July/August Newsletter 2025

 July/August Newsletter 2025

Great News! Work has been undertaken on my novel. Sarah Banham of www.loveofbooks.co.uk has been busy doing a structural and line edit and Jacki Tattersall has been designing my book cover anguishing many hours over paints and brushes. So, from now until Christmas I have some tidying up work to do making changes, cutting chunks of words and making my novel polished. One thing you can help me with is to tell me your preference of either S M Flint or Susan M Flint to differentiate from my children’s books.

Lullington stall 28.6.25

 

I think this was the hottest day of the year. Thankfully my pitch was under the shade of a big tree and many thanks to Pete, my husband, for putting up the gazebo. Zane was a cool dude customer. The stallholders in front of me were a lovely family who rescued and showed a variety of owls. If you want to book them for a display at your fundraiser you will find them on Facebook – Owls r us static display. They are based in Coventry.

Kingsbury stall 5.7.25

Oscar the Owl book 1 & 2 enjoying a day out. 

Regardless of if a fete is busy or not it is always nice to meet up with fellow stall holders.

Wild Swimming

It’s been a fabulous summer for swimming at Dosthill Quarry, joined by my most regular buddy Karen White; once with my daughter and friends, once with Pippa Steedman and once alone. This water is my favourite place to be. I’m going to miss it when it gets below 14 degrees but the spring fed water has been a lovely 20-22 degrees for weeks.

I’m there Fridays if anyone wants to join me?

                             

A family fun day was spent at Cliff Lakes where nephews and their families went on the floating fun trail. Thanks to Sam & Olly for organising and for the BBQ.

The Bank Coffee House 5.8.25

A return visit to the Alrewas café where I read Oscar the Owl and His Footwear. There were owl pictures to colour too. Such a lovely welcome and delicious coffee and cakes. It’s just off the A38 or A513 on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border; a nice drive out and well worth a visit – see reviews on Trip Advisor or http://thebankcoffeehouse.co.uk.

The Swanwick Writers Summer School 9-14.8.25

My 9^th annual visit went very well. Ian, Rosa & Ellen from our Tamworth Writers group came too and I met up with members of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists again. It was so lovely to see Della Galton and she supported me at my book launch, a new inclusion to the programme for anyone having published a book in 2025. There was a full programme packed with great courses and tutors. Pacing oneself is a must. I attended the 30-minute Sunday Worship in the chapel which was led by Fiona Lloyd; Writing Romance led by Jennifer Page x 2 sessions; Unwind your mind with Zana Frood – Thia Chi each 5 pm; Editing Fiction x 2 sessions by Morgen Bailey and evening entertainment of a Poetry night – so proud Ellen was chosen to read a ‘Maeve and Betty’ poem which was very well received by the laughter we heard.

The Page to Stage night, of 5 short scripts acted and directed by volunteers, was fab. The workshop ‘Writerly Well-Being’ by Katherine Bolton was extremely helpful. I have written this newsletter using well-being ideas gleaned at this session.

 

If you write for pleasure, short stories, novels, songs, poems, scripts etc this is the place to be. Dates for next year – 8-13.8.26 – bookings taken from 1.1.26. www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk.  Days of talking the talk, eating, drinking, walking, sleeping, learning, socialising – all this and so much more. Thank you committee for all the hard work that goes into organising it each year.

Rosliston Forestry Centre stall 23.8.25

 

This country park has long been a favourite place for a walk around the lakes, taking children to the slide, roundabout, sand play area and ballpark. The café is good and Alice’s owl handling sessions are a must. Her knowledge about each owl is exceptional. https://ardbirdsofprey.com at https://www.roslistonforestrycentre.co.uk

I had a lovely young customer who remembered me from a school visit earlier this year and so signed a book her dad bought for her. Thank you Dahlia, meeting you was a special moment.

Lastly, a great big thank you to those who take interest in my work, it is very much appreciated. I'm especially touched when another Oscar the Owl book is in a child’s hand and more so w
hen I receive a picture and a review on Amazon. Here’s the latest, isn’t it lovely ...

 

To come in the next newsletter: Wedding news.

*Picture taken from Oscar the Owl and His Footwear – Autumn – “Oscar is wearing his black shoes.  They look smart for going to a wedding, school or a party. Shiny shoes make him feel grown up and proud.”

* Copywrite Picture by Rosa Brown www.flontiere.com

Oscar the Owl books 1 & 2 are now available on Amazon. https://amzn.eu/d/f14OOcC and https://amzn.eu/d/bqy7S7x

Notes:  

• If you know anyone who would like an author visit to a café, school, ladies’ group etc. do give them my email address.
•   All photos of children are with parent’s permission.
•  If you no longer wish to be on the mailing list, please do let me know.

Thank you for your support.

Sue x

Birthday Blog

Wow, what a fab week I've had, blessed every day with family and friends.  It started off on Bank Holiday Monday with the weather being at its best - 30 degrees!  A lazy pottering day and trip to Newton Regis Garden Centre for compost to plant some pansies in tubs in the garden.  Of course the obligatory coffee stop in the Two Sister's café was a must and hubby and I chatted an hour away.

Tuesday saw me at Tamworth Next store to have coffee and cake in Costa with Linda and she insisted on paying as a birthday treat and handed me a birthday gift too (which I saved until 31st).  In the afternoon I met Diane at Grangewood Garden Centre - just coffee this time!

Wednesday Suzanne and I went to a new place in town called No 18 for coffee and a toasted tea cake.  The décor of this place was very rustic - the tables were made of slatted doors still with their black hinges and nuts and bolts and number on them.  The menu was written on a roll of brown paper hanging behind the counter, they sold t-shirts and jumpers and there is a barber shop attached.  Very 'hip' if that's still a phrase!

On the same day I was treated to afternoon tea at The Tudor House café and Tapas Bar in town.  My sister-in-law had had a voucher for her birthday and wanted to share it with me for mine!  How lovely was that?

Thursday I visited Margaret, a friend recovering from her third (same hip) hip operation - don't ask! So coffee was served in her conservatory by her very patient husband.  On Friday I went to work off some of the week's calories at Lea Marston Hotel and Spa.  The gym and pool were busy and I left early to pop into Matalan at our out-of-town shopping centre - Ventura Park.  Everyone else from Tamworth were out shopping too - or so it seemed, but I picked up a bargain pair of black trousers in the sale and headed for home.  By now I had a lovely lot of birthday presents and a bunch of flowers.  And the post-lady delivered lots of cards too.

Tradition in this house on my birthday is that I open cards and pressies in bed with a cuppa (hot water and lemon) and it always feels like I am so much younger!  I was overwhelmed with all I received - such lovely thoughtful presents and cards.  I then dressed and had set myself a target to bake some cakes for visiting family.  My (now 5 year old) mixer came out of retirement and was soon mixing ingredients for blueberry muffins, which thankfully turned out quite nice.

Nanny Julie & Imogen Rose

My sister, neice and great-niece visited and my 'posh' cake stand came out of hiding.  Whilst they ate cake and drank coffee I had baby cuddles.  Imogen hardly woke except to take her bottle feed from me but her tiny hands and features fed my soul and melted my heart. 

On the evening my husband, daughter and I went out for a meal at Christopher's The Peel Hotel, Tamworth but first they wanted to show me The Tap, a Real Ale micro-brewery, and Gin Bar.  Well I'm not a fan normally of Gin but my sister had told me about Rhubarb gin which sounded lovely so I had one with lemonade, a slice of lime and lemon and lots of ice.  It was delicious.  So my daughter got me another only this time it was a double!  Well I was very squiffy!  

And so another year older and one more year to wait until I get my pension! I hope the ladies campaigning regarding the injustice served on us by the Government moving the goal post without enough warning win their cause.  How blessed I am to have a loving family and generous friends where others are not so fortunate.  

Oh and Jan, my new Swanwick Writers Summer School friend, I know you will be interested in this present.  My daughter recently visited the only Bookstore in Amsterdam and got my this wallet purse for my birthday.  

Yoshi, real leather wallet purse, made in Lichfield, Staffordshire

 

Perhaps on your travels you may visit this place? I look forward to reading your travel blogs.