Have you ever tried pouring a quart into a pint pot? That’s what yesterday felt like by the time I collapsed into bed well past midnight!

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We’re in the thick of the literary events forming part of Ashby Arts Festival of which I’m the main co-ordinator. In my usual rush of ill-conceived enthusiasm, I packed the day with not one, but three events which, to put it mildly, kept the old brain cells buzzing way into the small hours of this morning!

We started with a book signing for the Aristocratic Neck, the anthology I’ve co-written with two other authors, telling the tale of the sensational murder of an estate steward by Earl Ferrers, who achieved notoriety by becoming the last peer of the realm to be hanged for murder.

I’d booked a two hour session in the town’s library stretching over the lunch time period which, with hindsight was probably a mistake as most people were … er … having lunch! There were a couple of exceptions, a very stressed business man who sat down with a newspaper and promptly went to sleep and the entire library staff, initially curious, but backed off when the repetitive loop of the funeral march, which formed the background music to our book trailer, had them reaching for Prozac!

Signing the Aristocratic Neck with book trailer playing in the background - we didn't find it depressing!

We did do better with the paparazzi though! We were photographed by no less than three different papers! So what if they’d arrived to shoot the County Council Chairman and his lady taking part in a cross-word solving session? Our book proved a much bigger lure and we even made a sale, bringing our total to two!

Our first sale! The Chairman of Leicestershire County Council and his lady!

Posters, balloons and books bundled into the car and a quick change of location to the museum next door for the bi-monthly session of the Ancient Rhymers, a poetry appreciation society. Our little band has got to know each other very well during the few months the group has been running so conversation tends to be very free and easy. Not quite sure what the two new visitors made of this, one definitely said she couldn’t give up her aerobics to come on a regular basis! Oh well, you can’t win ‘em all!

Two hours later, there was just time to feed the animals and family and then back into town and the Crowded House pub for the Poets, Storytellers and Troubadours event. Ten local artists supported the main storytelling act with a mixture of song, poetry and storytelling. I knew this event was creating interest, but was a bit taken aback by how many people actually turned up! The room was full with many remaining right to the end.

It proved a great night, but I certainly ODed on adrenaline! Creating a balanced programme on the fly from performers, most of which I’d never seen or heard before was nail biting to say the least. It did work though and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Me? I just want a deck chair under a palm tree and a long, cold drink!