, and there will be more to come due to other conflicts. I feel incredible guilty typing that, but I think it's true in a way. However, today, 6th June 2014, is special. Today is the final official marking by veterans of the landings. As you can imagine, most of the veterans are in their 90's now and their numbers are declining. The veterans association is dis-banding. 

In the next few years, the memories of D-Day will become history as the last of the survivors pass away. 

It is important, in my opinion, that the ones left behind who were too young or not yet born to remember it to sustain an inherited memory of events like these. My grandparents were not involved in D-Day, but they were a soldier, a Wren and an evacuee in World War Two, and I have been lucky enough to hear stories from all three of them. Two of my grandparents have passed away. I miss them every day, even after a few years have passed by. I believe, in a similar vein to remembering D-Day veterans and events, remembering my dear grandparents every day is a way to retain the memories of their persons and a way to honour them and what they brought to our family, their communities, and indeed their country. The memories of my grandparents who've died are gone. The stories they told me have become memories for me; memories I cannot pass on to my future children, but I can certainly pass on what I have learned about my beloved grandparents to help them create their own family history.

History is being made every day, most hours. We cannot commemorate EVERYTHING, but we can record it and we should remember important memories like these. We can, of course, mark past events to remember those who gave their lives. However, we also need to remember to feel proud for the bravery, skill, and dedication those involved - and isn't just respect for the soldiers we should show. What about the planners, the people in logistics, the people who dealt with the ones who came home injured/dead, the women behind the scenes? 

Memories are both easy and difficult to hang on to, but they should be a lesson for the future. What use is history if it doesn't teach us something? Any military personnel reading this will probably think of the lessons learned from the conflict and be able to reflect on so much that has changed, but the rest of us can join this reflection too. 

Why were we at war? What were we fighting for? Why was it so important? What humanity was shown in these dark days? How would the UK, Europe, the world be different had World War Two had a different ending?

Watching the coverage on the BBC today, there seems to be a sense of humility among the veterans, not seeing themselves as heroes. Indeed, it's turned into a family event, where stories are shared and new memories are made. 

We need to ensure the lessons learned and the reason the UK declared war on the Nazis is not forgotten as those who were involved are buried. World War Two should not leave our school text books for a long time yet. However, I have a strong opinion that more history than just World War Two should be taught in secondary schools. Years 9-11 in my school (1990s) was solid war learning, and it could have been much better structured... but that's a whole other rant/blog.
 
On this emotional and sombre day, I have a message for the veterans still with us, and a thought for the ones who've died since and on the day. Simply, thank you for our freedom. 

Special mention to 89 year old Jock Hutton who repeated his parachute jump from 70 years ago this morning. Incredible. Well done him!

Lou x

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Images courtesy of Cross Fit James Island and the BBC website

Ladies, it’s time to take the fight to cancer at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. 

Cancer doesn’t care who it affects. It can ruin lives of individuals and families without thinking twice. Cancer will 
affect one in three of us, so we need to unite and fight this disease. Together, we will beat it. 

"Cancer’s going down. And every single pound we raise pushes it closer to the floor." ~ Race For Life.  

That’s why I'm volunteering at Swindon's Race for Life event this weekend. I am no runner, but this isn't stopping me from getting involved and taking delight in telling cancer that I'm in the fight, and we're coming to get it. Giving a few hours of my weekend is the least I can do. You can do the same, if not more.

The team around the country are still looking for volunteers at this and other Race For Life events. Volunteering can be a valuable personal experience, in which you can receive the benefits of:

 Meeting new people who are as keen to give cancer the finger as you are. 

 Hands-on experience with people from all walks of life.

 Personal satisfaction of knowing you’re helping to make a real difference in the fight against cancer - a very worthwhile cause. 

 The opportunity to help out in your local community. 

Let’s bring cancer to its knees. Sign up to volunteer at Race for Life today; raceforlife.org/volunteer

Until next week,

Lou x

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Image courtesy of Race For Life