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#HistFicThursday - Folk Music - The Spinners

 Today, in Caithness, the sun is shining and the air is clear. I'm sure it will come as no surprise to anyone reading this blog that, certain weathers and certain times of the year ignite certain music in me. And, on late winter days which are filled with sunshine, I am usually to be found singing the songs of The Spinners . Inevitably, I start humming different ones of their songs (and of course adapting them to be about Orlando and Jess) as I go around doing different things. But I remember almost all the words to them. I haven't heard a lot of them in years, but they are all there, rooted in my memory. It is truly fascinating to think about how these songs have passed through history. They are part of my own nostalgia, which is why crisp sunny mornings make me incapable of ignoring the temptation to sing them, but they are part of something much bigger. There are songs amongst them which are a newer step in the folk music movement. Songs like Silver in the Stubble are amongs...
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#HistFicThursdays - History Writers' Day - The Legacy Lives On


Last weekend, historical writers around the globe came together for an online book fair. I've been a part of other virtual book fairs since Covid arrived on the scene, but this was the first genre-specific one I've done.

#HistoryWritersDay was the brainchild of Simon (@Books2Cover). Despite its hashtag, the event was actually two days and, over those two days, I fell even deeper in love with the fantastic world of historical fiction and non-fiction writers. Writers and publishers were offering discounts, signed copies and giveaways, welcoming and including stalwarts as well as newbies to the many realms of history.

As well as fabulous new friends, the weekend also provided a few sales along the way - most people buying The Year We Lived which continues to be a mystery as well as an adventure for readers! And I'm looking forward to hearing the feedback and reviews from these sales, and making connections there too.

The benefit of being a part of the Historical Fiction community of writers is just phenomenal. There is genuine support available as well as just enough niches to make every book beautifully individual. 

Planning ahead, Simon has already announced the 2022 event on 26th-27th November 2022. It's already on my computer calendar. Hopefully, after reading this, it should be on yours too!

Just one more thing! As part of the event, I ran a giveaway for any of my historical fiction books. I'm thrilled to announce the winner was Annie Whitehead! Congratulations, Annie, and I hope you enjoy your book!

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