I seem to have been spending an increasing time in Norfolk in the past few weeks and this weekend took the trip up to Aylsham to visit a new book festival.
It's called the Mannington Book Bash and has been organised by Henry Layte, the owner of the Book Hive in Norwich. This is its second year and it's held in the grounds of a medieval house and its gardens.
The weather was perfect on Saturday, sunny but not too hot, and there was a lovely relaxed atmosphere as people admired the stunning setting, drank coffee on garden benches and then went into the marquee for the various talks from a rather impressive line-up of speakers.
I only had time for one session but I'd chosen well - it was David Nicholls, the author of 'One Day' speaking about his latest novel 'You Are Here'. He had so much to say about the process of writing - how he plans meticulously, how he can produce up to six drafts of a book as he produces it from scratch each time an edit is needed, and how he finds it a lonely and solitary job being a novelist when his previous life as a screenwriter meant there was always someone at the end of a phone to help if he was struggling with ideas for a scene.
He was extraordinary in how much he was prepared to share with the audience about the technical details of writing, while also being entertaining and amusing.
It was a lovely day. So energising to be in beautiful surroundings, listening to a writer who was so humble and generous in all he had to say, and meeting strangers who were keen to talk about books. I met one lady who used to be in Elspeth Barker's book group and another lady who had made the journey to Norfolk for the event despite living in London and regularly attending a vast array of author talks held in locations which were much more convenient.
I wonder if anyone will be making a journey to join us at The Riverside for our author events in the next couple of months. Woodbridge is certainly a lovely location for a weekend break, and an author talk is one of the most satisfying and memorable diversions I can think of! Do spread the word and encourage visitors to join us for our Sunday evening with Matt the cartoonist and our Sunday afternoon with printmaker Angela Harding. (And don't forget the early bird prices for bookings before 14 October!)
Thank you for reading.