Latest News
June 2022
I’m ashamed to say it’s been a long time since I have updated this page. Of course for a long time there wasn’t really any news as we were all in lockdown and since then I think a lot of people, myself included, have struggled to get the motivation to resume all the activities that were so important to us before covid 19 struck.
In terms of writing, my writing groups have resumed and they are proving something of a life raft in getting my writing going again. I had begun a new novel in 2019 and this virtually came to a standstill as I was unable to concentrate on any writing during 2020. In 2021 I began writing short stories again to take to my Edge Hill narrative research group and I’m hoping eventually to produce a collection of these. Recently I picked up the partly written novel and after some thorough revision and excellent comments from another of my writing groups I’m feeling that perhaps it is worth carrying on with and am beginning to get the twinges of excitement that a writer needs to write that story. After all, if the author isn’t excited about the book, the readers aren’t going to be either.
On a non-fiction level, I really need to finish the second part of my history of Skelmersdale New Town. It is a long time now since I published the first part and people keep asking me when the second part will be available. This book covers the period from 1964 when Skelmersdale New Town became a reality rather than a pipe dream, up till 1975 when the major industries left town at the same time as the Commission for New Towns prepared to hand the town over to the local council. Hopefully I will complete this book within the next twelve months but still have a fair amount of research to do.
In 2021 Skelmersdale Writers’ Group produced a super anthology themed around Lathom House, a former local landmark with a history going back over a millennium, thanks to a grant from the Co-operative Bank. This year we are compiling another anthology and this will be a book of poetry about Skelmersdale, including poems past and present. More details of both these anthologies on the Skelmersdale Writers’ page.
May 2020
It’s been quiet for all of us I guess the last couple of months and I’m conscious I haven’t been posting on here because like most people I’ve been so preoccupied with the events around coronavirus that I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything else. Lockdown should have been a godsent opportunity to get some real writing done but the opposite proved to be the case with ‘the muse’ apparently in lockdown too. So my time has been going on long neglected housework and gardening and any spare time going on playing online scrabble (I hate to admit) and textile hobbies making lace and other needlecrafts.
Still, now it looks like we might soon be getting more social again and although there’s still no sign of group meetings resuming, things are stirring. Skelmersdale Heritage Society has received a grant of almost £400 from the Eric Wright Trust managed by West Lancashire CVS and Skelmersdale Writers’ Group has also received a grant of £550 from the Co-op Bank Customer Donation fund @Co-operativeBank. You can read more about these grants on the Skelmersdale Writers’ group page and on my History of Skelmersdale page.
November 2019
Early days yet in November yet lots going on. A Liver Bird Sings has been published in paperback and is available to pre-order on Amazon Kindle (release date 17th November). I’ll be signing copies at W.H.Smth in Ormskirk Saturday 16th November from 10-3 so pop in and say hello if you’re around.
Skelmersdale Writers welcomes iconic horror writer Ramsey Campbell on Monday 11th November. More details on the Skem writers page.
October 2019
It’s been a busy couple of months with a lot of things in the boiling pot, now about to come into public view! Very proud to have my story ‘Silence’ included in an anthology of Edge Hill writers, to be published later this month. Can’t wait to see the completed cover and the printed copies. The authors will be reading at the university’s festival of ideas on October 23rd.
I’ve been a keen collector of memorabilia about my home town of Skelmersdale and am delighted to have joined up with other interested people to reactivate Skelmersdale Heritage Society. It’s been a lot of work and a lot more to come to get the Society up and running properly, more details on my Skelmersdale History page
Also coming soon, a new novel, A Liver Bird Sings, a coming of age story about a young girl in 1960s Liverpool. More details soon
July 2019
I’ll be travelling to Ormskirk’s Gingerbread Festival on Sunday 14th July to display all my Skem and other local memorabilia. I’ve some new items in my collection and can’t wait to show them off to everyone. I will also have books for sale on the day. Last year’s festival was fantastic so I’m sure this one will be too. More details on my History of Skelmersdale page
Skelmersdale Writers’ group have a brand new programme for the next six months – check out their page on this site
April 2019
April 25th
I’m being interviewed by Val Roche on Maghull Radio’s Poetry and Story hour 7-8pm. I’ll be answering questions about the local influences on my writing and reading extracts from Mere.
It’s an online radio station you can access it live at maghullradio.co.uk. Hope some of you will listen in.
Saturday 6th April book signing at W.H. Smith Ormskirk
I had a super day out at my local W.H. SMith’s talking to local people about my writing and signing copies of Mere and Consider the Lilies. The shop has a fantastic footfall and the staff had placed me right by the door, Despite it being Grand National Day I got lots of interest and a good few sales. Manager Scott Burley and the staff were fantastic so many thanks for them for being so supportive. I was invited along as part of Smith’s Local Author promotion which is running nationwide so any author with a published book can apply to take part, just go along to your local branch. I enjoyed it so much I am going back later in the year to promote my local history book, Skelmersdale a New Town in the Making.
April 1st
It’s April Fools’ Day but no fooling, I’m delighted to learn I’ve been longlisted for the New Welsh Writing Awards Rheidol Prize for writing with a Welsh theme or setting. My story is ‘Letters to Dr Fowler’ and is a fictionalised account by a doctor involved in the 18th century phenomenon of the Welsh Fasting Girl, Sarah Jacob. You can see more details and the full shortlist on the website above. Now there’s a tantalising wait to see if I can make the shortlist, due out on May 1st.
March 2019
Writing West Lancashire. I’ll be talking about the inspirations behind my novels ‘Mere’ and ‘Consider the Lilies’ at What’s Your Story Chorley, literary festival this Saturday,March 30th. I’ll be at Chorley library at 11 o’clock. Lots of other literary goodies on throughout the day, check out the programme here: http://checkoutchorley.com/whatsyourstory/
Spring is just around the corner and following a lovely talk to Skelmersdale U3A last month my next event will be with the Lytham Poetry group9 on Wednesday 20th March when I’ll be talking about my books and how the construction of poems can focus and prepare ideas to be incorporated in the novel. Check out my events page for other forthcoming venues, also for free competitions for writers. Latest news for Skem writers is on their page.
I was very sorry to miss the Writers’ Holiday weekend at Fishguard this year due to a number of factors but I have already booked for next year when I hope to meet up with old friends once more.
21st February I will be talking to Skelmersdale U3A’s local history group about the influence of place and history in my writing. The talk is at the Ecumenical Centre at 2pm and visitors are welcome at a small charge to cover refreshments.
New notebook, new book
Can’t wait to get on with this new novel which uses historic Lathom Park as its setting. Lots of research to do for this decidedly dark tale.
Writing West Lancashire – talk to Burscough Heritage Group
https://www.facebook.com/1641626862718420/photos/a.1647655135448926/2178703755677392/?type=3
I will be talking to Burscough Heritage Group about the influence of the local landscape on my writing on Monday September 17th. The talk will focus on the two novels, Consider the Lilies and Mere and the interaction between my writing and my developing interest in local history. The talk will be at the Blue Mallard, Burscough Wharf, Smithy Walk, Burscough, L40 5UU at 7.30 and there is a £2 admission fee. Non-members are welcome. For further information email me at writeme@carolfenlon.com.
Book launches for Mere
My latest novel Mere was published on 21st June by Thunderpoint Publishing and has recently attracted a lot of interest at two local launching events. On July 9th, a well-attended group at Skelmersdale Library enjoyed readings and a celebration cake. On 26th July the official launch took place at Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk with readings of extracts from the book followed by a question and answer session led by Bob Stone from Liverpool’s Write Blend bookshop. For those who couldn’t make either event Mere is now available from the Chapel Gallery shop as well as from the usual bookseller outlets and Amazon. And there are more events to come in August and September – check out my events page.