Still buzzing after the Lakeland Book of the Year Awards last night. A great occasion to celebrate books by Cumbrians and about Cumbria.
It was fun to see Fiona Armstrong (of Border News fame) presenting awards, along with Michael McGregor from the Wordsworth Trust, and Kathleen Jones, a writer I first met several years ago at Word Mess open mic.
Marie-Elsa Bragg is now the event’s patron, and she spoke about the future of the awards. If I’d been brave enough, I should have made a beeline to say I’d love to get involved in some capacity. Outreach, maybe. Getting the young ’uns involved. I have ideas. Simon Stephens from Theatre by the Lake also spoke – the organisation was this year’s charity – and the work they’re doing with young people in Cumbria is so important. Young people need a creative outlet, and if we can get more of them writing, who knows what stories, poems and plays might come of it? The future of Cumbrian voices and stories is definitely something worth investing in.
The best part of the evening was meeting so many writers and editors in person after previously only knowing them online. I finally met Kelly Davis, author of The Lost Art of Ironing (fellow editor and long-time Cumbrian Literary Group pal), and I sat next to Jo Moseley, author of Stand-up Paddle-Boarding, who was absolutely lovely – she has an enviable Instagram following. (I could learn a lot!) On my other side was Elizabeth Multon, an editor from Bloomsbury, there with Ronald Turnbull, author of The Hillwalking Bible. I also had a brilliant chat with Eileen Jones, who wrote Loughrigg: Tales of a Small Mountain; she told me about her Gritstone writers’ co-op, which sounds fascinating.
Historical fiction writer Corin Burnside came over and introduced herself – turns out we have loads in common, starting with the fact that we’re both ‘old Applebians’. And I went over to say hello to Peter Scholes, author of The Place I Belong, about Carlisle United’s Brunton Park – a place my late dad was always very comfortable, too. I bet there are loads of dads who’d like that book for Christmas.
It must be said: not everyone in Cumbria writes about daffodils.
Variety was there, too, in the breadth of the publishing spectrum that was represented. Writers with traditional deals, small press contracts, indie setups, and those who’ve gone the self-publishing route: everyone was given an equal platform. A genuinely inclusive and celebratory event.
Big congrats to William D. Shannon, winner of Book of the Year for Cumbria: 1000 Years of Maps – it’s an absolutely beautiful book, and looks fascinating.
Naturally, my TBR pile grew as a result of the evening. I’ve got my eye on The Dreamtime Fellrunner, The Borrowed Hills, The Making of Cassie Clearwater, the poetry collections… and … and… and … the list goes on.
Don’t some Bookstagrammers set up Amazon wishlists? Maybe I should look into that.
If Lakeland Book Awards is held in Penrith again next year, I’ll be there with bells on – I love a do at the George. A fab event. Well done to all involved.
CherryEdits 