Chester Lit Fest – Chester Writers

Yesterday was my first reading for the 2010 Chester Literature Festival, as part of the Chester Writers group.

I was ridiculously nervous as usual, but a friend had passed on to me the tip of holding a solid backing to your papers, to avoid your hands shaking so much, so armed with an A4 drawing book to balance my print outs on, I took my place on the ‘naughty chairs’ at the front of the room and prepared to read.

Due to an unavoidable absence, I ended up going on first – and also read three short pieces rather than the one I anticipated. It went off without a hitch though, I think, and I enjoyed it very much. I read pieces entitled ‘High’, ‘Devotion’ and ‘Records’.

Several other members of the Writer’s group read – eight people in total. I particularly enjoyed hearing again Anthea Paget’s gently humorous and rather moving science fiction tale ‘The Visit’, Stanley Salmon’s tongue-in-cheek ‘Four thank you letters’ and Muriel Bradbury’s rhythmic, alliterative poem ‘Winter Holiday’.

I’d like mainly though to say thank you to Clare Dudman for arranging such an enjoyable reading event, and to everybody who came to hear us read – your support means everything to us!