Writing may be a solitary occupation at times, but not all of the time. Today, I was part of Wellington Festival’s Meet The Author event. A group of us (what is the collective noun for a group of writers?) gathered in the library and set out our stalls.
While the primary purpose of such events is to sell books (which I did … and I also sold some of my greetings cards too), it’s also a fantastic networking opportunity. It’s lovely to see what other writers are doing, learn more about the projects they’re working on, and find out what inspires them.
Here’s Phyllis Blakemore being interviewed by Talking Newspapers for the Blind, about her book Gentlemen of the River [amazon_link asins=’1840334738′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’simonwhaley-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’1d7d9d10-b12f-11e7-9a75-71a9084231c7′].
Bryan’s vampire novel Taken [amazon_link asins=’1447854500′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’simonwhaley-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’6b3edb51-b12f-11e7-9d02-e1c344c3910c’] (which I’ve read, by the way, and is excellent) continues to sell, and Mollie Bolt was selling her poetry anthologies.
Catherine Cooper, author of the award-winning Jack Brenin series [amazon_link asins=’B004EHZDBQ’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’simonwhaley-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’c7e56bca-b12f-11e7-9558-23e7b537a7c8′], the first of which is The Golden Acorn (again, another excellent read) is always a popular draw. She regularly has crowds of children and adults around her display, all marvelling at her props and displays.
Olga Merrick writes psychological thrillers. [amazon_link asins=’0992957745′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’simonwhaley-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’474c79aa-b130-11e7-98a1-bdb30692ae03′]
PR Ellis is prolific, writing two series: the Jasmine Frame novels [amazon_link asins=’1783060689′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’simonwhaley-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’be823476-b130-11e7-8de5-1bd7ca38106d’] and then a SciFi series called Evil Under The Stars [amazon_link asins=’1908168617′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’simonwhaley-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’3347648d-b131-11e7-b40b-bfecaffe94c3′]
And then there was Alan Frost, who’s written so many local history books, he’ll go down in local history as the local history man!
How lovely to be able to do all this in a library. And I have to say, if ever anyone says that children don’t go into libraries any more, well check out Wellington Library on a Saturday. It is packed with kids! Readers of the future!