Electric Dreams - Illustrated

J.S. 's dark short story "Electric Dreams" appears in #5 (Vol II, Issue II) of Raconteur and because the magazine is all about the best writing and the best artwork, there is a rather fine illustration to accompany the story. You will have to buy the magazine to see it for yourself, along with the many other excellent stories and illustrations this issue contains. Copies are available from Amazon

 

Ritual in The Dread Machine

A brand new and very dark short story by J.S Watts is now available to read in The Dread Machine. 

You can find out more about Ritual by clicking here.

Two in Ninety-Six

 J.S. is delighted to have two of her poems in issue 96 of The Frogmore Papers. The poems in question are Night Dreamer and Where Do I Go When I'm Not Here? She's in good company with Clare Crossman, Jacqueline Gabbitas and Mike Barlow, to name but a few of the excellent poets whose work fill its pages.

Fiction Fix Goes Virtual

 

J.S. Will be reading an extract from her latest novel, "Old Light".

The Book Programme on North Herts Radio

The Society of Authors in Hertfordshire has joined forces with North Herts Radio to produce two series of The Book Programme.

North Herts Radio has recently broadcast the five episodes in the second series of the Book Programme, as created by Society of Authors members. All five episodes are available to listen to at your leisure on the station's website https://www.northhertsfm.com/the-book-programme-s2 (just scroll down to the very bottom of the page). All episodes are entertaining, interesting and informative and look at writing from different angles, but episode 2 (the language of poetry) and episode 4 (the craft of writing) specifically involve J.S. Other episodes consider starting your own business, self-publishing and speculative fiction (well worth a listen).

If you haven't managed to catch up with series 1, then you can listen again to that too at https://www.northhertsfm.com/books (J.S. appears in episodes 2 and 4 of this series as well and, no, it wasn't deliberate).

J.S. Watts presenting Episode 4 (Series 2) of The Book Programme with Jane Dismore, Jane O'Reilly and Chris West

Far Villages

This significant tome took a while to make it into print and even longer for this particular paperback to make it across the pond, but this is J.S. Watts holding her contributor copy of Far Villages, a collection of essays for new and beginner poets.

J.S.'s contribution is an essay that considers "The Poet's Journey", both its uniqueness and the milestones that poets are likely to share.

Far Villages is edited by Abayomi Animashaun and published by Black Lawrence Press, ISBN 978-1625577146.

The Book Programme - Series 2

North Herts Radio is launching a second series of The Book Programme beginning this Sunday, 23rd August, at 4pm (though there will be a listen again feature).

The first show looks at self-publishing and features romantic novelist Julie Stock as one of the contributors, along with Rowena M Love and Hilary Robertson. All five programmes in this new series will be entertaining and informative, but for obvious reasons this website is going to highlight:

Episode Two - Poetry: Language, Style and Voice (to be broadcast 30th August 2020)

Award Winning poets Rowena M Love and J.S. Watts take a dive into the language of poetry. What is the importance of style? What is the impact of voice within poetry and why should you have it? How do you choose the right language to use? How do you juggle all these issues when translating poetry from or into a different language and what has the Frank Sinatra hit “My Way” got to do with translating poetry?

Episode Four - The Craft Of Writing (to be broadcast 13th September 2020)

We have a studio full of writers today discussing their craft and how to develop it. J.S. Watts will be talking with fellow novelist Jane O’Reilly, biographer Jane Dismore and polymath non-fiction and fiction author Chris West. Questions considered include how do you become a writer, can you ever make it pay, where does inspiration come from and what is best, fiction or non-fiction? In between lively debate, the writers choose some of their favourite music tracks and explain the links to their writing.

For further details go to: North Herts Radio - Series 2 of the Book Programme

Recording Episode 2 - J.S. Watts, Rowena M Love and Julie Stock (Early March 2020)