Blogger and author Shananigans

When Mary and I decided to go to London together, we asked Holly to organize one of zhese event right in that weekend. I was never able to make one of these, so i was really excited.

The event took place on the roof top of the Big Chill House. Shortly after Mary and I arrived, Holly and Kim walked in. I gave them both a big hug. Holly I have met before, but I was finally meeting Kim. We have known each other for so long inline, it was about time. She is such a lovely lady. More and mire people arrived, one if them being Liz Eeles, who wrote Annie's Lovely Choir by the Sea, which I adore, especially since I sing in a choir myself. Jan Ellis, Heide Goody, Lynne Shelby and Fiona Wilson were one of the first ones too. We slowly got oursleves some food as well and mingled. I got really excited when Heidi-Jo Swain arrived. We have almost known each other ever since I have started blogging, she has become a successful author in the meantime. I have read her debut and I just adore her writing. We talk sometimes kn Facebook or Twitter, but it was so fabulous to finally met her in persin and getting to know her better. Jenni Keer came with her, she is an aspiring author and she is just so lovely. Then there was the lovely Carrie Elks, I loved her book called Fix You, it was fab to finally meet the author behind it. The other blogger there was lovely Anette, we have been following each other for a while, but never met. Then there were Carol Cooper, Fiona Harper etc. and we also had one man amongst us, he left quite quickly again though. Towards the end Rebecca Chance showed up as well.

Mary, Holly and I enjoyed catching up with each other, we talked wedding, mutual friends and much more, miss these two fab ladies!!! ❤️

We were quite a small group, which helped for keeping the overview. Initially there were about 45 signed up to come, I think we were about 20 in the end. I have to say I was a bit disappointed, because I was really excited that some authors were meant to come, like Kirsty Greenwood or Isabelle Broom, but sadly they didn't make it. A lof of people cancelled the day before or even on the day, which I don't understand, ever heard of the word "planning"?!
Anyway I enjoyed the adternoon very much. It was great to meet new people and catching up with some other. I think we were a fun bunch of people and it turned out to be a winderful afternoon.

Thanks to Holly and Kim for organizing.

Authors I Have Met in Person

I’ve been a book blogger for three years and I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of my fave authors in person.

It all started New Year’s Eve 2014. I spent a few days in Christmassy London and I got to meet the lovely Pat Elliott. She lives in Scotland now, which is a pity, bit I’m very grateful I got to meet this wonderful woman. She has become a lovely friend and I can talk to her about anything. We spent a great day in London, going to Somerset House, walking around and drinking coffee. She’s not only an author, but also does reflexology and draws wonderful pictures. Read the post about this trip HERE.

with Pat Elliott in London

In March 2015 I went to my first author event. Rebecca Raisin came all the way from Australia and hosted an Afternoon Tea at 5th view (Waterstones Piccadilly). There I also got to meet Karen Aldous, another author from Carina UK. These women are both really lovely and it was fab meeting them in person and getting to know them. HERE is the post about this event. 

with Rebecca Raisin at 5th View

with Karen Aldous at 5th View

The next event that took me to London was in October 2015 for Holly Martin’s book launch. Holly Martin is one of my favourite authors and has become a great friend, of course I jumped at the chance to meet her. The event was fabulous and it was so awesome to meet Holly in person and hug her. She is a wonderful person and I’m really lucky to call her my friend. At this event there were lots of other authors as well. I got to see and chat to Karen Aldous again. Then there were Cesca Major, Kat Black, Katy Colins, Tilly Tennant/Sharon Sant, Annie Lyons and Ann Troup. This was absolutely amazing! It was so much fun talking to them and getting to know them properly. Read about the launch HERE. 

with Holly Martin at her book launch

with Cesca Major at Holly Martin's book launch

with Katy Colins at Holly Martin's book launch

with Tilly Tennant at Holly Martin's book launch

with Karen Aldous at Holly Martin's book launch

with Kat Black

In April 2016 I went to the States and in New York I met up with two authors: Hilary Grossman and Meredith Schorr. We went for a yummy lunch and talked books. Read about my New York City adventure HERE. 

That trip took me to Dallas afterwards, where I finally got to meet my second momma Wendy aka Aven Ellis. She is one of my fave authors and we are really close friends. It was amazing meeting her in person, she is wonderful and we had an awesome few days together!!! Thanks faux momma, I miss you! HERE is more about my Dallas adventure. 

with Meredith Schorr and Hilary Grossman in New York

with Aven Ellis at a Dallas Stars game

Last but not least, I went to London in October 2016 to a event hosted my Fabulous Mag including three authors: Lindsey Kelk, Giovanna Fletcher and Mhairi McFarlane. As soon as I saw that Lindsey is coming to the UK, I was prepared to book my flight, I just had to wait for the event. When it got announced, I got even more excited!!! Three authors, one of them being one of my faves, then Mrs Gi Fletcher (I adore her books) and Mhairi McFarlene (I own three of her books, haven’t read them though). Well, I booked immediately. The event was absolutely fabulous. Read about it HERE. It started with a panel, where the three authors just answered some questions. Then we were able to meet the authors and get our books signed. all three of them were so lovely and it was so great to finally meet them. 

with Lindsey Kelk

with Giovanna Fletcher

with Mhairi McFarlane

This is my list. One of my big dreams is to meet Paige Toon. And then there are also some others I’d like to meet, hopefully in the following years. I’m very grateful for each and every one of the ones I have met, it’s the best thing for a book blogger. 

Fabulous Night In with Lindsey Kelk, Giovanna Fletcher and Mhairi McFarlane

It really happened!!!

I follow Lindsey Kelk on snapchat and I'm a huge fan of her writing! When she annonced that she will be on tour for We Were on a Break I got really excited, cause pub date was right around my holidays and then there it was, the first secret event on October 11 that then turned into the fab night in. Lindsey is one thing, but then Gi as well (love her books) and last but not least Mhairi too (I have her books, haven't read them though, shame on me I know), that's just the event to go to. So I booked!

Now, you can guess the location! Well it's the 17th floor of the News Building which wad very exciting and the view is just awesome! Can I work there please?!

When I got to the building, there was a huge queue outside. We all had to get our bags checked and got a little band. Then it was elevator time and I was pretty impressed when I got up there. The first thing I did was get wine, then I bought one book of each author (1 was free, the others only 5 pounds).

While standing in the queue outside I saw Kelly and Amy and afterwards also Derna. I went to sit with Kelly and Amy. We had pretty good seats in third row. It was great finally meeting the two of them and chatting. It took quite a while until the actual event started, cause there were so many people.

But then it started!!! Lindsey, Gi and Mhairi so close! Claire Frost from Harper Collins hosted the event. She of course introduced the three authors and then had some exciting questions for them. The first 30 min were also streamed on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/simonascornerofdreams/ it's in the feed of my Facebook page). One of the questions was: who of your male characters would you snog, avoid and marry. The three authors were all so funny and wonderful to listen to. The talked about their books, their lives and many more things. We heard a little more about their next book (all a secret really, especially Lindsey's 😉). They were all three really open and honest about their writing organization  planning and the actual process. I loved listening to them all and I think the three of them had great chemistry. Of course I was especially excited to see and hear Lindsey life, but also Gi. She is such a lovely person and the fact that she comes from acting and music, makes me think I could do that as well. With Mhairi it was just lovely to get to know her and she made me even more curious about her books now.

After the panel part it was time to get our books signed. The queue for that was endless. I stood there with Kelly and Amy and then suddenly we realised that there were three different queues, one for each author. I stayed with Lindsey and the other two eventually went for Gi first, we were still able to stand next to each other though. While waiting we finally got to talk to lovely Derna, she is such a sweetie! It was actually quite fun, cause Derna, Kelly and I are all beta readers for Aven Ellis. Of course we had to take a little pic for our momma, thanks Amy 😉. Anyway it was so lovely meeting these three ladies.

Back to the fab author ladies though. After I don't know how long, I got to meet Lindsey!!!! She is SO awesome in person!!! We chatted about karaoke, snapchat and other things. She didn't have to ask for my name and she loves my snaps, thanks Lindsey, you're a sweetheart!!! I gave her a little present (she opened it back at the hotel and thanked me for it, so glad you liked it Lindsey). Of course she also signed her book for me and we took a picture.
Then I continued to queue for Gi, that didn't take so long. She is a real sweetie, so nice!! After a short chat, she signed the book and we took a photo.
And then I also queued for Mhairi, she is so lovely!!! Photo and signed book, yay!!!

After that I left happy and full of excitement. I got to meet three fabulous authors, I now own three more digned books and most of all I had a fun evening surrounded by books, wine, blogging friends and authors! Dream come true!

After the event I also found out that there were some other lovely people at the event and I didn't see them, such a shame. Isabelle Broom was there and blogger Jill Stratton and also Lucie Wheeler. I actually looked at her several times and thought that she looked familiar! On Twitter I then found out that she felt exactly the same 😂 next time.

A big thank you to the three authors, fabulous mag for hosting and of course Claire. Can't wait for the next event, hopefully with Paige Toon 😉.