Choose Posting:
News Posted August 2004:
The first half of the year I've been kept busy writing the sequel to STEP BY STEP, but as well as that I've done a certain amount of talking to groups as varied as The Tremor Support Group at the Glaxo Centre in Liverpool, the Townswomen's Guild in Hightown and Knowsley, met with a Methodist Women's Club in Walton, and spoke on behalf of Ulverscroft Large Print and Audio tapes in Liverpool's Central Library. I've been a guess speaker at Cambridge Rd, Waterloo, College of Adult Education and enjoyed myself immensely meeting and entertaining readers and hopefully would-be-readers of my books.
Also, I've travelled to the Welsh Marchers, Conway, Alderley Edge in Cheshire, as well as Southport for lunches with other writers, including Ann Baker, Katie Flynn, Maggie Bennett, Roger (Gill) Sanderson and Trish Ashley, which is always interesting and fun.
On May 1st My husband, John and I joined other members of our extended family at the Royal Vale Abbey Golf Club in Cheshire for the wedding of my brother, Don's daughter, Wendy. The sun shone and a string quartet played on the lawn while we downed drinks after the ceremony. (See photographs).
I finished the third draft of the manuscript at the beginning of June and sent it off to my agent. This meant I was free to relax and look forward to Sunday, June 13th , when John and I would celebrate our Ruby Wedding Anniversary. It was intended that my sister, Irene, and her husband Ron, who were married at the same time, joined us at Sunnybank, a farm house in the Lake District, overlooking Lake Coniston. Unfortunately Ron had a stroke four days before we were due to go on holiday. Happily he has recovered from the stroke but he was not fit enough to leave hospital but John and I were urged to go and enjoy ourselves as best we could by my sister and brother-in-law.
Sunnybank is set in beautiful gardens with its own access to the lake and we were able to unwind in the company of our three sons, Iain, Tim and Dan, as well as friend, Dave. My niece Melanie, husband Garry, and offspring Helen and Jack shared our special day with us, as did my cousins, Maureen and Marjorie, the latter over from California. It was lovely to share a couple of days with my cousins, especially, as we were close when young , spending many a holiday camping in Towyn, nr Rhyl in North Wales. We were sad not to have Irene, Ron and their family with us but it was an unforgettable time. (See photographs)
1st July I waltzed off to the Romantic Novelist Association Conference at Leicester University for a long weekend. Amongst the guest speakers were Barbara Taylor Bradford, who gave an informative and relaxed talk and appeared to enjoy her short time with us. I returned home, raring to get back to my writing.
Monday July 19th I attended the Centenary Service at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral at which the Earl and Countess of Wessex were present.
Tuesday July 20th I spoke to the Wirral Dysphasia Support Group. It was a pleasure to talk to organisers, carers, volunteers and those who have suffered a stroke and experience communication difficulties with reading and speech.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Monday 23rd August is publication date of A PLACE TO CALL HOME
Tuesday 24th August at 2.30pm I will be on the Billy Butler Show on Radio Merseyside talking about our youth - we were in the same class in junior school - and the new book.
September John and I will be going on holiday to Rhodes for a fortnight.
Saturday 25th September I've been invited to talk at Middlesborough Library up in the North East.
Monday, 11th October, I will be speaking to the University of the Third Age in Blundellsands.
Back to Top
Back to Main Page
