The Isle of Wight 'Wightrider' event

Over the summer, some of my books headed off to the Isle of Wight Motor Museum. The books were well received, and further orders were placed.

Isle of Wight 'Wightriders'

In October, the museum was hosting a bus running day, ‘Wightriders’ event and I was invited to contribute. The event was to take place over the weekend of the 11th and 12th October.

I have enjoyed visiting the Isle on a few occasions, so I thought it would be a good reason to see it in person and meet the volunteers, staff and public. As my new book, ‘A Ticket to Ride’, was due to be published, this would prove a good occasion for its launch.

A Ticket to Ride

The book is ready for publication on the 20th October, and a blog tour is organised for the 20th – 26th October; it will be a busy time for me and the books.

Jay-Jay and his Island Adventure

We were due to head off on Friday, 10th, but first, a childcare time with both Alexander and Isabelle.

On the way to school on Thursday, I told Alexander about my Island Adventure. Just like Jay-Jay, we would be going on a ferry, but at least it was a bigger ferry than the one Jay-Jay travelled on, and I didn’t think our car would bump its bottom getting on, like Jay-Jay in the book.

Alexander was very thoughtful and asked if my books could be put in his school. I’d love that, and I loved Alexander's thought.

Wightriders

We headed off on the Friday morning to catch the ferry. It was a calm and quick crossing, and we arrived ready for a Saturday start.

The Isle of Wight Motor Museum is a small museum. The Wightrider event is now in its fourth year and is very well organised.

There were lots of different buses taking passengers on a variety of journeys. You didn’t have to start at the museum, but could jump on and off along the way.

I set up my books and was ready.

There were certainly a lot of people racing through to catch a bus or two.

The people passing through were focused on catching their bus, but then later, between journeys, there was time for them to stop and look at my books, to hear the background to my writing and how my involvement in the Playbus project was the inspiration for the stories.

A lot of dads, Nanny's and families, and as always, it was good to chat about the bus project, and they were able to buy a signed copy of the books on request.

Jay-Jay was definitely enjoying an Island Adventure this weekend.

The event was over two days and had lots of visitors. My books proved very popular, and I managed to sell and sign a lot of different books, including ‘A Ticket to Ride’, for which I had advanced sales copies.

I ended up busy buying a few bus memorabilia for my grandchildren, including a ‘Bus Driver’ Teddy bear called KK.

There were, as ever, surprises along the way as well as a lot of chatter.

A donation of £2 went to the museum from each book sale.

What a great event, and what a friendly museum. They certainly had a lot of different buses ready to support the occasion.

It was certainly enjoyable and with luck I might get to come again next year?

Where to get my book?

The Isle of Wight Bus Museum of course, amongst other places

We've been to the Museum before. This time I came as an author.

Books to Museums - find out more here.Here