Having so enjoyed my February outings with Yorkshire Author Promotions – you’ll find my report on the romance panel I attended here, and the lovely talk by Angela Wren here – it’s been a bit frustrating not being able to return rather sooner. But life’s now settling down again (phew!) and it was a real pleasure yesterday to attend the Books and Beverages session at Harrogate Library with West Yorkshire author Carol Warham.
Carol was part of that earlier romance panel, and I’ve now had the pleasure of meeting her a few times – as well as already having read, reviewed, and really enjoyed her lovely book, Resolutions (I’ll add a few more links below, including one to my review). Carol’s a very warm and natural speaker, and her relaxed approach was really appreciated by the audience made up of supportive author friends and quite a number of readers. If you take a closer look at the picture, you’ll see she’d also thought up a really clever way of making everyone aware of her book’s cover in the absence of paper copies – and she additionally made available printed copies of part of the opening chapter (and a lovely plate of biscuits!).
She told us more about her published book (I won’t repeat it all, but you might like to read the lovely piece Carol wrote for Being Anne back in August 2017 – you’ll find it here), and then more about her work in progress. It’s going to be a very different book – a historical romance inspired by the background of Jimmy Perez in Ann Cleeves’ Raven Black, set on Fair Isle, following the foundering of a ship that was part of the Armada. Carol’s never visited the island, and spoke fascinatingly about the research challenges – and the vast resources accessible via the internet for those small period details and an understanding of the geography, along with her clever solution to the fact that the shipwrecked sailors would have spoken Spanish. I do hope she fulfils her wish to pay a visit before the book is completed.
More of a conversation than a stuffy presentation, Carol told us much about the realities of her journey to publication, and also about some of her personal experiences, including a tribute to the supportive writing community, both local and on-line. The cover of Resolutions is remarkably similar to last year’s Christmas card from Harry and Meghan – Carol, rather proudly, shared the letter she’d received from them thanking her for her good wishes on their marriage (although we don’t know if either of them have chosen to read the book!). She told us much more too about some of the community activities she’s been involved in – including volunteering at the Huddersfield Lit Fest, where she was quite delighted when a member of Joanne Harris’ audience recognised her and told her how much they’d enjoyed her book.
It was such a lovely way to spend an hour on a weekday afternoon – I plan to return to Harrogate Library for some future events, and will also look forward to hearing more from Carol as her next novel gets closer to publication. Thank you to everyone involved… especially Carol. Here are some more details of her current book:
Resolutions (find my review here)
A few days before the New Year, Carly Mitchell returns home to the small town on the Yorkshire moors. Her intention for the short visit is to make her apologies and offer an explanation for her action. A year earlier, she fled, leaving her bridegroom and friends bewildered.
She’s met with mixed reactions, ranging from curiosity to open hostility. However, when an emergency arises, Carly agrees to change her plans and stay a little longer. Falling in love with the new local doctor, Ben Thornton, was not part of her original plan either. Especially when it appears his past is shrouded in mystery.
Complications and tensions increase during the town’s New Year celebrations and she begins to doubt whether she has done the right thing by coming home.
Can she find the resolution she needs to overcome the challenges facing her, or will she run away again?
I’m already planning my future visits to Harrogate – here’s one event that I’ve already noted in my diary…
You’ll find more details of all forthcoming events – at various Yorkshire locations – through the excellent Yorkshire Author Promotions Facebook page. If you live in the area, why not give it a like and follow – and I might just see you at a future event.
Many thanks Anne. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I certainly did and hope everyone else did also. I really don’t have a problem gabbling on! It was great to see you yet again and hopefully I’ll make some more PYA meetings before too long.
Lovely to see you Carol – and my pleasure! x