Bewdley Book Week

First things first, come in SuzyJBarker! –Suzy won one of the prizes on my blog last week, but I’ve had no response from her and her prize is here waiting for her. If you know Suzy, please give her a nudge.

Last week was Bewdley Book Week. It is really worth checking out local events like this, as they can be very entertaining and good value too. I can’t believe it is twelve months since the last one.

Earlier in the week, I managed to see two comic poets, Rob Barrett (www.robbarratt.co.uk) and Emma Purshouse (www.emmapurshouse.co.uk). I haven’t laughed so much for ages. There was the added bonus that one of my friends, Sue Wood, read some poems in the middle of Emma’s performance too.

The book week ends with an afternoon tea. This is a lovely civilised event where participants sit at tables, eat cake, drink tea and listen to Rachel New from Heart FM interviewing authors. Last year, it was Katie Fforde and Jo Thomas, this year was Carole Matthews. Some of the audience had come from a fair distance to hear her speak.

I first came across Carole when I read her The Chocolate Lovers’ Club and The Chocolate Lover’s Diet books.

Carole was very honest about her career. She has written twenty-eight books already and writes two books a year every year. This is an impressive output, which the author has worked hard to achieve. She admitted her early love life had been disastrous, but her past experiences have provided rich fodder for her books. She now has her lovely Kev, who was there to support her at the event.

Carole signed books at the end of the event and Kev took photographs for those wishing to be pictured with Carole. You can sign up for her newsletter at www.carolematthews.com.

An added bonus at the event was to meet Julie Ryan, a virtual friend and fellow RNA member, in person. She’s lovely. Another report on the event can be found at Julie’s blog www.juliesworldofbooks.blogspot.com. Thanks to Julie for the great photograph of Lynn Forth and I below.

I can’t wait for next year’s event already. Well done Bewdley Book week organisers.

Watch out next week on my blog for Choc Lit author Angela Britnell.