Raffle Tickets

The village hall was buzzing.  People had travelled from near and far.  The guest 'celeb' was one of Britain's most popular novelists who was busy signing copies of her latest book 'The Christmas Party'.  A queue of fans for her latest 'must have' paperback waited patiently alongside a cardboard figure of another celebrity - a known fan of the author Carole Matthews.  A smiling Mary Berry photobombed readers snapshots and watched over the 'Bake off' type fund raising afternoon that was both enchanting and inspiring.

The hall was transformed from the run of the mill meeting place for brownies and the local Women's Institute into a hive of stalls boasting Shabby Chic wares, home made bows and bags, toys and Christmas decorations.  The cake stall boasted all sorts of treats to delight the eyes and palate.  Refreshments were served onto tables adorned with cloths and china ware that evoked memories of bygone days at grandma's house.

The room heaved with supporters of both the charity and the author.  Violets in Bloom are raising funds to make a memorial garden dedicated to Violet Mornington who died of a rare blood disorder.  The garden will provide other grieving parents with a place of solace.  A touching speech was made after the raffle was drawn and tears were shed by those closely involved.  One sensed their loss and a presence of a little 5 year old girl watching over the afternoon's proceedings.

Now I had expected to write that my raffle ticket was a non-winner, as so often is the case.  As an early purchaser of a strip of coloured numbered tickets, I was able to ask for my 'lucky' number (even though most people consider number 13 as being unlucky - and usually it is!)  The pound spent came up trumps, not once but twice (not 13 but other numbers on the strip).  Two gifts were bagged to take home and enjoy.  But something far more treasured was mine for having made the effort to go there and spend that pound.  Something that can not be bought with money - it's free.  I came away with Inspiration and Encouragement, and having experienced Love and Care.

I had sat and chatted with two other ladies who were also from Staffordshire.  One having just written a best seller novel and the other a Publicity Manager.  Carole joined us too.  I felt so privileged, so interested in this new world of literacy with all its new language of agents, editors, promoters, critics etc.  I felt my time had come.  Now is MY time to write.  You can't put a price on that experience.  That pound will metamorphosis into a new author.