It's May…the month of yes…two books out

OK. You haven't seen me in a while because I've been everywhere…well, sort of. Does Perth, Australia - London, Cornwall and Dubai count?

Today is the paperback publication day of A Cornish Affair (this is the small paperback and it includes extra stuff - in this case the history of Pengarrock in ten items).

I've also been preparing for the various events to launch A Cornish Stranger which is out in two weeks! This is always scary time when a new book comes out…I kind of hold my breath and hope that the risks I've taken and story I've told will work. But thanks to the the encouraging words of a few early readers I can breathe again…well partially. Here's an early review if you are curious  Shaz Goodwin's review on Goodreads.

So if you are interested in catching me somewhere soon this is where I'll be!

21st May - 17:00 - 18:30 CORNWALL Down By The Riverside Cafe, Helford (This should be fun. It's actually on of the places in A Cornish Stranger!) Details here.

30th May -15:00 - 17:00 DUBAI Macgrudys on the Beach Road Dubai. This should be a really fun launch as I'll be sharing the venue with another Dubai based author Rachel Hamilton and her debut book The Case of the Exploding Loo (a brilliant middle grade read…my review here. ) Details from info@magrudy.com

31th May 16:00-17:00 DUBAI Book signing at Kinokuniya in The Dubai Mall

5th June 19:00 MANCHESTER Urmston Library with Urmston Bookshop Details here.

12th June 18:30 LONDON Opera & Ice Cream at Waterstones Kensington High Street…please RSVP to me or here as I want make sure there is enough wine and ice-cream!

Just writing that out and I'm exhausted!

PS I'll be in Amsterdam from the 16-19 of June…details to follow

The Dubai Launch of The Cornish House

All I can say is WOW! I was awed and humbled by the friends, acquaintances and strangers who came to the the Dubai launch of the Cornish House at Kinokuniya in the Dubai Mall. The Cornish Cream tea was a huge success and dear friends brought the flag of St Piran which saved the evening....

After the early prep work in which I was ably aided by DH, Bee and the wonderful Matt Cowdrey of Hachette...

 It was time to take off the apron and face the crowd...and unlike most Dubai events- people came early which was wonderful as we had a chance to chat and nibble...

Behind DH's smile you can see Matt introducing me...

I look like I'm giving a stern lecture!

A now for the reading....

What was great was there was a lovely chance to mix and mingle before hand. and afterwards. Very unlike me to not be able to find the words to describe the evening but I can't -from the moment I walked into Kinokuniya's and saw my books on display front of house to all the wonderful people who came to wish me well and who bought soooo many books...in fact more books than people who attended!

What am amazing start in an amazing place...

If I can work the technicalities I may have video footage later!

Before I sign off to catch this flight I need to say there have been some fabulous things said about The Cornish House on Novelicious here and I've been put as a top summer by Isabel Costello on her On The Sofa blog here...

Back to One Thing I've Learnt tomorrow and I have been loving these little posts...each day I'm reminds me of something important or something new...

Morning High - AT THE TOP Burj Khalifa

Okay, this was something I had sworn I wouldn't do...don't like heights. I love looking at the Burj Khalifa everyday. I never tire of it's beauty and last Wednesday had the privilege of eating dinner at the Armani hotel at it's base. Looking up at the tower at night with a full moon is hard to beat, but...this morning to prepare for taking 60 authors there as part of the social programme for the Emirates Airlines Literary Festival I went to the top...GULP. So I stepped into the lift and said my prayers (to myself) and we were there in 60 seconds...124 floors.

The view is breath taking - literally. I only had my phone with me so the photos don't do it just.

My Day Yesterday and Dubai Images

I am in recovery mode after a fabulous day yesterday at the naming ceremony for two seismic vessels and the party following at the Armani Hotel at the Burj Kalifa....

Love the hard hat under the piano

Felt like a start walking down the green carpet

Long way up

a view of the Burj on an evening stroll

The latest exhibition at the Majlis Gallery

And Now For Something Completely Different - Naming a Seismic Vessel

No one would say my life is boring - in York with writers on the weekend and few days later standing on the quayside of boatyard in Dubai with a prince.

Yesterday I saw the first true Arctic ready seismic vessel named and a crown prince - both exciting. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway toured the vessel before the naming ceremony. It was an exciting day of contrasts - an Arctic vessel sitting in the hot sun of the Middle East, a local dance group performing in front of her and guests donning their Russian styled hats in the heat.

This was my third naming ceremony for Polarcus and I can tell you the excitement doesn't diminish. The crack of the champagne bottle on the side of her bow causes the heart to race with joy at a new beginning.

So now back to my real world of writing and not living in the glamorous world of crown princes and magnums of champagne (shame I don't write the type of novel that could use these experiences!).

There and Back Again plus the Dubai Rugby 7s

Well this post is long on photos and short on words. The trip to the UK seems a life time ago after two days spent at Dubai Rugby 7's. However the UK trip was packed with great stuff from the Hyde Park Christmas Fair to #tweetmas, which was a twitter meet up, and deserves its own blog post.
So please enjoy the photos - the 7s were as always brilliant from the rugby to the social. What can I say except I love Dubai...