Chelsea Buckthorp

Claire Kinton with one of her young fans at Waterstones, High Street, Lincoln

Local author Claire Kinton hosted a book signing at Waterstones on the High Street this weekend, promoting her debut novel Dead Game, and encouraged her teenage readership to get involved with creative writing.

Kinton’s teen novel is set against the backdrop of the second Gulf War and follows a young Lance Corporal in his transition from this life into the next. The Guardian has awarded the book 10/10.

The book was written in memory of her cousin, who served in Iraq and represents a number of charities, including Help for Heroes, SSAFA Forces Help and Dyslexia Action.

Kinton moved to Lincoln from London eight years ago. She and her husband wanted to move somewhere they could raise a family and says that she loves living here.

“I like the vibrancy of Lincoln, but also having the countryside and the peace and quiet and the safety and security for my children.”

Since the publication of her novel, Kinton has taken an active role in inspiring the young people of Lincolnshire to get involved with creative writing, regularly going into primary and secondary schools across the county.

“I’ve been talking to children in the secondary schools about Dead Game, about the inspiration behind it, and trying to get them to pick up the pen and start writing creatively themselves. A lot of them have since written to me, sending me some of their own stories, which is fantastic.”

Kinton says that her personal motto is “You can if you say you can”, and she hopes that she can inspire young people to use creative writing as a way of expressing themselves.

Kinton currently has an increasing fan base and is being followed on Twitter by a variety of celebrities. She admits that this has provided a great boost to her confidence.

“The support you get from people on Twitter is just phenomenal, whether they’re famous or not, as soon as you start talking to them and telling them what you do, and why you do it, I think people are intrigued.”

Dead Game was shortlisted for the Brit Writers’ Award and Kinton is also part of the Brit Writers’ Publishing Programme and the New Writers UK, two organisations dedicated to discovering and nurturing literary talent.

Later this year Kinton plans to publish her much-anticipated sequel Waiting Game.

Despite heartbreaking relegation for the Lincoln Imps, there is good news for the Lincoln Ladies, who are one of eight women’s teams in the country to have been selected to compete in the new Women’s Super League.

Halfway through an eventful first half of the first ever season, midfielder Megan Harris (pictured) talks to The Lincolnite about the highlights so far.

Harris is the Lincoln Ladies’ current captain and has been playing at Lincoln for 12 years. The midfielder gave up her job as a PE teacher to join the semi-professional side full-time and insists that she has no regrets.

“I just thought if I don’t do it then I’m going to have massive regrets and it was the best decision I ever made.”

Harris had always enjoyed playing mixed football as a child, but then she grew too old to continue playing against the boys. Fortunately, an advert appeared in a local paper, stating Lincoln City was going to start up a youth group for girls.

“There was literally nothing around for the younger age groups for girls at the time. So I went along [to the youth group] and have just been playing there ever since.”

The Lincoln Ladies presently have four players in the England team, including Casey Stoney, who captains the England team.

The team relies on the support of the local community and feels it is important to give back. Alongside going out to local clubs and running various coaching sessions, it also holds three-day football camps for four to 15-year-olds for girls and boys. Stoney is a key figure overlooking the running of the various camps and sessions.

Harris thinks that this is a great thing to get involved with, especially as the events are run by the players themselves.

“The kids are there with the current England Captain, which is quite cool because real role models are there and they can talk to them.”

For Megan, one of her personal highlights of her football career has been appearing on Sky Sports’ Soccer AM. Megan appeared on the show with another player from the Everton side and shared the couch with former Arsenal and Scotland goal keeper, Bob Wilson.

“It was amazing; such a good experience! It was really surreal. There have never been any girls on the sofa before,” she added, but admits to being a bit nervous before going on.

It is a different kind of nerves to playing football and not as intense she continues, mentioning that she has several good luck routines to help her through the nerves.

“When I come out of a tunnel I always like to hit the last thing that I walk past.”

Megan has had an amazing season so far. The team has great chemistry on and off the pitch and is looking forward to its next fixture against Bristol on July 22nd.