READER OUTING AND A REASON TO SMILE FOR CAROLE
City author Carole Matthews’ latest paperback is another bestseller and a weekend outing with her readers provided plenty of gossip, giggles and gourmet goodies to celebrate, writes Georgina Butler.
The queen of romantic comedy fiction had already invited 20 lucky readers (all avid fans of ‘our’ Carole) to join her in Birmingham for afternoon tea at Hotel La Tour.
The outing coincided with the news that her most recent book, ‘A Place to Call Home’ has entered the Sunday Times Bestseller List at number 17.
Telling the story of Ayesha - who leaves behind a life of heartache to begin a new life with her little daughter Sabina - the book explores the strength of the loving bonds that can be made between strangers.
On Saturday, guests were welcomed into the VIP area of the contemporary Alvar Bar in the sleekly designed hotel.
Photographs were taken; tea brewed and poured; a delectable spread devoured – before everyone received a personally signed copy of Carole’s newest release.
While most of the readers had never met each other – or Carole – in person before, they were not complete strangers as many were familiar with each other from interactions on Facebook and Twitter.
Carole’s partner, ‘Lovely Kev’, joined in the fun (and took on the role of photographer for the afternoon) and the conversation swung easily from books, films and holidays to cocktail recipes and embarrassing situations with hunky firemen.
Carole grew up in St Helen’s, Merseyside, but now calls Milton Keynes (or as she refers to our corner of the world, the 'Costa del Keynes') ‘home’.
She said: "It’s the people that make a place home for me and that is really what the book is about.
“Home is somewhere safe and full of love.”
Carole is already hard at work on her Christmas book for Christmas 2015 (which will be out in hardback in August 2015, of course!) and fans might be excited to hear that it is another in The Chocolate Lovers’ series.
To buy ‘A Place to Call Home’, or to find out more about it, visit: www.carolematthews.com/
