Carmen Reid - A Fabulous Read. A Sexy Read. A Carmen Reid. » Girls Night In Tour

Let’s meet up on Friday October 21st!

Carmen — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:00:56 +0000

Let’s meet up! I’m going to be at the Guildford Literary Festival on Friday October 21st as part of the Girls Night.

I’m appearing in part two alongside writers Judy Astley and Kay Burleigh (yes, the one from the telly!) Part one features the amazing storytellers, Penny Vincenzi and Penny Jordan, who have apparently sold 80 million books between them. Phenomenal!

We’re going to be talking about how to bring all your life experience to your work.

You can find out more on the Guildford Book Festival website.

Really look forward to seeing you there!

Tour blog – Blackpool

Carmen — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:50:05 +0000

I went to Blackpool – fantastic to meet readers and writers there. I did one reading with Jane Costello then read her very funny The Nearly-Weds on the train home. I highly recommend.

Tragically, I don’t have any photos of the brilliant Girls Nights In at Portlethen or Fort William (if anyone wants to send me one, please do!)

Portlethen was a family event as I took my daughter and my Dad. Dad was giving me a lift and I’d forgotten all about his punctuality issues and the fact that the Land Rover can only go at a certain speed, so we arrived just 15 minutes before kick-off, but everyone was incredibly calm! Claudie was all dressed up and looking lovely as she worked her way steadily through the many snacks provided. Can I just say how incredibly glamorous everyone looked: sparkly pink shoes, pink tops and jazzy scarves, it was very fashion-forward. We talked lots about writing. I think they are a very keenly creative lot up there. Thank you for inviting me along!

Fort William… is a long way away! I took the train from Glasgow and it took almost four hours. However the weather was beautiful and the scenery was picture postcard Scotland. Seriously, there were stags leaping from the tracks, then posing in front of blue lochs, velvety brown mountains and Rowan trees full of berries. I was trying to work on the train, but the views were so amazing I kept getting totally distracted.

I got an unforgettably warm Highland welcome from the library and so many people came along! No wonder, there was a chocolate fountain (!) food, drinkies, two makeover ladies. We all had an absolute hoot. I have been told to spread the word, if any writer is even thinking about making the trek to FW, it is totally worth it, I promise.

Tour blog – Perth Library

Carmen — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:45:54 +0000

Thank you to Perth Library for organising such a fantastic event! Here is a snap of me with some of the brilliant people who made it all happen.

We had half an hour of mingling, chatting, hand pampering and hair-styling tips, then we all went through to the theatre where I read to my biggest audience ever. But you know, I didn’t feel nervous, I felt amongst friends. It was great to see that some readers had come with their Mums and their daughters.

Brilliant: multi-generational fans! We had lots of chat about reading, writing and all sorts of interesting things. A fantastic night. Thank you so much to everyone and to photographer Fraser Band who did the pics.

You can see more at www.fraserband.co.uk

Fort William here I come!

The Girls Night In Tour continues…

Carmen — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:00:34 +0000

The Girls Night In Tour continues… more write ups and photos to come!

I had a brilliant time in Portlethen. I’m in Perth and Fort William libraries this week (to tempt you: there will be hairstyling tips, beauticians and goody bags as well as the latest Annie Valentine and St Jude’s news).

I’m in Blackpool on October 7th at 12.30 in Blueberries at 101-103 Topping Street. Then you can also come and chat to the author Jane Costello and me at 3.10pm at FYC, 154-8 Church St. It all sounds very exciting. Look forward to seeing you there!

September Events

Carmen — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:30:09 +0000

I am touring about the country this month (Click on the ‘Girls Night In Tour’ category for details… maybe you can come!) visiting libraries for fun-packed Girls Night In events.

The first was at Cardonald Library in the South Side of Glasgow. What can I say? These people know how to party! We had food, we had drinkies, goodie bags and there was a whole wonderful pink and black theme going on with ribbons on the chairs, flowers and matching plates and napkins. I turned up in pink and black by co-incidence! It was a fantastic evening. I enjoyed the Q and A bit hugely, especially the spontaneous telling of our worst changing room disasters. It was great fun to read extracts from How Not To Shop and Jealous Girl to such a fabulous audience. Thank you all so much for a brilliant night!

Carlisle was also fantastic! We talked about books, writing, favourite authors, but also shoe shopping! We had chocolate and fudge tasting, lovely ladies from Lush and Clinique on hand and the fabulous Marie from Hoopers, a real live personal shopper, talking us through key looks. Marie is a total Annie fan, so it was brilliant to watch her bring little Valentine touches to her talk. According to Marie, every girl must have a red handbag and a pair of Armani Jeans this season. If you live anywhere near Carlisle, book yourself a session with her, it is probably as close as you will come to an Annie makeover!

Portlethen, Perth, Fort William and Blackpool are next.

Girls Night In Tour – September 2009

Carmen — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:45:24 +0000

Dates have been finalised for my forthcoming How Not to Shop/Secrets at St Jude’s tour! Details below – hope to see you there…

Thursday 10th September – 7.00pm
‘Girls Night In’ Launch event at Cardonald Library
1113 Mosspark Drive, Glasgow G52 3BU
Library contact: Myra Paterson
Reading Partners contact: Mary Greenshields
£30 Topshop giveaway
Tickets £1

Thursday 17th September – 7.00pm
‘Girls Night In’ Carlisle Library
11 Globe Lane, Carlisle CA3 8NX
Contact: Helen Towers
Phone: 01228 227287
Mob: 07802 451545
Joint kids / adult event in association with Debenhams

Wednesday 23rd September – 7.00pm
‘Girls Night In’ Portlethen Library
Bruntland Road, Portlethen AB12 4QL
Contact: Lesley Masson – Adult Fiction Librarian
01651 871215
Joint kids / adult event

Tuesday 29th September – 7.00pm
AK Bell Library Theatre
York Place, Perth PH2 8EP
Contact: Katherine McLeod
01738 477023
Joint kids / adult event
Bookseller tbc
£50 Topshop giveaway

Wednesday 30th September – 7.30pm
Fort William Library
Airds Crossing, High St, Fort William, PH33 6EU
Contact: Charlotte Macarthur
01349 868247
Joint kids / adult
Beautician attending on the night

Wednesday 7th October
Blackpool Shopping with Words
Contact: Lynne Pattinson
Venue tbc