Always difficult to follow up a successful first time out event but Meg Reid, the Festival Director, managed it with seeming ease. Held at the Orwell Hotel, whose staff really got behind the event, and with the use of the Elizabeth Suite to hold talks, host the bookshop and a place where snacks and drinks could be bought and consumed while chatting about what was to come, meant that the event moved efficiently and smoothly.
I was rather nervous when I arrived as I was to introduce four authors over the weekend, plus the speaker at the dinner on Saturday night but preparation is all and I had read and googled and got my notes and what I was going to say all ready. First up was Liz Trenow who gave a wonderful talk about her book The Forgotten Seamstress which I reviewed here and the quilt which was at the heart of the story. Very well attended and totally fascinating.
Then I found myself in the wonderful position of introducing Dr Helen McCarthy who was there to talk about her book Women of the World and if there is anybody out there who does not know that Helen is my daughter, then all I can say is Where Have You Been?? I was worried that I might burst into tears so proud was I but managed to restrain myself and sat there listening to her talk given with great aplomb and style and knowledge and thought This is my Daughter........
The whole day was made even better by the purchase of the Guardian which featured her book and a fantastic review, ditto the Telegraph.
In the evening we had a dinner at the Orwell and the staff, particularly Kostas who was in charge, were so helpful and delightful and any nerves I may have had were soothed. I found I could not eat a great deal as I was keeping an eye on things and knew I had to stand up to introduce Steven Gauge who was an absolute sweetie. His chat was witty and funny and went down well and it seems, according to his blog, that I am a 'charming prolific blogger'. Not going to argue with that.....
Weather throughout the weekend was pretty atrocious and rainy but did not seem to daunt the many attendees and the whole event was a great success. Meg had an enormous gang of volunteers who manned desks, sold tickets, fixed up microphones, sorted out screens and she and they are to be congratulated on giving of their time and enthusiasm to help the whole thing go with a swing.
Steven Gauge ended up his talk on Saturday by praising communities who pull together and make things happen and said that Felixstowe Book Festival was a prime example of what you can do if you have a good idea and the goodwill and enthusiasm to make it into reality.
My congratulations to all concerned.
