Event: ‘Growing up in Fiction’ with Isabel Ashdown and Tom Connolly, Hove Library 27 Jan

Book groups, reading clubs and book lovers are warmly invited to join Tom Connolly and Chichester Book Club author Isabel Ashdown as they discuss writing fiction, creating characters of all ages and the exploration of family relationships.

Isabel Ashdown and Tom Connolly’s first novels are both rich depictions of the complex emotional terrain of family life, and both authors very effectively write from the perspective of characters of all ages.

Literary agent Adrian Weston will interview Isabel and Tom about their writing, plus there will be readings from the novels as well as a chance for readers and aspiring writers to ask questions and talk to all three informally in the interval.

Books will be for sale at a special discount, signed by the authors:

6.30pm for 7pm start


How to book:

For more information call Hove Library on 01273-296937

‘Glasshopper’ by Isabel Ashdown Longlisted for Waverton Good Read 2010/2011

Every year the residents of Waverton make an award to the best British debut novel published in the previous 12 months.

Congratulations to Chichester Book Club author Isabel Ashdown whose debut novel Glasshopper has been selected amongst the longlist of 20 debut novels.

Previous winners:

  • 2004 Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
  • 2005 Jonathan Trigell – Boy A
  • 2006 Marina Lewycka – A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
  • 2007 Nicola Monaghan – The Killing Jar
  • 2008 Paul Torday – Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
  • 2009 Tom Rob Smith – Child 44
  • 2010 Andrew Sharp – Ghosts of Eden

The shortlist will be announced March/April, with the final winner being revealed in July 2011.

51st Romantic Novel of the Year Award – CBC Author Longlisted

Chichester Book Club author Gabrielle Kimm’s novel ‘His Last Duchess’ has been long-listed for the Romantic Novelists’ Association ‘Romantic Novel of the Year 2011.

The list of twenty novels includes an impressive selection of best sellers – among them Katie Fforde, Jojo Moyes and Sarah Duncan.

A shortlist will be announced on February 10th, and the winner will be named on March 7th 2011.

Congratulations and good luck Gabrielle!

Pauline Rowson: Launch of the Crime Writers’ Association Young Crime Writers Competition 2011, 10th January

Pauline Rowson will launch the second annual Young Crime Writers Competition with participating libraries in Portsmouth, Southampton, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

The competition is open to young people between the ages of 11-18. Pauline is the judge of the South Coast entries and the winner will go forward for the National prize which will be announced during National Crime Writing Week 13 – 19 June.

The deadline for entries is Friday 18 February 2011.

Happy New Year to Book Clubs and Reading Groups!

It’s New Year: a time for well-meant resolutions and optimism.

For authors everywhere, it’s a time to re-open notebooks and get back to work on their latest creations, and for readers, it’s a great time to open a new book and discover a new author.

In the Spring we will announce our latest releases, but until then, here’s a reminder of some of the award winning books from Chichester authors, along with links to their Book Group Reading Guides.

Click on the book covers below to find out more . . .

 

The TV Book Club have also announced their January Reads; another vibrant and varied selection which should be worth a look:

Room by Emma Donoghue

The Long Song by Andrea Levy

The Junior Officers’ Reading Club by Patrick Hennessy

Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna

The News Where You Are by Catherine O’Flynn

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Whatever you choose to read next, we hope it’s a great read.  All the very best for 2011!

 

 

Isabel Ashdown Book Signing, Waterstone’s Chichester, 18th December

Isabel Ashdown AuthorThis Saturday Chichester Book Club author Isabel Ashdown will be at the Chichester branch of Waterstones from 11am, signing copies of her award winning debut novel Glasshopper and chatting to readers.

Glasshopper was recently translated in Germany as Am Ende eines Sommers, where it was shortlisted for the Reader’s Choice Awards, ‘Der Leserpreis – Die Besten Bucher 2010′.

Isabel’s latest novel Hurry Up and Wait will be released by Myriad Editions in May 2011.

To find out more about the book signing this Saturday, please click here.