I don’t play chess but intellectual envy has sometimes made me wish I did.

That does not stop me however, from taking an interest in goings-on in this world of strategic ‘bodybuilding for the brain’.

And oh my sweet apple sauce, things really HAVE been going on.

Earlier this month, a 10-year-old girl beat an experienced adult player. Not your garden-variety experienced adult player but no less than a Chess Grandmaster. Not meant to happen.

That child genius was British born Bodhana Sivanandan. Her ‘victim’ was 60-year-old British GM Peter Wells.

Not only is Peter Wells a Chess Grandmaster, he has also authored numerous books on elite level chess tactics and ‘stratagems’ (fancy word alert on that one). Sales of his labyrinth-style ‘how to win’ manuals are now understandably expected to bottom out. Rather drastically.

To sizably ratchet up the ‘no way’ factor, on the very same day, 6000 kilometers away in Ohio U.S, another pint-sized junior wizard defeated another Chess Grandmaster.

This time it was the turn of 10-year-old Keya Jha to inflict shock and humiliation on 45-year-old Chess Grandmaster Peter Wells.

If you didn’t know better, looking googly-eyed at just these two beyond-outlandish anomalies, you might be forgiven for thinking gifted ankle-biters defeating grown-ups was an everyday event. Well, no. But it has happened before.

Back in 2014, Boston (U.S) born Carissa Yip became the youngest player in history, aged 10, to defeat a Grandmaster.

Against-the-odds victories are the best, aren’t they!? I reckon these are three of the ga-ga making best.

Book launch time folks and this one hits like a dreamy glamazon!

If sci-fi is your thing, then you have hit the tucked and twilled jackpot – complete with all the futuristic, alternate universe bells and whistles – with this about to be published new release.

I’ve read it and for me the world-building was elaborate and ingenious beyond belief. There’s thrill-ride, shuddering action scenes aplenty. And film comparison-wise, this novel has a complexly layered belly-banquet mix of stylistic touches and themes reminiscent of –

From the dynamic duo writing team known widely as ‘Ran and Yan’ (F.A Corporan and S.E Bryan) this novel delivers compelling storytelling with enough distinctive elements and convincing science fiction worldbuilding to make it worthy of a big screen adaption.

Film rights, anyone?

When a member of the SCENIC WRITER’S SHACK alumni does something great, well… it’s time to wheel out the vanilla-slice pastries cart and pop the champagne corks.

U.S author Diana Webb placed 2nd in last year’s SCENIC WRITER’S SHACK short story competition. Now she has written an intriguing just-published novel.

Set in the early 1980’s, LAST OF THE AUTUMN RAIN tells the story of insurance underwriter Julie Cromwell as she journeys back to her childhood home in search of answers to mysteries and secrets that have defined and encircled her adult life.

Dirty huge congratulations Diana, from SCENIC WRITER’S SHACK.

Here’s a LINK to Diana’s website, where you can explore more of her exalting creative universe, so to speak. (You’ll see what I mean if you visit).

And the winner in this year’s STEVIE NICKS LOOK-A-LIKE COMPETITION goes to…you guessed it… Diana Webb!

Unsure of whether Diana was ever a fan of the 1992 erotic thriller BASIC INSTINCT, but news from Hollywood this week has it that Australia’s own Margot Robbie has landed the lead role of Catherine Tramell – made famous by Sharon Stone – in the soon-to-begin-filming sequel.

In what bodes well for the quality of the new production, original writer Joe Eszterhas will return to pen the reboot. I mention that because, well… this is Scenic WRITER’S Shack. Right?