Good day at Bamburgh Castle

[Carole Anne Carr]

Another mild day, drove along the A1, not too busy for once, and on to Bamburgh Castle, a magnificent brooding presence on a rocky outcrop on the edge of the North Sea. Great fun sweeping up the slope to the castle without having to go through the usual process of purchasing a ticket, and very good to be met by the lady who runs the bookshop who seemed pleased to see me again. We took the opportunity to have a lunch in the castle restaurant before driving back along the A1 to the turn off to the island of Lindisfarne. The tide had just left the causeway, making me think about my children's book - the hero is trapped by the tide - and then we were delighted to meet the lady in charge of the bookshop once more. Good reception of my new book for 5 to 7 year olds in WHSmith, very encouraging. Struggled with setting up a central distributor, and very surprised and pleased when Peter North, of Waterstones helped me.