Thursday 9th June will see the official launch of Isabel Ashdown’s eagerly awaited second novel, Hurry Up and Wait (Myriad Editions, 2011).
Isabel Ashdown grew up in East Wittering and now lives in Chichester with her family. After completing an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Chichester, Isabel now regularly attends creative writing talks, readings and workshops across the South East. She is also the founder of Chichester Book Club, a website dedicated to reading groups and book clubs in the local area.
Isabel’s debut novel, Glasshopper (Myriad Editions, 2009), was highly acclaimed and continues to be a best seller. In Hurry Up and Wait, Mail on Sunday Novel Competition winner, Isabel Ashdown explores the treacherous territory of adolescent friendships and traces the repercussions of a dangerous relationship across the decades. Here are a few words from the author on her second novel in an interview with Vicky Blunden of Myriad Editions:
“My second novel Hurry Up and Wait is about a woman, Sarah, who, on the brink of turning 40, has been invited to a school reunion. The story travels back in time, as Sarah’s thoughts return to her school days of the mid-1980s at an old comprehensive on the south coast of England.
“In the early stages of writing, I find I’m most interested in discovering the characters, in understanding their dilemmas and choices, and in watching the subsequent repercussions of those choices unfold before me. Sarah is a fascinating character: a strong, independent female, but fallible all the same. Whilst my second novel will have a very different theme to that of Glasshopper, it will appeal to a similar readership.”
Waterstones, Chichester, will host the book’s official launch party, 5:30pm – 8:00pm in their ballroom. At the launch Isabel will read extracts from, and sign copies of, the new book. Isabel will also be signing copies of Hurry Up and Wait at Waterstones, Chichester, 25th June 2011, 11:00am – 5:00pm, and onboard Wightlink Ferries, 25th July. For more information visit www.isabelashdown.com.
You will also find Isabel at Chichester Copywriter’s Writers’ Retreat 26th-28th August. She will appear in a Writing and Publishing Panel Talk with fellow writers Gabrielle Kimm and Stewart Ferris as well as representatives from Little, Brown and Myriad Editions. On the Sunday Isabel is holding a characterisation workshop called Changing Voices, which will concentrate on the creative processes of building credible characters with distinct voices, this is a relaxed session with a strong focus on practical writing exercises, readings, feedback and discussion. Please contact Katy@chichestercopywriter.co.uk for details and ticket prices.
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