Well I'm sorry, but if I'm drinking an Eggnog latte I'm going to have a festive outburst - even if it it still November

How soon is too soon...?

I was in trouble last night for having a festive outburst, and saying it's nearly Christmas - well we were drinking festive drinks from a coffee shop. What does anyone expect when I'm drinking Eggnog Latte...?

So how soon is too soon? Next week I'll be at my first Christmas fair of the season, and plan on wearing my Christmas hat! I know it's only November, but surely this is a big month for preparations for Christmas - if we all left everything until December we'd end up in a big Christmas meltdown. I've already had to pass up on several Christmas fairs because so many of them are clustered at the end of November and beginning of December, so a few early Christmas fairs are very welcome.

Lost in a Book at Christmas fairs

I had a lovely weekend at a Christmas fair in Haxby - everyone had turned out to socialise and do their Christmas shopping from local artists and crafters - I even came home with a tiny growing Christmas tree, which has taken up residence on my kitchen shelf to await some deccies...

So while everyone else is having a manic Monday, I'm having quite a chilled out one, plodding through the things that need to be done, before launching into preparations for my final weekend of Christmas fairs, in the Tithe Barn at Poppleton and Yorkshre Heart Vineyard.

There's some emergency knitting to be done as all my sheep and Basil's have gone to new homes - and if I have time I'll get another Christmas busy book made... and somewhere along the way I have Christmas cakes to make, and Christmas shopping to do...  arghh

Christmas fairs and book signings... and folding tables

So what else would an author be doing on a Wednesday morning, but trying to prise open a folding table...?

When I started writing I though that I would write my stories, and hand them over to someone else to do all the other mystical stuff that gets those stories into books and into the hands of readers everywhere. But little did I know that I was setting off on a journey that would find me illustrating my own books, publishing; and far from sending the books out into the world, I find myself taking them out there and doing book signings anywhere from a book shop to a swimming pool, and even a vineyard...

Then there's the props - an early ice breaker was handing out bookmarks - made at home on a temperamental printer, and then finding I needed a paper trimmer to cut them up...

I needed a table cloth to cover my table at fairs - and what about a banner with Lost in a Book printed on. That option proved very expensive, so I custom made a table cloth with Lost in a Book appliqued on.

Next came merchandising the books, by designing and knitted characters from the books - so far there are sheep, which have proved to be very popular with all age groups, and a more fun ice breaker than bookmarks... and cats - little ginger Basils roaming the table.

As my stuff expanded and got heavier, I invested in a crate on wheels, which has made my life so much easier, and I don't arrive staggering under the weight of books and bags...

And now, for the fairs where they don't have enough tables, or charge extra for them, I have my own fold up table. It's heavier than expected - just as well, as it is sturdy enough for lots of books - I wonder if I can balance it on wheelie create...

Christmas fairs, book signings and sunny days in Yorkshire

The Santa hat was on on Saturday for the first Christmas fair of the season - I even had a mince pie to get me in the spirit...

What a beautiful start to the day - parking by the river...

Nov 1st and not a cloud in the sky in Wetherby

I've got quite a full table 

Still no sheepdog to keep those sheep in order, but there is something new coming soon...

Christmas Book Signings start this weekend...

Lost in a Book is going mobile for the festive season. Out and about at Christmas fairs encouraging more and more people to get lost in a book.

It all kicks off this Saturday 1st November at Wetherby Town Hall with the first book signing of the season, so come along and pick up a book, or a sheep... or a book and a sheep...

And what's new from Lost in a Book...? 

Quiet / Busy Books

New from Lost in a Book - some very special 

books for babies. 

 

      

 

Christmas book signings 2014 

• Sat 1st Nov 10am - 3pm Wetherby Town Hall - Charity Christmas Craft and Gift Fair in aid of children's heart surgery fund.
• Thurs 27th Nov 7 - 9pm Knavesmire Primary School - Christmas Shopping Evening
• Sat 30th & Sun 31st Nov Haxby Memorial Hall - Christmas Fair
• Sat 6th Dec 10am - 4.30pm  Tithe Barn Nehter Poppleton Christmas Fair
• Sun 7th Dec 12 noon - 6pm Yorkshire Heart Vineyard Christmas Fair 

Book signings and Christmas fair

It's that time of year again, I'm busy booking up my weekends in November and December to do book signings at Christmas fairs...

I've got some exciting venues lined up this year, from the Tithe Barn in Poppleton to Yorkshire Heart Vineyard - yes a vineyard in Yorkshire - what an exciting new venue for a Christmas fair! I love the Christmas fair season as everyone gets ready for the festive season, and it's good to know that my books will be part of so many people's Christmas' as they emerge from the wrapping paper  - I wonder which book will be this year's bestseller...?

People like to meet a real live author, parents like to show their children the face to the name on the front cover on the books - but it's a two way thing, as an author it's great to meet my readers - as time goes on there's more and more who've already read my books, and give me feedback and which ones they liked best. The Monster Under The Bed is always a big taking point, everyone has a story to tell about the monster under their beds, and But I'm Not Sleepy is still my bestseller - it seems everyone has a Lucy...

Book signings in York

I've got a busy weekend coming up, with two days of book signings:

Saturday: I'll be at York Flea Market, this is a brand new venue which started last week, and from the pictures on facebook it promises to be a good one. With an eclectic mix of crafts on display, it's the perfect place to do a bit of Christmas shopping for things that you just can't buy on the high street.

I'll be doing a book signing, with the added attraction of my little flock of sheep. inspired by my bestseller But I'm Not Sleepy.

Sunday: I'll be at Whixley Wnter Craft Fair, a craft fair with a Christmas theme, at a village just outside York - I'd better get my Christmas hat and fairly lights ready for this one, and hope for a mince pie or two, between signing books.

Christmas fairs

It's November, which means it's Christmas fair season.

My first event of the season is next Friday 8th November 7-9pm at Huntington Primary School in York, where we'll be getting festive at a Christmas shopping evening. I'll be signing books and inviting everyone to get Lost in a Book.
I can't imagine a Christmas without a book to disappear into at some point...

Getting our heads turned by springy Santa hats

It's all go on the kitchen table this morning with my daughter and Nails Inspire at one end and me with Lost in a Book at the other... both egging each other on and booking more Christmas fairs.

New nail polishes have been created and a quote for a new print run has been requested, and all was looking very grown up and professional until we got sidetracked onto Christmas hats... Now sensible business women's heads have been turned by springy Santa hats, which we simply must have to get in the festive spirit at the Christmas fairs...

Book signings and Christmas fairs

Here I am in October and a festive feeling is sneaking in as I book a few more Christmas fairs - list to be posted when I have the confirmations.
So out with the fairy lights and Christmas sparkles - and bring it on... it's always lovely to know that some of my books are out there being lovingly wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper and nestling in Christmas stockings and under Christmas trees. :) ...now, where's that Santa hat?

A week of horsing around...

Lets hope this week is going to be a bit less hectic, with no cats needing to go to the vets(apart from the one I took today for his check up), or cars to the garage. And if I can just keep a stir-crazy cat indoors long enough to ensure his stitches don't split open, then all should be well...

Last weeks highlights saw me riding an ex-racehorse and going to The Horse of the Year Show - The Horse of the Year Show was planned months ago, but the ride on the ex-racehorse wasn't - or at least it wasn't on my plan for the day... though my daughter has probably been planning it for a while.

This week has already started well, I've been invited back to a Christmas event at the Tithe Barn in Poppleton. This was a lovely event last year, with the barn decorated for Christmas and everyone feeling very festive.

So... after all that excitement... in the morning, bright and early (or as close to mid-morning as possible), I'll be getting on with my cat book...

New date for Christmas fair...

I'm pleased to say that Manor School now have a new date for their Christmas fair:
Monday 13th December 6.45pm-8.45pm

So I've a busy weekend ahead, starting at York Guild Hall on Friday, Saturday 10am-4.30pm and Sunday 10am-4pm

Feeling festive

Just when I thought I'd finished my Christmas fairs, I came across another one - a Victorian Christmas Fair at Hesslington church, yesterday. It was a lovely event complete with a town crier who made announcements such as: Santa arriving, and that there was only one jar of jam left on the preserves stall. It was a really festive and fun event, with Christmas music and mince pies...

I sold 11 books, bringing the grand total from this year's fairs to 122!!

On a personal note - we bought our Christmas tree yesterday, so it feels like Christmas is really on it's way now. At 7ft 3" it's the biggest yet, and so far none of the cats have climbed it. Last year Lister was just a kitten and loved climbing the Christmas tree, but this year he seems a bit wary of it. He fuzzed up the end of his tail to show it how big he was when it arrived home yesterday (only the end of his tail mind - so he wasn't fully committed), maybe he was upstaged by its sheer size, but he hasn't tried anything yet...