I can hardly credit that it is over a month since my last entry, so what have I been doing in that time? Well, catching up on new writing for one thing now that the paperback signings are finally over. I had one more talk to give in Dunnington Reading Room, Dunnington being near York and a delightful village which has apparently won the Village in Bloom award for the last couple of years. It was a very pleasant evening with a full house, the audience being very receptive.
Then of course came the Royal Wedding which I watched on TV all day! My daughter Catherine came over and we ate a proper cooked English Breakfast followed by coffee and cake and toasted the wedded couple in Bucks Fizz.
On the 4th May I attended Mike Ulyatt's event at the Hull Royal Station Hotel which commemorated the 70 th anniversary of the Hull Blitz which caused such devastation and misery. There is a booklet and DVD on sale to recall those terrible times, lest we forget.
And since then I really have been writing, but in between, meeting friends, attending concerts and the most marvellous production of Die Valkurie, Live Opera at Cineworld. Outstanding!
Last night I wore my other hat, that of Editor at The Hull and District Talking Magazine for the Blind, a charity I have been involved with for over twenty five years. The occasion was the AGM in which the last of the original founders of the charity, Harold Milner, stepped down after thirty four years of sterling work. He has relinquished his role as Chairman and we have asked him to be our President.
Back to work!
Friday, 20 May 2011
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Thursday 14th April
Last Thursday as predicted, the charity lunch at Tickton Grange in aid of HERIB was great fun and the food delicious as always; the speaker Jane Thornton was excellent as she outlined both her acting career and that of playwright and scriptwriter. A multi tasker of the first degree.
Monday the 11th April saw the start of the Scarborough Fringe Festival. I was speaker at the West Ayton Library and was delighted to see all the chairs occupied by a friendly and receptive audience. I outlined my long connections with Scarborough and area and told of how Scarborough often plays a part in my books, particularly THE HARBOUR GIRL which will be published in November this year.
Wednesday; another charity lunch, this time at Cerutti 2 in Beverley and hosted by Tina Cerutti; this was in aid of the Dove House Hospice Love You 2 Appeal which aims to raise £2.5 million in 2.5 years to fund the running of their new respite unit. Tina demonstrated how to make easy and delicious fish recipes, which we then enjoyed.
Thursday; another run up to Scarborough; I drove from Beverley through Driffield and towards Staxton and Seamer. Although the morning was cloudy and a little cool, it was so obvious that spring is definitely with us; the daffodils on the verges through the villages of Langtoft and Foxholes were just past their best, but were a bright and sunny gold which gladdened the eye and lifted the spirits, the trees are now dressed in their fresh spring green.My outing today was to hear Sarah Waters at the Scarborough Library talking to James Nash about her books and her research into them. What an absolute treat to listen to such a talented author.
Tomorrow, Friday 15th. My final signing session at WH Smith of Whitefriargate, Hull. It has been a long tour, but a most enjoyable one. Next week, I must get down to some serious writing!
Monday the 11th April saw the start of the Scarborough Fringe Festival. I was speaker at the West Ayton Library and was delighted to see all the chairs occupied by a friendly and receptive audience. I outlined my long connections with Scarborough and area and told of how Scarborough often plays a part in my books, particularly THE HARBOUR GIRL which will be published in November this year.
Wednesday; another charity lunch, this time at Cerutti 2 in Beverley and hosted by Tina Cerutti; this was in aid of the Dove House Hospice Love You 2 Appeal which aims to raise £2.5 million in 2.5 years to fund the running of their new respite unit. Tina demonstrated how to make easy and delicious fish recipes, which we then enjoyed.
Thursday; another run up to Scarborough; I drove from Beverley through Driffield and towards Staxton and Seamer. Although the morning was cloudy and a little cool, it was so obvious that spring is definitely with us; the daffodils on the verges through the villages of Langtoft and Foxholes were just past their best, but were a bright and sunny gold which gladdened the eye and lifted the spirits, the trees are now dressed in their fresh spring green.My outing today was to hear Sarah Waters at the Scarborough Library talking to James Nash about her books and her research into them. What an absolute treat to listen to such a talented author.
Tomorrow, Friday 15th. My final signing session at WH Smith of Whitefriargate, Hull. It has been a long tour, but a most enjoyable one. Next week, I must get down to some serious writing!
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Wednesday 6th April 2011
Today I'm preparing my lecture for the Scarborough Literature Festival Fringe event to be held at West Ayton library on Monday the 11th April at 7pm. For further details Heather.French@northyorks.gov.uk
I'm really looking forward to being there as, although the event is to be held a few miles outside Scarborough, the town remains my most favourite seaside! I spent many memorable holidays there as a child, staying with my paternal grandparents and also with a favourite aunt in Irton, not far from West Ayton.
The following Friday, the 15th, my final official paperback signing of HOMECOMING GIRLS, an extra, by special request at WHSmith in Whitefriargate, Hull at 12 noon. Be there if you can!
Regretfully, the scheduled tea party and signing aat SIMPLY BOOKS of Pocklington on Sunday the 9th April has had to be cancelled. We hope to re schedule at a later date. It's a great little independent bookshop. Do call in if you're in the vicinity.
Tomorrow, I'm attending as a guest, a Ladies' Lunch in aid of HERIB -- Hull and East Riding Institute for the Blind -- at Tickton Grange Hotel, near Beverley. A lovely location, a guarantee of good food and a very worthy cause. One of my favourite charities. The speaker is to be Jane Thornton, the well known and much acclaimed playwright and screen writer. Should be a good event.
A library event is to be held at Dunnington Reading Room, Church Street, Dunnington, nr York on Thursday 28th April at 7pm. For further details tricia.raxworthy@york.gov.uk
I'm really looking forward to being there as, although the event is to be held a few miles outside Scarborough, the town remains my most favourite seaside! I spent many memorable holidays there as a child, staying with my paternal grandparents and also with a favourite aunt in Irton, not far from West Ayton.
The following Friday, the 15th, my final official paperback signing of HOMECOMING GIRLS, an extra, by special request at WHSmith in Whitefriargate, Hull at 12 noon. Be there if you can!
Regretfully, the scheduled tea party and signing aat SIMPLY BOOKS of Pocklington on Sunday the 9th April has had to be cancelled. We hope to re schedule at a later date. It's a great little independent bookshop. Do call in if you're in the vicinity.
Tomorrow, I'm attending as a guest, a Ladies' Lunch in aid of HERIB -- Hull and East Riding Institute for the Blind -- at Tickton Grange Hotel, near Beverley. A lovely location, a guarantee of good food and a very worthy cause. One of my favourite charities. The speaker is to be Jane Thornton, the well known and much acclaimed playwright and screen writer. Should be a good event.
A library event is to be held at Dunnington Reading Room, Church Street, Dunnington, nr York on Thursday 28th April at 7pm. For further details tricia.raxworthy@york.gov.uk
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Tuesday 29th March
Almost at the end of March. Where has the month gone? Last Monday the 21st, I spoke at the wonderful Hull History Centre. A most incredible building packed with so much information and collections of local, regional and national importance relating to the city and surrounding area. My role on that day was to speak of my current novel THE HOMECOMING GIRLS and of its significance to the Hull area. To this end a slide show was shown of photographs of old Hull in the late 19th and early 20th century, which surprisingly, many were exactly as I had imagined the courts and alleys to be. There were several of my regular readers there and amazingly they seem to know my books and characters better than I do!
On Wednesday I attended the Hull Literary Luncheon where as usual we were entertained by excellent guest speakers; actor Larry Lamb, author Simon Scarrow, and maritime historian Dr Robb Robinson.
Dr Robinson, Robb to all who know him, is a Hull based author historian whose new book FAR HORIZONS is just out and I can say with authority is a crackingly good read. Not only as a member of an old fishing family does he know what he is talking about, I can affirm he is also more than willing to share his information and expertise.
Saturday the 26th. Back to the Hull History Centre for a meeting with the Society of Authors North. The society is open to published authors and gives advice on all matters relating to writing, authorship and publication. We covered many topics including e books and enjoyed an excellent lecture given by archivist Judy Burg who spoke of some of the archived material held at the centre and then gave us a tour of the building.
Monday I went to the market town of Hedon, close to where I lived for almost forty years until three years ago. The reason for my visit was to sign books at Beckett's newsagents who always stock my books. I found a complete restoration of the shop -- a face lift/makeover and it was lovely to go back and catch up the news with so many people.
Today I managed to work on another chapter of the first draft of the new book and as usual start to think I shall never finish it in time! But of course I will.
Saturday the 2nd April I shall be signing at Hull Waterstone's, the day before Mother's Day. 2pm if you can make it to come and say hello!
On Wednesday I attended the Hull Literary Luncheon where as usual we were entertained by excellent guest speakers; actor Larry Lamb, author Simon Scarrow, and maritime historian Dr Robb Robinson.
Dr Robinson, Robb to all who know him, is a Hull based author historian whose new book FAR HORIZONS is just out and I can say with authority is a crackingly good read. Not only as a member of an old fishing family does he know what he is talking about, I can affirm he is also more than willing to share his information and expertise.
Saturday the 26th. Back to the Hull History Centre for a meeting with the Society of Authors North. The society is open to published authors and gives advice on all matters relating to writing, authorship and publication. We covered many topics including e books and enjoyed an excellent lecture given by archivist Judy Burg who spoke of some of the archived material held at the centre and then gave us a tour of the building.
Monday I went to the market town of Hedon, close to where I lived for almost forty years until three years ago. The reason for my visit was to sign books at Beckett's newsagents who always stock my books. I found a complete restoration of the shop -- a face lift/makeover and it was lovely to go back and catch up the news with so many people.
Today I managed to work on another chapter of the first draft of the new book and as usual start to think I shall never finish it in time! But of course I will.
Saturday the 2nd April I shall be signing at Hull Waterstone's, the day before Mother's Day. 2pm if you can make it to come and say hello!
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Sunday 20th March 2011
Yesterday I had a successful day signing paperback copies of HOMECOMING GIRLS in Smiths Books of Beverley, and Sokell's of Driffield. It was a glorious sunny day -- hopefully the first of many more to come -- and there were lots of people about; many of my regular readers came in to chat and to buy.
Today the eldest of my talented daughters linked this blog to my website. I do hope you are able to access it!
Today the eldest of my talented daughters linked this blog to my website. I do hope you are able to access it!
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Tuesday 15th March 2011
Yesterday I began a new novel. I'm a few weeks behind schedule as I've been digging out my office, which is what I always do on completing a manuscript; The Harbour Girl is now in the safe hands of my editor and as I eagerly await her comments, there is only one thing to do and that is start another.
I wrote five hundred words and found a title which I won't announce just yet as it might change before I finish it! I doubt that I will write more today as I'm working on a lecture which I'm to give at the Hull History Centre on Monday the 21st March, which--help --is only six days away!!
Tonight I shall be doing my voluntary work as editor of The Hull and District Talking Magazine for The Blind. This is a charitable organisation which provides recordings of local news and information on memory sticks for those unable to read printed matter. Most of us have been with the charity for close on thirty years.
Thursday I begin the signings of the paperback version of HOMECOMING GIRLS.
I wrote five hundred words and found a title which I won't announce just yet as it might change before I finish it! I doubt that I will write more today as I'm working on a lecture which I'm to give at the Hull History Centre on Monday the 21st March, which--help --is only six days away!!
Tonight I shall be doing my voluntary work as editor of The Hull and District Talking Magazine for The Blind. This is a charitable organisation which provides recordings of local news and information on memory sticks for those unable to read printed matter. Most of us have been with the charity for close on thirty years.
Thursday I begin the signings of the paperback version of HOMECOMING GIRLS.
Sunday, 6 March 2011
World Book Night 5th March 2011
Last night at Hull Waterstone's we celebrated the world of books by speaking of books we had read and authors we had known, read and loved. Amongst my favourites were Sarah Waters, always assured of a good read, ditto Tracy Chevalier, Kate Atkinson, Isabel Allende, and my absolute favourite series of books at the moment the Otori Trilogy by Lian Hearn. Amongst the books given away were those by Margaret Attwood, David Mitchell, Alan Bennett, John le Carre et al; an excellent mix of contemporary and classical writing. And for free! Hope you too were able to participate at your local bookstore.
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