Well, the year ended on a really high note! Just before Christmas, Dial Lane books in Ipswich were kind enough to host my book launch. The book, Burnt Lungs and Bitter Sweets, is a tale about four punk friends from 1976 to the present day. It’s a tragicomedy in the same sort of category as Trainspotting, (I could say the same VEIN, but given the addiction theme that would be a pretty awful pun…) with an awesome soundtrack already available on Spotify. It’s nearly sold out it’s first print run, and the launch was just awesome with my agent and publicist, Georgy Jamieson, organising four amazing local sponsors: Geek Retreat Cafe, Colourplan Printers, Orwell Lady and Two Sisters Arts Centre. Yes, it is brutal; yes it’s full of colourful language, criminal antics and substance use, but it’s also about love, friendship and thwarted potential. You can read one of my interviews HERE.
At the moment I am slowly forming my new novel, Johnny Radd, and editing my new book of stories. I have also got shows coming up in March and May, and several other projects in the pipeline, so watch this space! It looks like it will be a busy year.
The poster above is one of the early shows I am in this year, but I will be back in prison with their bookclub soon, performing at Klinker Club (cuppa in Felixstowe) in February, in a play at Two Sisters in March/April, onstage with James DOM Ester again in May, and two book festivals in June! And that is the line up so far… Phew! Check out my PENspiration column in Felixstowe Magazine App every month and also Authors electric for more news, and here’s one more interview form my publisher, Urban Pigs Press. READ HERE.
On a personal level, I had a brilliant re-union with friends, one of whom I was catching up with after 18 years. We stayed in a lovely Georgian house (Wainman House) in Wisbech. It was great fun!
And finally, I celebrated my birthday, attended a wedding, and our visitor from the USA is once more a guest with us at home. It’s all go and it’s still only January! Happy New Year…
See you soon!
Virginia.
Virginia Betts 