Running Towards Publication
We are moving towards the longest days of the year, choruses of birdsong, glorious scents wafting from the flowers. However, over these last few weeks I have had little or no time to sit back and enjoy the arrival of full-blown summer. We are three weeks away from publication of ONE SUMMER IN PROVENCE and I have been running to and fro filled with energy and excitement.
Two weeks ago I was in Kerry for the Listowel Literary Festival. This is the fourth or fifth time that I have attended this fabulous festival. The very first time was some twenty years ago when I drove from my cottage in County Offaly and took my wonderful late mother along with me. We had a ball. This year, I was one of the two judges for the very prestigious Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year award, which was won by Niall Williams for Time of the Child.
The shortlist was incredibly strong and it was a very tough choice. We celebrated all five shortlisted novelists. Paul and I also did an event together, reading from our own latest works along with fellow novelist, lovely Andrew Meehan. The two days fled by. They were filled with much laughter, lively conversations and a deep appreciation and respect for all the stories that bring us together, for the joys of writing and reading. I was very sorry to leave.
Afterwards, I flew in to London where I spent five days recording ONE SUMMER IN PROVENCE for audio. It should be published on 3rd July, same date as the novel and ebook. W.H.Howes will audio publish it as they have all my previous works.
The reviews are starting to come in. See above an extract from the magazine France Today’s review, which I am delighted with. Kate Mosse, Joanne Harris, Jenny Colgan, Miriam Margolyes along with several other revered authors have read the book and given short quotes to accompany the novel. Here you can see some of them on Amazon.
The novel can be pre-ordered now from Amazon or your local indie and high street bookshops. If you are outside the UK, Blackwells, will take the order and ship to your destination anywhere in the world without any shipping costs. Here is the link (the price quoted is in euros because I am writing this from the euro zone!)
Have a look at the Events in the sidebar on my website and you will see that there are several exciting outings booked for me and the book, including several bookshop readings.
In Edinburgh, for example, on 12th July, Jenny Colgan and I will do an event together, which should be a hoot.
Amongst others, I will also be in Monaco at the glorious Princess Grace Irish Library, always a privilege and delight to visit there.
It is getting very exciting. And, of course, I am a little bit nervous. I hope that you will order the book and when you have read it you will let me know how you have enjoyed it.
I will write again just before publication and fill you in on any updates.
I am writing this from the garden at our Mad Old Chateau, east of Paris. This weekend Michel, my husband, is running a Japanese documentary film festival to be held at the cinema, Les 7 Parnassians, 98 Boulevard du Montparnasse. So, he is as busy as I am!
If you are in Paris, please do come along. I haven’t had time to see any of the films yet so I am looking forward to the weekend. Here’s the link. If you are in Paris, come and see a film, introduce yourself and join us for a glass of wine!
Otherwise, I look forward to hearing from you and perhaps meeting you at one of the splendid events being arranged for ONE SUMMER IN PROVENCE. Publishing date, 3rd July.
Wishing you Happy Warm Summer Days
Carol
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