I've just got back from listening to two great author talks organised by Suffolk Libraries at The Hold in Ipswich. Jyoti Patel shared how she came to write her first novel 'The Things That We Lost' and Guardian journalist Amelia Gentleman talked about her investigation into the immigration system which led to her book 'The Windrush Betrayal'.
I hadn't read either of their books before signing up for their events, but I'm always eager to find someone new and the DiscoveReads programme by the library service seemed a trustworthy source, and so it proved. I'll be telling you more about these books in the coming weeks.
Meeting writers and hearing them talk about their work rarely disappoints, I find, and of course we had a treat earlier this week with the visit by historian and novelist Alison Weir introducing her latest book 'The Cardinal'. Alison told us that her extensive career of 37 books selling more than three million copies has also built up a tally of 1,100 events! We were pleased that The Riverside Woodbridge could be added to that number.
At all the events I attended this week, there were plenty of informed and perceptive questions from the audience, and I've particularly noted how courteous and appreciative people have been in approaching the author. Many times people began their query with a comment about how much they enjoyed the book they had read, or how much the author meant to them and how grateful they were for the event taking place. I'm sure this must often be the case but it's struck me recently, perhaps because this politeness and gratitude isn't seen so often elsewhere.
The time and trouble taken by authors to travel to Suffolk is often not insignificant and I think we are all increasingly recognising the value of meeting together in person and to learn from and share with each other. It's been very rewarding.
There are a number of opportunities to meet authors in the coming weeks. I've mentioned Julia Jones below, and she's speaking at the Felixstowe Book Festival which takes place at the end of the month.
But throughout the weekends of June it's Open Studios in Suffolk where we can meet artists to view their work. Two members of the Woodbridge Book Group - Debbi Francis and Kate Laydon - will be inviting us into their workspaces so take a look at the Open Studios programme here.
Thank you for reading.