The International Writer's Magazine: Our Tenth Year - November 2009 Welcome

Destinations: Travel stories & guides

Opinion: Politics & Issues

Lifestyles: Ways of living

First Impressions of Senegal Natalie MacDonald Nothing could prepare in advance for my arrival to Leopold Serigne Senghor airport in Senegal, West Africa. Where's That Smell? Paul Lynch "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single sniff" - not exactly the Lao Tzu quote that made the philosopher famous, but it’s close enough. Kodai Hill Country Holiday Resort Marianne de Nazareth With an audible plop a large yellow leaf fell off the African Tulip tree just outside our balcony window, while I sat sipping my coffee. Horsin' Around in Jamaica Cheryl Gregory I felt the cool, salty water soaking my pant legs and the level was rising rapidly. Soon it would be up to my waist, there was nothing I could do about it You are a Rainbow J. D. Riso Kwajalein. Ailinglaplap. Jaluit. Bikini. Their names dance across my mind like an ancient incantation. Finding Myself Andrew Lofthouse I needed a change. The daily grind of monotony was eroding away my desire to get up in the morning, never mind in time for work. The Mongol Rally Adam Smith On the 18th July I and my teammate Freya Liiv left Goodwood in a bid to drive nearly 10,000 miles to the capital of Mongolia.

Collectivism on Parade James Campion Forget National Health Care and bailouts or Cap & TRade laws sending us into a tyrannical existence. We're already there suckers Life and Nothing But Dean Borok My girlfriend, gave me a queen size piece of her mind on the way out the door. "You’re never going to get a job with all the vituperative invective you spew on the Internet, you chump!" Slam Burma VJ David Calleja There are very few movies or documentaries that show just how severe life is for civilians in Burma. Modern Day Hal James Skinner They ran the old sci-fi movie ‘2001, A Space Odyssey’ on one of the TV channels the other night. A Healthcare Pledge for Conservatives Larry S. Rolirad As a Conservative who DOES NOT have Health Insurance: I do hereby pledge to refuse all health care paid for by the government... Welcome to the Fall Edition

Buying a new car Jerry Slafsky There are many "life experiences" that are rather unpleasant and that most people try hard to avoid Even in Africa, Mother Knows Best David Russell "We’ll stop here", whispered our driver, Meiza. Here, being the side of a dirt road late one afternoon while returning to camp from an afternoon game drive on the Serengeti. Toronto - Desperate Times Tabytha Towe Time flies – like it’s invisible. You can’t catch it, save it, or see it, not until it’s behind you. But at least you can remember it, cherish it and hopefully learn from it. Question Time Richard Crawley Question Time was a shambolic pantomime; an ugly facade of political debate that exposed the BBC as a leftist snake pit What is Cool? Aaron Falloon Can we pin point what it is to be cool? What is it that makes something in and another, which may be quite similar, out? Cheese making in Coonoor Marianne De Nazareth Looking out of the large French windows in Acres Wild, I woke up to an unusual phenomenon for a city dweller - big fluffy clouds had enveloped the house in a complete embrace. Fear and Loathing at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival - Adam Graupe We were about 25 minutes north of the Twin Cities when my doctor and I pulled the rented Dodge Charger into the drive thru of the Forest Lake Starbucks.  I ordered “two Venti non-fat lattes with a dozen chasers.

FICTION plus

REVIEWS Plus

REVIEWS Film & Books

Eyes Together, Eyes Apart Bruce Harris I am supposed to be seeing this as a celebration. Why does it feel so much like a betrayal? The Dangers of Daydreaming Ann Sharratt The day I chopped my sisters finger off, I learned the harsh consequence of not paying attention. A Natural Selection Anne Greenwood "Be quiet." "What now?" Matt griped. They’d barely moved at all in the last hour. All he wanted to do was go down and watch Sponge Bob. Burglar's Love Piotr Wesolowski 'A few more steps and I’m in,’ he thought. Cautiously, he dragged his feet along a cement ledge three stories above a busy street in Havana. Putty Thief Amanda Donovan "Run!" yelled my little sister. I couldn't move. I was petrified. Rooted to the spot. My skinny legs felt as heavy as the grey, graffiti covered concrete tunnels Turn Right at Souldrop Gareth Draper Jeremy slammed on his breaks as he approached the disused petrol station that stood by the side of the road on the left, narrowly avoiding the crawling car in front The Bathroom Tried To Swallow Me Whole - Christopher Williams Fifteen Coventry Road, Ilford is a large detached Victorian town house about half a mile from Valentines Park and was for many years my paternal grandparent’s home Dunnottar Castle: August 1957 Doug Brownie It was a cold day in Hell. The crack as her head hit the rocks 20 feet below seemed uncannily loud to the boy. A Life for a Life Barbara Jane Mackie You are staring into the eyes of a Murderer and that Murderer is staring back at you. Playschool Tom Harris It was with great reluctance that I accepted the role of the Archangel Gabriel in the school play all those years ago. My Niece Jude Perera Cheeky, dimpled smile, chubby cheeks, head slanted in a lovable and affectionate pose. It looks faded and grainy; but it’s my favorite photo of her. Off the Lights of Pokrovka Joshua Walker The lights from the cafe, behind the shimmering, humming glass, dazzled his eyes. It was 6 p.m. on a slushy Moscow Tuesday in March and Sveta was looking through the front door. Nausea Pierre Edgcumbe My Carbonated head fizzes and spits, giving a nauseating effect. It has begun

Acts of Violence by Ryan David Jahn Gill Haigh review Acts of Violence is set in a ‘cesspool of a city’ somewhere in America in 1964.  Kat Marino has just finished her shift as the night manager of a sports bar.  In a clipped, cinematic style Ryan Jahn leads us through every harrowing detail of the next two hours of Kat’s life 9 - Directed by Shane Acker Sam North review If someone is in charge of marketing 9 in the UK they should be taken out and shot. This is simply the most amazing, wonderful, visually stunning and thrilling movie of the year... The Man From Pomegranate Street by Caroline Lawrence Reviewed by Thomas Morley It is clear that Lawrence is a scholar and, more importantly, she is passionate about the subject of Ancient Rome and about teaching it to children. The Elephants Tale By Lauren St John Reviewed by Callum Graham Martine arrives home from a ride on her white giraffe Jemmy to discover a stranger at the Sawubona game reserve. Qi Dan Bond Qi doesn't fall in to the category of a social or political satire, or even a topical quiz show, instead it relies solely on the intelligence and rapport of three guests In Pursuit of Elegance by Matthew E. May, Charles Dickinson review Matthew May has taken on the task of unpacking what makes for elegance (Why is that enigmatic smile of Mona Lisa so beguiling?). But of course, elegance is far more than the arts. Idiot Colony At the New Theatre Royal Director: Andrew Lawson Nina Aumaitre at the New Theatre Royal This is the true story of three women, incarcerated for life in a Midlands asylum during the 1940’s Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan Harper Collins 2000 Richard Crawley Maybe like Darren Shan, the little boy at the heart of this story [aswell as its narrator] who, through a series of unfortunate accidents finds himself an unwilling vampire's apprentice, I was simply the victim of fate. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Nina Aumaitre Review This is a book about how it is so easy to misunderstand others, or to miss calculate how much of an impact we can have on them Silence by Shusaku Endo This is my first experience reading Shusaku Endo, and given his lofty reputation and the fact that he is non-American and thus has not had his mind chiseled by cookie-cutter MFA programs... Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness Mia Palmer Gripping adventure of madness and escape

The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner Nina Aumaitre review France 1793, blood is running in rivulets down the streets as heads fall severed from bodies like petals of sickle roses Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick Sam North & Karen Hall reviews Revolver is an intensely atmospheric novel in a frozen landscape and this a desperate situation that keeps you gripped to the last murderous moment. Highly recommended The Jeremy Kyle Show Richard Crawley Jeremy Kyle is the undisputed King of morning television and reigns supreme over his dominion with a well rehearsed confidence Scrubs – Season 8 Gareth M Bryant The hit US comedy is back for its final (or at least Zach Braff’s final) fling, but does season 8 compare to the brilliance that is seasons 1-7? Clough’s War by Don Shaw Review by Daniel Cann What is really a small town affair is turned into something akin to a detective thriller as both sides plot and manipulate against each other trying to dictate events. Vampire Diaries: The Fury and The Reunion by Lisa J. Smith Richard Crawley review Human beings do not like to be afraid. We have an innate need to conquer our fears Emil and the Detectives Dramatisation by Katie Hims of the detective novel by Erich Kaestner. Directed by Jessica Dromgoole. Mia Palmer review In this delightful play we follow country boy Emil Tischbein, as he journeys up from Neustadt to Berlin in Germany for the first time The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Tom Harris The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is Larsson's social portrait of a corrupt, modern Sweden. He uses the unconventional characters of the novel to explore this using the themes of abuse, control and revenge. A Silly Gigolo, by Sheena McKay, the 3rd in a group of short stories entitled, ‘A Glimpse of Stocking.’ Radio 4 - 22nd October 2009 Laurie O’Neil The History of Nylons! Dickens Confidential: The Deal by Rob Kingsman RADIO 4: 20th October 2009 Karen Hall This was a hugely enjoyable radio drama that brightened a dull, boring Tuesday afternoon The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne Nick Prescott Review Set during World War II, John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas sets out to describe the horrors of war and the holocaust through the innocent eyes of a child. Dont You Want Me? by India Knight Review by Daisy Seely India Knight is a great 'chiock-lit' writer of our time

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