by Michelle Horst
A long-standing group of Hornsea writers have taken up an exclusive opportunity to share their work in Bridlington.
The Hornsea Writers group has met for several years at the bowls club in Atwick Road.
This local organisation is home to some of the region’s most experienced writers, with a collection of accolades to their name, including the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Award and a Romance Novelist New Writers’ Award.
Their work has appeared on BBC radio, international magazines and news outlets, and has been published by the nation’s biggest traditional houses. The writers were quick to sign up to this rare and valuable opportunity.
The venture, a creation of Graham Smith, will bring a local coffee house and authors together in Bridlington’s old town. Graham’s initiative will mean self-published novels are no longer limited to online e-readers and digital stores.
Following a 2023 campaign against Amazon’s taxing strategy, the Society of Authors encouraged readers to buy from bookstores and independent retailers instead, to improve earnings and royalty rates for authors. Large book retailers struggle to stock locally inspired books, making interesting local history and independently published work difficult to find.
The scheme, to be launched at Rhapsody Coffee House in High Street, Bridlington, aims to open up bookshelves for indie authors.
Organisers were keen to stress the uniqueness of the venture, saying: “The space will only be available to self-publishers, and no other titles will be on the shelves.”
As well as the chance to meet writers, there will be an exclusive space for independent authors to feature their work within the coffee shop.
A different local author will be signing books on the first Saturday of each month. Visitors can make the most of the day with the meals and cakes on offer in the coffee house.
On Saturday, February 1, Joy Gelsthorpe, a former Hornsea teacher who writes as Joy Stonehouse, will be the first author to have her work available through the scheme. Joy will be signing copies of her novels from 2pm until 4pm.
Her popular series of historical fiction is set in the 1700s and was inspired by her family connection to Reighton village.
Penny Grubb and Karen Wolfe will also take part. After winning the Crime Writers Association’s illustrious Debut Dagger award in 2004, Penny went on to write numerous crime novels.
Penny’s The Doll Makers will be available at Rhapsody Coffee House as part of the trilogy, Falling into Crime, published by local publisher Fantastic Book Publishing.
Author and dog-trainer Karen saw her short fiction Squirrels gain airplay on BBC Radio Four. With several other novels to her name, her comic crime novels Dogsbody and Dogwatch will be part of those on offer in Bridlington.
On Saturday, March 1, Linda Acaster will be signing copies of her contemporary suspense novel The Forever House.
Linda’s fiction has been published by Harlequin Mills and Boon, and Woman’s Own. After a career with one of England’s most successful literary consultancies, Linda is looking forward to the chance to meet other writers.
She said: “It’s a two-way process: chatting to readers is wonderfully enlightening, but I’m hoping to be able to point new writers in the right direction.”