December 2023
Attended the Society of Women Writers and Journalists Christmas Tea at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall. Lovely afternoon catching up with fellow writers and listening to Claire Fuller’s path to publishing 5 novels. Laura Burkin and I posed for our annual pic beside the Christmas Tree.
Delighted to have been co-judge for the Brentwood Writers’ Circle Nancy Meggs non-fiction competition. Some original and interesting pieces were submitted and choosing just three was difficult. Congratulations to the winners.
November 2023
Very enjoyable workshop at Flatford Mill run by Suffolk University and the National Trust
Attended crime writing workshop at Norwich Writers Centre, led by Elly Griffiths
June 2023
I attended the Essex Book Festival Book Sale and Slam at Chelmsford Library, meeting readers and fellow authors.
May 2023
An article I entered for the Essex Year of Reading writing competition is one of the winners and will be included in the forthcoming anthology from Essex County Council.
April 2023
My short story, Fire Hazard, won second place in the Brentwood Writers’ Circle, Jack Kendall competition.
25 February 2023
I will be selling books and audio CDs at Brightlingsea Literature Festival, part of Brightlingsea WinterFest
Hope to see you there!
October 2022
Thrilled to be one of three winners in this competition which had over a thousand entrants!
September 2022
On the cover of SWWJ Journal!
Excellent Review of May’s Stony Road
by Roberta Grieve in the SWWJ Journal Summer 22
June 2022
Success
My story, Piece of Cake, won the Society of Women Authors and Journalists Winner Takes All short story competition. This is the second time I’ve been lucky enough to win this lovely little competition. Many thanks to the judge, author Caroline James.
Indie Author Week
We will be participating in Indie Author Week from 11th to 18th June 2022.
Check out Facebook and Instagram to see May’s Boys and May’s Stony Road pictured in some interesting places!
April 2022
London Book Fair with good friend and fellow writer Laura Burkin
March 2022
Publication day for May’s Stony Road
December 2021
SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS CHRISTMAS TEA
Collecting my winner’s certificate for a short story at the SWWJ Christmas Tea at the National Liberal Club
November 2021
BOOK FAYRE TRIMLEY ST MARY
Two Sisters Book Fayre on Sunday 21st November
AUTHOR TALK
Bradfield Evening WI meeting 8th November 2021
The members of Bradfield Evening WI are a delightful group of women who made me feel very welcome. After listening to my talk, they asked some interesting questions and it was a pleasure to be interacting with new people as well as some known to me from the village.
September 2021
RADIO INTERVIEW
Michelle Ward talks to Beryl Phoenix 98fm
Being interviewed on Michelle’s Eat My Brunch show on Phoenix 98fm was a daunting prospect, but Michelle made the experience easy with her chatty approach and pertinent questions. The interview took place via the telephone, a reflection of Covid 19 precautions, so I had no journey to the studio and could speak from my desk.
The event was arranged by Sylvia Kent, fellow Brentwood Writers’ Circle member, prolific writer and blogger.
June 2020
Wessex Writers feature my interview with Barbara Dynes, Writers’ Forum columnist and author of Masterclasses in Creative Writing in the June issue of their newsletter, The Voice.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Barbara Dynes talks to Beryl P. Brown MA
What type of writing do you do?
For years I concentrated on short stories. Some were published and I had some success in competitions but, when I decided to up my game by taking a Masters at Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met), I decided on the “novel route”. The tutorials were geared to 20th century literature and my dissertation comprised an entire novel. I still dabble in the occasional short story competition.
Have you always been interested in writing?
English was my best subject at school but a career, a husband and child and six horses focussed my attention for several decades and writing got left on the back burner. In the year 2000, I joined a creative writing Adult Education class in Ringwood and the muse was set free.
Have you a writing routine?
Being retired, I am flexible in what I do but I write better in the mornings so, if there are no other commitments, I deal with household matters and emails first and then write until lunchtime. Occasionally, as I shut down the computer at night, I think of some gem that I simply must get down and burn the midnight oil for a while.
Do you do a lot of preparation – copious notes, etc – before you write the piece?
For novel storylines I plan about five chapters ahead but often don’t stick to them. May’s Boys is set in 1944/45 and I did a lot of research and checking to ensure the facts were correct. If I need a kick-start, I use a spider gram/mind map to get my imagination flowing.
How much revision do you do?
Tons and tons. I read the previous day’s work and edit that before continuing and then edit again and again as the work progresses.
Which writers have influenced you over the years and why?
It’s a cliché, but as a child I adored Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (I still have my childhood copy). Today it would probably be considered anthropomorphic but the empathy she had with the horses has stayed with me forever. I endeavour to get right inside my characters’ heads so authors like Anne Tyler, Carol Shields and Ian McEwan contribute to my writing aspirations.
Any favourite authors, either fiction or non-fiction writers?
In the last couple years, I been trying my hand at something in the thriller genre so, as well as the authors above, I’ve begun reading writers such as Jane Harper, Robert Galbraith and Peter May (I skim the violent bits). For me, the essential ingredient of a good thriller is to keep the reader guessing right to the end, rather than larding it with graphic violence.
May 2020
My short story Almost Lost in Tanslation was published in the In Touch with group of magzines that cover North Essex and Suffolk May 2020 issues.
February 2020
May’s Boys Launch and Book Signing
Saturday 29th February 2020
The Strawberry Tearoom
Olivers Nurseries, Witham, CM8 3HY
September 2019
A great day at the House of Lords courtesy of Baroness Floella Benjamin, President of SWWJ, who hosted the AGM and led a fascinating tour of the House. Inspirational to be in the company of writer friends and make new acquaintances.
August 2019
My entry for Retreat West’s August 100 word flash fiction competition is long listed.
June 2019
My new membership of the SWWJ has borne delightful early fruit. My entry, Life at Sea, has won the ‘Winner Takes All’ competition. The prize will be presented at the annual prize giving event in March 2020.
May 2019
125th Anniversary Lunch of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. I was delighted to be accepted for membership of the SWWJ following my visit to the Society’s lunch at the Stationers’ Hall in London.
Retreat West “Fire” themed flash fiction competition – My entry is shortlisted.
March 2019
Suffolk Magazine – A Closed Box – Beryl’s second-placed story at Felixstowe Book Festival 2018 is published in the April issue of Suffolk Magazine (p.94) and beautifully presented over three pages.
February 2019
BookTalk : Fiction in a Corner of Essex. My article on North East Essex authors is published in the Suffolk Book League Journal
December 2018
Arvon Residential Course, Lumb Bank, Hebden Bridge An inspiring week with tutors Sanjida Kay, Adam Lebor and guest speaker Felicia Yap. This Literary Thriller course included exercises, on-screen examples of the genre, author readings and, of course, constructive 1:1 sessions with the tutors. My work in progress, Kidnap By Chance, was well received overall and the positive suggestions made by the tutors much appreciated.
Third place Brentwood Writers’ Circle – My entry ‘Storm Force’, about the Great Storm of 1986, took 3rd place against stiff competition in the Nancy Meggs 2018 non-fiction competition.