Library Event

I'm delighted to say that the library event on Wednesday went really well. It was lovely to see members of Exeter Writers there - thank you for coming, and hope you had a good time!

Thank you to Margaret Powling for taking photographs.

Library Event - Wednesday 24th November

This coming Wednesday 24th November, Linda Mitchelmore, Sophie King and I will be giving a talk at Exeter Central Library, where we will be chatting about our own careers and offering hints and tips on writing romantic and relationship fiction.

Entry is free, coffee etc will be provided, and we'll be delighted to meet anyone who would like to come along at 2.30 on the day.

Daily Mail

I had a mention in the Daily Mail today and saw the Amazon ratings for The Silver Locket surge - coincidence, or a direct result? It's very pleasing, anyway - especially for a dyed-in-the-wool Guardian reader!

What a relief

I enjoyed doing my book signing today. I even sold some books - so huge thanks are due to my friends who came into the store, to interested customers who stopped, looked and bought a book, and to a certain Richard Madeley, who generously gave me a mention in his show on Radio 2 the previous day.


I think a few customers were expecting to meet Richard in person. Sorry about that, guys! But everyone got a chocolate Hero, even though they didn't meet RM himself.

Saturday - busy day coming up!

On Saturday 13th November, Exeter Writers are launching their diamond anniversary anthology at Exeter Central Library, 11 am - 3 pm - free entry, all welcome, refreshments provided.

Later that day, I'll be signing copies of my novel The Silver Locket in the Exeter Roman Gate branch of Waterstone's, 2 pm - 4 pm. Free chocolate Heroes for all!

Paignton Library - Kate Furnivall

I went to a talk by novelist Kate Furnivall this afternoon, given at the new Paignton Library. What a great space, and what lovely design - it's everything a library ought to be.

Kate's talk was very illuminating, too. She talked about her journey to publication, a path which was liberally strewn with thorns, but her determination and persistence paid off, and her novel The Russian Concubine became a worldwide bestseller. Kate's latest novel The Jewel of St Petersburg is out on Thursday.

Review of The Silver Locket

It's always heartening to read a well-reasoned, fair and informative review, one of which I've just had today. So thank you, Bookbag and Katie, for your review of The Silver Locket! Post-it note to self - Margaret, you can slow down a little sometimes, and let your hero and heroine chill for a while!

http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=The_Silver_Locket_by_Margaret_James

Ellen Renner - City of Thieves

Lots of bookish fun today - went into Exeter to hear Ellen give a reading from her latest novel City of Thieves, was hugely pleased by a lovely article about my own new novel in the Western Morning News, and had coffee and a good gossip with three members of Exeter Writers who just happened to be in the Waterstone's Costa coffee shop.

Must go and make some dinner for my visitors now. I can hear clattering in the kitchen. I am a very bad hostess, but when Blogger calls...

You can buy Ellen's new novel on this link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/City-Thieves-Ellen-Renner/dp/1408304465/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289072231&sr=1-1

Publicity

It's one of those things authors find really difficult, isn't it? I mean selling themselves, but we all have to do it. On page 44 of December Writing Magazine, which comes out today, authors David C Evans, Christine Stovell and Gemma Burgess share hints and tips.

You can find out more about them and their writing at www.farmerjohnsboots.co.uk, homethoughtsweekly.blogspot.com and www.thedatingdetoxtrailer.com.

Radio waves...

Ooh, exciting day today, went into the BBC Radio Devon studio in Exeter to talk to chat show host Katie Martin, of BBC Radio Solent. Katie was very complimentary about The Silver Locket, and asked me some interesting questions about historical research, which luckily I could answer.


Here's a photograph of me looking as if I do this every day. In fact, I was somewhat terrified and was dreading getting a coughing fit or doing something equally embarrassing, like knocking my cup of tea all over the BBC's expensive equipment. But Katie soon put me at my ease, and everything went well.

You can hear the interview on BBC iplayer - start 35 minutes into the programme.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00btm00/Katie_Martin_03_11_2010/

November Book of the Month - Rosy Thornton The Tapestry of Love

Rosy Thornton's latest novel The Tapestry of Love is the story of middle-aged Catherine Parkstone, who leaves her comfortable existence in England to go and live in the Cevennes region of France.

'I gave my heroine a new career as a seamstress,' says Rosy, who went on holiday in the Cevennes twenty years ago, and never forgot the place or its fascinatingly quirky inhabitants. 'I peopled her hamlet with local farmers and endowed them with deep layers of French reserve. I gave Catherine a tapestry frame and a basket of silks and set her to work. The result was The Tapestry of Love - and it's the story of her slow-growing love affair with the place and its people.'

This is a perfect novel for dark winter evenings in front of the fire, maybe with a cat on your lap and a glass of something red and delicious close at hand!

Rosy's recipes from the Cevennes are available free via her website at http://rosythornton.com