I sent one of my more unusual poems to WRITING magazine, wanting to know what genre this would be, or whether I have discovered a new genre. This is the reply I have just received. 'Julie, Thanks for your note – your question was very interesting and we are using it in an upcoming issue of the magazine. It’s been planned in. The answer applauds your idea. I hope you are able to wait until then! Very best wishes Diana Cambridge'
And here are the opening paragraphs . . .but not yet published.
HOLIDAY PLANS
Larry O'Keefe opened the bottom drawer of the chest. To the ordinary punter, they looked like common beach pebbles. He knew differently. When they were subjected to ultraviolet light, these fluorescent stones revealed their glittering secret.
For the serious collector, they were like gold dust. He'd seen fights break out over ownership of such rare specimens, with claims and counter claims of lying and stealing. Murder couldn't be ruled out, either; there was so much passion surrounding these smooth little beach gems.
He removed his spectacles, rubbed his eyes, tired from concentration, and looked at the clock. It was gone midnight, time to stop writing. He'd been tapping away at his keyboard since six that evening, working on his thesis, The Nature of Pebbles, with just coffee and biscuits to sustain him. He was past eating, but fancied a whisky and a bit of Duke Ellington to help him relax before bed.
Are you in the Lake District this Saturday, 28 October? Come along to the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, 7.30pm and enjoy a spoken word evening. I'll be reading three new poems including DEMENTIA, which compares the brain to a computer which crashes; TYRANNY OF TIME where I rant on about clocks and the passing of time; and SOCIALIST AGENDA, inspired by Jeremy Corbyn's ten pledges from the Labour Party September Conference. Other than writing crazy poems, I am now on my second edit of my new novel, ALL THAT GLITTERS. Hopefully by the end of next week, it will be ready to be read and checked through by others. Anyone who may be interested in reading this for me, with the specific aim of finding errors, should contact me through the contact page on this site. More news another time. Julie