April 2007
We were proud to present another exciting Blue Room event on Sunday April 1st.The material presented was of the highest quality yet again and we thank everyone who gave their support.
Deborah Buchan began an M.A. in creative writing at Northumbria University in 2000 and continued writing from that point. She has written a series of short stories titled The Bluebird Of Happiness, and has had some of her poetry published in Mslexia magazine. She has also written stories and fairy tales for children and an adaptation of Alice in Wonderland for performing arts students at Northumbria University. From 1985 she worked in theatre-in-education as an actor and a director for ten years or so, and from there continued working in arts and education contexts as a drama worker and a free-lance lecturer and a storyteller. She has also worked in hostel, residential care and refuge with young people. She is currently participating in Writing For Health at Newcastle University and works part time as an internet bookstore assistant with GreenMetropolis.com
Sophie Baker is currently studying part-time for her M.A. in Creative Writing at Newcastle University. She Managed to tailor her first degree in English Studies at Nottingham to revolve almost entirely around poetry. She is currently learning to ballroom dance and draw nude figures from life and works at Mslexia. She also writes for a music e-zine called Rockmidgets.com and doesn't have much spare time left.
Chris Raetschus is from South Wales, she has won poetry competitions been runner up in others and her poetry has been highly commended. She works as a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Hexam. For many years she was a Senior Lecturer at Nene College in Northampton and has also worked for the Diplomatic Service. She has lived in the Middle East, Africa, and Germany and moved to the North East, which she loves, in 1991. She has two children, a border collie called Whitby and loves the whole process of writing - mostly poetry.
Paul Bodie is a novelist from Coatbridge, Glasgow who now lives in Byker (the posh part). His first novel 'Mugs' is being considered for publication by Granta, and by Luath Press. Paul is currently writing his second novel, 'Happy Head'. Not only is paul considered to be a very promising young writer, he is also handsome, and single. Well, single.
Oonagh Cassidy is a singer songwriter from Ireland just north of the border in Co.Down. She has been singing since the age of 15 in the local pubs and living rooms of her home town. When she turned 21 the compliments and encouragement from family and friends led her to the recording studio. A few exciting radio shows and live slots on the BBC helped convince her to continue along the long musical road. Oonagh currently lives in Newcastle and thoroughly enjoys the music here and says she is still having a ball and Newcastle is providing her with lots to write and sing about.
