Book Blogger Hop ~ Signed Books 13th to 20th August

13th to 20th August

QUESTION: HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN A BOOK SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR

A big yes to this one. If I see there’s a book signing at a bookshop I will usually (until the last 18 months) pop by and speak with the author. If they are famous I may leave it, but if there are only a few folks about I’ll give them some encouragement and buy a signed copy.

Here are just a few of my signed books on my book shelf.

I met Liz Harris, author of The Road Back; Ben Hatch, author of Are we Nearly There and Adam Croft in different bookshops. I met Adam Croft, now a famous Indie author and prolific writer, in Ampthill bookshop. This was his very first mystery, well before he was well known, at the very beginning of his writing career. I actually bought two books and he quipped

“Will you sell them when I’m famous!’

Two of the books above were at author talks; that’s You, Me Always by Jill Mansell given at Kirkcaldy library and EAST of WEST, WEST of EAST by Hamish Brown at Kinghorn Library.

I met Victoria Howard at a stall when she was attending Glamis Castle Classic Car Show.

Why do I support indie and trad authors in this way?

• Because I enjoy meeting and encouraging other writers,
• Because I like to think the reading of the book will be much more insightful having met the author,
• and finally because I do book signings myself and appreciate the support of others too.

If you want to know more about Book Blogger Hop here’s a link.

If you would like a signed copy of Search for the Pearl Inside Yourself as a gift for a young adult who is struggling to know what to do next, send me an email on diana@dianamaryjackson.co.uk or dianariduna@yahoo.com and I’ll send you a free copy if you live in the UK. (5 copies to giveaway in August!)

Author Diana Jackson supports Kinghorn Community Library

Eventispress author Diana Jackson is busy collecting the proceeds for sales of The Healing Paths of Fife sold in Kinghorn in the last three months in aid of Kinghorn Lunch Club for the Over 60’s. (most well over she says 🙂 ) She is going to let us know how much was raised as soon as possible.

Meanwhile for May, June and July the profits of books sold in Kinghorn will benefit Kinghorn Community Library (KLR)

Diana’s Virtual Tour of the Kingdom of Fife ~ Dunfermline

Dunfermline has a fascinating history, style and an air of timeless tradition; a small but pleasant town centre where you can amble from shop to amenity  without feet ache. Yes, there are signs of decline, but many new shops are taking over the empty ones and the place is beginning to buzz again. Dunfermline was, in fact, the first town we ‘lived’ in in Fife. Initially the area was a temporary home for my husband when he was commuting from Bedfordshire to Edinburgh each week. I know, people usually do that the other way around but we like to be different 🙂 We came to know the Premier Inn on Duloch Park pretty well!

It was whilst alone at the Premier Inn that the idea for ‘The Healing Paths of Fife’ was born. My initial inspiration was ~ St Margaret’s Cave, which will have its own tribute post when it reopens in the spring. In fantasy I can thank St Margaret for her guidance! (after all it is a fantasy / memoir)

On a recent visit I was excited to spend some time in The Carnegie Library and Museum. This remarkable building has been restored, blending ancient and modern, now enjoying floor to ceiling views overlooking Dunfermline Abbey, The Abbot’s House and as far as the Forth. We whiled away a couple of hours, including a welcome coffee, and one of the librarians was pleased with my donation of a copy of my book. (I hope they buy a few too. Fingers crossed.)

There was a touch of green eyed envy though, as I looked down on the Reading Room, with its wood panelling and quiet reflective study areas, when here at Kinghorn we are struggling to pay our huge electricity bill for out Community Library.

Still, Carnegie would be proud of his legacy in Dunfermline, and I look forward to visiting the town’s other tourist sites including the palace, abbey and Pittencrieff Park, also donated to the town by Andrew Carnegie, his place of birth.

(Author Diana Jackson enjoys researching social history and this inspires her writing. Her latest release ‘The Healing Paths of Fife’, a fantasy / memoir, reflects her growing love for the Kingdom of Fife.)