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| Jill Marsh and Catriona Troth of Triskele Books |
We’re stronger together
Phew!
As I look back at June, I wonder what happened – it went by in the blink
of an eye. What I want to do with this post is celebrate the power of
friendship in this often challenging world (see the heading above this paragraph). Whether we’re writers or readers –
or, indeed, both - it’s an absolute joy to make connections and discoveries, to
support and celebrate one another’s successes.
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| Alison Morton, Antoine Vanner, Anita Chapman and you know who |
The
party had been organised by the Triskele book collective (see my blogpost on
the last launch of theirs I attended). A nicer, more professional, more sickeningly
productive bunch of women you are not
likely to meet!
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| Jane Dixon-Smith aka JD Smith |
Here’s
the list of their new books:
JJ
Marsh was launching the last in her successful Beatrice Stubbs series of crime
novels, Bad Apples.
Gillian
Hamer – the latest in her Gold Detectives series set in Wales, Sacred Lake.
JD
Smith – The Rebel Queen is the fourth
in her series about Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra (exotic or what? Who could resist
such names?)
Liza
Perrat – who sadly could not be with us on the day – was launching her suspense
novel, The Silent Kookaburra
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| Gillian Hamer |
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| Jessica Bell |
Plus,
the Triskelites had invited two more writers to join the launch. Alison Morton
had just published Retalio, the
latest in her Roma Nova series of alternate history thrillers, which have been
a huge success. Jessica Bell was launching her powerful memoir, Dear Reflection: I Never Meant to be a Rebel.
Every single book looked absolutely gorgeous, with excellent production values and brilliant covers.
Readers,
we had a ball! Catriona Troth very ably compered a series of readings and
interviews, there was fizzy wine, lots of food, and the chance to meet other
friends again – Roz Morris, Rohan Quine, Clare Flynn, Glynis Smy, Anita
Chapman, Jane Davis, Helene Halme, Antoine Vanner, Debbie Young (who had just
published her latest, the brilliantly named Best
Murder in Show), Carol Cooper and Karen Inglis - plus Jessica Bell’s
amazing mother, musician Erika Bach.
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| Erika and Jessica |
After
such an afternoon of fun on a very hot London afternoon, I took the train home
and came back to earth heavily when I heard the London Bridge terrorist attack
had just taken place, so the end of the day was spent checking Facebook to make
sure everyone was OK and texting my son to make sure he hadn’t been in the area
(he wasn’t – but he had been just 22 hours earlier …)
It
was a salutary reminder of the preciousness of friendship and of celebrations
on warm, free summer days, of the freedom to write what we want and share it.
Let’s cherish it all.
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| Glynis Smy and Clare Flynn |
I’ll
be blogging again soon about this year’s Winchester Writers’ Festival, but in
the meantime, Clare Flynn will be guesting on Literascribe tomorrow, talking
about her fifth novel, The Chalky Sea,
an exciting wartime drama – don’t miss it!
You can visit the Triskele website and their blog here, Alison Morton's amazing Roma Nova website here and Jessica Bell's multi-dextrous website here. Is there nothing these people can't do?!
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| Ros Morris |
Want to be a writer? Visit my website to download your free guide to launching a productive writing life.
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