Product Description

Dulcie Ballantyne knows that creative writers' groups attract an unlikely mix of people, so when she starts up Hidden Talents, she is well prepared for the assortment of people she is bringing together: Beth King is facing empty-nest syndrome as her only son, Nathan, leaves home for university. Jack Solomon, a local estate agent, is having trouble coming to terms with the shock of his wife leaving him for his best friend. Jaz Rafferty is an intensely private seventeen-year-old girl, who writes to escape her large, boisterous family. Victor Blackmore is a know-it-all, who claims to be writing the blockbuster novel every publisher will be clamouring for. What they all have in common is a need to escape, as well as a desire to keep their lives as private as possible. As they grow more confident in their writing skills, friendships develop, and gradually they come to realise that a little openness isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #324971 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Review
MEDIA 'beautifully executed' Sarah Broadhurst, The Bookseller Review in Juneissue of WOMAN & HOME and PRIMA. WOMAN ALIVE (Christian magazine) interviewed Erica in June issue and an interview also appeared in the LINCOLNSHIRE ECHO to pre-advertise the event at Ottakar's. Reviewed in KNUTSFORD GUARDIAN and LANCASHIRE EVENING TELEGRAPH EVENTSErica has visited several bookshops tocoincide with publication. Ottakar's, Lincoln and Ottakar's Wilmslow were both attended by about 35 people. Lincoln sold 36 copies of Hidden Talents, Wilmslow 22 copies. Erica also visited WHSmith's in Lincoln to sign stock. Her event at Ottakar's Crewe was also a success. The Summer Reading evening with Adele Geras, Rebecca Shaw and Sarah Harrison at Ottakar's, Stafford was unfortunately cancelled due to problems with the venue but as tickets sales were very strong we will be re-scheduling. Erica also attended the Hull Literary Lunch in April

About the Author
With an insatiable appetite for other people's business, Erica James will readily strike up conversation with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing. She finds it the best way to write authentic characters for her novels, although her two grown-up sons claim they will never recover from a childhood spent in a perpetual state of embarrassment at their mother's compulsion. The author of thirteen bestselling novels, including Gardens of Delight which won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and her recent Sunday Times top ten bestseller, Its the Little Things, Erica now divides her time between Cheshire and Lake Como in Italy, where she now strikes up conversation with unsuspecting Italians.

Customer Reviews

Hidden Talents
Once again this author has managed to keep me enthralled and wanting to read just one more chapter! The whole storyline is believable and very life like. I enjoyed this whole story and am keen to read another.

Hidden Talents
I am nearing the end of Hidden Talents and am finding it one of Erica's best yet. Fantastic storyline with characters you can relate to. Cant wait for the next one.

Excellent
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, and really had trouble putting it down.

The characters are extremely believable and likeable and you really want to know what is going to happen to each and every one of them. The descriptive writing is excellent and makes it easy to envisage the scenes being described.

This book has you laughing one minute and crying the next - an absolutely wonderful story teller.