Now, if you read a couple of my previous posts in Dorothy Says you’ll know that libraries are very important to me. I think they’re an important part of the community – for writers and non writers. I’m sure I’ve mentioned more than once how, when I was growing up, I used to visit my local library on the way home from school to read books and to read about how to write books. The library near where I grew up is responsible in no small way for the person I am today.

It was pretty Arctic weather on National Libraries Day, but 80 people still turned up to see 11 authors read from their work. An astounding number of people. It was a pretty amazing afternoon. The audience were brilliantly attentive and it was a joy to hear other people read from their work. By the end of it I felt like I had read several books and I was desperate – I kid you not – to read the rest of the novels I’d heard excerpts from.

Every book was different, just like the authors were all different, but we were all there because of a belief in the importance of libraries. And I’m so proud to have had the chance to take part in something so momentous.

Not only am I going to continue to lend my support to any efforts made to Save Libraries, I’m also going to make a real effort to use my local library even more – because unfortunately, thanks to our current government, we really don’t know how much longer it’ll be before they’re gone.

See you soon
Dorothy x

Since most of my time has been taken up with said ‘WRITING! WRITING! WRITING!’ I haven’t been on this site, Twitter, Facebook, my local high street very much at all. I’ve mostly been tucked up in bed (‘my office’ as my OH affectionately calls it while removing a stack of research books from his pillow), immersed in the new world I’m creating. It’s a bit odd being so shut off from the world, but, this is what I do, this is what I love, so I can’t really complain.

The new book is called The Rose Petal Beach and is out in the autumn (the trailer’s on the home page). I’m very excited about it – I always am about a new book, let’s be honest – but I’m especially excited about this one as it’s the first book to be released by my new publishers Quercus.

Everything is changing and as I think I’ve said before, I’m not a fan of change, but I almost always embrace it and it’s almost always for the best. So while I’m not its biggest fan, I do appreciate change in my life. Lots of other things will be changing in the coming months, so I’ll try to keep you informed when I can tear myself away from my newest set of characters.

Hope all is good with all of you.

Love
Dorothy x