THE ASYLUM SOUL is seven years old today!

19th May sees the seventh anniversary of Mal Foster’s debut novel, ‘The Asylum Soul’, and incredibly, its popularity is still soaring…

“I think out of all my work, it will always be remembered as my stand-out publication, chiefly due to its subject matter,” said Mal in a recent radio interview.

The novel tells the tragic and heart-wrenching tale of a young Tommy Compton, who is incarcerated at the Brookwood Lunatic Asylum in Knaphill, near Woking in Surrey. His only ailment… a simple speech defect which these days could easily be cured with modern medical intervention.

The book is written in a diary format and has caught the imaginations of many people who probably would not normally read a full-length novel. A fact that has delighted Mal immensely... “That’s exactly what I was intending to do at the outset, and it's great that people are still enjoying the storyline and asking questions about the characters, seven years after the book was originally published.” 

More about the book…

Lunatic asylums were an inescapable hangover of Victorian Britain and they harnessed a certain stigma borne from an environment of fear and shame as well as the great unknown.

For many families the asylum system helped create their darkest ‘skeletons’, and for Thomas (Tommy) Compton, it was unforgiving. In 1929 he was twenty-three years old when his mother had him sent to The Brookwood Lunatic Asylum in Surrey, his only ailment - a simple speech defect.

Based on Tommy’s own diary notes, The Asylum Soul is a disturbing account of an innocent young life ripped apart by unthinkable institutional failings, false hope and ultimate family betrayal.

What people are saying...

"The best book I've read for a very long time. Film to follow?" - Colin Hampton 

“I have just finished the book, I couldn't put it down. I'm lying in bed with tears rolling down my cheek. It was so powerful and moving. One of the best books I have ever read - so sad, funny in parts and a tragic end. So much credit goes to you for writing such an amazing book.” – Andy Carless

"One of my favourite books, EVER!" - Annie Wheeler

"An awesome read." - Gladys Hayward

'The Asylum Soul' is available from Amazon in eBook and paperback. The paperback can also be bought locally at the Lionsheart Bookshop at Commercial Way in Woking.

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The old Brookwood Lunatic Asylum in Knaphill

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Four Poems by Write Out Loud's Greg Freeman

Greg Freeman lives in Byfleet, and is a former newspaper sub-editor, and now the news and reviews editor for the poetry website Write Out Loud. His debut pamphlet collection, Trainspotters, was published by Indigo Dreams in 2015.

He co-runs a monthly open mic poetry night in Woking, Surrey. He watched the second half of England's World Cup drubbing against Germany in a pub in Ludlow with the-then poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy; and with hundreds of others, contributed vocals on Chuck Berry's no 1 hit, My Ding-A-Ling.

He has recently published two pamphlet collections of his poems, Marples Must Go and The Fall of Singapore.

Greg Freeman - Poet

 

CHAGRIN FALLS

A suburb of Cleveland, Ohio,
of four thousand souls
that takes its name from the river
that runs through its heart.

The town and its waterfalls
are referenced in a song
by Canadian rock band
The Tragically Hip. 

I’ve never been there,
and I guess I never will,
which is a matter
of some regret.  

Give half a chance
I’m sure I would have loitered
in the Fireside Book Shop,
with its three floors of books.


MEETING SIMON ARMITAGE

It wasn’t exactly a coincidence:
we were heading in the same direction.
Slightly stooped figure, rucksack
on his shoulder, just ahead of me.
I thought at once: That’s him.

The future laureate was startled
to be accosted by this looming stranger
on a traffic island in the centre
of Winchester, but after clarifying
that he didn’t mind his picture 

being taken at the festival, we fell into step
and conversation, and I mentioned
– and this was a coincidence –
that I’d be in Marsden
the following morning, at an open-mic 

at the Railway inn. One of my regular
drinking haunts, he reminisced. 
The ice was well and truly broken.
Just at that moment we reached
the festival steps, and he was whisked 

away by the director, where he spoke later
of his poems engraved into Pennine
rocks, and how they might last there
for a thousand years, if there was
still people there to see them … 

Time, gentlemen, please.
The kind of bloke you’d share
a beer with down the pub.
Sadly I never got to ask:
What are you having, Simon?

FRAMLINGHAM

I sing of a castle (and so has
Ed Sheeran, as it happens).
Built by one of William’s
Normans, King John’s knights

lay siege, capturing it
In just two days, the year
after he caved in
and signed Magna Carta. 

Bloody Mary sought refuge there,
rallying troops and her confidence,
before heading to London
to claim the throne, and seal
the fate of a teenage girl.
The people cheering the rightful heir
didn’t foresee the martyrs.
Perhaps they did, and didn’t care. 

Next century a benefactor
purchased the thirteen towers,
flint curtain wall and Tudor chimneys;
ordered in his will that the buildings
within be levelled, a workhouse
constructed in their place.
These days the ‘Fairtrade town’
is known locally as ‘Fram’. 

The mere has shrunk
since the Middle Ages.
Jackdaws patrol the jagged stones,
a patchwork of history
stitched together once more
by English Heritage; jigsaw puzzle
of ascendancies, misfortunes,
triumphs, fatal falls from grace.

BACK AT THE MATCH
after Philip Larkin

The beckoning floodlights
still work their magic,
early October’s comforting chill,
scarf snug round the neck.
Blood pulses through arteries,
moving as it should. Heart lifts
with every step towards the stadium. 

An old pal texts me from
another game up north.
The name rings a bell.
He’s at a club where my job
was to phone over a few pars
for the Saturday Pink
from a kiosk outside the ground. 

Games that I didn’t give a toss about,
dictated to a bored copy taker,
wishing I was somewhere else,
roaring my own team on to promotion.
But then, I remember Larkin’s sigh:
it wasn’t the place’s fault I didn’t care.
A goalless draw can happen anywhere. 

The cover of Greg's latest poetry collection,
The Fall of Singapore

Sue Mackender talks about her writing journey through Woking

Woking author, Sue Mackender takes us on her unique writing journey as she revisits some famous names and places and tells us what inspires her writing…. 

Sue Mackender, author of The Girl on the Hill

“Reading a book has an amazing range of hidden health benefits, including increased emotional intelligence, a boost in brain activity (which can help to delay the onset of dementia), an aid to better sleep and it can even improve our confidence and self-esteem, providing the grounding we need to pursue our goals and make life decisions.” I couldn’t agree more. My writing day starts with several hours on the keyboard followed by a smidgen of housework and a walk which usually involves water as I find it’s a great place to think and iron out plot tangles. Then back for some editing, prepping dinner, and another quick spin around the garden, after that, a relaxing glass of something to underline my day.

Goldsworth Park Lake, Woking

Goldsworth Lake in Woking is a great place to ponder. I’m currently editing book two of a series, the follow up to The Girl on the Hill, but my brain is buzzing with an idea I have about - well, you’ll have to wait and see. But, it will be in my usual gritty Domestic Noir genre. 

You will often find me at Squires Café in Littlewick Road. A delightful space where I can get inspiration, or unlimited tea and coffee without moving, which is why I have to get my backside moving with a walk. Horsell Common or Heather Farm is a great place to cogitate even if you don’t own a dog. 

The Red Lion, Horsell

The Red Lion, in Horsell, is where the amazing team always find me a quiet corner to work in come rain or shine. Wandering around Woking I often think about the famous writer who lived here, apart from those at Woking Writes Gate of course. Most spoken about are HG Wells and Hilary Mantel, but what about the least discussed? Here are a few for quiz nights or dinner party discussions. 

George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw lived in Woking. In 1898 he married Charlotte Payne-Townsend and from 1901 to 1903, they lived at Maybury Knowle, off Maybury Hill. There, Shaw completed 'Man and Superman' and followed his hobby of photography, taking pictures of himself and the locality.  

Lady Margaret Beaufort

Our earliest Woking author is the formidable Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII and owner of Woking Palace. Apart from being involved in political scheming, she was also a lady of devotion and culture. She translated the 'Mirror of Gold' into English, also sponsoring William Atkinson’s translation of 'The Imitation of Christ', in 1502 and 1506.

Alfred Bestall's Rupert Bear

 

Alfred Bestall was the author and illustrator of the 'Rupert' books issued in the 'Daily Express.' He was the son of a Methodist minister who lived in York Road with his parents after demobilisation in 1919. He is buried in Brookwood Cemetery.   Phew! 

So, history lesson over, unless you haven’t read Mal Foster’s The Asylum Soul A fascinating tale about Brookwood’s former lunatic asylum and the people who shouldn’t have been incarcerated there.

I haven’t managed to feature Woking in any of my books as yet. Accident of Fate was set in Malta, Sussex, and Berkshire. The sequel to Accident of Birth was set in the wonderful regency town of Sidmouth in Devon, Malta, and Sardinia… See what I mean about water always somewhere in my life from destressing to surrounding my plots?" 

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"Last but not least Lionsheart Bookshop-Café stock local Woking Authors books - including my latest novel, The Girl on the Hill." 

www.suemackender.com

 Twitter: @SueMackenderAuthor

 FB :Sue Mackender Author

 

Mal Foster talks about the Therapeutic Use of Writing

Many people believe writing is only for authors, journalists, poets, bloggers etc., but it is there for all and if you suffer from a mental health issue, it can help. I have touched on my need for the therapeutic use of writing since I was around fifteen years old and most recently amplified this during the recent coronavirus pandemic on local radio. I believe we all come into life as potential writers and, as that famous saying goes, everyone does have a book in them, even if it is just their own story. 

Writing is beneficial because it can be therapeutic. Writing can harness our thoughts and feelings and act as a filter for the parts inside our minds, which we may choose, or not,  to share and discuss. 

Most of us speak in jingles, not complete sentences. In conversation, we are often interrupted. Whilst writing, we can, through creativity and imagination, complete a sentence and ultimately a whole story or poem. You will feel a sense of achievement or self-satisfaction—something you may not realise in everyday life, for example. 

Writing is an escape from reality. It has many genres and styles and is *FREE*. 

You may not think you are a writer. Don’t worry. Practice! You don’t even need to share your writing. Write a letter to yourself. Invent a character. They will become your friend. 

By writing, you will discover your inner self. You will find yourself speaking through your written words via an alternative dimension. You will even become the protagonist in your own story. In a sense, you will discover who you really are. When writing, you will believe some other entity is controlling you. You will discover this is your sub-conscience, your creative soul inside you! 

You can choose your comfort zone. Explore the genres until you find the one you want. If you don’t have the confidence to speak out loud, either to just one person or a crowd, writing will give you the vehicle to move forward. You can become an expert on your chosen subject by writing non-fiction. You can become the master of an invention by choosing to become a fiction author, for instance. 

What you write will become your identity, especially if you decide to publish. It will give you self-esteem and give you a healthier mind, body and spirit connection. You will find yourself creating a strong relationship between your inner profile and your body’s outward movement.

We all have emotions; a large number of us suffer from mental health issues. There are fears and worries, even memories that cause, stress, anxiety and depression. Writing can steer us away from these and offer some much-needed respite from our day to day demons. 

Writing can be a career or just a part-time hobbyist occupation. It can be incredibly powerful when wishing to express yourself. Embrace it and remember, that writing is therapy, and it could just save your life!

Did you know Mal runs a FREE low key ‘Writing as Therapy’ workshop? If you would like to learn more, send an email to admin@malfoster.co.uk

Meet Mal Foster

Mal will be signing copies of his latest novel, Fluke's Cradle', from 7pm ** TONIGHT **  (Monday 16 May) at the Garibaldi pub, High Street, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey DETAILS

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'Dropping the Habit', with former Salesian nun, Marion Dante

Woking Writes is delighted to welcome local writer and former nun, Marion Dante to the blog as part of our Woking Writers' Week festivities.

 

About Marion’s published books:
 

Dropping the Habit 

She made her choice at 14 years old. Must it be a life sentence?

Marion Dante always knew she would be a nun. She was born in answer to prayer, and she was her mother’s “sin offering”. Because she was conceived out of wedlock, her mother promised God that she would offer her back to Him.

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Searching for Love  

"Followers of the television series 'Call the Midwife' will enjoy this compelling and unusual story." - Barbara Large MBE

Searching for Love reveals convent life during the 1970s as seen through the eyes of Frankie, an innocent young postulant, and her friend Margaret, who form a close relationship, which is discouraged by the nuns. Readers are offered glimpses of harsh practices, contrasted with comic interludes, that trace Frankie's gradual disillusionment as she struggles with her dilemma: love, or the church?

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A Love as Strong

"A heartfelt, moving story of convent life that charms from start to finish."- Gaye Shortland, Poolbeg

'A Love as Strong' is a tender sequel to 'Searching for Love' that reveals Frankie's new life as a teacher after she left the convent. Readers will enjoy her naive encounters as she searches for a loving partner. This exceptional book traces the transition of Frankie as she explores her new life and her encounters with potential suitors. ReaderS will revel in the final chapters as she forms a cherished relationship with the man of her dreams.

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Former nun, now author, Marion Dante

All about Marion…

Marion Dante always knew she would be a nun. She was born in answer to prayer.  At the age of 14, she left home and started her training to become a Salesian Sister. Fired with the desire to save souls she eventually became a nun and a successful teacher and spent many happy and eventful years in the convent. 

Leaving the convent 33 years later, Marion wrote her autobiography, Dropping the Habit, a gripping, honest book in which she opens the door to the convent and bares her soul. Searching for Love is the first novel in the Frankie Danivet series and tells the story of innocent young postulant, Frankie, struggling to decide between love and the church. Its sequel, A Love as Strong, follows Frankie as she transitions from life at the content to life and love in the outside world. 

Marion hails from Limerick and has lived in England since 1955. She entered the convent aged 14 and left 33 years later. She has addressed various groups including the Women’s Institute, The Townswomen’s Guild, Probus, Rotary, Inner Wheel, Tangent and various retirement groups. 

Marion appeared on RTE (Irish) television and radio as part of the publicity at the launch of her autobiography. She has featured in BBC Programmes such as Heart and Soul BBC World Service, Radio Four Saturday Live and in February 2017 she spoke on BBC Radio Surrey taking part in the BBC Listening Project. (Stored in the British Library).  

She is a member of The Three Counties Cancer Support Group, The Kindred Spirits Choir, Camberley, and Farnborough U3A in which she takes part in Italian, yoga, walking and ukulele groups. Marion also attends aqua aerobics and is a Member of the National Women’s Register Group, a discussion, dining and reading group. 

As an author Marion is a member of the Society of Authors and is often invited to address members on the development of her novels.  The title of her most recent talk was “Love’s Journey” and is the title of a follow-up talk on ‘Dropping the Habit.

www.mariondante.com

#wokingwrites

 

Woking Writers' Week 2022

Welcome to the 2nd Woking Writers' Week which runs from Sunday 15 May to Saturday 21 May 2022.

Since hosting the event last year, the Woking Writes book blog has gone from strength to strength and has enabled many local writers to bond by meeting up, sharing publishing ideas and ultimately helping promote each other's work.

The authors are all independently published which means self-promotion is a necessity. Woking Writes, is simply here to help by providing an essential platform for them to give their latest published titles some extra exposure. In doing so, many readers and potential readers have explored our pages and discovered the work of some true local talent.  

The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine author HG Wells

Sunday 15 May

Meet former Salesian nun and writer Marion Dante. Marion is the author of three books including the aptly titled, 'Dropping the Habit'.

Monday 16 May

Mal Foster talks about the therapeutic use of writing as a tool to help ease mental health issues. In the evening, everyone is invited to the book signing of his latest novel, 'Fluke's Cradle'. The event starts at 7pm at the Garibaldi pub, High Street Knaphill. DETAILS

Tuesday 17 May

Sue Mackender gives an insight into her writing journey so far which has led to the publication of her compelling novel, 'Girl on the Hill.'

Wednesday 18 May

The bard of Byfleet, Greg Freeman, offers up four of his poems for your enjoyment, following the publication of his, Marples Must Go, and The Fall of Singapore poetry booklets.

Thursday 19 May

Lelita Baldock, author of the Cornish set, historical fiction drama, When the Gulls Fall Silent, tells us more about what inspired the book and her other writing.

Friday 20 May

Woking folklore? We look at the impact of H.G.Wells' writing in Woking and whether his legacy is deserved after what was a seemly short stay in the town. After all, he certainly left his mark, Martian machines et-al.!

Saturday 21 May

Some of Woking's fabulous independent authors

This is the last chance for any new authors to come forward and join us. We would love to feature your latest book(s)! We'll also be highlighting Woking's new independent Lionsheart bookshop which is currently stocking titles by many of our featured writers.

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