I have been busy, promoting Watching the Daisies at Donegal Christmas Craft Fairs.
A HUGE part of these events is networking with other people.
Sean Hillen
Last Friday I met fellow author Sean Hillen, who has been “a war correspondent, medical reporter, travel writer, editor and publisher…”
We had a lovely chat, and exchanged books.
Sean has just published a thriller called “Pretty Ugly.”
It has the following description on the cover:
“What physical horrors can rogue nanoparticles, a thousandth time smaller than a human cell, create when they flood through your body contained within a simple cosmetic concealer? Facing the terrible truth, an unlikely trio – Colm, an investigative journalist, Dr. Gray, a skin specialist and Patricia, a celebrity model – embark on a dangerous mission. If they move fast enough, they can save lives. If they don’t…”
Ireland Writing Retreat
Sean and his wife Columbia provide writing retreats at https://irelandwritingretreat.com
The excitement of the evening continued…
A Prizewinning Raffle
I had bought a few raffle tickets, and was second up to choose a prize. I fell in love with a beautiful framed artwork called “Cozy Winter Bauble” from local artist Kim Sharkey.
Kim gained an Honour’s degree in Decorative Arts, on first leaving school, which cemented her life long passion for the handmade. She specialised in ceramics.
She went on to train in studio pottery skills, and more recently in a new educational setting, where she combined the hand crafted with hand drawn elements, and digital layering during an animation degree.
In her last weeks of that degree, she was chosen to present her final animation to HRH Prince Charles on his visit to Donegal. Kim received the Derek Hill award for creativity.
My beautiful prize now brightens my living room wall, and I shall be reading Sean’s book very shortly.
Please Share your Top Tips on Networking
Have you networked in your local community? If so, please share your top tips.
Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.
Wow Brigid such a wonderful read and congratulations once again and to Sean too. Great post.
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Thank you Kamal. It was a lovely evening. I am reading Sean’s book now. 😊
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Yes it sure must be Brigid. Great happy reading.
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Lovely fairs, winning a prize made it lovelier, Brigid!
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Thank you Miriam. It was such a lovely prize. 🌼
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Yes, you picked something you like to look at all the time. That’s wonderful!
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What a fantastic way to network with other people. The artwork is beautiful!
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Thank you Lisa. I was thrilled with my prize. 🌼
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Interesting concept for a story indeed … you have me hooked with the cover précis. And that picture? Adorable. I would look and look at it all day – its enchanting x
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Thank you. I am reading Sean’s book and it is intriguing. The mummy hare in the artwork is cuddling her babies. It reminds me so much of my Mum. X
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That makes me feel happy and sad all at once having read your story X
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I love the picture, congratulations, what a lovely prize 👏🏻
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Thank you Chris. I was so happy to choose the picture. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. x
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It reminds me of the children’s book ‘Guess how much I love you?’ My oldest grandson loved it when he was small.
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What a fun thing to do – promote your book and meet new people.
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It sure is Bernadette. Sunday is my last fair and Santa is coming!
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Congratulations on winning a prize. It looks like it was a really nice time you had, and writers are great to be around. The people (writers) are so nice.
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Thanks Ron. It was a lovely evening. One more fair to visit on Sunday. Santa is coming !
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This sounds like a wonderful experience Brigid. I absolutely love the bunnies! Hope you have a lovely weekend!
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Thank you Terri. My last craft fair is on Sunday and Santa is calling in… Happy days.
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What a beautiful post, filled with such a huge amount of happy. I can feel the happiness through your words, Daisies.
Many congratulations on winning the artwork. It’s just beautiful. Well done.
The mini write up of ‘Pretty Ugly’, intrigued me.
Great job on the networking, and on the day itself.
Sending love and squidges ~ Cobs. xxx
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Thank you Cobs. It was a lovely evening. My last craft fair is on Sunday and Santa is calling. Getting all excited. Choir practice tonight so will be doing Holy Night and Panus Angelicus… x
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Holy Night … loooove this so very much. ❤
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Me too. it gives me goosebumps every time. x
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Brigid, what a wonderful evening and it looks like a great event with lots of fun and networking. How lovely for you to win Kim’s artwork and now have it at home. I can sense the creative vibe from you all! 😃❤️
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Thank you Annika. Kim is my cousin and is very talented. Her sister is also a brilliant artist working in felt pictures. Would love one of her artwork too..
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Congrats 👍
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Thank you. 😊
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Really lovely Christmassy feel to this post Brigid and the artwork you won is quite beautiful. She has some brilliant stuff on her site. Here work is utterly charming. Mind you I have always had a soft spot for hares! And great photo of you with Sean
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Thank you Paul. Kim is very talented. I have one more fair in Sunday and Santa will be visiting 😉
Did you get my note? Your email never arrived. X
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Looks like fun, Brigid! I was doing the same yesterday, and the networking and celebrating is a day well-spent. 🙂
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Yes Diana. It is lovely to get out meeting new people. Sunday is my last fair of five. Then I can put my feet up 😉
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Awesome evening and congrats!
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Thank you Diane 🌼
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Congrats Brigid. Also look at you go ..most inspiring😆
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Thanks Bella. Last fair tomorrow then on Friday I will take 3 weeks off from blog and social media. Wishing you and your mum a very happy Christmas xx
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Wishing you a merry christmas and happy new year
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What a lovely way to network with other people, it looks like it was a great evening. 🙂 I would have fallen in love with that artwork too. So glad you got to take it home. 🙂 xxx
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Thank you guys. I was looking at two scarves first and then I spotted the picture. I was so glad I did. It makes me smile. xx
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Wow Kim must have been so excited to present to Prince Charles…what an honor! Love her artwork and I bet it looks beautiful on your wall, giving you a smile every day!! What fun being able to network and meet with other authors. How’s the book? xo
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Thanks Deb. She surely was. The picture gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. The book is going good. I will be taking it to my last craft fair tomorrow then I will put my feet up from Friday. Off for 3 weeks which is much needed. xx
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Oh that’s wonderful to hear!! Enjoy your feet being up for 3 weeks too! Yes rest & relax. xo 🙂
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Sounds like you met some interesting people at this craft market, Brigid. I have also been going to a few.
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They are fun. My last one is tomorrow. Santa will be there too 😊
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What a great prize. The last raffle prize I won that wasn’t a plant was a six-pack of tights. I gave them to my sister who told me they’d been made to fit an elephant. I never asked if she found an elephant to give them to! In my book, you’ve just moved to Edinburgh and haven’t discovered slow yet!
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I was so pleased to find it John. I almost decided on a scarf then the picture called me…It took a few more years to discover slow – nearly 30!
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Congratulations. This sounds like an energizing event.
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Thank you Ali. It was. I did my last craft fair yesterday. Taking 3 weeks off from Friday. Happy Christmas.
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Sean’s book actually sounds good. Appeals to the geek in me. Love the sound of your Christmas event. I’m looking forward to reading a review of how it went–maybe I should try this myself.
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You might enjoy it. I am half way through but need a bit more free time to finish it. I enjoyed going to the Craft Fairs. My last was on Sunday. Winding down now and taking three weeks off.
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Wow sounds like an interesting event…and congratulations once again for the book and to Sean too..
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Thank you Mich. It was so nice to meet another local author.
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This is part of the work that goes into a book that you don’t even realize—-getting people to know about it!!
But how fun to meet up with other authors….
And lovely to win a prize too!!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
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It was so lovely to meet Sean. We had a great old chat. My prize is a delight. xx
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I agree that painting is really lovely. How exciting to win it unexpectedly!! And it sounds wonderful to meet up with other authors– share your thoughts. What a fun post Brigid!! Christmas hugs from here!
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Brigid I am inspired to read this Post and Feel great that now I have a Great friend from Ireland who is a Published Author.
Regards
Shiva
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Thank you Shiva. It still seems a bit surreal.
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[…] Christmas Craft Fairs […]
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[…] Sean has been a war correspondent, medical reporter, travel writer, editor and publisher and is the author of a novel “Pretty Ugly.” We first met last year at a local Christmas Craft Fair and exchanged books. You can read my post on the event HERE […]
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