KAREN CHARLTON
  • Home
  • Author
  • Books
    • The Heiress of Linn Hagh
    • The Sans Pareil Mystery
    • The Sculthorpe Murder
    • Plauge Pits & River Bones
    • Murder on Park Lane
    • The Willow Marsh Murder
    • Catching the Eagle
    • Seeking Our Eagle
  • Short Stories
    • Death At The Frost Fair
    • The Death of Irish Nell
    • The Piccadilly Pickpocket
    • The Mystery of the Skelton Diamonds
    • February 1809
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Genealogy
    • James Charlton Senior (1700-1770)
    • John Charlton (1746-1818)
    • 'Pious John' Charlton (1769-)
    • James 'Jamie' Charlton (1774- )
    • The mysterious William Charlton
    • The Family Tree: Ten generations
  • Guest Interviews
Welcome to the official website of historical novelist KAREN CHARLTON

The 'Eagle' is published

8/12/2011

3 Comments

 

The 'Eagle' is published

OMG.  What an amazing day.

This morning when the alarm went off at 6.25 am I woke up a published author.

Did I wake up with a metaphor on my mind?  With ink-stained fingers or the appalling dress sense normally associated with writers?   No.  I've always allegedly had 'questionable' dress-sense.  ;)

I woke up as normal, had a couple of cups of tea and then drove through the dreadful wind and rain to the day job.  Here, I was instantly embroiled in a passionate debate about how we as a school can manage our limited resources and do the best for our students.  I was on 'duty'  and had a full days teaching ahead.  No time to relish my literary achievement.

Then at 11.10am we led our Year Ten  classes (that's fourth years, for all of you who are still in the 1980's)  into the gym for their 'controlled assessment.' 

Samantha O---, one of my 'liveliest' young ladies shoved a red envelope into my hand. 

'Open it, Miss,' she whispered as the exam was about to start.

I waited until they were settled and then picked up the envelope. 

'To Kazza:  Miss Charlton'  it read.  It was a congratulations card - but not only from Sam.  She had gone to trouble of getting at least half the class to sign it.  I was really moved - and was very conscious that the little darlings were not concentrating on their exam - but were watching my reaction instead.

In that one lovely gesture the kids had shown why so many of us come into teaching in the first place - and why we stay.  If a group of noisy but talented, frustrating but loveable, group of 14/15 year old teenagers can appreciate what today meant to me, then there is still plenty of hope for the young people of today.  It is a privilege to be working with them.   I will treasure that card for the rest of my life.

But the excitement was not over yet...  

Yesterday, my wonderful press officer and good friend, Jill Boulton, organised an interview with BBC Radio Newcastle.  I was to turn up at the Middlesbrough BBC studios just after 4pm this afternoon and do a fifteen minute interview with John  Harle and Anne Leuchars.

Of course, I was early.  Very early.  But I was so proud.  They say that everyone wants their fifteen minutes of fame - and this was mine.  I parked my car at Sainsburys and walked the BBC building across the road, thinking:  'this is it girl, you've made it.'

I was met by a lovely receptionist, whose name I sadly cannot remember.  She organised a cup of coffee for me, put me at ease and  let me phone my mum and dad in Nottinghamshire on a BBC phone..

'Mum?'

'Yes, Karen?'

 'I'm phoning from the BBC in Middlesbrough.'

'We know that, Karen.'

'How?'

 'Chris has already phoned us and told us about the interview.  Your Dad and I sitting next to his computer waiting to hear it, right now.'

Slightly taken aback by this smooth organisation, so unusal for my family.  I began to stammer:  'OK.  I guess I'll have to phone you later and tell you all about it?'

'Yes, that'll be good.  Your Dad and I have got our fingers crossed for you, darling.'

Then I was shown into a tiny blue room, with a desk and a microphone.  I was told to sit down, put the earphone on  - not to touch anything - and to wait.

At about 4.33pm there was a beeping in my ear. 

Suddenly, I could hear the BBC Newcastle announcers discussing the latest sporting news and the atrocious weather conditions in Northumberland and Scotland.

The next second a voice in my ear said:  'Hello, Karen.  Are you there?'

'Yes,' I said. 'Can you hear me?'

'We can hear  you loud and clear.  A couple more minutes and then we will be interviewing you, OK.'

'OK,' I said.  In the next few minutes I crossed both sets of fingers, blew my nose and tried to slow my breathing. 

Meanwhile, the jungle drums had been beating as far away as Leeds.  My sister Debby, the family accountant, had just finished a meeting with clients when her secretary came running with a message: 

'Quick!  Tune into BBC iplayer.  Your sister is about to be interviewed on BBC Radio Newcastle about her book!'   

Apparently, all accountancy practises ceased in Leeds for the next fifteen minutes as various colleagues crowded into Deb's office to listen to me on the radio.

Meanwhile, back in my tiny room, I stared at the blank  blue wall in front of me  and tried to remain calm...

Suddenly, Jon Harle was introducing 'Catching the Eagle' and the story behind it.  He did it really well.  I was thoroughly enjoying listening to him - and it took me by surprise when he welcomed me and asked the first question.  Th next fifteen minutes flew by.  It was all over before I knew it.  I never had chance to mention the Northumberland Book Launch at Kirkley Hall on January 8th - or the Waterstones signings.

But I'm still deliriously happy.  I'm launched.  The 'Eagle' is soaring.  I am such a lucky, lucky woman...  :)

The interview can be heard here.  It is about half way through the programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00lyjrd/Jon_and_Anne_08_12_2011/
3 Comments
Sam
9/12/2011 05:00:00 am

Yey! Thanks for the mention miss! :-)

Reply
Kristin link
11/12/2011 03:12:48 am

Sounds like an exciting day few days. Congratulations. No longer a inbetweenie. You are officially a published novelist. May your sales rocket. Kristin

Reply
Karen Charlton
11/12/2011 06:24:30 am

Thanks, Kristin. Not long to go for you now... ;)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    For an occasional newsletter containing news, events and other information from historical novelist, Karen Charlton, please subscribe to the mailing list below.

    Archives

    September 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    February 2014
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

    Categories

    All
    Articles
    Book Reviews
    Catching The Eagle
    Crime Fiction
    Death At The Frost Fair
    Events
    Favourite Authors
    February 1809
    Genealogy
    Getting Published
    Guests
    Having Fun
    Historical Fiction
    Literary Awards
    Marketing
    Murder In Park Lane
    Musings On Life
    News
    Non Fiction
    Non-Fiction
    Northumberland
    Plague Pits & River Bones
    Reading For Pleasure
    Research
    Sales News
    Seeking Our Eagle
    Smoke & Cracked Mirrors
    Stephen Lavender
    Talks And Workshops
    The Border Reivers
    The Death Of Irish Nell
    The Detective Lavender Series
    The Gemma James Mysteries
    The Golden Age Of Crime Fiction
    The Heiress Of Linn Hagh
    The Missing Heiress
    The Mystery Of The Skelton Diamonds
    The Piccadilly Pickpocket
    The Sans Pareil Mystery
    The Sculthorpe Murder
    The Willow Marsh Murder
    Writing In General

    RSS Feed