Summer is ...

Writing conference and Book festival Season!

I enjoy visiting book festivals and taking part in writing conferences, but I must confess, my enjoyment diminishes somewhat when it is this hot!  I am not a hot house flower, but someone who prefers the cooler weather of autumn and I have no objection to crisp frosty mornings either!

I am delighted to be one of thirty attending authors at the 3rd UK Indie Lit Festival, once again being held in the Kala Sangam Arts Centre in Bradford.

The event takes place on the 28th July from 10.00 to 5pm. No matter what your reading preference, there is something for everyone including an International hub with USA best selling author Kendare Blake and DL Gallie from Australia, appearing via video link.

There are workshops, readings and a Prize Draw. Best of all, it's a free event, although you do need a ticket available from Eventbrite or the UK Indie Lit Festival website.

On the 12th August you'll find me on the Sheffield Authors stand at the South Yorkshire Festival being held at Wortley Hall, nr Sheffield.  This promises to be a fun day out for all the family with craft, garden and book stalls.  There's even free donkey rides and face painting to keep the child entertained.  Once again, this is a Free event, but there is a small charge for parking, which is limited, so be sure to get there early!

If you live near Bradford, Sheffield or Barnsley, do come along and say hello.  You may just find that elusive Christmas present for someone with the most discerning taste!

Christmas Wishes and some exciting news ...

I'm delighted to have been invited to take part in Hull University's three day English Literature Festival organised by The National Collaborative Outreach Programme. The Festival starts on the 6th February 2018 and is aimed at raising aspirations of students aged 13-18 across the Humber region by increasing their knowledge of careers in writing, publishing, illustrating, marketing, public speaking and much more.  A selection of panels and workshops are planned and full details will be available shortly on the website: www.force-higher.co.uk and on the Twitter feed @Force_HE  #ELFHumber2018.

I am also looking forward to being part of the Bradford UK Indie Literature Festival, which is returning for a third year on the 28th July, and is once again being held in the fabulous Kala Sangam in the centre of the city.  This is a free event, with 40 authors in attendance, so there is sure to be a book to suit all tastes.  Details on how to obtain a ticket are on the UKindieLitFest website.

Kala Sangram, Bradford

As it is the holiday season, I have reduced the price of the Kindle version of my romantic suspense novel, The House on the Shore, until 3rd January 2018.  You can download a copy from Amazon for only 99p/99c instead of the usual price of £2.99/$2.99.

2017 is drawing to a close, so I would like to thank everyone who has attended an event or purchased a book and who has supported me in anyway, a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.  I hope to see you again in 2018.

UK Indie Lit Festival, Bradford, 23rd July 2016

I am delighted to announce that I am taking part in the first UK Indie Literature Festival being held in Bradford, West Yorkshire, on the 23rd July. Organised by Follow this Publishing in conjunction with Cillian Press, this aims to be an annual event.   

Over 25 authors, covering various genres, will be in attendance, including International best selling authors Kendare Blake, CJ Rutherford, Roger Gordon, and Bridget Allyson who will be appearing via Skype.

This is a FREE event, and will feature author-led workshops and readings. Attendees will have the chance to:-

• Meet Authors

• Get their books signed

• Enter competitions to win signed novels

• Snap a picture with authors

• Hear music that inspired the writers and watch book trailers for the latest releases

The event will run from 9am-5pm and tickets are available from Eventbrite

Penistone Literary Festival 19th-20th July 2014

The full programme of events for the first inaugural Penistone Literary Festival has been announced.  Headlined by Simon Armitage, one of the best poets of his generation,  best selling author Milly Johnson, supported by Andrew Macmillan, crime writer M J Fowler, and local poets and authors, it promises to be a fun-filled two days for young and old alike.  (Click on the image for a larger version).

There are poetry walks and readings, the chance to have afternoon tea with Simon and Milly; exhibitions, a book stall, a vintage tea room, and the chance to purchase a Penny the Sheep mug as a memento.

So, pop along to the Penistone Literary Website, and book your tickets now.  

Readers Groups

Gone are the days when most authors could sit back and let their publisher sell their book. Nowadays, new and established authors often get little marketing help, and the prospect of doing it yourself can be daunting. But with a little perseverance and a little practice it can be fun, especially if you enjoy talking to people, as I do.

I’ve been fortunate; every Borders Books store I have approached has agreed to host a book signing event for me. So far, I’ve met readers in Batley, Leeds, Cheshire Oaks, York, Inverness, Liverpool, Warrington, and Stockport.

And while the shoppers might have co-operated, sadly the same can’t be said of the weather. I’ve roasted in York, and been rained on in Inverness. The British weather has an odd affect on shoppers. When it rains, they seem to flock to the stores in droves, and conversely, when the sun is shining and there’s no need for raincoats and umbrellas, they stay away!

Everyone I’ve met has been charming, which makes my job of engaging them in conversation and telling them about my book and the writing process, a pleasure.

Surprisingly, everyone who purchased a copy of The House on the Shore during the signing in York lived in Scotland, and what’s more, within fifty miles of where I used to live in Keith. Even more surprising, was the encounter in Inverness with a gentleman who at one time taught at Queen Mary Grammar School in Liverpool – my first grammar school. And while in a restaurant that same evening, I bumped into the guy who cut my hair during my twenty years of living in Scotland! It just goes to prove what a small world it really is.

But occasionally, you do meet strange people, for example, the child who just stood in front of the signing table and stared at me for what seemed like hours in Barnes and Noble in Dayton, Ohio, and the pleasant gentleman in York who wanted to tell me what was wrong with our current government here in the UK (as if I didn’t know!).

What if someone asks seemingly endless questions about writing a novel and the publishing industry, or just wants to stop and talk about the weather, before walking away without purchasing a book? I smile and remind myself that an author event, be it a book signing session or an author talk, is a means of a creating a presence – getting your name out there and interesting people in your work. Any sales they generate are a bonus. And if you're very lucky the local media might take an interest.

So, if you happen to be in Glossop on the 1st May, come along to the Labour Club, Chapel Street, at 2.30pm, where I shall be giving a talk as part of the Glossop Literary Festival, and see if I can’t tempt you into buying a book!