On a High…

 

…after two extraordinary days (which required FOUR outfits-for appearing-in-public! )

The first event was the Lancashire Book of the Year Award, for which was short-listed.

Keren David won with her first novel When I was Joe. I haven't read it yet, but it sounds so brilliant, I had to buy a copy (and get Keren to sign it, of course). I also came home with Sam Mills' thriller Blackout which came second. And I was amazed and chuffed that Whisper My Name came third.

The great and unique thing about the Lancashire Book award is that at every stage of the process it is young readers who judge the books. Every year the nominated titles (eighty four this time) are read by students in twelve schools. After meeting up to discuss the books they vote for their favourite top ten. And then two representatives from each school are chosen to be judges and they select the winner. This year, because it was the 25th anniversary of the award, twenty nine other schools got to read and talk about the shortlist. So all over Lancashire hundreds of young people were reading, forming opinions and arguing about books. A wonderful thought!

Many of these students were involved in the award events, talking about what being part of it meant to them and expressing their support for particular titles. They were amazing – poised and articulate, they spoke passionately about their love of reading. (And were better speakers than most of us adults!)

As for the events, well… the organisers, mainly members of Lancashire library service, supported by the County Council, and the University of Central Lancashire, did us proud. On Friday afternoon a hundred and fifty students put questions to the short-listed authors; in the evening there was a splendid dinner (including strawberries, meringue and cream… yum!) and on Saturday morning, along with teachers, students and their families, we all gathered in the imposing, but somewhat intimidating Council Chamber, for the award ceremony. I don't think many of us authors envied Keren, who had to sit on a high dais and make a speech, which she did very well. We didn't escape totally, however, having to say a little bit about what being short-listed meant to us.

I said how lovely it was for me that my first nomination for an award was in Lancashire, my adopted home. And when I used to be involved with pupils taking part in the award, I never dreamt that one day a book of mine would be in the running for it.

After that there was a book-signing, when it was delightful to meet the students and that was followed by a slap-up buffet (with, can you believe it, more meringue!)

Apart from getting photographed more times than I care for, it was a stupendous event and I count myself very honoured to have been involved in it. You can read more about it and see some of those photographs (including some of yours truly) over on the remarkable Bookwitch's blog.

And then as if that wasn't enough excitement for one day, in the evening it was off to Knutsford for a concert by the Tatton Singers, conducted by John Powell, which included the world premiere of a piece commissioned by the choir entitled Songs for Summer, a setting by Martin Lessons of poems I wrote specially for this occasion.

It was the first time I'd heard the music and I was bowled over – it expressed the mood of the words so well, haunting at times and at times deliberately amusing. The choir threw themselves into it and gave a tremendous performance. As soon as it ended I wanted to hear it all over again. Afterwards I was presented with a beautiful bouquet and guess what? There was a buffet…with cake!

Back to reality tomorrow…(and possibly a bit of calorie control).

On a High… is a post from: Jane Eagland

©2011 Jane Eagland. All Rights Reserved.

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