Natalie Kleinman Freelance Writer: September 2019

It’s been weeks since you last saw me here. I wouldn’t for a single moment want you to think it’s because I’ve had nothing to say. Does that ever happen? In fact I’ve been extraordinarily busy. Maybe a list is the best way to describe it:

29^th August – I met my publishers at Sapere Books in person for the first time...

Amy Durant, Editorial Director

Caoimhe O’Brien, Marketing Director

Richard Simpson, Operations Director

I was understandably slightly nervous. After all, there were three of them and only one of me. My trepidation disappeared in the blink of an eye and I began to believe I’d won the Lucky Dip. It didn’t really come as a surprise. We’d communicated online so I was fairly confident we’d get on but what a pleasure to meet REAL people. I can’t wait to get down to work with them. Here is my link on their website if you’d like to see what’s to come.

https://saperebooks.com/authors/natalie-kleinman/

After snatching a week’s holiday in sunny Eastbourne during the first week of September things took off big time. It’s been a whirlwind of a month.

9^th September – Visit to the House of Lords

As a member of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists I attended the AGM in one of the committee rooms at the House, introduced by Baroness Floella Benjamin, the society’s president. Following this (and a scrumptious tea) we were so lucky to be treated to a tour of the House by Floella and her husband, a wonderful couple who work as a team. It was a privilege and a day I shall never forget.

The lovely Floella Benjamin and SWWJ members

11^th September – The People’s Friend Workshop at DC Thomson, Fleet Street

This was a full on day. The workshop was entitled ‘Write a Serial for the “Friend”’ and was run by Shirley Blair, Fiction Editor at The People’s Friend and Alison Carter, an experienced writer for the “Friend”. It had long been my ambition to meet Shirley who has been my editor since my first short story was accepted in 2012 and I was delighted to have the opportunity of spending the day with her and 22 others writers.

23 writers all hard at work

On the same day one of my stories appeared in The People’s Friend Special. It was set in England’s Regency, the period in which I now write my books, and a delightful coincidence that the two things coincided. I was a very happy bunny.

My People's Friend Story

14^th September – The RNA York Tea and Joan Hessayon Award Presentation

Not one to miss the opportunity for a ‘jolly’, three friends – Elaine Everest, Elaine Roberts and Francesca Capaldi (one of this year’s contenders for the award) - and I decided to make a weekend of this event and travelled up by train from London on Friday the 13^th. Far from being horrific, we had a wonderful time, meeting other friends who joined us later. We steeled ourselves for the obligatory visit to the famous Bettys Tea Room. It had to be done! York is a beautiful city and I walked further in three days than I have for a very long time. And we went for a short cruise on the River Ouse. The ‘Tea’ on Saturday was a fabulous event. Held at the Merchant Taylors Hall, we were plied with lovely sandwiches and cakes before the main event, the presentation. This year’s winner was Lorna Cook with her debut novel, The Forgotten Village. My congratulations to her and to all the other contenders, each of whom was a winner, having graduated from the RNA New Writers Scheme with their book being published.

Lorna Cook - Joan Hessayon Award Winner 2019

I was delighted to have a further opportunity to chat with Amy Durant who was present as one of the final judges and to meet Natalie Linh Bolderston, Editorial Assistant at Sapere, whom she brought with her.

Since then (was it only two weeks ago?) I’ve been busy preparing for what promises to be a fabulous event on 25^th October when I am lucky enough to be one of twenty-five authors at a book-signing event at The Grand in Folkestone. I hope some of you will be able to join us from 7-9pm. And here we are: