Library Event

If anyone is around on the RNA Conference Thursday evening  13th July, there's a free event at the local Wellington Library, from 7-8pm, with Kate Walker, Sarah Morgan, Freda Lightfoot, Bernardine Kennedy and Nicola Cornick. You'd be very welcome.

Great Big Blog Party #42 & #46 Winners

I've been having way too much fun here at Caerleon - with wonderful talks, Poetry Readings, socialising, eating a bit - drinking a very little bit of wine - meeting wonderful authors . . .

I've managed to grab a couple of them and get them to sign books so that I can offer them as a special Caerleon contribution to the Blog Party - so look out for that - probably at the weekend.

But first I have to hand out some prizes that some previous Guest Bloggers have picked.

I talked to lovely Iris Gower last night and showed her all the entries for her contest and she picked out a winner from here

Her winner is juliemt who wins a signed copy of Iris Gower's brand new paperback Act of Love

Congratulations julie! I have your signed copy in my bag to take home with me and post on to you as soon as I can.


And I've also heard from Bernardine Kennedy who tells me that she has picked as her winner - Christyjan

Christyjan if you email Bernardine here then she can sort out which book you want. Bernardine offered a signed copy of Old Scores or in October, a signed copy of Past Chances.
Please cc the email to me so I know it's all in hand

And I thin that Phillipa Ashley was not sure how ot announce her winner - if you'd like to email me Phillipa then I'll announce it and organise the details.

I'll be heading for home tomorrow so I'll be back on my own computer and can get things done more easily then.

But tonight is the very special Welsh Night with the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir - always a wonderful experience.

Great Big Blog Party 47 Bernardine Kennedy

Today's guest blogger is another friend I've gained through the RNA - specially the Conferences. But I was 'introduced' to her before that when another of my bloggers, mutual friend Lesley Cookman, told me about the publication of Bernardine's first book - Everything is Not Enough in 2001.

On Lesley's recommendation I bought the book and was hooked. I think it was the following year that I met Bernardine herself. She was also one of the authors who was happy to meet up with my Virgins in the Meet an Author arrangement. And we've managed to keep meeting enough at Conferences to keep up to date - just.

And after this year's conference guess where a copy of her latest book Old Scores is - on my TBR mountain

It was at this year's conference that I have to give Bernardine the credit for finding the most fascinating story in the weekend papers. That was the one about a psychiatrist who in court for having an unsuitable relationship with one (or perhaps that should be 3 ) of his patients. The lady had multiple personalities and he had a different relationship with each one. As writer, my mind was teeming with possibilities for a getting a book out of that - but I don't think it would fit into Modern Romance.

I'd offer good odds that Bernardine could manage it though.

Oh yes- and, Bernardine - I'm totally with you in being Forever Fifty . . .

Bernardine Kennedy writes contemporary ‘gritty’ women’s fiction. Her first novel EVERYTHING IS NOT ENOUGH was published in 2000 and her seventh SHATTERED LIVES is nearly complete. PAST CHANCES is out in paperback in October.

So here's Bernadine Kennedy

FIFTY BOOKS PUBLISHED. WOW. That is some achievement Kate, Huge Congratulations, I’m completely in awe. No Work Displacement Activity issues for you then?50 is a milestone figure in anything, but especially age.

Once upon a time (!) 50 on the age scale seemed hard for me to imagine; actually it’s still hard for me to imagine but from the other side now! Do I wish I was 50 again? In many ways yes I do! 40? 30? 20? Not a chance.

Never mind 16, 18 and 21, I see 50 as a coming of age birthday, especially for women.It often heralds a certain freedom and the chance to be defined as your own person, even if the neck does start to wobble a bit! Yes, 50 is good.

Therefore I have decided to be forever 50 but, unlike Kate, I will never achieve 50 books.

Happy Fiftieth!

Bernardine's Website is at: www.bernardinekennedy.com

Her Blogspot: www.bernardinekennedy.blogspot.com

GIVEAWAY QUESTION:

If you were out in the middle of the ocean on a life-raft which celebrity would you want in the raft with you and why? Who would you NOT want in the raft and why?

GIVEAWAY PRIZE:

signed copy of Old Scores or in October, a signed copy of Past Chances.