Janet Howson talks to us about A Cue for Murder

 

A Cue for Murder follows on from Dramatic Episodes as it is dealing with the same drama group with the same characters. This time they are rehearsing for A Murder Mystery Evening to be put on at one of the member's golf club. Again there is a chapter for each of the characters relating the events in their lives and how this impacts on the rehearsals for the play.

Having each episode published on CafeLit encouraged me to keep on writing until I had told each individual story.

My role as a drama teacher helped me with my writing but my involvement with amateur drama groups for many many years was really my greatest insight into being able to confidently write the novellos. This gave me knowledge of the group dynamics, the things that can go wrong, the rehearsal schedule and the camaraderie I had personally experienced.

At the moment I am writing short stories for competitions. I will hopefully have these eventually published on CafeLit.

 

A snippet from Janet Howson, an 'Aftermath' contributor

 
 
 
Tell me about your story  in  Aftermath - but don't give any spoilers!  

My poem is about the changes I felt from the peaceful but empty atmosphere of the pandemic to the familiar bustle, pollution and noise of the aftermath. 
 

 

What inspired you to write this?

I looked up in the sky after the restrictions were slowly being lifted and saw a sight I had not seen in a long time, the white trail of an aeroplane 
 

Why did you think it important to contribute  to this collection? 

I needed to write about the way I felt and 'Aftermath' seemed an ideal platform. 
 

How have you coped with the pandemic?  

I walked with my husband and then later, when able, friends. I read, wrote, zoomed, facetimed, did crosswords, watched films and knitted .
 

Can you tell us about your other publications? 

I have two published novellas:  Charitable Thoughts and Dramatic Episodes and I have stories published in anthologies: CafeLit 8, 9 and 10, A circle of Words, Mulling it Over, and 'It Happened in Essex' all to be found on Amazon Books.

 

 

 

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A continuing response by writers to the Covid19 pandemic in 2020 and during the ongoing aftershocks in 2021, this collection is of work by writers we have published before and whom we trust, and their trusted colleagues. When disasters strike writers respond and react in words. They share with us their hopes and fears. They describe and rationalise.