Book releases for Christmas

Aldeburgh Book Shop shares their literary Christmas present recommendations with the EADT

So much for a Book Mecca, huh?
About six months between posts, I'm setting a record.

Before I start properly I just wanted to say that my thoughts are with all the people effected by the atrocities in Paris.
I wasn't sure whether to write this post, it seems so petty and unimportant in the face of such life-changing events. But carrying on with our lives is one of the best ways to stand up against these people. I'm not saying posting on a tiny blog is somehow going to bring down terror, but by continuing to do what we love we are showing defiance and living must go on.

Anyway, I have to post this today as it's in connection with the Christmas supplement that appears in today's East Anglian Daily Times newspaper.

Myself and my colleagues have been working on the supplement for the last few weeks and it's full of everything festive, from recipes and events, to fashion pages and gift guides.

One of the pieces that I put together was the book page. It sees a local book shop provide its top recommendations for reads for Christmas. This year John from Aldeburgh Book Shop provided his top picks.

He really covered all bases with his choices, appealing to all tastes and he even got a local author in there too. He provides excellent descriptions and I for one have put most of them on my Christmas list.
I'm not going to post them all here as there's still time for you to go and buy your copy of the EADT and read the article...
but here's the local one: Love is my Favourite Thing by (Aldeburgh based) Emma Chichester Clark.

It features Plum, her dog, who became famous on her blog and was previously featured in Chichester Clark's book Plumdog. The new release has lovely illustrations: "We particularly like the illustration of Plum destroying a feather cushion," said John.

Go and buy a copy, there's still time, just!

Catch up and new writing job

This is a very quick post just to update people on what I'm up to. I promise I will write something more interesting soon.

The last few months have been incredibly busy, I've been doing a lot of work for website-creating company HIBU writing web copy. Then, about a month ago I started a new job working with Archant. Most locals will know Archant as the company that produces the East Anglian Daily Times newspaper and the Evening Star. I'm freelancing with the Special Editorial Projects Team. Roughly translated that means we write all the random stuff, including regular supplements, one-off publications and glossy magazines.

I managed to join in a ridiculously busy period and so have been thrown in the deep end somewhat. In the last month I've produced three regular supplements as well as contributed to several other supplements and publications. This includes the Education Supplement and the bi-monthly West Suffolk Lifestyle supplement, both photographed (badly) below.

I've got to say it's great to be back writing for print again and it's incredibly varied so keeps me on my toes. The team are lovely and I actually worked at Archant years ago when I was 18 so I've seen a lot of familiar faces.

FYI I will now be looking after the regular supplements Framlingham: Our Town and West Suffolk Lifestyle. So, if you know of anything exciting happening give me a shout.

I will write a more interesting and less self-obsessed post soon. But not for a week or so as I'm having a well deserved break!