AUTHOR EVENTS

My 'Meet the Author' event at our local library was, by any measure, a great success. It was necessary to bring in more chairs to seat the greater-than-expected number of people attending. I took the audience through some major references in the book, accompanied by AVs of relevant looks at Italy. The applause was warm at the close. People wanted to stay and talk. Some of the conversations after the presentation were gratifying for me. A great deal of appreciation and interest was expressed, so I came away feeling that the event had achieved all that I had hoped it would.

Two further commitments resulted from the event.

The first takes place in May. I have been invited to address a lunch meeting of recipients of the Order of Australia medal. I look forward to that with pleasant anticipation. I shall be able to share my love of Italy with a group of people I have not yet met and, of course, ensure that note is taken of my book, Unpacking Italy: passions of a traveller. One of the great good fortunes of one who writes is that he is invited to speak on subjects he loves. Italy, then, and in particular, Venice, is the subject for the OAMs.

The second is an invitation to speak to a Probus Club meeting in July.  They are professional business people, so the opportunity is an important one. A great opportunity is not merely to promote the book, but also to indicate where it can be purchased. Fortunately, it is stocked by some major suppliers.

I need to add that I was the subject of very positive articles in two local papers. In one of them the coverage was over a page and a quarter. I could hardly ask for more than that.

I continue to look for opportunities.

Tony Gates

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