It Works For Me!

Hellooo! I hope you’re well and enjoying the slightly better weather that we’ve been having (there’s less rain, anyway!).

I am aching all over because last night I played tennis for the first time in about six months.

Once upon a time, as you may remember if you’ve followed this blog for a while, I used to play a couple of times a week and go on tennis holidays to Spain! Ah, well. Nothing stays the same.

After so long off the court it was surprising I could remember what to do! I did still manage to hit the ball (sometimes) but the running around bit was hard work and now my legs have almost seized up.

‘Highland Girls on Guard’ in The Works

I was in Stratford-on-Avon yesterday, as I still teach my creative writing class for seniors there and I popped into ‘The Works’ on the off-chance that my new book might be there (it’s for sale on the website, so I knew it would be making its way to some of the shops).

Hey presto, it was there, tucked away on one of the lower shelves (but it was next to a book about Harry Styles, so I can’t complain!)

I feel slightly guilty about telling you that it’s at a bargain price in ‘The Works’ – just £2.50 (or only £2 if you buy it as part of the ‘3 books for £6’ deal) – because I know that some of you lovely peeps pre-ordered and /or have bought ‘The Highland Girls on Guard’ at the full price from Amazon.

I actually thought it might not hit ‘The Works’ for a few weeks but there you go. It’s something I have absolutely no control over because selling and price-setting and all of that is strictly down to the publisher!

It won’t be in every branch of ‘The Works’ so if you happen to spot it when you’re out and about, do let me know, as I’d love to know where it’s being stocked.

And if you’re partaking of the ‘3 books for £6’ deal (and why not?), my friend Jane Bettany’s excellent novel, ‘Murder At The Book Festival’ is also part of that deal (in selected stores) and you could do worse than pop that into your shopping basket too!

Stratford Literary Festival

Talking of Stratford-on-Avon and book festivals.. (see what I did there?) the programme for the Stratford Literary Festival (in May) is out and they’ve got some great events lined up.

I’ve booked to see three of my favourite authors: David Nicholls, John Boyne and Jojo Moyes. Exciting!

What’s also exciting (and nerve-wracking!) is that I’ve got a 2-minute slot at the ‘Local Author Showcase’ (part of the Festival) on the evening of 1st May, to talk about my book. (Singular! So I’ve picked the latest one).

All the slots have gone now but it’s free to attend as an audience member so if you’re local to Stratford and fancy it (there’s a bar!), you can book your ticket or find out more about it here.

I know that in the minutes before I have to stand up and deliver my pitch, I will be asking myself why on earth I signed up for the event – and wishing I hadn’t!

But it’s good to get out of your comfort zone every so often, isn’t it? (Was it Eleanor Roosevelt who famously said, ‘Do one thing every day that scares you’?). And as writers, it seems we’re often having to push ourselves forward, as much as it might not be in our nature to do so.

Wish me luck!