Monday 23 March 2015

A few photographs from the MacMillan charity event at Hunt's Independent Bookshop, Rugby.



I was sorry that Kelvin Hunt wasn't able to attend the MacMillan charity morning at his bookshop in Rugby on Saturday.  Wishing you well very soon, Kelvin.





From left to right:  The lady who works in the bookshop, Kelvin's son, his wife Pauline, and author Theresa LeFlem




Me in the topper, cheap at 10/-6d and Pauline Hunt




Pauline Hunt, Madalyn Morgan, and Theresa LeFlem




Thursday 19 March 2015

The RoNA Awards at Romantic Novelists Association March 16th 2015


Photographs of fellow writer friends at the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards Ceremony at The Gladstone Library, Whitehall Place, London, March 16, 2015

It was good to see friends from Caerleon, Fishguard and Leicester, as well as others that I only knew on Facebook, including my lovely friend Debbie Viggiano. Debbie kindly offered to beta read Foxden Acres before it was published in 2012. I still refer to her brilliant notes.


Debbie Viggiano talking to Kath McGurl, Madalyn Morgan, and Sally Quilford


Debbie Viggiano and Madalyn Morgan


Kath and Debbie


Madalyn chatting to lovely Sally Quilford



Natalie Klienman, Elaine Roberts, Elaine Everest, Viv Brown & Francesca Capaldi Burgess.
Friends from The Writers' Holiday - Caerleon and Fishguard.


Carole Matthews and Jill Mansell

As I was leaving, I was able to congratulate authors, Carole Matthews and Jill Mansell who were given, Special Achievement awards.  And I was delighted to bump into Carole Blake who was very encouraging about Foxden Acres before it was published, and who introduced me to the amazing Barbara Erskine.

Karen Aldous and Barbara Erskine


Jane Wenham-Jones and Barbara Taylor Bradford

Jane Wenham-Jones and Barbara Taylor Bradford worked well together; Jane telling us which authors and books were short-listed for awards, and Barbara presenting the awards to the winners.


The Winners of the RoNA 2015 Awards (3rd from left Barbara Taylor Bradford)
Left to right: Joss Stirling, winner Young Adult Category and winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year 2015. Hazel Gaynor, winner Historical Category; Barbara Taylor Bradford; Louise Allen, winner RoNA Rose Award; Ella Harper, winner Epic Category; Lucy Dillon, winner Contemporary Category and Lucy-Anne Holmes, winner of the Romantic Comedy Award.


At the end of the presentations, Barbara referred to writing saying, "... writing a great chapter is better than an having an orgasm."  I think every writer in the room related to that - the great chapter that is! Barbara Taylor Bradford was fantastic. A real woman of substance.


Reception of The Gladstone Library


                    Canapes and pink Champagne


The table before we sat down




The London Eye, seen from Embankment Underground station