Dora Saint
Yesterday, I had the very great honour of giving a reading at Dora Saint’s memorial service. Dora wrote under the name of ‘Miss Read’ and I adore her novels – particularly the Fairacre books. They never fail to raise a smile and warm my heart. I even named four of ours hens after her characters!
The service was at St Mary’s Church in Great Shefford, deep in the beautiful Berkshire countryside – a setting which wouldn’t look out of place in a Miss Read novel. And there was a chance to chat to the other guests at the stunning Templars Barn afterwards and I got to meet the lovely Jannat Messenger who used to do the cover illustrations to the Miss Read books.
Then it was on to London for the Romantic Novelists Association’s Summer Party and the main award was won by the very lovely Jane Lovering who isn’t just a fellow writer but a fellow hen-keeper too!
And here I am with dear friend, Alice Peterson, author of the wonderful Monday to Friday Man.
So, I left Suffolk at 10 am and got back at 11 pm! But I wouldn’t have missed yesterday for the world!