Author: gretayorke

Well, the Wee Mac Children’s Book Festival was a great success. After a bit of stress with the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry issues I finally set off from Troon on a glorious afternoon. The sea was like a mill pond, not a ripple. I opted to sit out on deck in the best, most glorious sunshine of the summer. The ferry was busy but I managed to find a seat between a group of ‘thirty somethings’ on their way to a beer festival and two Geordie bikers who hoped to climb Goat Fell. We were joined by some frolicking dolphins en route! Between one thing and another, it was a most entertaining experience!

When we docked at Brodick, a courtesy bus was waiting to take people to the book festival and I hopped on board. I met up with Alison, the organiser exceptional, and was then taken to the nearby hall where delicious homemade soup and baking was on offer for participating authors. The very kind ‘Mary’ was assigned to transport me to and from my accommodation as she lived close by.

I had a ticket to hear Sally Magnasson talking about her latest novel, which was most interesting, then Mary took me to my friend Sheila’s house.

Next day Mary promptly arrived and took me down into Brodick where I browsed round the shops which were open before returning to the hall for more delicious soup, cake and shortbread. When it was time for my reading, I headed across to the museum where a marquee had been erected for the festival. I had a most enjoyable time reading Tartan Witch to the appreciative audience then the children solved a wordsearch of Scots words before making little witch finger puppets.

The whole experience was super, the event was so well organised, the hospitality superb and everyone involved was most welcoming.

As the ferry was delayed I had time to enjoy a fish supper from the chippy at the pier head before boarding and returning across the Clyde, no dolphins this time!

The Wee Mac Children’s Book Festival was a great success!

I’m just getting things into the suitcase for my trip across the Clyde to Arran where I shall be reading Tartan Witch at the Wee Mac Children’s Book Festival tomorrow. The weather has been kind and it will be a pleasant sail across. I’m going to hear Sally Magnusson talking about her latest novel this afternoon so that’ll be interesting.

I’ve been busy getting ‘merch’ ready for future events. Tartan Witch tea towels are in the process of being printed and I’ve been making finger puppets for some of my book characters. So far I’ve got Tartan Witches, Sly foxes and Ickle Prickles! This should enhance my table presentation and hopefully engage more customers!

I intend to write about my Arran experience so…watch this space!

Well, we’re halfway through another year. I have not been to many book fairs so far but book sales have been steady. I’m in a quandary just now whether to have Tartan Witch and the Highland Escapade reprinted. 🤔 I have The Wee Mac Book Festival coming up and I’m really looking forward to meeting the children in Arran and reading Tartan Witch to a new audience.
I was in Normandy for the 80th Anniversary of the D Day landings there. My father was one of those brave men who travelled in wooden gliders and crash-landed at Pégasus Bridge early on D Day. I always find it so moving when I walk around the cemetery at Ranville, the first village captured by the Allies, and reading the inscriptions on the graves. So sad. All the celebrations this year were well organised and Normandy was heaving with military personnel and vehicles. Perhaps I may be inspired to write about the experience, but not yet.

This week I was delighted to receive this photo, it’s always great to receive feedback and I do hope this young fan continues to enjoy my books. It’s never too soon to snuggle down with a good book!

It’s 25th January, a special day here in Scotland, when we celebrate our national bard’s birthday and I was invited to read my Tartan Witch and the Highland Escapade to the Primary 2s at Annanhill Primary School. I was delighted to hear the ensemble reciting The Crocodile which is their Scots Language poem for this year. They were very good!

It was lovely being in among such an engaged audience. As I read the story there was much discussion and observation. The children were particularly knowledgable about Highland Games which was heartening.

After the story was read we went on to discuss the map at the back with its key and the witches’ journey. At the Q and A afterwards the children asked really pertinent questions.

I’m hoping they enjoyed the story as their next task was to write a book review for Tartan Witch and the Highland Escapade. Fingers crossed! ✍🏻

Well! What can I say? The year 2020, which I thought was going to be a perfect year (20/20 vision and all that!) was the worst ever! So many with COVID-19, so many deaths, it puts the situation of selling almost no books into perspective!
I just had no idea when I set about publishing my latest book, Tartan Witch and the Highland Escape, that the year would pan out the way it did. In July I had an attempt at a virtual launch but that, although I enjoyed the experience, proved futile as far as promoting and selling went. Oh how I miss being able to visit schools to read my stories.

The one positive thing about the lockdown and restrictions was that, after five years thinking about it, I finished my children’s novel, Virtual Darkness. I am ashamed to say that this would probably not have been completed otherwise….a truly shameful admission! My problem now is to try to get this published.
The story is about a young lad who is at quite a low edge. Whilst taking out his two young siblings on Hallowe’en night, he loses them. And so a journey of discovery begins. It’s told with humour, holds important messages and is aimed at the 8-12 age group, mind you adult friends who have read it enjoyed it so who knows!

In lockdown once more I am now trying to edit and redraft yet another story so who knows….maybe another novel! Who’da thunk it?