Writers’ Retreats

Find your inspiration.  Exercise your creativity.

Writing workshops at Lower Coxbridge House near Glastonbury.

One day course: Saturday 25th February 2012 10.00am – 4.00pm

Weekend residential course: Friday 27th April to Sunday 29th April 2012

Short Books author Emma Craigie (Chocolate Cake with Hitler) will lead writing workshops to help you create powerful stories.  At the weekend workshop Rebecca Nicolson, founder of Short Books, will lead a sessions on what publishers look for in potential authors.

There will also be opportunities to walk in the beautiful countryside surrounding Lower Coxbridge House,  and optional yoga sessions, led by Sarah Orme, to keep you focussed and refreshed.

Delicious meals and refreshments cooked by Nicole Leathley.

Maximum 12 places.  For more information: info@somersetstudiospace.co.uk.

www.somersetstudiospace.co.uk,  www.emmacraigie.wordpress.com

Sonia Hawes – Eydon Book Group

Elizabeth Webb – Minster Readers

Csaba Bali

Jan Willetts

Tracey Atchison – Fairwarp WI Book Group

Jill Hailey

John Hausrath

Susan Pollard – Southway Readers Group

Please can those of you who haven’t sent me your mailing addresses drop me an email (clemmie@shortbooks.co.uk).

In the meantime – CONGRATULATIONS.

NB: For those that had problems signing in – I have received your emails and entered you into the competition. If you would like to enter just leave a comment below or email clemmie@shortbooks.co.uk

Free proof copies of Cooking for Claudine by John Baxter for the first 10 book groups…

We don’t like to start Christmas too early but as the lights are up on Oxford Street and the first Christmas tree has been spotted near the office, we thought we would be forgiven for offering you a festive reading feast this month. We have just published Cooking for Claudine this month and it is just the ticket to get you in the mood for the fast approaching onslaught of turkey, baubles and mince pies.

John Baxter, an acclaimed film critic and foodie, impulsively moved to Paris to marry the woman he loved, only to discover the first test of his intentions would come in the form of a challenge: to cook Christmas dinner for her formidable, grand French family. His year-long quest to produce the perfect meal takes his readers to the farthest corners of France in search of the country’s finest receipes and ingredients. It is a charming, improbabale (but true!) tale of how a man raised on white bread, who didn’t speak a word of French, had to cook his way to the heart of his new family.

It has been a big hit in both the US and Australia so far. Here’s what they had to say about the book:

‘John Baxter is so erudite while being so funny. He’s much more than a tourist ‐ he’s got it all.’ ‐ Diane Johnson, bestselling author of Le Divorce

‘This is a gentle, amusing and elegant memoir… full of amusing tales of being an Aussie in France, a love affair with cooking and, most importantly his endless quest for the best ingredients to make a French Christmas dinner. The result is a sublime and entertaining celebration of a fascinating life ‘ – Sydney Morning Herald, Spectrum

‘This sweet old‐fashioned memoir is wrapped around the first time he cooks for [his wife’s] formidable French family… his quest for the perfect meal is a joyous food tour through France, navigating the strict local conventions about eating’ ‐ Herald Sun

‘Cooking for Claudine is Gallic gastroporn with a soupcon of crackling for good measure to rival Babette’s Feast. A tasty culinary education’ ‐ Vogue Australia

To enter the competition leave a comment below this post. As I have had problems getting people’s addresses off them, please sign in to the blog before you leave your comment so that I can email you if I have any problems.
On another note: I would love to hear from anyone who has been reading The White Lie, which was the September offer. All your thoughts are very welcome, whether good or bad!

If you want to find out more about the book you can go here.

“John Baxter is so erudite while being so funny. He’s much more than a tourist – he’s got it all.” Diane Johnson, bestselling author of Le Divorce

As Hugh FW says:

“Tim, Thom and Trevor have a great take on food, on foraging, on fun. It’s a charming recipe and everyone should have a slice”

You can read his post here – where the good people of Amazon have hosted it.

In further exciting news, Short Books is participating in the Love Your Indie loyalty card campaign. You just need to pick up a loyalty card at your participating indie bookshop and for every ten pounds you spend you get a stamp. Ten stamps and you get a free book from one of the participating Independent Alliance publishers. We cannot encourage you enough to support your local bookshops whenever possible. In these current financial times they need our help! For more information on this you can click here.