BLOG MOVING HOME!!!

Dear All who currently follow or who stumble across this blog,


As I now have my hands in an array of literary projects, I decided to set up a personal blog and keep it all together there rather than separate.


If you would like to follow my new blog, you can find it at veebeewriter.wordpress.com. I am still working on it right now (so much to do!) but it will be all done in the next few days.


Many Thanks


Victoria

*Special Notice*

The August Flash Fiction Competition will be the last one for a month or two. 


I've received so many great entries and it is really hard to choose the one winner. In order to be able to display more work and stories, I am going to be setting up a totally FREE online magazine for writers to submit and contribute their work to.


The competition will be back on soon with other opportunities :-)

July Flash Fiction Competition Winner announced:

Congratulations Jane Galloway Tough!!!

You can read her story 'Judgement Friday' by clicking HERE

Save Short Stories on BBC Radio!!!

Help Save Short Stories on BBC Radio!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/noshortstorycuts/

Read more about this important campaign on Tania's Blog: http://theshortreview.blogspot.com/2011/07/
help-save-short-stories-on-bbc-radio.html#links

August Flash Fiction Competition ~ Now Open

August Flash Fiction Writing Competiton

250 words

No given theme/phrase this month!!! Competition is open!!!

Deadline: Midnight on 1st September 2011

http://www.writersgifts.co.uk/flash-fiction-writing-competition

New In ~ Classic Fiction Greeting Cards to raise a giggle

9 designs available

Poetry Instead of a Card ~ Now Available

13 Designs available

The New Writer Magazine ~ Now available at What the Dickens?

Summer 2011 collection is now in stock in our website

www.writersgifts.co.uk

Well Done to Mon Lang who won the June 2011 Flash Fiction Competition

Read her winning entry 'The Registrants' by clicking HERE

Missing presumed stolen!!

Missing presumed stolen!! 

Our wooden Open/Closed sign has gone missing from our shop in Steyning! 

If you've seen it please let us know. 

If you have it please either return it or, if you have it and don't want to return it, pay what it cost us to have it made! ... do we really have to take our shop signs in of a night time?!

Guided Literary Walk of Steyning to support Oxfam Bookfest!

Guided Literary Walk of Steyning to support Oxfam Bookfest

Saturday 9th July

Meet 1.45pm at the Oxfam Shop, 82 High Street, Steyning

Conducted by a local Blue Badge tourist guide

Tickets £3 available from Oxfam, Steyning 01903 813976 or What the Dickens? Cobblestone Walk, Steyning

Several notable writers are associated with Steyning, and we'll explore their connections with the town. See Chantry House, where the poet W.B. Yeats stayed; find out where William Penn preached; where you can see a memorial stone to a famous World War 1 poem; and where the poet, writer and dramatist Ted Walker went to school. These and lots of other historical facts about Steyning will be revealed. 

But book soon! Only 25 places available.

Discounted teas/coffees on offer afterwards at The Old Bakery Tea Rooms, Cobblestone Walk, Steyning.

July Flash Fiction Competition Now Open!

Maximum: 250 words

No set theme or phrase for this month

Deadline: Midnight on 1st August 2011

Entry is FREE!

Each month we will be holding a flash fiction competition where the winner will win What the Dickens? goodies to the value of £10.

Submissions must be in by midnight on the 1st of the month and the winner will be announced 2 weeks later. The winning entry will be posted up on our website for all to read.

Please submit your entry to submissions@writersgifts.co.uk

The usual standard applies: A4 double spaced, title of story at the top. Remember: DO NOT put your name on the story itself! In your e-mail, send a separate cover note with your name, e-mail address, title of your story and word count. If you are the lucky winner, we will send you an e-mail to tell you so and ask for your postal address to send you your lovely things.

There is no theme or phrase this month so go on...get stuck in!
Good luck!

May 2011 Flash Fiction Competition Winner Is...

...Manisha Anand

with her entry entitled:

Wind

To read all about Manisha and to read the winning story click here

****************************************************

There's still time to enter our June Flash Fiction Writing Competition

250 words

Phrase for this month: Usual Suspects.

Deadline: Midnight on 1st July 2011

(See www.writersgifts.co.uk for details)

New stock in this week...Shakespeare's Insults is back and more!

Lots of new products in this week:

..."Shakespeare's Insults" : pocket mirrors, A5 notebooks, stickers and badges

...back by popular demand : Alice in Wonderland "Disappearing Cheshire Cat" Mug 

...new in : mini journals by Galison in two new designs and Book Lover magnetic Poetry

Book Lover Magnetic Poetry Kit

Quill & Ink Mini Journal

Shakespeare Insults - Pocket Mirror

"Disappearing Cheshire Cat" Mug - leaves nothing but a grin! 

Shakespeare's Insults: Exercise Books, A5 Notebooks, Coasters and Stickers available

Confetti Garden Mini Journal

Visit  http://www.writersgifts.co.uk/ for all these and much, much more!

June Flash Fiction Competition Now Open!

Maximum: 250 words

Phrase for this month: Usual Suspects.

Deadline: Midnight on 1st July 2011

Entry is FREE!

Each month we will be holding a flash fiction competition where the winner will win What the Dickens? goodies to the value of £10.

Submissions must be in by midnight on the 1st of the month and the winner will be announced 2 weeks later. The winning entry will be posted up on our website for all to read.

Please submit your entry to submissions@writersgifts.co.uk

The usual standard applies: A4 double spaced, title of story at the top. Remember: DO NOT put your name on the story itself! In your e-mail, send a separate cover note with your name, e-mail address, title of your story and word count. If you are the lucky winner, we will send you an e-mail to tell you so and ask for your postal address to send you your lovely things.

The theme this month is: 'Usual Suspects' and to help you along we've found the meaning and origin of the phrase:

'The people you would expect, the customary lot. At the end of the 1942 US film Casablanca, 'Round up the usual suspects' is a line spoken by Claude Rains as Captain Louis Renaud, the Vichy French police chief in the Moroccan city, who is, in his cynical way, appearing to act responsibly in the light of the fact that a German officer, Major Strasser, has been shot. In fact, Renaud knows full well that the killing has been commited by Rick (the Humphrey Bogart character) because it was carried out but a few moments before in front of him.' (Cassell's Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, 2002)

Good luck!

New stock in this week...Literary Tea Bags!

We are thrilled to have in stock this week...

 ...Novel Teas - Literary Tea Bags!

Let’s face it, there are days when the same old teabag just won’t do   .

Spend tea time with CS Lewis, Rita Mae Brown, Alice Hoffman, and more as they share their thoughts on the delights and comforts of tea and books on each individually printed tea tag.  

There is no better company than a steaming cup of tea as you open the cover of a favorite classic or turn the page of the latest thriller. Whether traveling to distant times and far off lands or discovering new characters in a nearby locale, a soothing cup of tea makes the journey more pleasurable and the memory lasting.

Novel Teas are the perfect compliment to your literary journey. Enjoy them iced by the pool for that steamy summer romance, or hot by the hearth for that long winter epic.

Novel Teas ~ natures story unfolded in every leaf. 

Read ‘em and steep!  

Novel Teas ~ 25 Literary Tea Bags Boxed

Novel Teas ~ 5 Literary Tea Bags (Pouch)

Visit  http://www.writersgifts.co.uk/ for all these and much, much more!

We Need Your Feedback!

We like to know when we're doing well but more importantly, we need to know when we need to improve so your feedback and comments are important to us.


Whether you've ordered from us online or visited us in person we'd like to know:

• how we did at fulfilling your order requirements
• how you found our ordering process online
• whether you had any problems
• whether our level of customer service was to your satisfaction
• if there is anything we can improve on
• if there are any products you know of that we don't stock that would go well with our current range
• whether you would use us again
• whether you would recommend us to others
• ...or any other comment you would like to share!

You can leave feedback/comments in a number of places:

 ~ on our Google Maps link: What the Dickens? Steyning

 ~ on our Facebook Reviews page: What the Dickens? Facebook Reviews

 ~ on our new Customer Comments page on our website: What the Dickens? Customer Comments

We appreciate it!

New stock in this week...Teapots and Matching Mugs!

We are thrilled to have in stock this week...

 ...a beautiful range of Novel-Tea Teapots and Matching Mugs.

Beautiful 2-cup Teapot

Set of 4 Mugs

Single Mug also available!

Visit  http://www.writersgifts.co.uk/ for all these and much, much more!

April 2011 Flash Fiction Competition Winner Is...

...D.C. McMillen

with her entry entitled:

The Unlucky Fruit

To read all about D.C. and to read the winning story click here

****************************************************

There's still time to enter our May Flash Fiction Writing Competition

250 words

Phrase for this month: Something wicked this way comes.

Deadline: Midnight on 1st June 2011

(See www.writersgifts.co.uk for details)

May Flash Fiction Competition Now Open!

Maximum: 250 words

Phrase for this month: Something wicked this way comes.

Deadline: Midnight on 1st June 2011

Entry is FREE!

Each month we will be holding a flash fiction competition where the winner will win What the Dickens? goodies to the value of £10.

Submissions must be in by midnight on the 1st of the month and the winner will be announced 2 weeks later. The winning entry will be posted up on our website for all to read.

Please submit your entry to submissions@writersgifts.co.uk

The usual standard applies: A4 double spaced, title of story at the top. Remember: DO NOT put your name on the story itself! In your e-mail, send a separate cover note with your name, e-mail address, title of your story and word count. If you are the lucky winner, we will send you an e-mail to tell you so and ask for your postal address to send you your lovely things.

The theme this month is: 'Something wicked this way comes' so you can use this in many ways...as a title for your flash, have a character say the line, thread the individual words in to your flash...whatever you do, it's up to you!

New stock in this week...Letter Writing Sets!

New stock in this week....

Vintage Jack Letter Writing Set: 20 x Writing Sheets  and  10 x Envelopes all  in a lovely resealable wallet!

(Cupcake design also available)

And coming soon....a new range of A4 Notepads and ring binders...

Click here to go straight to our website.

March 2011 Flash Fiction Competition Winner Is........

...Sue Butler 

with her entry entitled:

Dawkins' Last Dip

To read all about Sue and to read the winning story click here

****************************************************

There's still time to enter our April Flash Fiction Writing Competition

250 words

Phrase for this month: Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Deadline: Midnight on 1st May 2011

(See www.writersgifts.co.uk for details)

April Flash Fiction Competition Now Open!

Maximum: 250 words

Phrase for this month: Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Deadline: Midnight on 1st May 2011

Entry is FREE!

Each month we will be holding a flash fiction competition where the winner will win What the Dickens? goodies to the value of £10.

Submissions must be in by midnight on the 1st of the month and the winner will be announced 2 weeks later. The winning entry will be posted up on our website for all to read.

Please submit your entry to submissions@writersgifts.co.uk

The usual standard applies: A4 double spaced, title of story at the top. Remember: DO NOT put your name on the story itself! In your e-mail, send a separate cover note with your name, e-mail address, title of your story and word count. If you are the lucky winner, we will send you an e-mail to tell you so and ask for your postal address to send you your lovely things.

The theme this month is: 'Parting is such sweet sorrow' so you can use this in many ways...as a title for your flash, have a character say the line, thread the individual words in to your flash...whatever you do, it's up to you!

Dave Swann ~ The Privilege of Rain ~ Short Film

Dave Swann is a Brighton based poet and writer whose recently published book The Privilege of Rain is a mixture of poetry and prose inspired by his time as writer in residence at a high security prison in Nottingham.

In this film Dave reads three short extracts from his book.

http://vimeo.com/21384944

Our 1st Flash Fiction Writing Competition is now open!

Maximum: 250 words

Phrase for this month: What the Dickens?

Deadline: Midnight on 1st April 2011

Entry is FREE!

Each month we will be holding a flash fiction competition where the winner will win What the Dickens? goodies to the value of £10.

Submissions must be in by midnight on the 1st of the month and the winner will be announced 2 weeks later. The winning entry will be posted up on our website for all to read.

Please submit your entry to submissions@writersgifts.co.uk

The usual standard applies: A4 double spaced, title of story at the top. Remember: DO NOT put your name on the story itself! In your e-mail, send a separate cover note with your name, e-mail address, title of your story and word count. If you are the lucky winner, we will send you an e-mail to tell you so and ask for your postal address to send you your lovely things.

The theme this month is: What the Dickens? so you can use this in many ways...as a title for your flash, have a character say the line, thread the individual words in to your flash...whatever you do, it's up to you!

Shop Officially Open & Website Now Live!

What the Dickens? Steyning, West Sussex

We're pleased to announce that our shop in Steyning, West Sussex is now officially open and our website www.writersgifts.co.uk is now live!

If you can't visit us in person, please visit our website or you can find us on Twitter: @writersgifts and Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/writersgifts

Cobblestone Walk, High Street, Steyning

New Book Stock and Magazine Arrivals!

New stock of brand new books arrived today including:

Short Story Collections: Guy de Maupassant, Katherine Mansfield, Hanif Kureshi, Alison Macleod, Vanessa Gebbie, Tania Hershman and more...

Creative Writing Books: Five Minute Writer, Writing Down the Bones, Writing Short Stories, Your Writing Coach, Road to Somewhere, Short Circuit and more...

Magazines: Mslexia - now in, Writing Magazine and Writer's Forum coming soon...

Official Launch Date 12th March 2011

Exciting news!

We will be officially launching our shop and website on Saturday 12th March 2011.

Our website: http://www.writersgifts.co.uk/ will be fully up and running should you wish to view and order from our product range. All our products are dispatched by Royal Mail Recorded Delivery for only £3.50.

You can also view and set your order for collection should you wish to pick up from us at our new shop in Cobblestone Walk, Steyning.

On Saturday 12th March there will be an official launch of three new businesses to Cobblestone Walk including ourselves, A Taste of Bliss and Suzart . We'll be there between the hours of 10am and 5pm offering all sorts of goodies, snacks and drinks so we'd very much love to see you either online or in person!

(Official flyer to follow)

Products Coming Soon...

A small selection of products coming soon to http://www.writersgifts.co.uk/ :

Sticky Notes

Shakespeare Insults Exercise Book

Fridge Magnet