News from Winchcombe WI

Adeline Rucklidge writes:

"Last years 'Warm hands from Warm Hearts' notice put in by Winchcombe WI member, Pat Wilson, got a terrific response, and many car loads of knitted goods were taken to 'Mr Shoebox' in Evesham. I am reporting that the good work of knitting is continuing, and Pat has just delivered another car load of knitted goods to Mr James, for the shoe boxes.We would like to thank all the GFWI members who are knitting for us, and keep up the good work, there can never be enough scarves, hats and gloves.
As a WI we have over 30 filled shoe boxes to go to Evesham next week.
It is such a well worth project."

Adeline, this is fantastic - congratulations to all the Winchcombe knitters for such an amazing contribution.

Oh my....

..the words spoken by the publisher's sales manager were "unprecedented demand"!

Our book is selling so well, they can hardly print them fast enough. I wonder if this is partly due to Liz popping into Waterstones Gloucester each day, making sure there are plenty on display by the downstairs tills?

Thanks Liz! And thank you everyone who is buying a copy of "The Gloucestershire Floods 2007", the perfect Christmas present! Further supplies are now available from GFWI and they will be on sale at Cheltenham Town Hall on the 5th December, too.

In the news

So exciting to have the launch of our book today and to see ourselves in the media. A quick google turned up a page on the BBC news site and then, an online recording of Points West, recorded live at the launch party in Tewkesbury tonight (sorry don't seem to be able to fix up a link to that one)

We were told by publisher Matilda that we are into the THIRD print run - that's more than 2500 copies and really quite something, considering the Booker Prizewinner this year had sold just 3500 copies on the eve of the competition final.

Not that I'm going to draw comparisons, you understand ;-)

(Oh, and it's three months to the day since I made the initial phone call to Suttons, enquiring if they'd be interested in working on a Flood book with us)

Book publicity

Sue and I have just done an interview with John Rockley of BBC Radio Gloucestershire which will be aired tomorrow morning (Tuesday), so if you're around, then do listen in.

The sales are quite amazing - the 750 copies of the initial order are already sold and orders continue to "flood in" (sorry...couldn't resist that one) A further order has been placed with Suttons to ensure we have enough to satisfy all needs for Christmas presents! Watch for plenty of press coverage this week as the book is officially launched.