Virginia Betts is a tutor, writer poet and actor from Suffolk. An eternal optimist and mid-life-creative advocate, she’d like to point out that it’s never too late to live the dream. And with this month’s blog, some ink to inspire and ignite your creative fire.
This March is proving to be one of the busiest and most challenging ever. And I am always busy and enjoy a challenge, so I don’t say that lightly.
First up is the play I am rehearsing: Pat and Ron: Writers in Crime. This is a new play by well-known and popular playwright, Suzanne Hawkes. Suzanne’s plays usually have a connection with Suffolk, like her play, Thomas Wolsey: The Rise and Fall, in which I recently played Elizabeth Barton and Mary Boleyn. This time, she has penned a story about the unlikely friendship of writer, Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mister Ripley; Strangers on a Train) and Suffolk writer, Ronald Blythe (Akenfield) when she rented a cottage in Suffolk. Ronnie Blythe, whom I met once, as he was a member of Suffolk Poetry Society, only passed away very recently at the age of 100. The play has the usual shades of light and dark, with poignancy and humour in perfect harmony, and a new musical score as well. I’m playing Patricia Highsmith and although it is a very intensive schedule, I’m really enjoying it. Suzanne always does meticulous research, so although every play has a bit of poetic licence, (and in this play, a few characters leaping out from Patricia’s imagination and books), rest assured it is very factually accurate. So, what you learn about her mother, and where Miss Highsmith kept her snails might surprise you! It starts on 25th March at The Two Sisters Arts Centre in Trimley. Book tickets here at Ticket Source (Two Sisters).
As you may have realised, I always have more than one project on the go. I have put some things on hold while I prepare to be Patricia Highsmith though and I haven’t really been able to read much of a book since I started learning lines. Everything I read imprints on my brain, so all I have room for is the script, which somehow magically sticks, but I can’t get distracted by anything else. However, after we finish in April, I’ll be getting right back to writing my punk noir novel as I have a few more crazy antics for the characters to get up to. I’ve been talking with Urban Pigs Press, so it looks like it will be published later in the year. I have learned that my next poetry book, That Little Voice, has been accepted by Anxiety Press, so I really look forward to the wonderful Cody Sexton giving it the treatment and also being involved in art work for my novel. The cover and illustrations for That Little Voice are done by Lynn Stuart. Lynn also did my cover for Tourist to the Sun. You can find my first two books on Amazon or in Dial Lane Books, the most magical shop in town!
Another great project I am involved in is writing and co-directing a one act play with Ryan Curtis. As I mentioned in February, Ryan’s concept was to base a play around one week in
August in the charts. The brief was for the writers to create a short scene inspired by one of the top ten songs on 5th August 1986. But also we were instructed NOT to make the scene anything to do with the actual plot of the original song. I chose I want to wake up with you, and Camouflage. I can promise something surprising involving a ‘Yuppie’, a builder, a bit of psychopathy, a stuntman and an actor. The other scenes are just as surprising with an 80’s club, a wedding and a vampire! We have cast it, and the very first production is set to take place on May 12th in Colchester at The Headgate Theatre. Put this date in your diary. Updates will follow!
If you fancy it, you can meet me at an author book fair at Darsham Village Hall from 10 am to 4pm on Saturday June 29th, or you can come and see me and others perform poetry after the Felixstowe Book Festival local authors event at The Two Sisters on Friday June 28th for an evening with 3 poets. The David Lloyd Book Club is still going strong, with the next meeting on 28th March7.30 in the Ipswich club. (The book is The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club).
So what else have I been up to? Well, I’ve ‘accidentally’ started my third poetry collection, which I’ll be calling Skinz, and I tried out some of the new material with the excellent Amy Wragg at a Get On The Soapbox event at the Steamboat Tavern. This is always a very well attended event, and full of local talent. In February I mentioned Amy starting Soapbox People and her blog, both of which I recommend you check out. I have also started the Facebook group, WACOS – an acronym for Writers and Creatives Of Suffolk. We aim to be a space where any creator can chat, post, advertise their work and speak freely. It has many Suffolk creatives as members already, which means we can often hook up in person, but really, anyone from elsewhere is welcome. The only rules are to break them but play nicely.
I’m busy a lot, and people often stare open-mouthed and ask me: how do you do it, and how do you relax when you have a lot on? I personally swim and gym every day and find balance by winding down with music and time with the family. I recently visited a flight simulator in Stockport to watch my son ‘fly’ a Vulcan Bomber. This is the world’s only Vulcan bomber simulator and the company, Virtual Aerospace is used for professional pilot training. We landed safely and spent time looking round Newark Air Museum on the way home. A place I would definitely recommend to stay in if you are in that area is White Dove Bed and Breakfast. It is a beautiful place, tucked well out of the way, with a really warm welcome, luxurious décor, next to the air museum and two good pubs, and the breakfast was stunning.
Now, this week I’ve been stunned to read a casting call that shows ageism is, unfortunately, alive and kicking! The call was for ‘an elderly woman, typical granny type with white hair, diminutive in stature and a confused look on her face.’ Age: 50 – 70! Another casting call required a middle-aged woman of 30! I wonder what century these people are living in? Thankfully, so many of the talented women writers, actors, poets etc. I meet fall into that age group and some are just beginning their new careers after 50. They don’t look anything like that. Some even have pink hair – which leads me to my ‘local celebrity’ mini-interview this March. I caught up with Sarah Nicholson, who has just had her first book, In Search of Lost Glitter, published.
Did you always write, Sarah?
Yes, and I still have some old poems I wrote when I was a child. It was fun to see those recently. I remember reading one of my poems out to the class at school.
Why did you write this book? How did it come about?
Well, as you know, I had lost my husband at a young age and I felt almost as if I didn’t belong anymore – it seemed that you ‘shouldn’t be a widow’ in your 40’s, which I have since found out is not true, of course. I found it very hard to read or concentrate when I was newly grieving, but I started writing a blog to deal with my grief and, finding it cathartic, I challenged myself to write it in 100 word stories. So many people commented it was really helpful and told me that it was how I should write my memoir. So that is the essence of the book: a memoir, told in stories, dealing with grief, but with lovely memories too, and hopefully it is accessible and interesting for everyone.
It certainly is. I read it in one sitting, and many people have agreed with me, that it is so gentle, funny and poignant. What’s next for you?
Well, I have become part of Resolute Books, a publishing house formed by a group of local authors, and I am planning to write a novel next! But I am also part of the Brett Valley Drama Collective and have written a play which will be performed at the Hadleigh Old School.
Finally, what is your favourite genre to read?
I like to read crime. I enjoy trying to solve it as I read.
Sarah’s book, In search of Lost Glitter, is published by Resolute Books, and available on Amazon and in Dial Lane Books, Ipswich. Thanks Sarah for meeting me at the wonderful Fish Face café in The Walk, in Ipswich.
Finally, breaking news: Urban Pigs Press has released its first charity anthology, Hunger, in aid of FIND (Families In Need). It is a collection of tales by several authors who have each interpreted the title in their own unique way. You can find it on Amazon and in Dial Lane Books in Ipswich and do your part by donating to this worthy cause.
Books to read in March:
The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club, by Faith Hogan.
In search of a new start, three ladies find that a ‘Dip in the nip’ helps to heal them and they embark on an interesting journey together, involving a fundraising plan. It’s a light, funny and emotional read. My book club choice for this month.
The Light That bends Round Corners, by Alexandra Carey.
This is a fiction novel based on the author’s own experiences of living as an Ex-Pat in Kuala Lumpa. It follows the lives of two very different women: Laura, who is on a journey of self-discovery, and Mariel, who is fighting for a better life. I’ve started reading this and I have spoken to the author. An interview and full review is coming in April, and you can also find out what I thought of Little Shop of Horrors at the Wolsey Theatre, and how my own play went. I’ll also update you on my involvement in the Suffolk Poetry Society’s appearance at the Aldeburgh Festival!
So, I’m off to get on with all the chores I have neglected, although I think the ironing pile will have to wait for a while longer – there are more important things than un-creasing the clothes to worry about for sure! Keep forging your own path and follow those dreams, whatever they are!
Love,
Virginia.
Virginia has written numerous articles and fiction, as well as two books, The Camera Obscure and Tourist to the Sun, with a third and fourth coming soon.
Feel free to contact Virginia if you have a great creative suggestion, venue or activity!