The Joy of Author Talks

On Wednesday I took a trip out to the far reaches of Fife, to the wee town of Auchtermuchty. I think I can even roll my ch’s and pronounce this lovely name correctly. It is set in beautiful, I was going to say rolling countryside, making the journey from where I live quite enjoyable.

If you are an author and you have never given a talk, I can highly recommend it. Around thirty ladies and gentlemen were so appreciative and attentive, that it was a pleasure experience.

My talk this time was ‘early female aviators.’ When I say early I mean around WW1, and even before. I end this talk by showing an amateur video (taken by myself) of clips of the old aircraft at The Shuttleworth Collection, Bedfordshire, which I have already shared with you a couple of time on this blog.

A virtual Tour of The Shuttleworth Collection

which has a vivid description of an extra special air display we attended in 2012.

…and here’s a little video on my Facebook Page.

I hope I came a long way in redressing the balance in the knowledge of these daring, invincible and determined ladies of the past, who overcame prejudices which we would find hard to imagine today.

Anyway, I would like to thank the folks of Auchtermuchty for their warm welcome, as too was my talk at Cupar Probus a few weeks earlier.

One wonderful thing about giving an author talk is, if it is successful, you invariably meet someone who invites you to a different venue at a later date.

Ce La Vie!

Personal Writing Hopes, Dreams and Plans for 2023

Looking Back before Moving Forward

Go Wide! ~ Looking at the goals I set out at this time last year and reflecting on what I have achieved.

~ I have gone wide with Murder Now and Then and it is now available on Kobo, Google and Apple ~ in fact so many more sites. Click on the link for options. It’s soooo clever!

Supporting Other Authors

This year has been my main focus for this year as Eventispress has become an Independent Publisher and three new authors have come into the fold. It is a hands on approach to publishing a book. I love being involved in the enthusiasm of other authors, focusing on their projects rather than my own. As one Christmas card said,

“Thank you for everything!

Your have changed my life!

I will always be grateful for that.

Very, very special lady!”

I was so touched by this message. It made my day; in fact it made my year.

Updating The Healing Paths of Fife

This was completed before Christmas with a new cover. I have received the proof copy so

watch this space!

So far £733 has been raised for local charities for the sale of The Healing Paths of Fife of which £367 has been given to Kirkcaldy Foodbank. I would like to thank readers so much for their generosity!

Prequel to Riduna

My parents wrote a prequel to Riduna; a novella. They struggled with conversation and when Mum and Dad had dementia I tried to stimulate them by working on the little book with them. In the end, the pandemic put a halt to this, but I would like to publish this little book in memory of them. I have been working on it, with a gentle touch, and hope for this to be published in 2023.

Watch this space too!

Other projects

For the third and final book in my Riduna series, I have revisited the lovely island of Alderney, reconnected my links with The Alderney Museum, for which I am truly grateful, and will begin the serious work on research in 2023.

As far as the third in my Mystery Inspired by History series, I have got no further than uploading the half written manuscript on my Kindle to refresh my memory, before putting a serious effort into completing it, beginning next Tuesday. I’m so looking forward to creatively writing again. It’s exciting!

Click on the book covers for a link for an e book or for Waterstones click here.

Yet again I have so much to be thankful for. It has been such a positive year.

An Exciting End to a Year in Blogs!

Wow! Do you ever have days like this when the number of readers on your blog shoots up? That’s what has happened to me in the last week. If I had a magic recipe that I could bottle and sell, I would make a fortune, but all I can say is welcome!

Another celebration is that I’m now being followed by a fellow Society of Author member, William Horwood, an ex president I believe, and a person I greatly admire.

You are most welcome William. I’m honoured!

I’ll be back in the New Year when I will be:

• Looking forwards and backwards in an annual review

• Continuing with my fortnightly book reviews

• Discussing findings from Genealogy searches, especially those intensively carried out by my parents.

Much of my writing has been inspired by either my family history or that of others; how the acts and decisions of one generation has an impact on the next.

Finally I would just like to wish you a Very Happy Christmas, wherever you are and whoever you are spending it with.

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com