Felice, right, with June and Jane. Photo: © Gill Harry, Frome Writers Collective
A couple of weekends ago, I spend the day at the Authors and Small Publishers Fair in Bath. The event made me remember why I love the writing community. There were familiar faces from FWC in Frome, authors like Debbie Young and Jane Duffus who I’d given talks with at past festivals, and lots more I’d never met before.
I shared a stand with two fellow Frome authors, June Ruthven and Jane Hughes. We exchanged notes about other events, and I made a book swap with Aletta Stevens, an author who’s written a book, The Remarkable Journey of Mr Prins, on a similar subject to mine.
Sometimes I wonder whether those fairs are worth going to. You don’t sell nearly as many books as after talks at festivals – mainly because there’s a lot more competition. But networking is vital to authors who otherwise lead rather a solitary writing life.
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A review that caught my attention
Every so often, a message arrives that makes writing a book really worthwhile. I recently received this email from Andrew, who borrowed The Tennis Champion Who Escaped the Nazis from his local library in Windermere. I asked his permission to share his words in full:
Dear Felice,
I hope all well with you. I have to tell you I have just read your book about your grandmother Liesl Herbst and it is one of the best books I have ever read.
Stunningly told, moving and a quite incredible story. I got to the bit last night where Trude and family were shot and I was actually crying before I turned the light off in bed. What a dreadful fate after going through so much.
So well done on the book but if you haven’t already approached film companies or TV to film the story as a movie or miniseries you really have to. I have seen many movies here and in the States but there is nothing to beat this one especially with the tennis and Wimbledon aspect.
Anyway Felice you are a superb author and thanks again for giving the world such a remarkable story about your extraordinary family. So fantastic you are keeping their memories alive. They must never be forgotten.
With kind regards,
Andrew
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I’m never sure how readers will react to my writing. I hope it will move them, make them think. When someone tells me they were in tears, I suddenly grasp the huge responsibility of telling such a story.
And yes, Andrew – I have thought about film and television!
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The next story
Many friends and fellow authors ask me how the new book is progressing.
After a year of writing and rewriting, Peter and I have finally finished and the manuscript is now with our editor, Duncan Proudfoot (who was my editor on The Tennis Champion Who Escaped the Nazis). It’s also been through the first stage of Silver Crow Books. It feels strange to hand it over. We still have a long way to go, as next we have to find a publisher! My previous publisher, AdLib, is no longer accepting books in the memoir/creative non-fiction genre.
This new book is different, yet there are similarities to my last one as well. The story is about real lives, the Second World War, and exile – and like my last book, it also looks forward. But that’s where the similarities end. We’ve put our heart into it and I’m looking forward to sharing more in the coming months.
Anyway, thank you to everyone who reads, borrows from libraries, attends events, and sends messages like Andrew’s. It means a lot to me.
Felice on her stand at the publishing fair. Photo: © Michael Philips
