The First Book Reading and Signing of Walking into Alchemy.

My books arrived just in time for my book reading and book signing - the day of the event! Katie and I arrived at the venue - The Sprich Dich Frei Language Institute - in the lovely medieval town of Wolfsberg - in plenty of time. We all set to and began to organise the room and adjust the lighting. Katie laid out her apple cakes, pastry roses and muffins shaped like butterflies and soon it was time. I had dreamt about the moment when I would open my first box of books, but I left it a little late, and I was distracted by beautiful people arriving and glasses of champagne being poured. It occurred to me immediately that the people arriving are my readers, and a box of books is nothing without readers - and a play nothing without an audience. So I am happy that I was distracted in this way - how lucky! And doubly so as the room was full and we had to find extra chairs.

I was, I admit, a little nervous - I always am although I am used to public speaking - wind me up and let me talk about Shakespeare, and once I get going I can keep going and going. But, talking about myself was harder than I thought - especially as at the beginning of my book, I was obliged to layout my sorrow at leaving my job, so this has to be explained. But as the evening progressed I was able to move on and talk about my walks in snow, hoarfrost and ice, and then how I watched out for the first Spring flowers and how the walks soon became drowsy with the heat of summer and the golden beauty of autumn to return again to snow and ice. My mood lifted as I spoke and I felt less vulnerable and nervous. I also talked about the walks that I completed with Katie - and how those were filled with noise, excitement and companionship.

I concluded by thanking those people in the room that have helped and supported me over the past three years. Those that have given me work invited me into their homes to celebrate birthdays, or festive events or just generally made me feel welcome in this country.

At the end of the reading, I also couldn't resist presenting Katie with a red rose, because my book is also a love story. I am glad to say that there were a few tears in the house! You know what they say: if you can't make 'em laugh, make 'em weep!

Please visit www.ameliamarriette.com for more information about Walking into Alchemy: The Transformative Power of Nature.

Do you belong to a Book Club?

If you would like me to come and speak to your book club please do feel free to contact me. If you want me to come and talk to you to introduce the book before your group reads it I am happy to do this and bring copies for you to buy directly from me. Or, if you can cover my travel costs, I can come and host a book discussion after your group have read it. Please contact me to find out more about my availability. I am happy to travel anywhere in the Carinthian region of Austria and I am often in Vienna too.