You’re listening to the ArtfulScribe Audio Archive. The following programme is a recording from Play On Words 2025 a festival for readers, writers and lovers of words.

Play on Words returns to the New Forest, running from 22nd-28th October 2026. For programme information and booking visit: https://www.playonwords.org.uk/

Play on Words 2025 hosted a Local Writers Showcase in St Barbe's café drawing together the wealth of writing talent to showcasing writing from the New Forest and surrounding areas.

Featuring:

Alice G May, author of the new World War Two series The Resistance Girls, The Mid-Life Trials of Annabeth Hope, The House That Sat Down Trilogy and How to Draw... books for children

Katie Daysh, author of Leeward (The Times Historical Novel of the Year), The Devil to Pay and A Merciful Sea;

Michael Forester, author of 12 books of prose and poetry including If It Wasn't For That Dog;

funeral celebrant and storyteller Tess Kazim, recent winner of the Wiltshire Libraries Open Poetry competition and

short story writer Deborah Miles;

writer, poet, publisher and founder of Naked Figleaf Press Jean G-Owen;

poet, and master of fun and farcical mischief SM Ripper;

poet, short story writer and volunteer Penny Summerscales,

fantasy and science fiction writer Ian Walden;

and Clare Whitfield, author of People of Abandoned Character (Goldsboro Glass Bell 2021 Award winner), The Gone and Forgotten and Poor Girls.

Play on Words is made possible by funding and support from Arts Council, Culture in Common, New Milton Town Council and New Milton Residents Association.

ArtfulScribe, a not-for-profit writer development agency based in Southampton, supports emerging and continuing writers in Hampshire, Dorset, and the wider Solent region. ArtfulScribe is supported by Arts Council England. https://artfulscribe.co.uk/