Several months ago I had a phone call from someone who had not long moved into the village, asking if I was a writer. Well, how exciting – yes, I am, I replied. He came round for a coffee and with an exciting plan to share. He had heard there were a number of authors in Uphill (population just over 8,000) and was thinking of putting on an evening event in the Victory Hall (our village hall) to showcase us and our books! Was I interested? Well yes, of course I jolly well was!
He had three of us in mind, including my quiz-mate Rob Perryman. Rob has written an excellent book about he and his wife Pippa’s adventures on a canal boat which they took on a year-long trip round the country. The third author was Jane, another friend, aka G.J. Williams the author of the fascinating Tudor Rose Murder Mystery series. We had a meeting in the local cafe by the boatyard, The Boathouse and we chatted about the format of the evening and any things we particularity wanted to talk about, and Peter also visited us to chat in more detail. He wrote a series of articles, one about each of us for the village magazine, and organised posters etc, refreshments for the evening etc.
The evening arrived and we toted a selection of our books to the Victory Hall where Pippa organised a table to sell them (we hoped!) Microphones tested, seats arranged, wine slurped and we kicked off, with me to go first! The hall was full – the audience sitting round tables slurping wine, tea, coffee or soft drinks, and Peter set to with interviewing me about my writing and my books. My part finished with me reading a passage from my next Radwinter novel, and then it was Jane’s turn. In some way her own story is similar to mine, that we both loved stories and writing them from a very young age, and that now we are in a position where we can spend our time, indulging our passion. Jane has published two historical novels, with a third in the pipeline, and several more taking shape in her head!
There was an interval for more wine and cheese and biscuits, which was very social and pleasant and I could catch up with book club friends and Hamish MacNeil who had come to support me and had been sitting with husband. The second part commenced and Peter interviewed Rob about the adventures on ‘The Frog’ as they called their canal boat, more correctly named Frog in a Bucket! My books are all imagined, Rob was regaling us with the actual real and very funny adventures he and Pippa had, the various difficulties and almost traumas they suffered (usually to do with bathroom problems!!)
It really was a very enjoyable evening for participants – and the audience as well judging by the laughter and applause! There was a full house, and it did make me wonder yet again whether it was possible in the future to organise some sort of literary festival in the village – with the other local authors not able to join us, plus, of course, my friends from the writing group!
“A Year on the Frog” – Rob and Phillippa Perryman :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/YEAR-FROG-Misadventures-Two-Narrowboaters/dp/B0CLJJCS46
“The Conjuror’s Apprentice” – G.J. Williams
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conjurors-Apprentice-Tudor-Rose-Murders-ebook/dp/B0C8XPGQPF
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolfs-Shadow-Tudor-Rose-Murders-ebook/dp/B0CM5X7G3X
… and of course me, Lois Elsden
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=lois+elsden&crid=2E5KR50C51DVR
Lois Elsden 