When I was planning the launch of INCEPTIO at Waterstones in Tunbridge Wells, I was very keen to go and talk at my local library on the same trip.
I lived in Pembury for over 24 years and spent many happy hours in the library when my son was small (storytime) and when looking for books, CDs, DVDs,etc. As a Pembury councillor I was in on the act when public internet was introduced. Even though called a ‘village’ library, Pembury Library punches above its weight and also offers a dedicated children’s area, a book group, homework club, photocopying, fantastic info and archive services and of course, events.
After a few minutes covering my publishing journey from manuscript to finished book, I talked about the ‘real timeline’ background to the events leading up to the point where in the back story of INCEPTIO the alternate version of history began.
Warm chuckles greeted both the story of my eleven year old self asking what would a Roman society ruled by women be like, as well as the moment in the cinema which triggered the creation of INCEPTIO as a 96,000 word first draft.
At the end, there was plenty of interest in acquiring an author-signed copy of INCEPTIO. I love chatting to people individually at this stage, prehaps finding out their motivation for buying a copy.
The welcome was warm and the audience of just under twenty gave me some very thought provoking questions! And I’ve been asked back when my next book is published… 😉
Sounds like a really positive event, Alison. I also enjoyed my first library talk once I had got over the jitters! Ali B
I’d only just recovered from the Waterstones do the previous week! It was fun, friendly and enthusiastic. And people were thoroughly intrigued by the alternate history angle…