MAGGIE GEE - FAVOURITE AUTHOR

March is such a busy month for readers and writers in the county. Following the launch of the Essex Book Festival a couple of weeks ago, it is now in full literary flood with people criss-crossing the county to see their favourite authors. This evening, the Billericay Literary Society joined with Essex Library service to provide a superb programme. I love being part of it all as a Patron for the second year running although I've been linked to this most important of book festivals since the start, eleven years ago. Tonight's event was sold out weeks ago. We met the superb novelist, Maggie Gee giving us her thoughts, feelings and background to the businees of writing her award winning novels and books of short stories. What was also lovely was seeing so many friends from various reading groups in local towns and the place was packed with Maggie's fans - a lively lot! Oh - and did you know that Essex has more than 550 reading groups - I think probably the most in the UK.