Lis McDermott Launches 4th Novel. Lis McDermott, a Royal Wootton Bassett-based author and poet, has released her fourth novel Honey. This book is the first in a series: The Beaconsbury Forest Series.
Following the success of her 2022 debut novel, He is Not Worthy,Lis hasgone on to write two more novels. She’s now finished her fourth ‘Honey’. Itfollows the story of a young girl who grows up in a tight-knit community around a forest called Beaconsbury.
Lis said: ‘This novel is rather different from my others. It’s the first in a series of three following the lives of a mother and daughter from 1954 right up to 2024. I’m already knee deep in the second book, which will come out later this year.
Lis McDermott Launches 4th Novel – Lis with her latest novel Honey
Characterization
I love characters and I wanted to write about two main characters from their point of view over a long period of their lives. The first character is Honey who lives a sheltered life with her mother and grandmother. She marries at a young age and makes a bad decision that leads to a secret with far-reaching consequences across many years.’
Lis, who lives in Royal Wootton Bassett, launched her book at an event at Stanton House Hotel recently (June 18). She’s loosely based Beaconsbury Forest on the Forest of Dean where she lived many years ago and she visits often.
‘I wanted the ‘place’ to be very pivotal to this book and the two others in the series. It has its own community which is very tight-knit and almost has its own voice. Living in the forest impacts on characters in very different ways. For some, the forest is magical, warm and welcoming, but for other’s it appears insular and claustrophobic. The strong sense of the forest community develops as the series continues.’
The reviews are in
Early feedback from beta readers has been overwhelmingly positive:
‘Your use of conversation to convey the story line is compelling. Lots of twists and turns kept me reading and the mysterious murders added extra excitement.’ – Carolyne
‘The opening sentence of Chapter 2 is fab. It definitely hooked me in. I wanted to know why she always felt guilty and knew something interesting would come out of that.’ – Nicki
‘I started this book in the afternoon and only put it down to cook dinner and eat. I can’t wait for the next book, it got me gripped. The people seem real and I could actually feel as though Honey’s life was mine. I laughed and cried!’ – Bobbie
‘Lis’ way of describing relationships makes you feel as though you are living in the story. Reading this was a rollercoaster of emotions. I couldn’t put it down and devoured it within a weekend. I’m counting the days until I can read book 2.’ – Hannah
As a prolific writer, Lis’s literary repertoire includes novels, four poetry collections, and two non-fiction books. Beyond her own work, she mentors aspiring authors, guiding them through the publishing process.
Wyvern Secures SYP Sponsorship. With much delight, the Wyvern Theatre announces it’s secured sponsorship for its upcoming summer youth Project, Annie. This exciting partnership will be with leading local road construction company,Coatstone Surfacing.
Over 100 local youngsters will perform the timeless classic. It promises to bring energy and heart-warming performances to audiences of all ages. Coatstone Surfacing feels honoured to support the beloved Swindon youth project.
A second sponsorship year
Coatstone Surfacing is proud to support the summer youth project for a second consecutive year. Watching young people develop confidence, creativity, and teamwork as they bring a West End classic like Annie to the stage is so rewarding.’ says Joe McGarvie, managing director of Coatstone Surfacing. ‘We’re passionate about giving back to our community. And this project offers children a unique opportunity to shine, both on and off the stage.’
Wyvern Secures SYP Sponsorship
Oli Webb, Creative Learning Manager for Swindon Theatres says ‘We’re so fortunate to have Coatstone Surfacing as our sponsors once again this year. The summer youth project is an incredible thing. Throughout the past 30 years we’ve had:
West End stars
Cambridge classicists
teachers and stage managers come through the project in all sorts of roles.
It’s a real privilege to be part of something that has such a vibrant history and strong community ethos.’
The first SYP
The first summer youth project took place at the Wyvern Theatre in 1994 with Bugsy Malone. It was one of the first community ventures of its kind in the local area. Since then it’s become an annual tradition. So many young people have taken part in the projects over the years.
The aim of summer youth project is to provide up to 200 youngsters, aged 9 – 21, with the opportunity to work together in a professional theatre. The two-week project culminates in five performances of a full-scale musical under the supervision of a skilled creative team. That includes a professional director, choreographer, musical director, musicians and technical team!
Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie lives a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck changes when she’s chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family.
With its Tony® award-winning book and score, including the unforgettable songs It’s The Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and Tomorrow, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll love it!
You can see Annie at the Wyvern Theatre from Wed 14 – Sat 16 August 2025.
A GWR Set Novel – the Great Western Railway Girls by Jane Lark. So I spotted this book in central library shop a few days back and decided to give it a whirl. Super glad I did when I saw in the acknowledgements a mention of our very Swindon Heritage Preservation Trust and the railway village museum on Faringdon Road. Hence I figured it would be fab to give it a wee mention here.
New Jane Lark Novel – front cover of The Great Western Railway Girls
And for more info on the book – what it’s about – see this image of the back cover:
New Jane Lark Novel – the back cover
So this one is the first of a series. The second one in the series, The Great Western Railway Girls do Their Bit is set for release into the wild in September. It covers the weeks that led up to the evacuation of the men from the Belgian and French beaches. Jane says she had to do a great deal of research into what happened when the ships brought the men home.
Front cover of the GWR Railway Girls do their bit
A bit about the author
From Jane’s website – you can find it here … ‘Jane is a writer of compelling, passionate and emotionally charged fiction filled with diverse characters. Now writing as J.S. Lark.
Author of the No.1 bestselling Historical Romance novel ‘The Illicit Love of a Courtesan’ and shortlisted for the 2017 UK’s Historical Romantic Fiction Novel of the year with ‘The Reckless Love of an Heir’. Now also an author of bestselling psychological thrillers, under the pen name, J.S. Lark. Her second thriller, ‘The Twins’, was shortlisted for the Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller 2021.’
And now for some other great GWR related fiction
I read this book, Mrs A’s Indian Gentleman a few years ago and loved it. It features Swindon and a central protagonist called Mrs Atkinson – how could I not love it? It’s a super book – I must read it again.
Mindset Coach Results Pressure Tips. As thousands of students across the UK await their GCSEs, A-levels, or other qualification results, the pressure is on. And so is the stress. But according to Swindon based John Lewis, Professional Coach, NLP Master Practitioner and founder of JL Mindset Performance, that stress might not be the enemy it’s often made out to be.
Stress is actually part of your body’s natural performance process,’ says John. John works with elite athletes, corporate teams and individuals to help them unlock peak mental performance. ‘It’s your body’s way of saying: this is important.’
With a daughter currently awaiting her own GCSE results, John understands this period on both professional and personal levels. ‘It’s tough watching your child go through it, but I’ve been proud of how she’s handled the pressure. It’s a good reminder that stress, in manageable doses, can be useful. It sharpens your focus, builds resilience and shows you care.’
The stress response
John, who lives in Highworth, explains that the stress response is our brain’s built-in alarm system. ‘It releases cortisol, a hormone that preps the body to respond. Shallow breathing, racing thoughts, a nervous stomach – it’s all normal.’
But left unchecked, it can spiral. ‘Chronic stress can lead to burnout. The key is learning how to manage it.’
Understand the ‘why’ behind your stress. Ask: what is this feeling trying to tell me?
Breathe – Use box breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4) to calm the nervous system.
Get moving – Exercise helps your brain process stress and lifts your mood long-term.
Sleep and nutrition matter. What you eat and how well you rest are foundational to your resilience.
Visualise success – ‘Mental rehearsal is powerful,’ says John. “I even simulate exam conditions with clients – it rewires how the brain reacts to pressure.’
Celebrate your efforts. ‘You’ve completed something big. Reward yourself for showing up.’
Mindset Coach Results Pressure Tips – John Lewis in front of graffiti
A late developer
Having started his own successful business at 40 after a rocky time during his school life years before, John is living proof that exam results don’t define your future.
‘I didn’t do well at school. I was more interested in socialising than studying,’ he admits. “But life isn’t dictated by what happens at 16 or 18. Today, there are so many more flexible options. Whether that’s apprenticeships, vocational training, or alternative routes into your chosen field.’
He encourages students to redefine what success means to them. ‘It’s not all about grades. It’s about how you show up, what you’ve learned and how you move forward. Stress is part of growth and this experience will serve you in more ways than you know.’
Go easy on yourself,’ John advises. ‘You’ve done your best with the tools you had. If things didn’t go how you hoped, talk to someone. The support is out there, and the next step will come, sometimes from the most unexpected direction.’
And, most important of all it’s arguable: ‘Don’t let one day overshadow what you’ve achieved. Enjoy your summer – you’ve earned it.’
About John
John Lewis is a Swindon-based Professional Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, and Mental Health First Aid Trainer. Through his company, JL Mindset Performance, he works with:
individuals
elite athletes
sports teams and businesses to overcome mental blocks and achieve peak performance.
WILTSHIRE BUSINESS SHORTLISTED … as charity champions. Swindon-based financial planning business, Southby & Co Financial Planning are on the shortlist! Which list? Charity Champions of the Year in the Money Marketing Awards 2025 list.
Dave Southby and the team at Southby and Co. Financial Planning, specialise in helping individuals, families and small business owners manage their wealth in an effective manner. In particular in the Swindon and North Wiltshire areas.
They are one of five other business in the category. The Charity Champion charity goes to businesses who push the awareness of and, in particular, fundraise for charities.
‘Being shortlisted for the Money Marketing Community Champion award means so much to me and the team,’ said Dave Southby. Dave is the founder of Southby and Co Financial Planning, based in Wroughton near Swindon.
‘One of our values to is support our local community & charity partners. So getting national recognition for the work, within our industry, is incredible.’
WILTSHIRE BUSINESS SHORTLISTED … Dave Southby
Fab fundraising efforts
The fundraising efforts of Southby & Co include being proud supporters of Wroughton Youth FC and sponsors of Wroughton Tornados and Wroughton Witches. In 2025, they continue their support for the Kelly Foundation. That was their 2024 Charity of the Year. And also supporting local charity CALM (Children’s Cancer & Leukaemia Movement), as well as the Swindon Toy Appeal for Christmas 2025. Not forgetting the Avon Needs Trees project. It aims to plant permanent woodland at various sites across the South West.
‘Being a supporter of local charities is a huge part of our business. For us, it’s about engaging with our community and making life easier for those in need and improving the place in which we live. To receive this nomination in this category is such a boost. I’m so glad the Money Marketing Awards is putting charity work at the heart of our industry. I trust this will encourage other companies to do the same.’
There are eleven categories in the advisor awards section of the Money Marketing Awards. With Charity Champion of the Year featuring within the 2025 line-up.
Tom Browne, editor of Money Marketing, said ‘We’re excited to welcome the Southby & Co Financial Planning team to the Money Marketing Awards 2025. We can’t wait to celebrate the businesses nominated and see who wins!’
Celebrating businesses in the sector, bringing hundreds of leading advisors and providers providing opportunities to build new connections, network and demonstrate commitment to the industry.
The awards ceremony will be at the Londoner Hotel on Thursday 11th September in the centre of London’s West End theatre district. Southby & Co Financial Planning will be travelling to the capital to see if they’ll be lifting this Charity Champion of the Year trophy.
