Saying Hello

[Kathy]

Hello Clare. There's never enough time to read, is there? Welcome to the group. Look forward to hearing what books you're managing to squeeze in. :)

[Clare]

Thank you, Carol! American and French revolutions? Is it one book - historical transatlantic? Sounds interesting (and a bit of a challenge!) Cx

[Clare]

Hello Kathy! No, there isn't :( and I feel guilty, especially when there are so many amazing books around. Think I need to lock myself away for a month or so, just to get through the backlog on my Kindle! :)

[Ian]

Clare wrote: "Hello Kathy! No, there isn't :( and I feel guilty, especially when there are so many amazing books around. Think I need to lock myself away for a month or so, just to get through the backlog on my ..."

Hi Clare. Delighted to welcome you to the group. I hope you'll enjoy the discussions, recommendations etc. Youll also find a section where we encourage writers to talk about their work, so feel free to share updates there and tell us more about The Gunner Girl. I hope you'll find time to drop by often.

[Ian]

Hi Clare - PC back in action, which is a relief - felt like I'd lost a limb! Was going to send you a direct message with some further detail about the Book Club (I always message new members) but your profile doesn't receive private messages. If that is deliberate then that's fine, but if (like many people) you didn't realise this you will need to go to your profile settings to allow direct messages to be sent to you. Best Wishes Ian

[Clare]

Hi Ian, sorry, haven't been on Goodreads much lately. I'll have a look at the profile settings - could be deliberate because it's an author page (not sure, can't remember what boxes I ticked when I set up) - but happy to receive msgs from you!
All the best, Clare :)

[Ian]

Clare wrote: "Hi Ian, sorry, haven't been on Goodreads much lately. I'll have a look at the profile settings - could be deliberate because it's an author page (not sure, can't remember what boxes I ticked when I..."

No worries Clare. We're all so busy. I expect yoru acount was set up a little while ago but if you can change it that would be good as it's always helpful to be able to message people. Welcome again and please drop by when you can

[Clare]

Hi Ian, I had a look and apparently it's set to receive msgs from anyone, so I'm not sure why it wouldn't ,but anyway do add me to any group msgs. Best, Cx

[Ian]

Clare wrote: "Hi Ian, I had a look and apparently it's set to receive msgs from anyone, so I'm not sure why it wouldn't ,but anyway do add me to any group msgs. Best, Cx"

Clare wrote: "Hi Ian, I had a look and apparently it's set to receive msgs from anyone, so I'm not sure why it wouldn't ,but anyway do add me to any group msgs. Best, Cx"

Hmm. Puzzling. When I click on your picture, it ta k es me to your author page but with no option to message privately. Ill see if there is another route.

[Helen]

Hello everyone - Hi Ian! I live at Chittlehamholt near South Molton, North Devon having escaped from London in January 2013 (literally - we were featured on the BBC TV show Escape to the Country: we bought the first house they showed us)
Ian, we'll have to meet up!
I am the Managing Editor for the Historical Novel Society Indie Reviews (new UK reviewers always wanted contact me via my website - not here - if anyone is interested!) and I am a published author: details on my website www.helenhollick.net I found the group on Twitter - would love to get more involved!

[Ruth]

Helen wrote: "Hello everyone - Hi Ian! I live at Chittlehamholt near South Molton, North Devon having escaped from London in January 2013 (literally - we were featured on the BBC TV show Escape to the Country: w..."
Hi Helen, I had no idea you were so close! Welcome (belatedly) to North Devon!
Ruth (Downie)

[Carol]

Helen wrote: "Hello everyone - Hi Ian! I live at Chittlehamholt near South Molton, North Devon having escaped from London in January 2013 (literally - we were featured on the BBC TV show Escape to the Country: w..."
Hi Helen, Delighted to see you here. I already know you through HNS, which I find really useful, informative and entertaining. LOL, Carol.

[Helen]

fame at last LOL

Carol wrote: "Helen wrote: "Hello everyone - Hi Ian! I live at Chittlehamholt near South Molton, North Devon having escaped from London in January 2013 (literally - we were featured on the BBC TV show Escape to ..."

[Kathy]

Hi Helen. Welcome! I usually watch 'Escape' so must have seen you!

[Helen]

It was recently repeated: North Devon with Johnny Irwen :-)

[Ian]

Helen wrote: "Hello everyone - Hi Ian! I live at Chittlehamholt near South Molton, North Devon having escaped from London in January 2013 (literally - we were featured on the BBC TV show Escape to the Country: w..."

Hi Helen. Welcome. Just shows the power of socila media. Ive been delighted with th resp[onse on Twitter - we just went past 300 followers today in a little under a month - and it's brought you to us which is fantastic. I live in Barnstaple. Be great to meet up. Lets see what we can sort out soon. I'l message you separately.

Quite a number of people among our membership who love to read historical novels and some who write them (who you may well already know). I see Ruth and Carol have already responded.

Once again, you are most welcome and I look forward to getting to know you. Ian

[Helen]

:-)

Ian wrote: "Helen wrote: "Hello everyone - Hi Ian! I live at Chittlehamholt near South Molton, North Devon having escaped from London in January 2013 (literally - we were featured on the BBC TV show Escape to ..."

[Charlotte]

Hi everyone, happy new year! Im charlotte and I live in tiverton I love reading when I get the time!, I am at the moment reading The secrets we keep by Jonathon Harvey,I read a lot depending on what mood im in sometimes I am too tired to read a heavy (not weight!) book and sometimes just need a light easy read,hope to get some amazing recommendations!

[Ian]

Charlotte wrote: "Hi everyone, happy new year! Im charlotte and I live in tiverton I love reading when I get the time!, I am at the moment reading The secrets we keep by Jonathon Harvey,I read a lot depending on wha..."

Hi Charlotte - you'll get plenty of those on these pages - try the thread - "your best reads in 2015" and also the one called , simply, "recommendations". Lots of variety, from easy reads through to more challenging book s- something for every taste and and every mood here!

[Helen]

Hi Charlotte, I live in Cullompton, not too far from Tiverton.
Welcome to the group, hope you enjoy it.

[[deleted user]]

Hello!
I'm Erica, the bookshop blogger. I visit bookshops all around the country and write about them, which means I buy a lot of books and am always looking for new recommendations.

I'm still a bit clueless when it comes to Goodreads but I'm looking forward to joining in your discussions.

[Ian]

Erica wrote: "Hello!
I'm Erica, the bookshop blogger. I visit bookshops all around the country and write about them, which means I buy a lot of books and am always looking for new recommendations.

I'm still a b..."

Welcome Erica - glad to have tempted you to join us. All very friendly and informal here. I love your blog and Tweets so am sure we will enjoy hearing your thoughts here. We have a blogs and blogging thread so be great if you'd leave a link to your blog there as well. Best Wishes Ian

[Clive]

Hi All - I am Devon born and bred, having lived in Honiton/Ottery area for all my life so far. I always have a book on the go and have just finished Simon Kernicks Last Minute which was good. I am also a writer and have just completed a rewrite of "Beating the French at Petanque" which is a humorous account of my time dipping my toe in French life to see if we want to live there, while playing petanque (boules) in an attempt to integrate. I am looking for some beta readers if you might be interested. Like many writers I have an unfinished novel in the 'drawer' but I have written and staged plays and pantos. I look forward to being part of this group.

[Carol]

Hi Clive. Welcome to the group. Am I right in thinking that Honiton is pronounced Huniton?

[Clive]

Yes, some people do. I think it is a class and where you come from that influences the pronunciation.

[Ian]

Clive wrote: "Hi All - I am Devon born and bred, having lived in Honiton/Ottery area for all my life so far. I always have a book on the go and have just finished Simon Kernicks Last Minute which was good. I am ..."

Welcome Clive - great to have you with us. What does being a BETA reader involve? Reading drafts? Sounds interesting.

[Clive]

Hi Yes, a beta reader is someone who reads your book and feeds back I found this definition on Wikipedia and it seems to fit my ideas.
An alpha reader or beta reader (also spelled alphareader / betareader, or shortened to alpha / beta), also pre-reader or critiquer, is a non-professional reader who reads a written work, generally fiction, with the intent of looking over the material to find and improve elements such as grammar and spelling, as well as suggestions to improve the story, its characters, or its setting. Beta reading is typically done before the story is released for public consumption.[1] Beta readers are not explicitly proofreaders or editors, but can serve in that context.

[Ian]

Clive wrote: "Hi Yes, a beta reader is someone who reads your book and feeds back I found this definition on Wikipedia and it seems to fit my ideas.
An alpha reader or beta reader (also spelled alphareader / be..."

Sounds fun. I could put a call out across all of our platforms to test interest. How would you describe your work, so I can whet the appetite?

[Carol]

I had never heard of Beta readers until being on Goodreads. I can see it can be useful to authors.

[Carol]

I forgot to mention, Clive, that there is a group on Goodreads called Beta/proof readers. (I think there is a group for nearly everything on Goodreads!) There is also a group called Making Connections, which is not quite the same, but has similarities.

[Kathy]

Hi Clive. I forgot to say, too, that there is a group called Francophiles some of whose members have written books in a similar genre, I believe. They might be able to offer advice/help.

[Clive]

I would say that my book would come under two headings - travel and humour. I am on the lookout for four or five beta readers now for this. I will email you a Word file and some questions and hopefully people will be able to feedback to me within three weeks.

[Ian]

Clive wrote: "I would say that my book would come under two headings - travel and humour. I am on the lookout for four or five beta readers now for this. I will email you a Word file and some questions and hopef..."

OK - I'll put a call out on Facebook and Twitter as well to see if anyone is interested

[Clive]

Ian wrote: "Clive wrote: "I would say that my book would come under two headings - travel and humour. I am on the lookout for four or five beta readers now for this. I will email you a Word file and some quest..."

Thanks

[Annie]

Hello Ian,

Thank you for your message via DM on Twitter. I thought the best way of making contact would be through your GR group. (I'm not on Facebook but am on Twitter - @beanie_annie.)

I live in Totnes and am editing my first novel, hoping to progress to beta readers afterwards, then The Search for The Agent! I've been 14 years getting to this point!

Reading-wise, I'm loving Arthur C Clarke's The City and the Stars as well as Stephen Smith's fascinating trawl beneath our capital in Underground London. I read (and write. And edit!) so slowly, but do find that I savour the larger scale of things, like individual word choices or the use of punctuation, or the ripples that the rhythm of a sentence can leave long after reading it. I can't explore these things if I try to move more swiftly.

I'll check out some of the discussion threads and contribute if I feel I have anything to say.

Annie x




Ian wrote: "Hi,
I have started this group as I am keen to hear from other book-lovers in Devon - to get recommendations, to discuss/debate our perspectives on what we are reading and to have a bit of virtual f..."

[Ian]

Annie wrote: "Hello Ian,

Thank you for your message via DM on Twitter. I thought the best way of making contact would be through your GR group. (I'm not on Facebook but am on Twitter - @beanie_annie.)

I live i..."

Great to have you with us Annie. You will find quite a number of fellow authors in the group and a section devoted to you all. May be of help as you move towards getting published (or self publishing). I love a lot of the book son your profile too.

Hoep you'll join us on #devonbookhour tomorrow and that as you progress towards completion you can tell us about your book and we can support you to build a profile with your readers in due course.

Best Wishes and I hope you enjoy the group

[Kathy]

Annie wrote: "Hello Ian,

Thank you for your message via DM on Twitter. I thought the best way of making contact would be through your GR group. (I'm not on Facebook but am on Twitter - @beanie_annie.)

I live i..."
Hi Annie. Good, another South Hams resident! I live near Kingsbridge. Welcome to the group. :)

[Annie]

Thank you Ian. I look forward to seeing what the group is all about!

x

Ian wrote: "Annie wrote: "Hello Ian,

Thank you for your message via DM on Twitter. I thought the best way of making contact would be through your GR group. (I'm not on Facebook but am on Twitter - @beanie_ann..."

[Annie]

Kathy wrote: "Annie wrote: "Hello Ian,

Thank you for your message via DM on Twitter. I thought the best way of making contact would be through your GR group. (I'm not on Facebook but am on Twitter - @beanie_ann..."

Thank you Kathy, I'll take a little time seeing what different threads appeal to me and hopefully we'll come across each other once in a while.

Annie x

[Ian]

Annie wrote: "Thank you Ian. I look forward to seeing what the group is all about!

x

Ian wrote: "Annie wrote: "Hello Ian,

Thank you for your message via DM on Twitter. I thought the best way of making contact..."

Were up to all sorts Annie:
I intend to post an outline programme for the year before too much longer

Essentially we are connecting writers, readers, bookshops, libraries, festivals in the county, building networks, friendship and community. I am also really keen (working in social care as I do) that some isolated people will find us and help them to feel better engaged in Devons life.

We are fast becoming the go - to place for everyone to come to for all things bookish in Devon. We've about 800 people connected across the 3 platforms - and that's in just 15 months. Imagine the potential.

[Ditch]

Hi there. Living, walking in, and loving Devon (pretty much in the midst of the Eggesford Forest plantations), I eat cream teas. A lot. (284 blog reviews at last count: devoncreamteas.info). Glad to discover this group and looking forward to participating.

[Ian]

Ditch wrote: "Hi there. Living, walking in, and loving Devon (pretty much in the midst of the Eggesford Forest plantations), I eat cream teas. A lot. (284 blog reviews at last count: devoncreamteas.info). Glad t..."

Hi Ditch - you are very welcome. You'll like our book shop and cake crawl around Devon then! Just planning this years events as we speak

[Ditch]

Thanks Ian. The Book Rest in Exmouth is somewhere I'd recommend if you don't know it - a really nice cafe above a book shop.

[Kathy]

Hi Ditch. Welcome. The café + bookshop in Exmouth sounds just perfect. :)

[Ditch]

Thanks Kathy. I really liked the set-up when I visited (although the cream tea was so-so!)

[Angela]

Hi,
I live just outside Exeter and was invited to join by Elizabeth Ducie.

[Ian]

Angela wrote: "Hi,
I live just outside Exeter and was invited to join by Elizabeth Ducie."

Helkoi Amgela. Delighted youve joined us. You are most welcome. Ill send you a longer introductory message later tonight when I get back from work. Hope you enjoy the group

[Jane]

Good evening everyone... Nice to have found you! My connection to Devon is through my novel, Dance with Fireflies. My debut novel is based on my Anglo-Indian grandmother's life. She arrived in England on a British troopship from India in 1939 to live with her new British in-laws (she'd married a British soldier stationed in India). WW2 was just breaking out and her in-laws found it hard to accept the topee wearing 'foreigner'. I've spent quite a lot of time in Shaldon to research the book and have completely fallen in love with it!

[Ditch]

Hi Jane. My grandparents arrived back from India around then too, so my mum could be born (they were missionaries). They ended up in Devon during the war. Is your novel already published? Incidentally, Shaldon hosts one of my favourite cream teas in Devon (http://devoncreamteas.info/2015/10/27...)

[Pene]

Hi I'm Pene and I live and work in Seaton. Love all things bookish and will happily talk books of any genre.