Wirral Writers

Published Recently

This blog post has been a long time coming, what with jobs and personal lives, not to mention, writing, taking up most of our time.

We just wanted to mention a couple of our members recent publications.

Not Alive, Not Dead by John Donoghue

Published in September 2025, by Atlantic Books. Not Alive, Not Dead follows Pablo Morales, a young priest, in 1976, Buenos Aires, as he follows rumours and confessions about those who have gone missing.

‘A gripping read’

Historical Thriller.

You can buy John’s book by clicking on the link below the image.

Girl in a Spacesuit by Mjke Wood

Published in February 2026, by Copperbird Press. This is book 2 in the Martian Chronicles; following on from Old Man in a Spacesuit, and is a stand-alone novel that takes place years after book 1. It follows Minra and her daughter as they attempt to survive and escape a Sri Lanka that is increasingly disappearing under water.

“Great book”

Science Fiction

You can buy Mjke’s book by clicking on the link below the image

Spherewide: Adventures of a Deep Space Travel Agent by Mjke Wood

Published in April 2026, by Copperbird Press. Spherwide is the fourth book in Mjke’s Sphere of influence series. Theodore Stern is a travel agent, who has barely left his home town of New Leicester. But now, he is forced to endure the trials and travel sickness of deep space travel.

Humorous Science Fiction

You can buy Mjke’s book by clicking on the link below the image.

The Schimmering by Alexandra Peel

Published in October 2025, by Sticks & Stones. Follows three operatives from the cities and streets they are familiar with, into a world of intrigue and ancient, magical factions in an ongoing conflict.

“fascinating reading”

Fantasy Adventure

You can buy Alexandra’s book by clicking on the link below the image.

Reflections on 2024 – Writing competition results

It may feel a little early to be reflecting, however for Wirral Writers our two judged competitions have already happened. Therefore it’s time to review what’s happened and, for some, to celebrate.

Can Writers Thrive at Local Fairs?

Three of our members recently took a table at a local craft fair.

Hulme Hall, in Port Sunlight, regularly holds fairs in one of its larger rooms. They do tend to vary according to season, so there was the hint of tinsel and a whiff of nutmeg in the air as THAT season approaches.

Mike, Alexandra and Tom shared a table and displayed their wares – Mike had his Sphere of Influence trilogy, plus other sci-fi titles, as well as his humorous travel series. Tom brought A Step Beyond, his collection of short stories, and Alexandra brought five of her titles of different genres.

There were a couple of sales — nothing to write home about, But it was an experience.

We talked about the unsuitability of the fair and how there is nothing on the Wirral dedicated to writers. There is an annual Arts Festival that includes, music, visual art and a poetry event. The idea was mooted to approach someone involved in the organising of that Festival to include something for writers.

We may look around for suitable venues, such as the Floral Pavillion in New Brighton, and enquire if anyone would be interested in running a writers event. A book fair for local authors perhaps.

Watch this space!

Historical Fiction – Maynah Lewis 2023

The 2023 club competition named after our founder, Maynah Lewis, was based around historical fiction. Those who took part, were tasked with creating a story based in a decade provided by one of the other members.

This is because this year’s judge, John Donaghue, is a historical fiction novelist.

WoWFEST Writing & Literature Festival – Liverpool

WOWFEST: Class of ’23 is holding a month-long celebration of working-class culture and life, in all its diversity. The line-up of writers is expected to explore how class shapes our perceptions, experiences, opportunities, and culture. And how literature addresses or reinforces class inequality. Each year, they produce an anthology of writing from northern writers.

One of our own, Amy Watkins, has a story in the new anthology Pulp Idol: Firsts 23.

Happy New Year

It has been a while since someone deigned to tackle the pages of the Wirral Writer’s blog! It seems to be a thing writers aren’t wholly comfortable with – at least creative writers – or should that be authors?

Anyhoo, Happy New Year to you all – fingers crossed for an immensly successful year to make up for the shenanigans of the past two or three.

Interview on the Astounding Analog Companion

Here’s a link to my interview this week on the Analog blog. It’s a follow-on from my short story, Caoimhe’s Water Music, that’s in the November/December issue of the magazine.

Q&A with Mjke Wood

Maynah Lewis 2021

Annual Competition Results

We have been graced with some wonderful judges in the past; fiction writers, artists, a poet, librarians and more. This year was a little different – we also felt like we had stepped up a notch in the nervousness stakes, as we were extremely lucky to get the co-owner and Vice Chairman of Tranmere Rovers Football Club, Nicola Palios.

New Year, New Writing Opportunities

Well, here we are folks, at the beginning of another year, fresh and shiny – let’s hope we can keep it that way!

Hope you all had a restful Christmas – despite the ‘goings on’ in 2020, but it’s time to get going again (if you didn’t stop, then kudos to you)

Here’s a few things to, hopefully, get everyone in the right frame of mind for cutting a swathe and making our marks in publishing, writing, reading, whatever…

Competition Suggestions

Entering writing competitions is great for three reasons:

It encourages one to write to deadlines. This may become more necessary once you get that contract signed for a six book deal!

It forces one to think outside of your customary way of creating. You will probably have to work fast to hit the submission date (see #1, which means the creative process is somewhat different to usual)