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Events
Tricia Wastvedt visits Tiverton Library in Devon
Helen Dunmore visits Newport library
Helen Dunmore visits Solihull Central Library
Elizabeth Buchan visits the Isle of Wight
Nicci Gerrard visits Oldham
Elizabeth Buchan visits Portsmouth Library
Nicci Gerrard visits Oldham Library
Esther Freud visits Wimbledon Library
Tricia Wastvedt, author of The River, visits Tiverton Library in Devon
Author Tricia Wastvedt at Tiverton Library
Tricia Wastvedt, author of The River, visited Tiverton Library in Devon on 13th October as the last event in the Penguin Book of the Month promotion. All the audience had read and enjoyed the book and asked plenty of questions.
Our 150 reading groups will continue to use the title, and I plan to add it to a First Novels promotion I'm putting together for December. I feel (and I know several colleagues agree) that this book will continue to run for some time here in Devon.
Tricia herself was lovely - charming and interesting, and I'll certainly look forward to her next book.
From Carol Ackroyd, Devon Libraries
Helen Dunmore visits Newport Library
Helen Dunmore signs copies of Mourning Ruby
Newport Libraries was fortunate to be selected to host the visit of author Helen Dunmore for the above Penguin promotion. The event was held on 18th July and 43 people attended..
Helen’s talk was about aspects of her work as a writer, including the research that is undertaken when preparing material for her books Helen spoke very well and kept her audience’s interest the whole of the time. When questions were asked for, plenty were received. The evening proved to be very enjoyable and a number of people asked when the next such event would be held.
Helen said she had enjoyed the visit and was especially pleased with warm reception of the audience.
The library profited from the event in several ways: the good will that it received, the enrolling of some new library members, the loan of a few books and some new members for its reading groups.
It was the first time I had been involved in such an event, I was relieved that it went well and was delighted that the library was chosen to be part of the Penguin Readers’ Book of the Month.
Many thanks to Penguin.
Susan Pugh, Newport Library
Helen Dunmore visits Solihull Central Library
Helen Dunmore signs books for her fans at Solihull Central Library
An audience of 73 people were captivated when Helen Dunmore came to Solihull Central Library & Arts Complex as part of Penguin Readers’ Book of the Month promotion.
Helen gave people a real insight into her research and writing of Mourning Ruby interspersed with the reading of some well-chosen passages that did not give any of the plot away to people who may not have read the book. Themes of loss and identity were explored followed by a lively question and answer session when Helen opened the discussion out to the audience, covering reading, writing, inspiration and influences. A book-stall was provided by Books etc and readers were thrilled to meet Helen individually after the reading and have their books signed.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed hearing Helen read and talk about her work and comments included: ‘ excellent’, ‘ a very fluent speaker – whetted my appetite for her next book!’, ‘very enlightening, can we have more please, ‘fascinating talk by a fascinating lady’, ‘ super evening’, ‘ much appreciated on all counts and obviously enjoyed by everyone whatever age group’, ‘ a very good evening – an articulate and interesting speaker.’
Elizabeth Buchan visits the Isle of Wight
The staff of the Isle of Wight Library Service were really pleased that Elizabeth was able to visit the Isle of Wight as part of her Penguin Book of the Month promotion for A Certain Age.
Elizabeth gave a liberly and entertaining talk about how she became a writer. She was first a Blurb writer for Penguin. We won't spoil some of the funny anecdotes she has in case you have her for a visit!
Here are some photographs we took to celebrate Elizabeth taking to the waves and visiting our Island!
Elizabeth talking about her books, writing experiences and inspiration
Elizabeth signing books for her fans
Elizabeth with us mere mortals of library staff: Jo Cooke to the left and Ruth Wells to the right
Nicci Gerrard visits Oldham
Oldham Libraries were delighted to hear that Nicci Gerrard was able to pay them a visit during their Literature Festival in May. There were quite a few enquiries about the event throughout the month leading up to it but we were absolutely astounded with the turnout. Any more and it would have been standing room only.
There is always an air of tension at events like these, where the author is an unknown quantity and the audience are unsure of what to expect. However, Nicci put us at ease as soon as she walked in the door. She took the idea of what we wanted from her and simply asked, “Can I just talk?” The whole room was spellbound by her just pouring out her story – what had led her into writing, how she and husband Sean write as Nicci French, her own experiences that shaped “Solace”, her new novel. She was honest and engaging and she charmed us all.
The evening provided a chance for Nicci to read to us from “Solace”, for us to ask questions and for Nicci to sign copies of books people had bought. Ottakar’s had provided us with a bookstall for the evening. It was lovely to work with Nicci and the audience had a wonderful time.
Elizabeth Buchan visits Portsmouth Library
Penguin author Elizabeth Buchan visited Portsmouth Library and Newport Library on the Isle of Wight. Here is a report by Angela Hicken, Reader Development Officer with Portsmouth Central Library, of Elizabeth's visit.
'Elizabeth Buchan's talk to Portsmouth readers was a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable occasion, expressed with humour and passion. Elizabeth spoke about her 'late blossoming' career as an author following years as a 'blurbs' writer at Penguin, the experiences she gained, both wonderful and otherwise. She spoke about a longing to write, the processes she adopts and those who have inspired her. Elizabeth then read extracts from That Certain Age, contrasting the lives of the two central female characters. The audience enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions about character development, reader reactions, cover design and Elizabeth's own favourite reading. Books were bought and signed after the talk, with further opportunity for readers to engage with the writer over tea and coffee.
Elizabeth Buchan spoke about wanting to write the type of books she wished to read - entertaining, thoughtful, educational, passionate. And this is exactly the talk she offered to our audience. We were extremely happy to have had the opportunity to host the event as part of the Penguin Book of The Month promotional tour and 87% of attendees rated the author talk as 'excellent'.
Reader comments included: 'excellent evening', 'certainly encouraged me to read more of her books', 'attractive, easy to spot book covers', 'I will definitely be borrowing more of her books', 'an excellent speaker', 'a lovely woman', 'very informative', 'very enjoyable', 'I will be suggesting that my reading group does one of her books. That Certain Age, I think, that will appeal to all of us'.
Photos:
Angela Hicken, Elizabeth Buchan and Linda Collins also from Portsmouth Central Library
Elizabeth on stage before the event
A reader talks to Elizabeth following the talk:
Nicci Gerrard visits Oldham
Helen Robinson from Oldham Libraries tells us about their event with Nicci Gerrard:
'Oldham Libraries were delighted to hear that Nicci Gerrard was able to pay them a visit during their Literature Festival in May. There were quite a few enquiries about the event throughout the month leading up to it but we were absolutely astounded with the turnout. Any more and it would have been standing room only.
There is always an air of tension at events like these, where the author is an unknown quantity and the audience are unsure of what to expect. However, Nicci put us at ease as soon as she walked in the door. She took the idea of what we wanted from her and simply asked, “Can I just talk?” The whole room was spellbound by her just pouring out her story – what had led her into writing, how she and husband Sean write as Nicci French, her own experiences that shaped Solace, her new novel. She was honest and engaging and she charmed us all.
The evening provided a chance for Nicci to read to us from Solace, for us to ask questions and for Nicci to sign copies of books people had bought. Ottakar’s had provided us with a bookstall for the evening. It was lovely to work with Nicci and the audience had a wonderful event.'
Esther Freud at Wimbledon Library
Esther Freud at Wimbledon Library
The Penguin Readers' Book of the Month was launched on World Book Day at the Essex Literary Festival.The chosen authors will be attending library events to support the promotion.
Esther freud visited Wimbledon Library recently as part of the promotion. Over 30 readers shared wine & nibbles with Esther who talked about how she came to write The Sea House and the research she did for it. Then she read an excerpt which held the audience spellbound and the evening finished up with a lively question and answer session.
Esther meets some of her readers
Esther is interviewed for Radio Jackie
Author interviews and further information on the Penguin Readers' Books of the Month
Mourning Ruby by Helen Dunmore
Rebecca was abandoned by her mother in a shoebox at the back of an Italian restaurant when she was just two days old. More than thirty years later she’s built a life for herself – married Adam and had her own, wonderful daughter, Ruby. But when Ruby is involved in an accident, Rebecca’s life tumbles down and she’s forced to face her loss – both as a mother and as a daughter. She reaches out to those around her, listening to the stories of their lives, in an attempt to understand her own …
Click here to read an interview with the author about Mourning Ruby.
Click here to find out more about the book and to read an extract.
The River by Tricia Wastvedt
In 1958, in a small Devon village, two children, playing in a boat on the river, are drowned. Their parents are distraught but remain in the village, living together yet estranged, for the next thirty years. Over time their tragedy becomes part of the invisible fabric of village life until, one summer's day, Anna arrives. She comes to the village to escape her own disappointments. She does not tell anyone that she is pregnant.
Anna goes to live with Isabel, and for a time the women find solace in each other's company. But the baby's arrival opens old wounds leading, inexorably, to tragedy...
Click here to find out more about the novel.
Click here to read an interview with the author.
Click here to see what The Red Kite Reading Group thought of The River.
The Sea House by Esther Freud
When Lily rents a cottage in the seaside village of Steerborough to research the life of famous architect Klaus Lehmann, she’s quickly entranced by the beautiful landscape and soon begins to question the hectic London world she inhabits with preoccupied lover Nick.
Uncovering the depth of Lehmann’s passion, not just for his work, but for his wife, Lily finds herself seduced into a new life by neighbour Grae, a man she barely knows. And she realises she must make a choice, between a past she thought she knew and a future much less certain …
Click here to find out more about the novel and to read an extract.
Click here to read an interview with the author on The Sea House.
Click here to see what the One Monday a Month reading group thought of The Sea House.
August: The Jane Austen Book Club
This month's book is perfect for reading groups. A sublime comedy of contemporary manners, this is the novel Jane Austen might well have written had she lived in twenty-first- century California. The Jane Austen Book club features a reading group who only read novels by Jane Austen.
Click here to read an interview with Karen Joy Fowler.
Click here to find out more about the book and to read an extract.
Click here to see what reading groups thought of The Jane Austen Book Club.
What does Jane Austen mean to you? We asked top Penguin authors what they think of the work of Jane Austen.
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Author interviews
