Best Books of 2024?

So, it's October. Halloween is on its way and websites, magazines and literary organisations are already preparing their best-of lists for 2024.

J.S. has produced her most enjoyed reads in 2024 (well, the first nine months of 2024, to be precise) list for Shepherd. You can read about her three favourite reads here, though the photo below may give you a clue.

Ornamenting Bloodlust

Do you like your fiction dark and adult? J.S.'s short story Ornament is included in the new horror anthology from Black Hare Press, Bloodlust.

It's due out in February 2025, but if anticipation's your thing, you can pre-order a copy here: https://books2read.com/BHP-BloodLust

Barkway Literary Festival - How To Get Published

Barkway Literary Festival is taking place on Saturday, 5th October in Barkway, North Hertfordshire and J.S. Watts will be taking part in a meet the authors event at 4pm that day, focusing on How to Get Published.

Chaired by bestselling author Alex Prior, this event shares the secrets behind How to Get Published. More of a conversation between the authors than a workshop, you'll hear from four authors in detail about their personal publishing journeys before the event opens up to a led discussion and questions from the audience. This is a unique opportunity to get insider tips, inspiration and information on ways to realise your own publishing dreams or, maybe, just satisfy your curiosity. It's also likely to be a very entertaining afternoon.

The four authors are Alex Prior, Kate Moore, Damien O'Dell and, of course, J.S.Watts.

Why not come along and join in their conversation? You never know what might be said and you'll want be there to hear it. Click here for further information and ticket details.

Royston Arts Festival 2024 - Local Writers' Book Fair

 

Saturday 28th September 2024, 11:00am - 4:00pm, Royston Masonic Hall, 2 Jepps Lane, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 9AP. 

J.S will be there from 11am to 4pm, so come along to have a chat and maybe buy a book (or three). She will be giving fifteen minute readings from a selection of her books at both 1.30pm and 3pm, so you are also welcome to just come along to have a listen. The event is free to enter.

If you want check out the many other authors taking part in the fair, this is a list of the Book Fair readings on the day and there will also be other authors and their books present at the fair.

Festivals in North Hertfordshire - Autumn 2024

Royston Arts Festival is taking place this year from 20th September to 5th October 2024. There are lots of fantastic activities, including a concert by the acclaimed folk duo Megson. You really should check out the events programme.

J.S. is involved in a Royston Arts Festival event and is appearing in an event at the affiliated Barkway Literary Festival on 5th October. Here's a summary of the details:

Local Writers' Book Fair - Royston Arts Festival Saturday 28th September, 11:00am - 4:00pm, Royston Masonic Hall, 2 Jepps Lane, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 9AP, UK. J.S will be there from 11am to 4pm, so come along to have a chat and maybe buy a book. She will be giving a fifteen minute reading from a selection of her books at 1.30pm and 3pm, so you are also welcome to just come along to have a listen. The event is free to enter.

Workshop in the Pavillion: How to Get Published - Barkway Literary Festival Saturday 5th October, starting at 4pm in The Pavilion, Barkway Recreational Ground, Barkway, author Alex Prior will be in conversation with writers Kate Moore, Damien O'Dell and J.S. discussing ways of getting your work published. N.B. This is a paid, ticketed event.

Click on the Events Page for this website for a further summary and a link to buy tickets for the Barkway Literary Festival.

Reviews Through a High Window

In this latest reviews section of 'The High Window' J.S. reviews 'for the birds', the  "very now" debut poetry collection by Dublin based, Ukrainian poet Victoria Melkovska. 

You can read J.S.'s and other reviews for free by clicking here.

More Poems, morphrog

J.S. is chuffed to have five poems in issue 29 of morphrog. They even describe her as an "intriguing writer", which she is determined to take as a compliment (they have chosen to publish five of her poems, after all).

The poems in question are:

• Waiting Time
• Making My Bed
• Not a Paper Doll Poem
• Peepshow
• Gridiron Flow

You can read J.S.'s poems for free (along with the stunning work from the issue's other contributors) by clicking here for the landing page or going directly here for J.S.'s poems.