In spite of the awful weather during July, it turned out to be a very special month for me. I mentioned in my last blog about the round of visits to the East Riding libraries to promote The Harbour Girl Trail. The first section of the tour culminated at the Boulevard library off Hessle Road, Hull, which was a perfect setting as the Boulevard was at the heart of The Harbour Girl novel. Not perfect only for that reason, but because the library - recently re furbished and brought into the 21st c - is the most splendid library I have ever come across. Not only have wonderful 19thc features such as windows and doors been retained, but the building is bang up to date with a computer suite, plus -- ongoing at the moment, a garden is to be created for the readers' pleasure. I was delighted to have the company of Dr Robb Robinson who gave me much needed advice on the fishing and trawling industry during my research for The Harbour Girl, and Dr Alec Gill who is a a well known historian on all aspects of Hessle Road, its fishing industry and its inhabitants. I was most grateful for their contributions which added to the enjoyment of the event.
The final day of the Trail tour was last Sunday - the 5th August and in a very appropriate setting at the Carnegie Heritage Library on Hull's Anlaby Road. The audience were very welcoming -- some of them had already been to other libraries and were keen to hear more about the Trail -- and all were keen to try their computer hands at searching online for details of maps and photographs of Hull and Scarborough and asked dozens of questions. To add to the afternoon, Steve Goodhand of Lordline had brought old and historical photographs and books on Hull and Scarborough, for people to look at or buy. Again a most welcome contribution to the afternoon.
The library tour has been a resounding success and I'm delighted to know that people do still want their libraries, not only to borrow books, but for other facilities which are offered; for research, for lectures, for computer facilities which they might not have at home or which they are nervous of using, but where at the libraries, help is at hand.
In between times, I have had a short break in Portugal, checked the copy edited and final printer proofs of The Innkeeper's Daughter which I won't see again until November when it is in hardback book form, written a short story (which is under wraps at the moment) and have written a few thousand more words of the now current novel -scheduled for November 2013.
And finally, the only 'slacking' I have done has been in watching the Olympics and cheering on all of the wonderful sporting competitors.
