Lichfield & District Writers' Homepage

BRIAN ASBURY

Brian is the editor of InteracTive Magazine, published by Questions Publishing Company. His writing interests cover just about everything... Novels, short stories, poetry, articles, sketches for the stage, full-length plays ("well, a panto, anyway"), songs, computer games, and even comic strips. Brian’s articles, stories and poetry have been widely published.

Brian’s other interests include the Internet, amateur dramatics, reading, watching TV, going to the movies and role-playing games. Brian is Vice Chairman of LDW and he can be reached at Email

SALLY ASTRIDGE

Sally was born in New Zealand and has also lived in Miami, Florida, Kirkland, Washington and Australia. She taught English for many years and began publishing novels in the name of Sally Ash in 1994. Matutu and Hedge of Thorns are published in North America by the Goodfellow Press. At present Sally is trying to break into the British fiction market and working on a novel about a Regency heroine. Her most recent contract, for two novels, went "down the pan" when the publishing house closed.

Sally also hosts a critique group at her home every alternate Thursday night, which focuses on providing constructive criticism. When not writing Sally creates gardens and plays killing bridge. She can be reached at Email

SYLVIA BIRCHALL

Sylvia's main interests are short story writing and poetry although she has also had the odd holiday article published in Wish You Were Here and Lady Magazine. Her work is quite often autobiographical and humorous. Other interests include ballet, the theatre, reading and Bretagne Legends. When she needs inspiration or 'a bit of peace and quiet' she quite often escapes to a cottage in rural Brittany.

A retired teacher of English and Drama Sylvia is the Chairwoman of Lichfield and District Writers and can be reached at Email. Email (with "FAO Sylvia Birchall" in the subject line)

CYNTHIA CASTELLAN

Cynthia came into writing by way of ‘Letters to the Editor’ and then moved into writing articles. She has published on a variety of subjects since her first acceptance by Nursery World in 1975 and was admitted to the Society of Women Writers and journalists in 1976. Cynthia also enjoys writing verse and produced a series of 60 poems for a horse magazine in America. These were later self-published in two booklets ‘Hoofprints’ and ‘Stirrups’.

Nowadays Cynthia’s main interest is gardening, although she still has an interest in riding and riding for the disabled. She also enjoys studying industrial archaeology and narrow-gauge railways. A former President of LDW, Cynthia provides occasional market information for the newsletter.

GRAHAM CORCORAN

Graham has written a number of poems and short stories over the years - usually focussing on the comic/bizarre side of life. Some of his earlier poems were published in a Scottish newspaper, whilst others have appeared in the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation ClubMagazine. Graham is also interested in unsolved mysteries – particularly the Loch Ness Monster, Jack the Ripper, apparitions and ghosts! Graham has published two books of poetry; "Something in the Potting Shed" (2004) and "When Dracula Came to Tea" (2007). You can contact Graham via this website: Email (with "FAO Graham Corcoran" in the subject line)

NICK DAWS

Nick is a full-time freelance writer, specialising in careers, self-employment, small business matters, gambling, the Internet and the business of writing. Although his main source of income is non-fiction, he is also interested in short story writing. Nick has written sixteen non-fiction books, four correspondence courses and three multimedia tutorials. He is also widely published in magazines and the electronic media. Nick is a member of the Society of Authors and the Careers Writers' Association. His homepage is at Homepage and he can be reached at Email

ELIZABETH DICKERSON

Although Elizabeth writes short stories and poetry (which simultaneously "fascinates and intimidates" her), her ambition is to write a novel that people want to read – and that she will enjoy writing. She has been published in ‘in-house’ magazines at her places of work and at her ‘Alma Mater’ St Andrews. Elizabeth’s other interests include the ballet, classical music, dancing, theatre and reading. She also enjoys travel and church life. Elizabeth is a retired Senior Local Government Officer and the founder manager of Burntwood Citizen’s Advice Bureau, where she became interested in employment law. Elizabeth is also Treasurer of LDW. You can contact Elizabeth via this website: Email (with "FAO Elizabeth Dickerson" in the subject line)

PHIL FRANKS

Phil’s main preoccupation is radio drama, although he also writes the occasional short story. In summer 2000 he had a rehearsed reading of a radio play performed and ‘work-shopped’ at BBC Pebble Mill, Birmingham - and his ambition is to ‘have a bash’ at scripting a sit-com.
When he is not writing Phil enjoys walking, cycling, the arts, theatre and is walking the Camino de Santiago by instalments! Phil is a Basic Skills Lecturer and LDW’s ‘Cyber Expert’, with the task of designing and maintaining the group’s website. He can be reached at Email

JAN GREEN

Jan’s primary interest is poetry, and she has had work published in magazines, anthologies and online. Jan also writes, and has had published, literature and software reviews - and regularly provides humorous sketches for Lichfield Players Fringe revues.

Jan is a member of Lichfield Players, enjoys attending the theatre, reading and surfing the Net. She is Secretary to a Chartered Surveyor and the Minutes Secretary of LDW. Jan also won first prize for a sequence of 4 poems entered in the Ashby Writers' Club Intergroup Poetry Competition in 2000. Jan can be reached at Email

A poem of Jan's: The Gift

FRANCES KENNEDY

Frances is a confirmed ‘foodie’ and has edited and contributed to a cookery book. She is also writing a ‘foodie’/farming diary for the Internet which can be found at www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk

Frances regularly ‘dabbles’ in articles and short stories and is currently trying to write the story of how she came to live on a smallholding. Frances is also a member of The Women’s Food and Farming Union and The National Women’s Register, and has been asked to contribute a regular, controversial piece to the NWR’s magazine. Frances’ other hobbies include dressmaking, reading, writing letters and growing vegetables and she is a member of the Soil Association and the HDRA. Frances is self-employed as a cookery demonstrator and after dinner speaker, and also enjoys occasional work for a PR company. Frances can be reached at Email

JANE KIRK

Jane has been a "scribbler" since the age of eight when she wrote, produced and acted in a school play. Her main interests nowadays are short stories, contemporary romance, historical novels and poetry - and she has had one article and a short story published. Jane is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and is currently writing a regency romance for their New Writers Scheme. When she is not writing Jane enjoys reading, music, astronomy, patchwork and quilting. She works as an Accounts Supervisor for a computer software company and can be reached at Email

JANE McCARTY

Jane’s main interest is poetry – although she has also been known to write short stories. She has been published in a number of small publications and tries to write something at least once a week. In addition to LDW Jane belongs to Sutton Writers Group and to ‘Scopus’.

Jane was a teacher and now enjoys gardening, birdwatching and the countryside. She is also responsible for the LDW break-time tea and biscuits – so now you know who to smile at!

MARJORIE NEILSON

Marjorie’s primary interest is in writing articles. She was the winner of the 1996 Hilary Fawcett Competition for Article Writing and Highly Commended in same competition in the year 2000.
She also writes short stories and has been known to ‘dabble’ as a poet.
Marjorie can be reached at Email

JANE ROGERS

Jane enjoys writing short science fiction, although she makes occasional excursions into short fiction of all genres – and the definitive science fiction novel has also been under construction for some time now! Some of Jane’s stories have been published in the UK and the US, whilst others have been successful in competitions. She also writes poetry, and has had articles published in the national press. Jane enjoys gardening and decorating as well as writing, although family commitments have currently reduced the time available for all of these.
Jane is Publicity and Competitions Secretary of LDW and can be reached at Email

CLAIRE INGHAM

Claire writes screenplays and short fiction and is currently writing her first novel. She completed an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia in 1994 and afterwards worked as a director/producer for both adult and children’s television. She now runs her own business working as a freelance drama script editor/consultant for film and television companies. When she is not writing or reading other people’s work professionally, Claire enjoys hill walking, travelling, going to the cinema and learning languages – particularly French and Greek. Other areas of interest include fairy tales and aviation. She has recently written and directed a short film entitled "Hearing Things". Claire can be reached at Email (with "FAO Claire Ingham" in the subject line)

CELIA WARREN

Celia is a founder member of Lichfield & District Writers. At the time of the group’s first meeting she had had just two poems published in small press publications ORBIS and OUTPOSTS (although she did also receive 10/- for a book review of Mary Poppins in 1965!) Since then, Celia has provided poems for over 80 children’s anthologies and had 25 children’s books published by educational publishers such as OUP and Heinemann. She is series editor of the Scholastic Infant Poetry Workshop - a core curriculum boxed resource for schools - and also contributes articles and book reviews for Infant Projects and Literacy & Learning magazines. A former teacher, Celia often provides poetry readings and writing workshops to the pre-school and primary-school sector. Her first collection for adults (pub. Jan 2001) is titled Where Oakbirds Sing. Celia’s website is at Homepage and she can be reached at Email

LORRAINE HELLIER

Members for whom biographies were not available:

Gwyn Collet        

Roger Dunn         Stanley Taylor

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