Newsletter Spring/Summer 2004

Hello again! I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying the stretch in the evenings. Let’s hope we get a good summer! Do let me know any of your own news and keep me up to date with all your writing for those who are working on books at the moment.

And a special mention for Oonagh in Cork. Good luck with the exams, Oonagh!

Best,

Sarah XXX

Book News

April is a busy month this year. I have three books out – ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ in paperback, ‘Travelling Light’ and a short story in ‘Irish Girls are Back in Town’. See below for details of the launch of ‘Travelling Light’ and the Irish Girls’ signing session.

Here is the cover of my new book ‘It Had to Be You’ which will be published by Macmillan in September.

 

Book Events

‘Romancing the Book’ Event

I am still getting great feedback from the Romancing the Book event which was held in Deansgrange library on 14^th Feb last - Click here for pictures. Keep the comments coming. We hope to do a similar event next year for all our readers. I’ll keep you up to date with all the plans.

 

Irish Girls’ Dinner in My House

I had some of the Irish Girls around for dinner recently and it was a really fun evening. We ate, drank and caught up on lots of news. Lots of us have books coming out in the next few months – so do look out for books by Tina Reilly (‘Something Borrowed’), Clare Dowling (‘Expecting Emily’), Martina Devlin (‘Temptation’).

 

‘Irish Girls Are Back in Town’ Signing Session

To celebrate the launch of this book – a collection of short stories in aid of St Vincent de Paul in Ireland, a group of 12 brave souls signed books in Eason Hannas, Waterstones, Hodges Figgis, Hughes and Hughes and were treated to wine and flowers in The Dublin Bookshop.

 

‘Travelling Light’ Book Launch

I recently edited a book of real life travel stories called ‘Travelling Light’ and we held the launch on 31^st March in Eason Hannas. And thanks to Bert and his team there for hosting the wonderful evening. It was lovely to meet some of the authors in person, and to celebrate the book together with the authors and illustrators.

Here are some photos from the night

Clare Dowling and Martina Devlin

Ann Marie O’Sullivan, Niamh Hooper, me, Caroline Morahan

 

The writers and illustrators of Travelling Light

 

Wexford Book Festival

Last weekend I had the good luck to be in Wexford - a place I love – for the Wexford Book Festival. I spoke on a panel of women authors – Patricia Scanlon, Deirdre Purcell, Sheila O’Flanagan, Martina Devlin, Aine McCarthy – and we were interviewed by Myles Dungan from Rattlebag. It was a pleasure to be there and I met some lovely authors in the pub afterwards including an old children’s book friend Eoin Colfer and his lovely wife, Jackie, and another brilliant children’s writer from Australia, Paul Jennings.

 

Image Magazine Shoot

You may have spotted several authors, including my good self, in the March edition of Image magazine. The photo shoot was great fun and thanks to all at Image for inviting us to take part. And to Lorraine at World Book Day for organising it. Here’s a photo of me and little Amy-Rose, in case you missed it.

 

New on the Website

New pages on the site include – Amy-Rose’s Reading Diary, the first part of Tips for Writers, new articles on home birth and ‘shop girls’ in the Articles section, and photos from the recent ‘Romancing the Book event’ (see the link on the home page).

 

What I’m Reading

I’m currently reading ‘Paradise Fields’ by Katie Fforde, a kind hearted book about a woman called Nel who’s trying to save a farmers’ market. It’s a gentle read and just right for me at the moment as Amy-Rose isn’t sleeping all that well, and I need something light and fun. It would make a good holiday read for those lucky enough to be going away!

I’ve just finished Colette Caddle’s new book,’ Red Letter Day’ another great read. A perfect holiday (or anytime) book.

And Adrian White’s ‘An Accident Waiting to Happen’ to be published in June is also a great read. Adrian was a colleague of mine in Eason, and he’s a great guy. The book deserves to do really well. It’s slightly darker than the books I would normally read, but beautifully written and most compelling. Look out for it in June.

I’ve just started ‘The Bad Mother’s Handbook’ by Kate Long which is excellent so far – I’ll let you know how I get on with it.

 

My Book Club

In answer to several of your questions – yes, I’m a member of a book club which meets in Dalkey library every month. I must admit I don’t make every meeting as family commitments often crop up, but try my best to attend as often as I can.

Some of the titles we’ve read recently have been – Vernon God Little, Middlesex (which I loved), The Little Friend, Girl With a Pearl Earring (along with every other book club in Ireland!) and The Dancer.

 

Sailing

Summer’s just around the corner - time for our J24 to come out of winter storage - yippee! I’ll take some photos of our crew for the next newsletter.

 

Holidays

We’re West Cork bound this summer – for some sailing – the Enterprise Worlds in Crosshaven, Cork and to our family house in Castletownshend in West Cork for some much needed R and R. I’ll let you know how we get on the sailing – but don’t hold your breath – Ben and I haven’t sailed together since before Amy-Rose was born – in fact long before this as I wasn’t the most agile in a boat whilst pregnant as you can imagine! But the Worlds will be great fun and I can’t wait.

 

Have a great April, May and June. I’ll send another newsletter towards the end of the summer to keep you up to date. Do drop me a line if you feel like it – I love hearing from readers (and writers) – sarah@sarahwebb.info

All the Best,
Sarah XXX