Harper Collins Summer Party 2016

Hello!

Well, what a party that was! As Charlie Redmayne (Harper Collins CEO) said, we partied like it was 1999. Held in the Victoria & Albert, the HC Summer Party is an annual celebration of their published authors, agents and hardworking staff.

Receiving an invitation is a bit like opening a Wonka bar and finding that elusive golden ticket secreted within. Like Charlie Bucket, I too burst into song. I’ve got a golden ticket … Well, a green and gold one as it goes, but far nicer!

The party was attended by about 750 guests including authors such as Judith Kerr, Nigel Slater, Max Hastings, Michael Bond, Richard Holmes and Oliver Jeffers. And me. Me! Although I’ve been writing for five years and am published internationally, I still get that Charlie Bucket feeling when I attend events like this.

You see, I am now a part of an almost 200 year legacy that includes books from Mark Twain, the Bronte sisters, Thackeray, Dickens, John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr, H. G. Wells, Agatha Christie, J. R. R. Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis. For that thirteen year old book geek that still lurks within me, it’s kind of a dream come true. To  be part of one of the leading publishing houses worldwide, well I’m both inspired and humbled in equal measures.

Now, I know you want to know all the gossip don’t you? Well, first of all, there was pre-party drinks in The Rembrandt, a gorgeous hotel opposite the V&A. The generous Harper Collins Ireland team, Tony Purdue and Mary Byrne, treated us to champagne. And the atmosphere was electric as friends old and new arrived. There was much oohing and aahing as we admired each others finery.

Speaking of finery, I’ve been asked a few times about my dress. Well, the purple dress was bought in Macy’s New York, a few years ago. Gold heels were a steal, bought for €7 in Dunnes Stores! It was only as I was about to leave that I realised I was wearing the Wexford colours – purple and gold! I joked that you can take the girl out of Wexford but you can’t take Wexford out of the girl….

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At 7.30pm it was time for the main event to start! As soon as we entered the V&A we were greeted by more champagne. A girls head could get turned by such lavishness I have to tell you! We found our name badges. Which btw, no matter how famous you are, you wear! Last year, I can still remember seeing my name badge sitting close to David Walliams. That made me smile.

There were beautiful canapés, a seafood bar, a dessert bar and a cocktail bar on the edge of the lake in the courtyard. The apple mojitos were sublime. As was the salted caramel sticks, served in trays of grass. I know it sounds weird and I suppose it was. But we were in Wonka land remember? I wish I had taken pictures of them. But take my word for it, they were worth every single calorie.

As the sun shone and the champagne flowed, I got to catch up with friends from Ireland and the UK. Thats my favourite part of the party. It’s nice to stop and smell the … well the champagne in this case. An awful lot of time for writers is spent on their laptops, communicating with the Harper Collins team via emails. So to get the chance to have a giggle and a gossip with them was very cool.

Charlie Redmayne, the Harper Collins CEO, gave, as he always does, a rousing, funny and inspiring speech. He told us all that he simply couldn’t single out any author, because there were too many of us. He did give me a mention along with some scene stealing ducklings from last years party, but that’s another story!  We all cheered and clapped gleefully when he made a liar of himself and did indeed single out the legend that is Judith Kerr. Flowers were presented to “a truly wonderful and inspiring person” to celebrate her  Booktrust’s Life Time Achievement Award, received earlier that day.

Oh, and Charlie Redmayne then reminded us that next year is Harper Collins 200 year anniversary, so promises were made of appropriate celebrations. I’m already planning my outfit!

It wasn’t all parties though. I did squeeze in a meeting with my publisher Kimberly Young and editor Charlotte Ledger before the party. We discussed plans for the release of The Things I Should Have Told You in September. I’ll be sharing details of the Irish book launches in Wexford and Dublin shortly! And I got to go into a recording studio, to do my part of the audio book version – the Dear Reader letter. That was a lot of fun. For an hour or so, I pretended I was Adele. Now don’t be panicking, I didn’t sing or anything and make an unholy show of myself. But in my head I might have been belting out Hello.

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Oh, just before I go, a quick update on book 5. I feel like I’ve ran several marathons writing this one. It’s almost finished. I’m making myself cry writing some of the scenes, so I’m giving you plenty of warning my lovely readers. Mansize tissues! Kim, Charlotte and I brainstormed titles and cover ideas when we met. I LOVE their ideas. Fierce exciting altogether.

Much love all,

Carmel x

2 Comments

  1. Reblogged this on The Trace Literary Agency Blog and commented:
    Looks like the party to beat all parties. So sorry I missed this event. I’m living vicariously through Carmel’s post!!

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