Euro Weekly News EWN

The EWN is one of the Costa Blanca's newspapers for the Brits and of couse anyone who wishes to read in English.

Today they have carried my piece on Linda Palfreeman's new book - ¡Salud! (which I have posted on previously)

This is my first piece in EWN with an actual byline for yours truly - I emailed a thank you to the editor and received a nice response - "my pleasure sir, nicely written.." (Tactfully not mentioning he had edited it a bit, mainly to make it a little shorter)

But what is more important is the book itself -

more here

¡Salud! Linda Palfreeman

I interviewed Linda Palfreeman a short while ago and it was published in TIM - available here She has recently published Salud! which reviews the enormously valuable contribution of the volunteers who left Britain to serve with the Republican Medical Services during the Spanish Civil War. Acknowledgement is given to the immense effort and self-sacrifice made by men and women from all walks of life who, working ceaselessly in the rearguard, made it possible for the medical teams to function in Spain. Such was the case in Britain where, in spite of the government's official policy of non-intervention, there was a campaign of fervent support for the legitimate Republican government. The first British Medical Unit in Spain had immense political significance for the Spanish Republic. Barely a month into the start of the civil war and this small group was the first visible sign of international support. It would later become part of the Republican Medical Service and, within that, of the Medical Service of the International Brigades. Not only did volunteers help to create and to maintain an emergency medical service, some of the individuals involved were also responsible for important developments that were of relevance to later military-medical practice and also to the history of medicine in general.Medical personnel generally worked in dreadful conditions, for hours and even days without rest, and with a lack of equipment and provisions of all kinds. They were mostly young and inexperienced men and women who suddenly found themselves thrown together in desperate circumstances, with the task of salvaging something of life amidst the inhumanity and mayhem. That they rose to the challenge is, in itself, worthy of tribute. This title is published in association with the Canada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish.
Now I have finished reading her superb new book ¡Salud! which I thoroughly enjoyed,I have written a review which I will be publishing on various sites including Shelfari
The book is available from Books4Spain

It's the Nikon that does it.

Mixing with other journo’s at yesterdays new Quesada office opening for Pellicer & Heredia (the solicitors who provide the legal input for my TIM Legal page) was quite entertaining.

I was asked ‘Who are you with?’ Probably due to my Nikon making me look the part of a Pro.

And listening to the inside gossip on the local mags and papers. As usual I was last to leave and even got in on one of the hosts birthday celebrations including cake.

One project completed this week was the final edit and submission for the Writers Abroad anthology which I posted on earlier. Now I have a long wait (end July) to see if it is accepted.

Open Mic night next Monday – and still deciding what to read.

My review copy of Salud (see this post) arrived yesterday and must take priority in my reading queue.

Still waiting for my Writers Forum Moleskine to arrive following their publication of my letter in the June edition – however given a book has just taken over 2 months to arrive I had better be patient.

Books4Spain

Is a new site which I have recently discovered and decided to join. This from their introduction:

"Books4Spain has been established by Rod Younger, an Anglo-Spaniard and author, to help you discover Spain and its rich history and culture through books, as well as to provide you access to useful, relevant and interesting information about living, travelling or holidaying in Spain.
Our intention is to try and re-create the experience, attractions and benefits of a traditional bricks & mortar independent bookshop but with the added convenience afforded by the Internet and technology to offer better choice, an easier way to discover books about Spain, great customer service and, ultimately, to enable our clients to learn more about Spain, its culture and history."

So take a look, maybe buy some books and add some reviews.

Jason Webster - Death in Valencia

Regular readers of my blog (and you are one aren't you?) will know that I posted recently about the Jason Webster nonfiction books - well he is about to publish the next in his series of fiction books
Death in Valencia - with his protagonist Max Camara back in action in Valencia.

Jason has found a rather novel (no pun intended) way of promoting his books......

Writers Abroad

Foreign Encounters Anthology

Call for Submissions - Short Stories, Non-Fiction Articles and Poetry.

Organised by expat writers group - Writers Abroad

Writers Abroad will be publishing their third Anthology entitled ‘Foreign Encounters’.

We are seeking submissions of short stories and non-fiction pieces and poetry on the general theme of relationships around the world. The anthology will be print published and later available as an e-book.

This year Writers Abroad will be donating all profits made to charity, Books Abroad.  Books Abroad believes that education is required to solve the world's problems and is therefore helping educate school children worldwide by providing free, carefully chosen school books. Books Abroad is currently working in 84 countries and serving 977 educational establishments. This includes Africa, Asia, Central & Southern America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Author, Julia Gregson, whose best-selling novel 'East of the Sun' won the prestigious Prince Maurice Prize, will be writing the foreword.

To see our previous Anthologies (2010 & 2011) please visit WritersAbroad

Title: Foreign Encounters (Genre: Short Stories and Non-Fiction and Poetry)

Theme:  Relationships around the world. Your short story, non-fiction piece or poem can encompass people, animals and places. An encounter or alliance, a connection or kinship, love or liaison written from an ex-pat view point.

Contributions: Expat or former ex-pat writers, or those writers who are living outside the country of their birth.

Word Count: Fiction – up to 1700 words (flash fiction is welcome) Non-Fiction – up to 1000 words. Maximum of 30 lines for poetry.

Submission and Entry Rules - please read carefully as submissions may be rejected if they don't comply

• All submissions must be previously unpublished either in print or on-line.
• Submissions from ex-pats or former ex-pats only.
• Submissions should be received by midnight July 31st 2012.
• Submissions must be in English
• References to pornography or racism will not be accepted
• Manuscripts must be submitted via the link to Submittable at Writers Abroad
• The approximate word count should be inserted at the end of the submission
• Author name and title of the story or non-fiction piece should be placed in the left header of the document and page numbers in the right footer
• Manuscripts should be presented with double spacing and Times New Roman Font size 12.
• Queries only can be made via the contact button on the Submissions page
• Entries are free, only one entry per author, plus a short bio of 30 words at the end of each submission would be appreciated.
• Successful authors will be informed within two weeks after the closing date
• It will not be possible to provide feedback on submissions but successful stories may be edited and authors may be required to undertake minor changes for publication purposes
• Copyright will remain with the author and the stories will be published in an anthology in a number of formats.
• All proceeds from publication will be donated to the chosen charity.
• All entrants must be over 18.