Welcome
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Maybe some of you will be thinking we are a little late with our good wishes however I am sure there are others who will know today is the start of the Chinese New Year. Other places such as Thailand also celebrate from today through to 6th February. The next novel of Luke’s that we will be publishing later this year begins in Bangkok at a blistering pace. Bangkok was a place where Luke lived as well as Hong Kong. You can tell by his writing that he had absorbed both these places into his very being as well as an awareness of the character of the people.
Exciting plans afoot ………………………much more soon.
BURSARY PRESENTATION
Our fourth Bursary presentation was a wonderful evening with a splendid gathering of like minded people. Thank you to everyone who has sent cards, letters and emails saying how much they enjoyed being with us. It is particularly delightful to have received this message from our winner JAMIE CROOK who says
Reflections on Winning the Luke Bitmead Bursary:
You have to become very insular when writing, because if you allow yourself a moment in which to glimpse the outside world, or to reflect upon the fact that you're spending years on something that in all probability won't amount to anything, then self-doubt will start to creep in. It was quite early on during the six years I spent writing my novel, Sleeping Patterns, that I felt the notion of one day 'becoming published' slipping away from view. It is for this reason that my winning the Luke Bitmead Writers Bursary came as such a surprise. It is now one month later and I am still feeling that sense of surprise. I suppose that after having denied myself the pleasure of dreaming about becoming published for so long, I am now playing catch up with the idea that it is actually happening. I am thrilled to have won and am very much looking forward to working with Legend Press in the coming months. Winning the Luke Bitmead Writers Bursary and meeting all of the passionate people who surround it, has reminded me of something fundamental that I had known at the start, only I had forgotten somewhere along the way; that writing can still hold some currency in the 'real world', after all. And considering how cold and uncaring the publishing industry can often appear to be, that is something very rare indeed. This bursary scheme is important in so many ways and it is something that I am very proud to now be associated with.
We wish you all a Christmas that brings fun and laughter as well as peace and tranquillity. We are extremely appreciative that we get encouragement from a wide range of people and we will continue to work knowing we have your support.
Elaine Hanson
For those of you unable to be at the award ceremony here is my speech, and congratulations to the winner
Jamie Crook
For his book
Sleeping Patterns
Jamie with the judging panel receiving his cheque for £2,500