John Dean
  • Darlington
  • United Kingdom

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  • Alwyn Foden
  • Andy Coward
  • Barbara Myers
  • Maria Nicklin
  • Mike Watson
  • Bud Craig
  • Libby Thompson
  • mark dobson
  • mary osborn
  • Masha Woollard
  • Kath Radford
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John Dean's Discussions

Wednesday group stories
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Started this discussion. Last reply by John Dean Mar 9, 2014.

Tuesday group stories
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Started this discussion. Last reply by John Dean May 1, 2014.

John Dean Summer 2014 course details
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Got a story to tell? Keen to be a writer? Then this could be your big chance. Creative writing tutor John Dean is be running his popular courses at the Friends’ Meeting House in Skinnergate,…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by John Dean Apr 10, 2013.

The Masha Woollard collection

Masha is one of our most prolific writers. Here's a selection from her collection (open the attachment) - and her summaries of the stories House and Lighthouse. Based on a painting by Edward…Continue

Started Dec 30, 2011

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Latest Activity

John Dean posted a blog post

Eric's second novel is published

The second novel written by author Eric Foster, a member of the Darlington-based Inkers writing group, has been published and is the latest stage in his fictional re-telling of the life of Ireland’s patron saint.Becoming St Patrick – His Mission (Troubador) sees Patrick’s ten-man mission arrive by boat in the Irish Kingdom of Brega, where they are immediately expelled by…See More
Mar 1
John Dean posted a blog post

Alwyn goes into print with new book

Inkers member Alwyn Foden has gone into print with his new book Queues A Life Line.The book tells the story of Stanley McEwan, a pun on ‘Standing and Queueing’, who despairs at his life spent in queues. As a youngster, life is full of promise but rapidly descends into a frustrating humdrum.  He falls out with his son and his wife, she becomes seriously ill, he reaches a…See More
Dec 16, 2023
John Dean posted a blog post

New anthology is published

Inkers, a long-established collection of writers who gather fortnightly in person at the Friends’ Meeting House in Darlington, as well as online, have published their latest anthology.A Thread of Raindrops and Other Stories contains short stories in various genres, many of them featuring a satisfying twist.From crime to romance, and science fiction to a hilarious romp…See More
Sep 3, 2023
John Dean posted a blog post

Author to stage book event

Darlington author Eric Foster is to stage an event to promote his first novel, which has recently been published and is based on a fictional re-telling of the life of Ireland’s patron saint.Becoming St Patrick has been published by Troubador Publishing and Eric will talk about the book during the event on Wednesday March 15 at The Quakerhouse, in Mechanics Yard, 6.10…See More
Feb 13, 2023
John Dean posted a blog post

Author’s debut novel tells patron saint’s story

The first novel written by Darlington author Eric Foster is due to be published on January 28, based on a fictional re-telling of the life of Ireland’s patron saint.Inspired by a long-standing love of Ireland, Becoming St Patrick has been published by Troubador Publishing and is based on extensive research conducted by Eric over several years.Eric, a member of…See More
Jan 4, 2023
John Dean posted a blog post

Books raise funds for hospice

Author Keven Shevels, a member of Darlington-based Inkerman Writers, has now published three novels in his darkly comic Dogsbreath series, which are available on Amazon.  Proceeds from sales are donated to St Teresa’s Hospice in the town.The books are:The Haddock Flies At Midnight - A contemporary novel tracing thirty days in the life of a small town hall official who…See More
Aug 20, 2022
John Dean posted a blog post

Arts festival appearances

Group members are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Darlington Arts Festival, featuring in two events.Inkers Creative Writing Collective presents ‘The Other Side Of The Door.’ An entertaining hour of prose and poetry.  A door represents a world of possibility, a passageway from one world to another. Come and listen to tales of confusion, comedy, intrigue and…See More
Apr 11, 2022
John Dean commented on Keven Shevels's blog post A Song of Ice and Haddock
"Excellent!"
Apr 11, 2022
John Dean posted a blog post

Bud talks sense of place

Interested in crime fiction? Then check out Inkerman Writer Bud Craig talking about his craft in the latest instalment of the free Tall Tales Mysteries Mug Shots series of films. Bud, one of the Book Folks stable of writers, talks in particular about sense of place. You can watch the interview at https://youtu.be/AO-81NwdYvwSee More
May 11, 2021
John Dean posted a blog post

Hats off to Bud

Inkerman Writer Bud Craig is celebrating after his short story Hats Off to Larry was commended in the Elmbridge Literary Competition. The theme of the competition was music.In the story, in 1960 Salford teenager Jack finds the girl of his dreams. Over the next three years, Jack changes as does pop music, the Everly Brothers and Del Shannon giving way to the Beatles.Jack plans a year in France after A levels and sees a whole new world opening up. Girlfriend Cathy, who left school at fifteen, is…See More
Apr 1, 2021
John Dean posted a blog post

A wander down the street that gave the group its name

One of the anthologies produced by Darlington-based Inkerman Writers gives a clue as to how they got their name.The anthology of short stories, titled Inkerman Street, was based on the demolition of a fictional northern street and the stories of the people who lived in it.The book, which features a variety of stories ranging from horror to comedy, begins like…See More
Feb 26, 2021
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Feb 25, 2021
John Dean posted photos
Feb 24, 2021
John Dean posted a blog post

Inkerman Writers among authors to back new venture

An exciting new initiative has been launched featuring online interviews with popular crime fiction authors.Mug Shots is run by Tall Tales Mysteries, a leading UK murder mystery company based in the Darlington area of County Durham.The idea for Mug Shots happened when Scottish-based crime writers Jackie Baldwin, Ian Patrick and John Dean, a member of the Inkerman Writers…See More
Feb 12, 2021
John Dean posted blog posts
Feb 9, 2021
John Dean posted a blog post

Bud Craig's latest novel is published

Inkerman Writer Bud Craig has had his latest crime novel published by The Book Folks.Making A Killing is a British murder mystery featuring Private Investigator Gus Keane, the fourth book in which he has featured. The ebook is available now, the paperback will come in a few days.In the novel, a private detective’s investigation into an affair hots up when the suspect is…See More
May 27, 2020

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John Dean's Blog

Eric's second novel is published

The second novel written by author Eric Foster, a member of the Darlington-based Inkers writing group, has been published and is the latest stage in his fictional re-telling of the life of Ireland’s patron saint.

Becoming St Patrick – His Mission (Troubador) sees Patrick’s ten-man mission arrive by boat in the Irish Kingdom of Brega, where…

Continue

Posted on March 1, 2024 at 7:05pm

Alwyn goes into print with new book

Inkers member Alwyn Foden has gone into print with his new book Queues A Life Line.

The book tells the story of Stanley McEwan, a pun on ‘Standing and Queueing’, who despairs at his life spent in queues. 

As a youngster, life is full of promise but rapidly descends into a frustrating humdrum.  He falls out with his son and his…

Continue

Posted on December 16, 2023 at 9:45am

New anthology is published

Inkers, a long-established collection of writers who gather fortnightly in person at the Friends’ Meeting House in Darlington, as well as online, have published their latest anthology.

A Thread of Raindrops and Other Stories contains short stories in various genres, many of them featuring a satisfying twist.

From crime to romance, and…

Continue

Posted on September 3, 2023 at 1:56pm

Author to stage book event

Darlington author Eric Foster is to stage an event to promote his first novel, which has recently been published and is based on a fictional re-telling of the life of Ireland’s patron saint.

Becoming St Patrick has been published by Troubador Publishing and Eric will talk about the book during the event on Wednesday March 15 at The Quakerhouse, in…

Continue

Posted on February 13, 2023 at 12:22pm

Comment Wall (5 comments)

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Join Inkerman Writers

At 10:29pm on October 14, 2011, Tom Gamble said…
Hello John - thjanks for the invitation to be an Inkerman member and thanks to Ross! Hopefully I'll be able to visit one day. Best regards. Tom
At 10:56am on February 16, 2011, Pat Stewart said…

Thanks John - all the stuff was there.  I really appreciate that.

Pat.

At 8:05pm on November 22, 2010, mark dobson said…
Thanks John,
I'll see you then,
Regards Mark
At 1:15pm on July 28, 2010, Maria Nicklin said…
Thanks John,

I'll have a browse around and catch up with new attachments.
Maria
At 12:43pm on July 21, 2010, Michael Webber said…
Will put the film back up when I get back to Darlo - thanks for letting me know. Mike
 
 
 

DfC

The Inkerman Writers are members of Darlington for Culture (DfC), which was set up  in 2010 to help save Darlington Arts Centre from closure.

Its members include representatives of arts and community groups.

DfC was established after the centre’s owner, Darlington Borough Council, announced that budget cuts meant that it would have to withdraw its subsidy from the Arts Centre.

Although the centre closed, the organisation remains active - more at www.darlingtonforculture.org

 

Publications

Welcome to the site created by the Inkerman Writers to showcase our work.

Based in Darlington, North East England, and having celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2013, members have enjoyed success in a variety of arenas, including winning, and being shortlisted and highly commended, in short story competitions, having novels published and publishing the short story anthology A Strawberry in Winter, which can be obtained by visiting the website www.blurb.com

The group's second anthology of short stories, Christophe's Farewell and Other Stories, can be obtained, cost £4.95 plus postage and packing, from

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/2173759/4a79a32f5cf205f6bfd37b6f1df30e33900a5ab0?utm_source=TellAFriend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2692827

The Inkerman Writers latest book, Out of the Shadows, which was launched as part of the 2013 Darlington Arts Festival, is on sale. The book can be ordered direct from

http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/4204019-out-of-the-shadows

The group also produced The Last Waltz, a double CD of short stories, available by contacting deangriss@btinternet.com, cost £5 plus p and p.

Several of our writers wrote original one-act plays in a collaboration with the Green Theatre company, which were performed at Darlington Arts Centre early in February, 2012.

 

Darlington-based Inkerman Writers have produced their latest anthology of short stories, Inkerman  Street, based on the demolition of a fictional northern street and the stories of the people who lived in it.

The book, which features a variety of stories ranging from horror to comedy, was launched to a large audience at the Darlington Arts Festival Literary Day on Saturday May 26 and begins like this:

Inkerman Street is still and graveyard-hushed tonight, the terraced houses cold behind boarded-up windows, silent sentinels among a sea of wasteland. No one lives here now and tomorrow the bulldozers will move in to flatten the houses to make way for the Council’s Grand Plan.

“Although the people are long gone, the houses still have life. Peek into one of the bedrooms and see on the wall a painting of a seaside scene, brightly-coloured boats bobbing in the harbour, fishermen pipe-smoking in the noonday sun and seagulls wheeling high above the choppy waters. In the roaring silence of the night, you can hear the screeching of the birds and taste the salt air, acrid and herring-sharp at the back of your throat. It is an illusion; the bedroom is empty and the blooms on the faded wallpaper have long since wilted.

“The air in the houses is musty with neglect yet but a few months before, these were bustling homes filled with frying bacon and steaming irons, whistling kettles and playing children. The houses witnessed all these scenes for more than 150 years. Behind their curtains were enacted a thousand stories but tomorrow they will be destroyed because Inkerman Street is the last of its ilk.

“Now, on the eve of the street’s death, the people who once lived here have returned, gathering solemn and silent in the mist, the ghosts of the past come to pay final tribute….”

The anthology can be purchased at http://www.blurb.co.uk/bookstore/invited/7524452/bae89c993c98ec8c8b37b12d6b9b37ecced5dec3

 

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