Come and join me ...

...at the Craft Fair in the beautiful village of Kirk Smeaton (WF8 3LB) on October 19th...

This super event will run from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and is being held in Saint Peter's Church.  It may be a small building, but it dates from the 12th century and has an interesting history.  Have a look at the chancel arch, which is thought to have been constructed around 1160.  There is also a large stone font that is thought to be a little earlier.

In 1862, the original building was enlarged and restored and, as a result of over-work on the restoration, some of the detail from the early features has been lost, unfortunately.  The full history of the building is also very patchy, so it is difficult to be precise about any of the attributes visible in this stunning little piece of architecture.

However, what is not in dispute, is the village listing in the Domesday Book - Domesday being the middle English spelling of our modern-day title, Doomsday.  Dating from 1086, this incredible piece of ancient documentation can now be accessed online.  The book records who was owner of the land, both before William's invasion and afterwards, and the church is briefly mentioned.

One other little bit of information that might interest you is that the current name of the village orignates from Smedetone which is a composite of two words from Old English.  The first meaning 'smith' and the second meaning 'estate' or 'farm'.  The Kirk - derived from the old Norse word for church - was added later and is first documented in the 14th century.

And if the history doesn't encourage you visit on October 19th, then maybe the details of the Craft Fair will.

There will be all sorts of stalls with lots of hand-crafted items. I will be there, too, and I will be signing and selling books. I will have all six of my Jacques Forêt Mysteries with me. So, if you would like to chat about France, the Cévennes, the stories, or even Jacques himself, please drop by and say hello. I will also be able to give you the latest info on the next book in the series.

I will be bringing the three fabulous Miss Moonshine anthologies as well.  If you are in need of a feel-good, heart-warming read for autumn, then these collections of gentle stories will see you through the holidays.  They are ideal for those few moments when the kids are busy, and all you need is a cuppa and a bit of me-time.

In addition, I will have all four of the multi-genre miscellanies of tales from the Seasonal Collective.  So, if you want to discover some new authors, these collections are just for you.  And who knows, something to read might be the answer to that nagging question about what to get aunty so-and-so for Christmas this year.

In addition, refreshments will be available throughout the day, and you can also try your luck in the raffle.  I can guarantee you a lovely day out in stunning, historic surroundings.  So please drop by and say hello.  Entry to the fair is absolutely free.

October 19th, St Peter's Church, Main Street, Kirk Smeaton, WF8 3LB

Entry to the fair is FREE