Tykewriter Digest, October 2023
The latest quarterly news and writings from journalist and SFF author Mark Cantrell
A year of change
WELCOME to the latest edition of Tykewriter Digest, my author newsletter.
This has been a rather sombre year, it must be said, what with recent bereavements; 2023 has taken much, but it has also given plenty.
Well, that's life; we take the rough with the smooth.
But let's not pre-empt the latest news, let me instead thank you for your interest in my writing endeavours, and for reading and sharing my words.
Now, with that, let me hand you over to this latest edition of the Digest...
Latest News
In loving memory: Dorothy Cantrell, 1 April 1925 to 25 September 2023
IF I can beg your indulgence a moment, but it seems remiss not to pay tribute to my aunt who passed away last month at the grand old age of 97.
Dorothy featured large in the lives of my two siblings and I; growing up in Bradford, it was almost like she was a third parent, and we were frequent visitors to her house in Thornton.
Dorothy was a down-to-earth Yorkshire lass, a staunch Catholic (in the best sense), and the eldest of four children, all born in the first half of the 20th Century, when Bradford was still a sooty industrial metropolis. Theirs is a world long-since vanished, now they themselves have faded into its memory.
Only 18 months separated the births of my aunt and the second born of that generation – Peter, my dad – but she passed merely six months after his death. As siblings they were always especially close; very much something of a double act.
Now they're both resting in peace. Much missed and fondly remembered.
A great day for talking books
SUMMER ended on a high note at the beginning of September when I attended the Tales on Trent book signing event, right here on home turf.
What with one and thing and another, getting to events has always been easier said than done, so it's not like I'm an old hand at these things. You can still (just) count on one hand how many literature festivals I've taken part in.
With Tales on Trent taking place pretty much on my doorstep, it seemed a no-brainer to get myself along. And a sound decision that was, too. Yes, I am eager to do more.
The event proved quite the day: an enjoyable gathering of fellow authors – across a diversity of genres – sharing our love of literature with the like-mind public. It was a fantastic experience. I even sold some of my books, so what's not to like?
You can read my interview with event organiser Claire Birkin here; catch a small gallery of photos from the event here.
Meanwhile, a shout-out to dark fiction author, Jon Richter on the stall next door to mine, who proved a most convivial neighbour. He even agreed to a quick, off-the-cuff interview.
So, watch this space: I hope to post the interview on Tome of an Obscure Scribbler later this month.
New job, fresh start
In July, a little more than three years after I stopped work to become my father's unpaid carer, I returned to the heady world of employment.
It came as a relief, I can tell you. Given my age, and the inevitable gap on my CV, I genuinely feared that I might pay the price and find myself sidelined by prospective employers. Thankfully, that's not the case.
Now I'm back in the journalism trade, as the editor of Housing Digital, an online publication covering the UK's social housing industry.
After three years of being practically housebound – what with covid lockdown, shielding, and then simply the chaotic patterns of dementia – it's been quite a leap back into the world, I can tell you. But, it's also a welcome return to form: a new beginning and a fresh start.
outHouse in mothballs
SAD to say, I've come to the reluctant decision to place my original Substack, outHouse in mothballs. More or less...
This was/is a quasi-serious journalistic venture I launched in 2022, during my time as carer. The reasons were many: to keep my hand in, to offer up something to account for my time during the CV gap, and because I enjoy it.
At the start of this year, however, I was finding that the toll of writing long-form social commentary based articles on topical issues relating to housing, politics, society and culture was beginning to tell. It's hard at the best of the time, when you're brain is mashed from exposure to dementia, well it's a miracle I lasted as long as I did.
So, I paused it for a while. Later, I decided to pick it up again, but as the weeks and months have unfolded, and as my circumstances have changed, it's become clear my efforts are best placed elsewhere.
For one thing, I have the new job to attend to. Naturally, this takes up a good degree of my time and mental energy. There's also a considerable overlap in themes between outHouse and Housing Digital, so it's not entirely appropriate for me to soldier on with the Substack as originally envisioned.
Lastly, with a new novel to develop – not to mention the launch of this, my new author Substack and newsletter – I want to focus more of my free time and energy on my creative writing pursuits.
So, the mothballs. I've enjoyed writing outHouse, and I don't see it as entirely closed, but it's certainly about to slooow way down. There's other topics it covers, stories I might feel compelled to write in the weeks and months ahead, but as a regular publication it's done its work, I feel.
Not dead, then, not quite paused; my intention is to continue to post, albeit on an ad hoc and irregular basis.
Stay tuned – subscribe – for these future posts. Irregular as they'll be, it makes sure you won't miss my missives as and when they occur.
Writing From Elsewhere
These Wicked winners are ‘woke’ kids, and that’s no bad thing
A writing competition for UK children with social justice at its heart has announced the winning youngsters
Literature | 25 September 2023
Read the rest of this story on Mark Cantrell, Author.
Grab whatever you fancy Off the Shelf
Yorkshire city’s much-loved literature festival returns for its 32nd year in October
Sheffield’s Off the Shelf Festival of Words is promising a varied and startling array of literary talent to enthral the reading public next month
Literature | 11 September 2023
Read the rest of this story on Mark Cantrell, Author.
Gallery: All set up at Tales on Trent
Authors and readers gathered together to share a mutual love of books during yesterday’s Tales on Trent event
Events | 3 September 2023
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Here be dragons
Popular children’s author shares tips on dragon training and the author’s life
DON’T tell the Daily Mail about this – they’d probably consider it terribly ‘woke’ – but children at a Manchester primary school have been learning how to train their dragons.
Books | 14 August 2023
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Statue proclaims a statement on power
Given the impact property developers wield on the fabric of our urban life, artist Nick Hornby’s street sculpture is surely kind of ironic
THIS is kind of ironic, given the power property developers exert over our urban environment, but a piece of street art installed in London makes a bold statement about the weakness of power.
Art | 29 July 2023
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Dementia never takes a holiday, so why shouldn’t you?
Former scientist Dr Carol Sargent wants to persuade tourism and hospitality firms to recognise the value of catering to people who live with the condition
A Leicestershire woman has launched a consultancy to change the narrative around dementia and encourage holiday venues to become more dementia friendly.
Society | 14 July 2023
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Read the last edition of Tykewriter Digest.
About the Author
Mark Cantrell is a UK-based writer and journalist. He is the author of two novels – Citizen Zero (2017) and Silas Morlock (2013) – both published by indie press, Inspired Quill. Mark was born and bred in West Yorkshire, but these days lives in Staffordshire.
Literary Links
Aside from his official website, Mark also maintains a presence on Goodreads, Smashwords, Amazon, Facebook, and Bookshop UK.
Catch him on Twitter @Man0Words.
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MC