Category Archives: On The Show

Newark Book Festival’s youngest published author

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It’s not unusual to hear someone say “One day I’m going to write a book”…

But how often do you hear an eight-year old say “I’m going to write a book this year” and actually make good on the promise? Well, if you were listening to the show this morning, you’ll have heard the Girls Around Town talking to Harriet Scrase-Hollamby, who said and did just that!

Now 12 years old – and soon to turn 13, as she was quick to point out! – Harriet was sitting with her mum making up stories and writing even before she started school. In January 2013, she told her parents she was going to write her first book that year – the result was Granny, Mummy and Me : Trouble at the Barn and it wasn’t long before the sequel, The Rescue, followed.

Illustrated by Rebecca Fane, the stories feature the adventures of fun-loving Hattie and her Granny. A crime-solving double act who prove that the best heroes are ordinary people who find ways through extraordinary situations, they set out to show that no problem is too great when you stick together.

Sometimes the best children’s storytellers are children themselves – Harriet Hollamby is proof of this fact – Paul McGee

The youngest published author taking part in this year’s Newark Book Festival, Harriet has already started work on her third book – a stand-alone title aimed at an older, teenage audience – and when you reach the end of The Rescue, you’ll see she has big plans for the Granny, Mummy and Me series too, with four more adventures to come.

Her first two books are available to download on Amazon or you can email Harriet direct at hattieholl@gmail.com to buy them in paperback. And with a percentage of the proceeds on all sales donated to charity, you’ll be helping this enterprising young writer support local good causes too.

The journey of a lifetime starts with the turning of a page

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Is there anything better than a good book?

OK, chocolate maybe – but who’s to say you can’t share the love? They both feed the soul and let’s face it, at least with a book you’re more likely to expand your horizons than your waistline!

Crime thrillers or children’s tales, romance or riddles, history or heroes – whatever your pleasure, you’ll find all the inspiration you need to start (or continue!) your own journey of a lifetime when the Newark Book Festival comes to town next week…

From 6.30pm to 9pm on Friday 14 July, 9.30am to 7.45pm on Saturday 15 July and 10am to 4.15pm on Sunday 16 July, Newark will be buzzing with book-related activities for all the family and, as you’d expect, the Girls Around Town will be in the thick of it!

Getting the weekend off to a great start, Fiona will be joined by fellow poet Jane Wyles for an evening of Wine and Words at Gannets Bistrot on Friday, then bringing it to a close when she talks to best-selling author Natasha Pulley about her new novel, The Bedlam Stacks on Sunday.

On Saturday, you’ll find Tina in the chair for two events, interviewing members of the Women’s Fiction Panel from 1.45pm and uncovering the story behind Centaur when she chats to Declan Murphy and Ami Rao from 3.30pm.

Back in the studio on Sunday morning, she’ll be holding the fort with Sue as June takes a quick tour of some of the Festival venues. Tune in or listen online from 10am to 12 noon for live updates and interviews throughout the show – and don’t forget to check out the programme for full details of what to see, do and hear in Newark next weekend…

Helping women get the lives they want

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A self-confessed ‘mature woman’, next Sunday’s Girls Around Town guest Penny Briant has faced a number of unexpected life changes in the last 10 years.

And while readily admitting that everyone’s journey is different, she firmly believes that being able to draw on her own experiences gives her a unique insight into what the women she now works with are going through.

Proof positive that it’s never too late to change direction, Penny was in her late 40s when she gained a degree in Human Resource Management.  Her growing interest in personal development led to further study and in 2015 she qualified as an accredited life coach.

Based in Newark, she uses her new skills to help clients find a way to deal with the kind of challenges she had faced. But not by giving them advice or telling them what to do – as a coach, her role is to motivate them to create their own future by asking questions that encourage them to focus on where they really want to be.

“Women are incredibly powerful and do amazing things but all too often in later life we find ourselves losing our way,” says Penny. “It’s at times like these that we need a strong circle of support and I will always be grateful to the female friends who were there for me through some difficult times.

“Now I feel privileged to be able to give my clients the same support in a professional way and in doing so to help them get the lives they want.”

Tune in or listen online between 10am and 12 noon on Sunday, when Fiona will also be sharing her hints and tips for summer health.

Many of feel better for some sunshine and the longer days at this time of year but being beach-ready can be a bit of challenge, especially if your toes are still showing signs of hibernation! So here’s your chance to find out how to keep your feet neat and the veruccas at bay, along with other advice on a few more summer niggles…