Old and Out

Original devised musical theatre based on the experiences of the older (54+) LGBTQ+ performers. Part of LGBT History Month.

Understanding Susan

churchilltheatre.co.uk/Online/tickets-understanding-susan-bromley-2019

She Stoops to Conquer

A Daughter's a Daughter

I was once described as a ‘no-frills poet’, a title I love, as at the time I was still developing a style. With this grand title in mind, ‘Whimsies of a No-Frills Poet’ offers 20 frank or funny poems on subjects ranging from love, grief, nostalgia, loneliness, absurdity, homicidal bacon, and British rail cuisine.

Available on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon.

Available in other formats via Smashwords and SRIBD..

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Blue Passport

Blue passport, blue passport, just makes you think,

How long we've endured our passports of pink,

(But aren’t they really a burgundy-red?)

Forced upon us by a faceless EU,

Insisted we changed to red from our blue,

(But that was not what they actually said.)

Our British heritage, blue to the last,

Part of our history, and our great past,

(But only since the year nineteen twenty.)

Passport of blue, that’s the colour for me,

Part of our national Identity,

(Just like our social inequality.)

Chris Raven

© 2017 Chris Raven

Bacon

Bacon's the most dangerous food in the land,

Not so the joint, diced pancetta or canned,

'tis the common type, that we should beware,

That sneaky streaky, that we find so fair.

So, what is wrong with our old breakfast friend?

The hangover cure, on which we depend,

Nice in a butty, with chicken or egg,

“What’s the beef with the pork,” I hear you beg.

Happy to tell you, put you in the know,

The rascally rasher is really your foe,

That salty goodness is really a trick,

It aims to kill, or at least make you sick.

I'm sure it's happened, to you or a friend,

When eating too fast, forgot to defend,

Against the rind, too rubbery to chew,

Slips down your throat and spells the end of you.

And so it just sits, a snake in your craw,

Making you choke, you can't breath anymore,

A long sinuous string, more like a noose,

Try as you might, you just can't shake it loose.

Eyes streaming hot, someone thumps on your back,

Start to black out from the air that you lack,

With finger and thumb, a pinch at the tip,

A slow careful tug, and out it will slip.

Like some monstrous tapeworm, plaid and grey,

Slithers right out as it's pulled all the way,

Past sweating lips, left to hang in the air,

A vivid warning for all to take care.

And now you know, you've all had a warning,

Beware the bacon, night, day and morning,

Don't be complacent, be always on guard,

Or cut off the rind..., it's not very hard.

Chris Raven

© 2017 Chris Raven

Tales from Even Darker Places

The Indie Collaboration Presents

 

Tales from Even Darker Places

The Indie Collaboration presents its thirteenth anthology of short stories, freely donated by independent writing's most ghoulish ghosts and gremlins. In this third annual Halloween collection, we find another sacrificial platter of chilling tales to keep you up at night.

If you choose to read these tales of ancient evils and sinister sorcerers, of ghostly hauntings, witches, serial killers and avenging angels, then remember to keep a light on tonight and don't forget to check under the bed.

Free download from Smashwords, Barnes & Noble and DriveThrouFiction, and on Kobo,

It is also available from Scribd.

Soon to be available on Kindle and in Paperback from Amazon.

Spectacular Tales 3

The Indie Collaboration Presents

Spectacular Tales III

 

More thrilling short stories written by independent publishing’s rising stars. In this third SF collection of short fiction, The Indie Collaboration delves into the vaults of speculative fiction once more, bringing you original and innovative Science Fiction and Fantasy stories.

 

Here you will find stories about Space Pirates and Barbarians, Survivors of plagues, a man doomed by time and an epic tale about Giants and Monsters.

 

So done your space suit and come join us in exploring more ‘Spectacular Tales’.

 

Spectacular Tales 3 by The Indie Collaboration (Published 11/10/2016).

Available for FREE at Smashwords and DriveThruFiction and on Kobo and from Barnes and Noble.

Also available on Kindle and in Paperback from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. 

 

In this second helping of summer fun, The Indie Collaboration comes up with yet another unique collection of original stories from the authors we have come to know so well. Now in our third year, The Indie Collaboration comes up with yet more exciting, enthralling and funny stories. Ideal for relaxing in the summer sun, just don’t get carried away and stay out too long.

 

Summer Shorts 2 by the Indie Collaboration (Published 13/06/2016). Available on Smashwords, Kobo, Nook and Amazon Kindle.
 

 

Summer Shorts is also available in paperback from Amazon and from Barnes and Noble.

The Indie Collaboration Presents

Spectacular Tales II

 

 

AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON AND SMASHWORDS FROM FRIDAY 16/10/2015

Another thrilling anthology of short stories by some of the rising stars in independent publishing. In this second collection of short Speculative Fiction we bring you another treasure chest of great Science Fiction and Fantasy. Here you will find stories of intergalactic policemen, virtual soldiers, spirited princesses, lonesome spacemen and even megalomaniac dogs and kleptomaniac goats.

So dust off your old suit of armour and grab your blaster pistol and come join us in exploring more ‘Spectacular Tales’.

Tall Stories

Tall Stories

by Chris Raven, Peter John, Adam Bigden and Connie Dalhart.

 

 

The first anthology of Tall Stories is now available from Smashwords and on nook and Kobo.

 

Tall Stories  is the result of a writing group that came together to share story telling within the same fictional environment. The group was set up to allow its members to tell stories that intertwine; sharing and developing their characters and locations every time a story is told.

In this first anthology of short fiction you will find seven stories about the inhabitants of a residential tower block. Written by Chris Raven, Peter John, Connie Dalhart and Adam Bigden, these stories cover a wide range of genres and styles and will take you on a journey where you will see the same characters through different eyes, each story adding a further layer to life to Musevary Towers.

Coming Soon!

Spectacular Tales II

The Indie Collaboration's yearly Speculative Fiction Anthology

Due to blast off by the end of September 2015.

 

Original Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror short stories from the best of the Indie Scene.

 

Why not read the first  Spectacular Tales free on Smashwords.

 

Also available on Amazon kindle and in paperback.

Tall Stories

At Last!!!

The first anthology of 'Tall Stories' is to be published on Smashwords next month.

 

Coming to you on 1st July 2015 on Smashwords.

 

‘Tall Stories’ is the result of a writing group that came together to share story telling within the same fictional environment. The group was set up to allow its members to tell stories that intertwine; sharing and developing their characters and locations every time a story is told.

In this first anthology of short fiction you will find seven stories about the inhabitants of a residential tower block. Written by Chris Raven, Peter John, Connie Dalhart and Adam Bigden, these stories cover a wide range of genres and styles and will take you on a journey where you will see the same characters through different eyes, each story adding a further layer to life to Musevary Towers.

Contents:

Ernie: an Upstanding Member of Society by Peter John.
The Visitor by Chris Raven.
A Latté to Go by Chris Raven.
The Globe and Compass by Connie Dalhart.
Marley and the Nose Gnome by Chris Raven.
The Case of the Shiny Red Gift Box by Chris Raven.
The Letter by Adam Bigden.

 

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

A Second Children's Story Collection

 

Another collection of children’s stories and poems from The Indie Collaboration. Once again we take you to far-away lands of magic and moonbeams, wishes and daydreams, cookies and ice creams.

I can't wait to go back. Can you?

Available for free on NOOK at Barnes and Noble and on Kobo.

 

Also available for free in various formats from Smashwords.

 

Also available in paperback and on Kindle from Amazon.

The Indie Collaboration Publishes Ninth Anthology – Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice!

https://animoto.com/play/ouNQ3S2q9GwL902HokLrag.

 

https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/10691

 

 

The Indie Collaboration released the ninth entry into their anthology series in April 2015. Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice! is a collection of free original children’s tales.

 

 

 

The Indie Collaboration released the ninth entry into their unique anthology series in April 2015. This anthology, Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice! is a collection of free original children’s tales brought to you by a group of independent authors who call themselves collectively, The Indie Collaboration.

The founding member of The Indie Collaboration, UK-based author Peter John says, “The Indie Collaboration grew out of a group of independent authors who banded together to show the world that great writing doesn’t require large publishing companies.” 

In the last two years, The Indie Collaboration has entered into the international market for anthology style print and ebooks with a unique spin on supporting and marketing works for independent authors.

The first eight entries in the collaboration’s collection are: Tales from Dark Places, Yuletide Tales, Kiss and Tales, Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tales, Summer Shorts, Spectacular Tales, Tales from Darker Places and Kiss and Tales II. The next installment from The Indie Collaboration will be published Summer 2015.

Contributing author, Margene Wiese-Baier shares, “I was very excited to contribute some of my stories along with some of my mom’s stories in this children’s book. She left quite a legacy in her talents that was handed down not only to me, but to her other children and grandchildren.”

“With the new open platform publishing platforms and using new technology, today we have the opportunity to read works from mostly undiscovered, yet very talented writers,” contributing author, Kristina Jacobs says.

UK-based author, Chris Raven adds, “I really wanted to do a second children's anthology after the popularity of the first one. These books give our children's writers a chance to shine and the others a chance to show what they can do outside their usual genre”.

You can learn more about The Indie Collaboration, the group of contributing authors and their mission online at: http://theindiecollaboration.webs.com/.



Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice!:

A Second Collection of Children's Stories

 

Presented by The Indie Collaboration

 

 

https://animoto.com/play/ouNQ3S2q9GwL902HokLrag

 

 

Available from 8th April 2015

 

 

But don't forget you can still read the first anthology at:

 

 https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/429093

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice:

A Second Collection of Children’s Stories

animoto.com/play/ouNQ3S2q9GwL902HokLrag.

 

8th April 2015

Indie Collaboration Publishes Eighth Book

The Indie Collaboration Publishes Eighth Book In International Anthology Market

 

The Indie Collaboration released the eighth entry into their unique anthology series in February 2015. This anthology, Kiss and Tales 2: A Romantic Collection is a collection of free original romantic tales brought to you by a group of independent authors who call themselves collectively, The Indie Collaboration. In the last year and a half, The Indie Collaboration has entered into the international market for anthology style print and ebooks with a unique spin on supporting and marketing works for independent authors. Last Valentine’s day, the group offered a sister book, Kiss and Tales: A Romantic Collection which rocketed up to #1 on Amazon best-seller free book lists and showed well in downloads throughout the Valentine’s season on Smashwords.

The founding member of The Indie Collaboration, UK-based author Peter John says, “The Indie Collaboration grew out of a group of like-minded independent authors. Together, we decided to show the world how great works of fiction can be created without the involvement of any large publishing companies.” 

The first seven entries in the collaboration’s collection are: Tales from Dark Places: The Halloween Collection, Yuletide Tales: A Festive Collective, Kiss and Tales: A Romantic Collection, Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tales: A Children’s Collection, Summer Shorts, Spectacular Tales: A Science Fiction Collection and Tales from Darker Places: A Chilling Horror Anthology.

The list of contributors for each collection changes depending on each individual contributor’s interests and area of writing specialty. Clearly from the offerings so far, the collaboration’s authors have a wide variety of literary interests and their offerings should appeal to a wide audience.

Contributing author, Alan Hardy says, “The idea of a group of authors who have come together to offer up books to the reading public is an exciting way ahead for indie writers. I think this is important, writers coming together and taking control of their literary destinies.” 

Contributing author Kristina Jacobs says, “Reading anthologies is a great way to tap into a wealth of mostly undiscovered, yet very talented writers. We are truly a diverse group of writers and we have members from all over the world. It shows in the unique stories and collections that we are able to create.”

The next installment to be released by The Indie Collaboration will be published in Summer 2015.

You can learn more about The Indie Collaboration, the group of contributing authors and their mission online at: http://theindiecollaboration.webs.com/.