Juliet Archer

Romantic Writing on a Summer’s Evening

That’s how my talk this week was advertised in the 2009 Hitchin Festival. Thank you to Alison of Waterstone’s for hosting the event and thank you to all who were sufficiently intrigued by the advert to come along! 

First challenge: would it be a summer’s evening? I can confirm that the skies were blue, the Pimm’s flowed and it was 7pm on 6th July. By most definitions, then, a summer’s evening!

Second challenge: would I live up to the audience expectations of romantic writing? Well, modernising Jane Austen means that I can bask in a little of her reflected glory as the inspiration behind most romantic fiction.  So most of my talk was about why and how I’m bringing her six completed novels into the 21st century, with extracts from    The Importance of Being Emma and Persuade Me. After that, I answered questions and signed books.

I had a lovely relaxed evening - thanks to a delightful audience, Alison’s organisational skills and a teeny bit of Pimm’s. And it all went very well - judging by the number of questions asked, number of books signed and favourable comments as people left.        Last but not least, I’m being invited to talk at other local festivals - so watch this space,      or rather the Events Calendar!