Members' News 2026

The group's achievements so far this year ...

NEWS from Luigi Marchini
Luigi's  entry "Old Man Shuffling Across the Chess Board" was judged First Prize in this year's Southport Writers' Circle poetry competition. Luigi will read the winning poem at the Awards Evening on 13 August 2026. 'Old Man Shuffling' will also be posted on the Southport Writers’ Circle website for the next twelve months.

NEWS from Tessa Woodward

Tessa Woodward has worked as a teacher, teacher trainer, editor, publisher and author of non-fiction. She is now enjoying the playful world of fiction writing. Small Crimes is her latest collection of sixteen short stories – by turns amusing and serious – about people behaving less well than they might! As you turn the pages you will meet eavesdroppers, fibbers, schemers and snoopers, amateur arsonists and sundry other transgressors. So be prepared to be mildly appalled. If you would like to read Tessa's stories, they are available on Amazon in e-book, paperback, and hardback formats: HERE...

NEWS from David Wilson

David's first novel is now available to buy! (March 2026). 55BC The Celtic Awakening, is the story of Caesar’s legions fighting Britain’s Celts during the Roman invasion in a

gripping historical novel which brings to life the men and women who joined forces, and fought to repel the greatest war machine the ancient world had ever seen.

In 55 BC, Julius Caesar's Roman Army landed on the coast of Britain with ten thousand of the Emperor's finest soldiers. A month later, he returned to Gaul with a great many less. This story, based on a true moment in history, is seen entirely from the point of view of a family of Celts who lived only a day’s ride from the first ever invading force to reach these shores. The seer, Drew, has prophesied the invasion, and her sons, Neffyn and Brynnen, ride for the coast. As ten thousand Romans leap from their ships, Brynnen leads the charge down the beach to fight to protect his homeland. Neffyn watches with the Druid, Koltash, who sends Neffyn inland to find Kassyvallan, the leader of the northern tribes.
As more and more Celtic tribes arrive at the coast, all united in the belief that Roman conquest is not an option, the Romans are soon fighting not for conquest but for their very survival. Based on the time-line described by Julius Caesar in his book, The Gallic Wars.

NEWS from Jeff Lofman

From one of our past, valued members, Jeff - who has updated us on his continuing literary progress this year: his latest poetry publication 'The Hauntings' (with Valley Press)

is a collection of writing 'where ghosts of lives that reflect the white light of the world rest alongside ghosts of other relationships' is also described as 'a passionate response to love and its absence, to a sense of community and place from the Pennines and beyond, and of home, wherever that might be'. The cover art by Franz Marc, Jeff says "is one that am still glad of."