Inspiration!

Back in July, I did an author get-together at our local book shop Cover2Cover in Northwich. The weather was beautiful and it was artisan market day so good footfall in town and we had a great day. Didn't set the world on fire - although fantasy author Danny Williams did well. But we had a great time and it was good to meet other local authors.

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Two for the Price of One!

Tuesday was an unusual day - a first for us. Early start to the day and we were were off to Prestbury in East Cheshire, where Andy gave a talk on the history of stained glass. This is one of his offshoots of Moulton Glass, and he gives short (45 minute) presentations to community groups. Since he's been visiting the local WI groups, word has got out and he's now being contacted by the National Women's Register, Probus and the U3A. He's a good speaker and people seem to enjoy listening.

Then later on in the afternoon, it was my turn. Northwich's new local bookshop Cover2Cover invited me to host a talk about my books and writing - there are a number of us local authors and there have been and will be more. So I took wine (of course) and some cakey nibbles, packed up some examples of my books and headed off for an hour and a half of talking about myself!

I've done numerous talks, panels and readings - both alone and as part of a group. I've even been paid to lead writing workshops (and that's a story in itself0. But the imposter syndrome doesn't go away - in fact if anything it gets worse as I get older. Despite having a respectable back-catalogue now, there's still that apprehension. The what if nobody turns up to my party nerves.

But it went well. People turned up, didn't pass out from boredom and I even sold a few books!

Reading Cover2Cover

Shout out to Cover2Cover - a new bookshop in Northwich, Cheshire.

Northwich didn't have any bookshops. I've lived here 30 years and don't ever recall seeing a bookshop. There may have been a few books for sale in the old Woolworths, the supermarkets have a row of best-sellers and WH Smiths as-was (now TG Jones) only sells a curated selection of what it thinks will sell best. But there's never been a shop dedicated to an eclectic mix of books, both old and a new, and happy to embrace both book lovers and writers too. They even have my books IN THE WINDOW. How cool is that?