MARKETING TECHNIQUES FOR WRITERS WITH NEW BOOKS TO SELL - COURTESY OF ESSEX LIBRARIES

As many fellow writers often get a poor deal from their publishers when it comes to advertising their books, some of us have decided to lend a hand to our publishers' marketing departments and do it ourselves. You can, of course, buy our books in Waterstones, W H Smith, indie bookshops and on line, but how lovely to meet the author and have your books signed.
Many thanks 2 visitors on Saturday @ Shenfield who bought books @ MEET THE AUTHORS event.Cheque today to Marie Curie https://t.co/ICttjqjyPr

Popped into Marie Curie today to present our MEET THE AUTHORS' cheque to Chris, Manager at this special charity hop. This is from our recent author gatherings where they signed their books for readers at Billericay and Shenfield Libraries. More such events will take place around Essex in coming months.



Author Brian Evans & Andrew Burt Organiser at Thameside

To this end, yesterday was my third MEET THE AUTHOR event this time at Thameside Library in Grays Thurrock.  Organisers were Andrew Burt and Rachel Gallehawk. We enjoyed a warm welcome and a chance to meet other writers and members of local history societies, exchange ideas and business cards and even sign and sell our books to visitors  - great gifts for Christmas!

 

Here we have a a group of some of those taking part, including Brian Evans (back left) who brought some of his stable of 30 books and Andrew Summers (front row, third left next to yours truly) of The Essex  Hundred Publishing Company.  Andrew brought a collection of his books which are mainly linked to our great county.  His Metropolitan Essex  is a 'must' for anyone interested in the history of their local towns and villages and certainly for students studying the county's past. Visit him on www.theessexhundred.co.uk

More MEET THE AUTHOR events will be taking place in Essex libraries in the new year and springtime. I will advertise them on social media, Essex Library Services and, of course, this blog (around 110,000 page views to date)  Do pop along to meet some of us and have your books signed by Essex authors.

www.swwj.co.uk

ARMISTICE DAY AND REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY AT BILLERICAY

We all stop at 11.00am this morning to think about the past.  We did this a few days ago at the Remembrance Sunday service at St. Mary's church in Billericay High Street.  It's always rather a poignant occasion in this small Essex town, but how great to see so many familiar faces in the crowd - which grows larger every year. Fabulous live musical accompaniment provided for the first time by High Voltage Big Band, and lovely to meet my favourite bugler Graham who never misses this important time of the year.  Here are a few snaps of our friends who later met in the church for a cuppa.



Lord Petre and Brian Hughes MBE



John Baron MP with Flt Lt  Horncastle,Team Rector Paul Carr and Richard Shipton
  who cleverly provides the sound system

Air Training Corps cadets

 

When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow, we gave our today 

 

Kohima Epitaph