Photos from book signings, 2009
At the Holt Bookshop, in the Appleyard at Holt, Norfolk, with many thanks to David Makinson and his staff for a great convivial evening with old friends and new. Chris is in two of these pictures, taken by our son Kevin:
Wine, nibbles, and a happy chat...
and, below, at Waterstone's book store in King's Lynn, Norfolk, with thanks to store managers Val and Kate.
Two pics taken with some members of what one husband calls our writers' coven (he reckons Chris is chief warlock!):
If you want to get ahead, get a hat!
so many books!!
The new book was also featured in the Eastern Daily Press 'Sunday' supplement, Saturday 24 January 2009
and I was on air for half an hour on Radio Norfolk's 'Maggie's Brew', talking about my new book:
THE PRINCE'S THORN
Edward VII and the Lady Farmer of
Sandringham
Over three decades of the nineteenth century, she caused problems for HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. But who exactly was Mrs Louisa Mary Cresswell, this fractious royal tenant who rejoiced in her sobriquet of ‘The Lady Farmer’? Her book, Eighteen Years on Sandringham Estate, published in 1887, was laced with criticism of the Prince and of the minions who conspired with him to ruin a defenceless widow and drive her out of her beloved Appleton Farm and into penury and exile in America’s Wild West. But was it the truth? What really motivated her bitter hatred of Queen Victoria's oldest son? The answers emerged during a four-year-long detective journey which culminated in the Royal Archive at Windsor Castle, where startling revelations awaited, changing the whole story.
ISBN: 9781903490334
Pub: Pegasus, Cambridge, 302
pages,
Illustrated, full Bibliography and Index
Paperback £9.99
For an extract, go via Read terminus.
☼ ☼ ☼
Recent and future talks, etc.
In reverse order
For 2010,
four talk bookings so far -- Jan, Burnham Market Phoenix
Ladies; Feb, Hunstanton Civic Society;
March, Wells-Next-Sea Men's Group and also Downham WI's 85th
birthday meeting.
2009...
14 October: once again in the chair for 'Poetry at the Princess' (for the Theatre Club, details on website www.princesstheatreclub.co.uk )
1 October: talk to Trefoil Guild, Heacham
3 September: 'Lady Farmer' talk for King's Lynn Friends United (M & S retirees)
29 July: Talk to Hunstanton Rotary Club, 'Lady Farmer' after dinner at the Le Strange Arms, Hunstanton
16 July: Talk to Heacham Gardeners in a marquee in a garden, readings from my oeuvre of short stories and verse ('A Pot-Pourri of Prose and Pomes').
24 June: talk to the Dereham Society in Dereham Library (my third visit there!), on the PMRAFNS. Great turnout and response.
23 June: 'Poetry at the Princess' event for the Hunstanton festival of Arts and Drama, chaired by MM.
2 June: 'Lady Farmer' talk in Dersingham, organized by 'The Village Voice' (nearly 100 people attended).
From February to May, I was mainly occupied with directing the spring production of Alan Ayckbourn's 'Comic Potential' (see Blog). It was on stage 14, 15 and 16 May. Great fun.
An appearance on 'The Weakest Link' (recorded February, aired in April. I was voted off in the fifth round by a couple of dumbos who were colluding to get rid of the better players. I only got one question wrong. Ann was really quite kind. She even asked me about my new book (Prince's Thorn') but naturally they cut that bit out!)
26 March, talk to Clenchwarton Ladies
Another marvellous morning of 'Poetry at the Princess' on 11 March 2009. See Princess Theatre Club website: www.princesstheatreclub.co.uk
2008
November 28: was Guest Speaker at the 90th Anniversary of the PMRAFNS, did a brief spot to preface the evening and then introduced a new video on the Service's history. The event was a Cocktail Party held in the Bomber Command Hall at the RAF Museum, Hendon, London. We met and chatted with the current Patron, HRH the Princess Alexandra, who asked me to be sure to send her a copy of my new book on Louise Cresswell and Sandringham. Have done so. Hope she likes it and will persuade the rest of the family to buy one!!
November: Talk for Terrington St Clement Women's Club (again), this time with: 'The Lady Farmer of Sandringham'.
September: Talk to Heacham Gardeners' Association again, this time with: 'He took a little custard' PMRAFNS'
June 18th: Talk to New Leaf group of readers at Aylsham Library: 'Cobwebs and Cream Teas' (National Trust always a popular subject)
June 4th: Talk to Masterfood Club at Sandboy Pub near Lynn, Norfolk: 'He took a little custard...' (history of the RAF Nursing Service [see Non-fiction ])
May: Involved with play at Princess Theatre, Hunstanton. Playing 'Stella' in Rattigan's 'Cause Celebre'.
April: We were in America with our oldest son and family
March 26th: Talk for Harnser Group of WIs in Hemsby near Yarmouth: 'The Lady Farmer of Sandringham' (subject of my latest book); meant an overnight trip to far side of Norfolk.
March 12th (yes, same day, what a busy bee!): Talk for Sedgeford women's Friendship Group: 'Cobwebs and Cream Teas' (life with the National Trust)
March 12th: Host 'Poetry at the Princess' a morning session of poetry reading by and for everyone, in aid of Princess Theatre Club funds. Held in the friendly sea-view bar at the Princess Theatre, Hunstanton, Norfolk.
2008, Feb: Invited to be a judge for the King's Lynn Soroptimists' Public Speaking Competition for local schools