I am ashamed to say that despite having lived a mere 11 miles from Torre Abbey my entire life, I had never visited. So, what better excuse than the Agatha Christie Festival?
The festival ran from Sunday 14th - Sunday 21st and I managed to get there twice.
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| Danika looked lovely in this fetching red hat! |
The first Sunday I took my daughter for the 'All Things Vintage and Lovely Fair'. We had a wonderful time wandering among the many stalls, trying on hats and checking out the jewellery,
Having scoured the stalls, we then walked around the Abbey itself. Part-gallery, part-museum and part-historic house, it was a really interesting visit. Danika particularly enjoyed the 'Harry Potter style' moving pictures!
For me though, the best was yet to come.
Saturday morning; nervous, excited, not sure what to expect - I went back to the Abbey for the Crime Writers Workshop. This was my first ever workshop run by an actual author (Actual! Published and everything!) Honestly, I was a bit of a wreck.
Anyway, I was first in. And there to greet me was Sarah Hilary - author of Someone Else's Skin, which has been chosen for Richard and Judy's Book Club.
What a wonderful experience. Sarah created such a relaxed atmosphere that my nerves soon went and I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. Sarah gave really good advice about such things as writing a synopsis, character development and finding an agent. She was open and honest about her own journey and was a real inspiration. I also met with like-minded writers and hope that we will keep in touch to share our journeys to becoming published authors.
Sarah stayed to sign copies of her book. I wish her every success with her debut novel and the ones that will follow, she really is a lovely 'normal' (now an in-joke) person! You can follow her on Twitter here
The festival sounded brilliant, Samantha, especially the workshop. I've started following Sarah on Twitter too.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for such a later reply Jan! It was really good and Sarah was down to earth and had lots of great advice, very inspiring to hear her journey to publication.
DeleteI love Agatha Christie! Lucky you :)
ReplyDeletePop across from IOW next year Vanessa!
DeleteI love Agathe Christie! Have been devouring her books since I was...15? Would love to have been at the Crime Writer's Workshop myself. Glad u had so much fun. Maybe your daughter will follow in your foortsteps? LOL
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting woman, great to see the original artwork for her novels too! Sophie Hannah was also at the festival, as she has brought Poirot back in her novel The Monogram Murders. I don't think Danika will be following in my footsteps, she's written the odd short story, but her love is fashion :)
DeleteI was a guest author in the Waterstones tent at the Agatha Christie festival, Torre Abbey. Living in Brixham, it wasn't farctobtravel
ReplyDeleteThanks for leaving a comment, Caz. It's great to have a festival so close to us, isn't it? I missed last years unfortunately, but am planning on going in September this year! Do you also attend the Dartington Festival of Words?
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