FOREIGN FLAVOURS ANTHOLOGY

Those of you who know me will probably be sick of this call already and it's not even a week since I started the campaign. But anyway, marketing is marketing!


Call For Submissions: Foreign Flavours

• Theme: Food, drink and cooking from around the world
• Genre: Fiction and Non Fiction
• Submissions from ex pats and re pats via the Writers Abroad Site
• Deadline - 9th September 2011
• Fee/Prize - No Fee, No Prize but all proceeds from publication will go to The Book Bus Charity

And our foreword this year is being written by acclaimed author (famed for his Ladies No 1 Detective Agency Series), Alexander McCall Smith.


Plenty of time to get those creative muses running...


Don't Think Just Write

Unification of Italy

Today is a bank holiday in Italy as they celebrate 150 years of unification. There is lots being written here about whether Italy is in fact, united or not. Talk of the North and South divide and the kinds of things that I read about most other countries too. But all I can say is that I celebrate the diverse differences within each region; the landscape; the food; the wine; the local culture and celebrations. All this makes Italy a fabulous, rich and diverse country to live in, despite who's in charge. Who cares? Well, I've never been very political as some of you will know, so I don't claim to know what I'm talking about!


What is quite amazing is the fact the Italian language as we know it is fairly young as this wasn't unified until much later. Even today, many of the older people speak with their traditional regional dialects. Which makes it a little hard for us learning the language!


Anyway, Buon Compleanno Italy! For me this is where I have felt most at home, where I can be who I want to be and a place which inspires me to fulfill my passion - living to write.


Don't Think Just Write

New Sun Rising - Stories wanted for Japan

My blog today will be dedicated to the latest response for writers and writing to help those suffering from natural disasters. Many of us will have been shocked and saddened by the ongoing devastation in Japan, that seems to put most of our worries into perspective. Like Haiti and Queensland, there is always someone who takes up the challenge to do something by using their craft and that of others. 


Whilst the idea of putting together an anthology for these issues isn't a new one, for those in Japan, this is more than likely a first experience. So prose writers, budding bards, scribblers of manga and fellow bloggers, please visit the site 'New Sun Rising - Stories for Japan', to find out how you can contribute.


Don't Think Just Write

International Womens Day

Our Mimosa (before the rain and the snow :)

Today is International Womens Day, 8th March. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, women were suppressed and treated unequally as compared to their male counterparts. This caused instability and fuelled the desires and debates amongst women who wanted and fought for change. Today, the celebration has less of a political message, with men in many countries using it as an opportunity to express their love for their women. However, the origins of the day remain and it is still used to raise awareness about the struggles of women throughout the world. I've written an article about here on Suite 101 about its celebration here in Italy.


For me it has another importance, two of my granddaughters were born on this day to two different families. What are the chances of that happening? I hope that they contribute something to the equality of women and that they don't suffer the struggles of many that instigated the celebration of such a day. Of course without struggles like this I suppose things would never change. And of course such a rich source of writing to be had.


Oh, and I'm not a feminist as such, far from it. I believe in the equality of all for their individual talents and expertise, we all have something to offer. So International Mens Day is in November. Watch out for it...