Indie Pop-Up signing Manchester January 30th 2016

2/2/2016

Last weekend marked the first signing of the year for Indie authors, and it went with a bang!

The Indie Pop-Up Signing in Manchester organised by author Elena Mathews was a completely different signing than I've done before, but I think it may now be my favourite so far.
Intimate was the word used to describe it, and it's the perfect way. With only ten authors and limited tickets--which were free, the event was held inside Chapter One Bookstore in Manchester City Centre. An amazingly quirky little bookstore and café.

At most signings we barely get the chance to wave hello to the other authors, never mind eat or hold a real conversation with the readers which have often travelled incredible distances to come and see us. But this event was totally different.
Not only did we get time for breakfast AND lunch (crazy right!), but there was also time to chat with the other authors before the doors open.

Once the event started each reader had the time to really talk to each of us authors and get to know us properly, talk books, beer and bum holes (*ahem* Kelly!)
It was such a great event, superbly organised by Elena and Vikki Ryan of 'Fictional Men's Page For Book Ho's, and I simply can't wait for the next one.

I was lucky enough to be table partnered with the lovely Lisa Fulham. Neither of us had shared a table before and I think we were both a little apprehensive on the logistics of it. Fortunately it all went great and there was no elbowing each other haha, though she did sign my page of the photo book like a pleb hahaha!
It was also great to see Giles Batchelor, a long time reader of mine. We talk online a lot, but this was the first time I got to meet him, and he really was a great guy.
All of the authors were really lovely, and it was great to spend some time getting to know them. FYI. Sofie Hartley is totally bonkers and has a mouth like a sailor - clearly we are soul sisters! and Sophie Jackson is as cool as they come - we totally need to have cocktails next time!

The event was also raising money for Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and a total of £282.04 was raised through a raffle, sales of photo books and a charity bucket!
The charity didn't stop there though. All food left over from the event was then taken down to a local soup kitchen and handed in to help feed the homeless thanks to Vikki Ryan's suggestion. And can I just say that she is a total sweetheart! We've actually met at previous signings and because of the rush rush nature of these things both of us totally missed that we lived a ten minute drive from each other *facepalm*

I think I can speak for all the authors involved - S. K. Hartley, Sophie Jackson, Isobelle Cate, Andie M. Long, Dawn A. Keane, Lisa Fulham, Scarlet Flame, and Nicola Haken, in saying a huge thank you to Elena for organising such a superb event, Lyndsy Kirkman of Chapter One Books for hosting it in her wonderful bookstore, the sponsors of the event Fictional Room For Book Ho's, Coral Mathews who came around and interviewed all of the authors and readers alike, and James Roy the official photographer for the event.

http://jamesroy.wix.com/portfolio
https://www.facebook.com/Chapter1Uk/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/FictionalMensPageForBookHo/?fref=ts

Up next... Leeds Author Event March 5th 2016

My next signing will be in Leeds on the 5th March. The event run by the gorgeous Rachel Brightey and Jo Curtis from Hourglass Events is set to be amazing, so I hope to see some of your lovely faces there.
Here's where to get your tickets from, and I'd get them quick as I know they are close to running out now!
The event will also be trying to raise money for MIND and there will be a charity evening masquerade ball which sounds amazing!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leeds-author-event-2016-tickets-15537433883