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My Amazing Book Signing Experience

Dreams Do Come True
By Loretta Livingstone
This is about my amazing book signing experience. it was not actually my first book-signing, but my second. I have only been writing books since 2011 and am not very well known yet, so I was really amazed to be invited. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity that I thought I would make a lens about it. I hope you enjoy reading all about it. It was such an exciting time for me. I have M.E. so it was a huge effort, and took me about a week to recover, but anyway dreams do come true.
I wrote my first book in September 2011, and then went on to write my 2nd book, "Hopes, Dreams and Medals" which was inspired by watching the World Championships in November 2011. I was so impressed by the dedication of the athletes, and their hopes and dreams as the 2012 Olympic games drew ever closer, that I started writing poems about both summer and winter sports. I sent a copy to the British no 1 female javelin thrower who said she really liked it but thought it needed to be longer. So I put my brain back into gear and managed to double the size of it. If I hadn't written this book, I think it is possible that I would never have been invited to do the book signing, as it seems to have captured the interest of quite a few amateur and professional athletes. Since then I have gone on to write my third, more conventional book, Jumping in the Puddles of Life.
Please note: All photographs here, except the last one, are either my property or the property of Inspirational Photography Ltd (Lensmaster NickyLou) and should not be copied or used elsewhere. The final one is courtesy of Paul Dobson Photography Ltd.

Wow, What An Honour
Back in November I was contacted by one of my followers on Twitter. He was going to be holding a big, Black Tie Charity Ball in March and wondered if I would be prepared to donate any of my books. He is a marathon runner, and was particularly interested in my book "Hopes, Dreams and Medals". I was happy to donate this and my third book, "JUMPING in the PUDDLES of LIFE" along with a Tee Shirt with the words "Hopes, Dreams, Medals" printed on it.
Bookcover provided by Inspirational Photography Ltd (Lensmaster NickyLou)

It Gets Better!
I was so thrilled to be asked to donate. Little did I know the best was yet to come. I received another email from my contact. This time he was inviting me to not just attend the Ball with my husband, but to do a book-signing there too! Wow! Only my second ever book signing, and this was such a prestigious event! And I get to wear an evening gown too? Bonus! So - did I accept? Did I ever! And better yet, the other person invited to attend was Team GB Marathon Runner Aly Dixon! Wow! What an honour.
Help to plan your charity event
It helps to have some ideas about the "How To" of event planning. I thought these books might give you some idea about what planning needs to be done if you are thinking of holding a charity event. If it is your first ever event it would be wise to do some research before you get started. It's good to try to raise money for Charity this way, but you need to be sure that you don't end up out of pocket too. If I was planning a charity event I would definitely do my research first. I hope these books help.

One Night Only
So, for one night only, I got to feel like a celebrity. I don't know if I will ever be invited to do anything like this again, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I even got to do something useful. What a fantastic adventure. And I even got presented with a huge bouquet! What a wonderful night.
THE VENUE
Yup, better and better. The venue of the Charity Ball was the prestigious Rockcliffe Hall in Darlington. Do go take a look.
Rockcliffe Hall
Take a look at this! What a wonderful venue.
- Rockliffe Hall Facebook Page
Here is their Facebook site. - Rockcliffe Hall website
And this is their official site.
The Tee Shirt

This is the Tee Shirt I designed to donate to the Charity, which was Children with Cancer. The photograph is from the front page of the book and was taken by Nicola Louisa Sharp whose bio you can find at the bottom of this page. I used Vistaprint to design the Tee Shirt.
Children With Cancer Charity
This is the Charity which the Ball was being held for
I Had A Wonderful Time
So I got to wear my fabulous (hired) evening gown, and sign books at this prestigious event (and donate a percentage of each book sold to Children With Cancer Charity). And in April 2013 Paul Cooke, who organised this amazing event, went one step further and ran in the London Marathon.
You can buy my books from these links
- Buy my books from here if you don't live in the UK
My Overseas Bookshelf - Link to my UK Bookstore and Apple IBooks
My UK bookstore, and links to my books at the Apple IBookstore
SO EXCITING
This has to be one of the most thriling things that has ever happened to me.
Have you had something really exciting happen to you?
Share one of your exciting moments (you don't have to be a member of squidoo to join the chat)
Have you had anything really exciting happen to you recently?
And doesn't my husband look good in his tux?

Photograph courtesy of www.pauldobsonphotography.co.uk
I AM DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE.....
.....that three of my books are now available on Amazon Kindle, including my first novelette, Where Angels Tread, a story about a teenage runaway. They are priced at US $ 2.47 and $2.64 GBP 1.53 and 1.66 and also available in other currencies. Why not treat yourself?
Find me on Goodreads
Another milestone! I now have an author profile and blog on Goodreads. If you want to come and visit me there follow the link.
- My blog and bio on Goodreads.
Here's a link to my blog.
Visit me on Facebook
You can visit me at my Facebook group, where you can read more of my work and chat to me. I would love to meet you there.
- My group on Facebook
My group on Facebook, please visit me here.
Some More Exciting News
Since I wrote this lens, another exciting thing has happened. Somebody bought one of my books - Hopes, Dreams & Medals - and then contacted me to ask me to write an exclusive poem for a film they are producing about Athletes, and the reason they do what they do. The Film and Poem are both called Why Do We Do It, and you can find out more about them on my other lens (details below) or on twitter at #whydowedoit
- Hopes, Dreams & Medals
The book which gave me the film opportunity - Meet the Film Maker
The blogspot and video diaries for the film
Newsflash!
I'm delighted to say that the National Poetry Anthology have requested my permission to include my poem "I Am Woman" in their latest book, "Between The Lines" to be published later this year.
I'd love to hear from you (you don't have to be a member of Squidoo to comment)
I hope you've enjoyed reading about my amazing experience
I am sure you will have many more nights like these given that you have made a great start. Keep going.
Congratulations! That must have been such a wondrous experience. Cross that off your bucket list~
There are many more of these in your future girl! So better get those ball gowns ready :)
That is an amazing story and one that will live in your memory forever.Nice pics and your personal presentation is beautiful.
Happy for you :D And you look amazing in the pink gown!
How exciting, and to attend a ball also. Yes dreams do come true. Pretty in pink!
What an exciting and rewarding experience! I hope that you will be attending many more of your book signings!
I'm extreemly happy for you, it sounds like it was a very rich experiance:), I wish you many more.
Wow!!!! How exciting!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!! :)
What an experience. I have not yet read your books so they're now in my list.
What an amazing experience, indeed. Can't imagine.
It does sound like a very special experience, indeed.
This is the stuff dreams are made of! What an amazing opportunity, I'm sure you will have more like it in the future. Very exciting story and the dress is gorgeous!
What a magical event! Congratulations to you... so nice to see hard work and dedication rewarded and recognized.
Congrats on your success :)
That's was Great Experience thanks for share with us. Congratulation!
What a wonderful life you have. You are a celebrity. Evening gown and flowers and all! Congrats.
I am so happy for your experience. It's cool, you are invited in a party where your are the focus of attention. Wow!.
Congratulations! I bet that felt so good. I want that experience too. I had the manager of our local Chapters take a picture of me in front of the 'local interest' section to put on my dream board. Visualize and it will materialize. Squidoo helps open up the writer :D
How very exciting. I am glad you had this wonderful experience.
I enjoyed reading and you look amazing in that dress. All the very best for many, many more book releases.
Wow what a lovely lens and congratulations on your book writing success! It's an inspiration to read about it.
Wow what a lovely lens and congratulations on your book writing success! It's an inspiration to read about it.
Congratulations, I wouldn't have a clue what to wear for one night only, you figured it out - you look gorgeous. I host giveaways at my blog sometimes and I never really thought about it from the authors side before, and I am always so honored that people would share their talents with me, it was really nice to read about it from the authors side.
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience.
How wonderful that you received such recognition and could be a celebrity for awhile.
LOVED this lens!!
What a blast! I'm so glad you were able to wear that awesome gown. I'd love to feel like a celebrity too... Ah... perhaps someday! In the meantime, I'll live vicariously through your great adventures!
Your book signing sounds very exciting and you look absolutely beautiful in your dress. You should be very proud!
Congratulations, Loretta - what an exciting achievement for you!
Congratulations Loretta! Thanks for sharing this meaningful life event. God bless you with continued success!
Congratulations on this fantastic achievement.
Beautiful dress, indeed. I can imagined how you felt... Thanks for sharing!
More proof that good things come to good people!
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