I’ve never done one of these, again something to do with living in Austria and not having my books in German! I was a bundle of nerves all day, not helped by realising that the traffic in Ponty at the time we needed to be there was hectic, so I hopped on a train lugging the books in one of those suitcases on wheels. Dave followed in the car after the rush hour. Got there just at the right time, set up my books, and tried not to buy any more! Yes, I forgot to get Dave to take photos after he arrived. Jeff, who runs Storyville books was so calming and matter of fact, he really helped.
It was a bit nerve wracking, wondering who would turn up, but they did, even a couple I didn’t know. I talked about my writing background, asked for questions. Read two bits from the book, (trying not to edit them again in my head) and then we had a great discussion on pit ponies, mining and horses in general. The time flew.
Then I made far more sales than I expected, made some new friends, chatted more with some old, and I packed up, buzzing! It was just so good to actually talk to people about my books, and have them interested. I’ve now got a horse show, two book fairs and a book signing possibility. This is so much more fun than just looking at the sales on Amazon, this is what writing is about!
After some sweltering weeks here in Wales, the most exciting week is ahead of me. Today, Lamplight to Sunlight is released! It’s available as eBook, paperback and hardback. If you click on the link above, it will take you into the first few pages for a preview.
I’m also looking forward to the book launch at Storyville books in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales on the 22nd. 18.30 to 20.00. If by chance any of you are in the area, you’re very welcome and I’d love to see you!
Here are some of the smashing 5 star reviews that have come in so far. If you read it, I’d love to hear what you think of it.
A beautiful book written about about the grit, grime, gloom and dangers of life down the mines from the ponies’ perspective. This book is a rich seam of valuable historical information about those lives and the lives of the miners facing the constant risk of injury and death as they went abut their work. That was until pit ponies careers in the mines ended in the late 1990’s, only a generation ago. Then they were brought to the surface forever from lamplight to sunlight, from pit to paddock to have second lives. It is not often an author’s words can make my eyes moisten. Anna managed it with a couple of these second life stories of the ponies and the people who gave them that chance to feel grass beneath their feet, sunshine on their backs and clean air to breath.
It is also a story that we can all take a lesson from. That is no matter how dark things get there will always be light.
An easy read that flows enthrallingly.
‘Written from the perspective of some of the pit ponies that left the mines to live new lives above ground, Lamplight to Sunlight is a wonderful account of ponies allowed to live their best lives after giving their all. Sensitively written, Anna incorporates her love of and experiences with horses with well researched facts to create some memorable characters. The retelling of her research is a meaningful preface to the stories that follow and provide us as readers with insight into some of the workings of the mines and the wonderful equines that made the life of the miners a little easier. An awesome read, that flows and draws you in from the first word. Often we are left wanting to know what happened next and this book tells you just that.’
As I’ve blogged before, sometimes we find the lack of information or maps when visiting places in Austria quite frustrating. Especially in the mining areas where there is so much still to see. Yesterday we took a walk around the hills in our village, where we knew at one point there was a quarry and an old stone crusher. On the way, we found that the signs on this path had finally been renewed and gave loads of information -when we could understand the German.
We stopped at the crusher, knowing there was a table there, to find that not only on the board were more mining details and a Nordic walking torture exercise board but also they had put up a history of the Marble crusher. Under the sign was a box with hammers in it and an invitation to go in the old quarry to hammer and chisel away and make your own sculptures! So well done Ramingstein for information given, and a wonderful disregard for Health and Safety, allowing common sense and fun instead!
We found a stretch further on where ‘stollen’ and little mines were actually cut into the hillside to remove the ore, just left as it was when they left a hundred years ago but overgrown. One was vertical into the ground, Dave only just missed putting his foot into it! Further down the hill is the Silver mine that can be visited, not a trip for claustraphobic me!
I have to take back some of what I said about the lack of information at Turrach village. On Saturday we visited the Open day the MontanMuseum and were treated to a guided tour. Having failed to read the advert properly, we were too early but never mind. The guy who took us round was part of the local firebrigade, and knew his stuff. There is a whole keen band of volunteers who run it and have done all the work. There was also an exhibition of the Predlitz/Turrach Firebrigade and he regaled us with loads of anecdotes on that. The second part of the tour was due to be in the village but he got called away to help with some setting up. Darn, this was the bit that most interested us, we’ll have to go back again, and get all our questions answered!
I’ve never done one of these, again something to do with living in Austria and not having my books in German! I was a bundle of nerves all day, not helped by realising that the traffic in Ponty at the time we needed to be there was hectic, so I hopped on a train lugging the books in one of those suitcases on wheels. Dave followed in the car after the rush hour. Got there just at the right time, set up my books, and tried not to buy any more! Yes, I forgot to get Dave to take photos after he arrived. Jeff, who runs Storyville books was so calming and matter of fact, he really helped.
So where's the snow? 