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The Waverley Gazette
Review by 'Book Addict' on Amazon - thank you Book Addict
This review has appeared today of Sue Reid Sexton's 'Writing on the Road'. A lovely review, carefully written. Reproduced from Amazon.co.uk
"This unusual, beautifully written book is many things. It is the story of a love affair with the West Coast of Scotland – the oceans, the beaches, the birds, the seals, the skies. It's a book about accessing your creativity as a writer, motivating yourself, getting the words down on the page and evaluating what you've written. It's a book about solitude and courage, and a basic introduction to Buddhism and meditation. And it's also a book about campervans: the joys and technical challenges of their ownership.
The author bought a series of second-hand campervans, each with its own eccentricities and each with its own name: among them teeny Vera, Vanessa Hotplate and Fugue Ducato. Over a prolonged period, while her second marriage was slowly unravelling, she headed out into the wilds of Scotland to search for her sanity, and to write: long days working on a laptop in the van, with magnificent vistas out the window, sustained by oatcakes, cheese and cups of tea. As she adapted to solitude, her confidence grew, and in this sense the book can be compared to Eat, Pray, Love, except that it is much better written. There's an elegiac quality as the author mourns the loss of her marriage and contemplates single life again, but you sense she has such inner strength she will manage just fine.
It didn't make me want to buy a campervan – I need my home comforts more than that – but it did make me want to visit many of the places mentioned. The gorgeous descriptions make you feel as though you are actually there on the edge of wild grey ocean with a seal watching you from a few yards out, or in complete, disorienting darkness without any background city glow. The book is invaluable as a guide to enjoying your own company, something all of us need to learn no matter what our circumstances. Like all the best travel writing, it shows that the most compelling journey is the one that leads inside to illuminate the soul."
Sue Reid Sexton will be appearing at the following venues/events:
We warmly invite you to join us Waterstone’s Argyle Street at 7pm – 8.30pm on Thursday 21st April for drinks and Sue talking about her life, campervans, travelling alone and the writing process.
Wine and OJ, tea and coffee will be served. Please join us to make the night a success. We’d love to see you.
NB - Waterstone’s – our hosts – have kindly requested if you wish to attend the event on 21st April that you give them a quick ring and say you are coming.
CONTACT DETAILS: 174-175 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8BT Phone: 0141 248 4814 https://www.facebook.com/WaterstonesArgyleStreet
(Sorry for the extra admin but they’d love to hear from you!)
OBAN: Saturday 7th May from 2pm - 4pm Sue Reid Sexton will be signing copies of her new book 'Writing on the Road - Campervan Love and the Joy of Solitude' at Waterstone’s Oban, 12 George Street, Oban, PA34 5SB (the shop is situated opposite West Coast Motors).
EDINBURGH: Meet Sue Reid Sexton and hear extracts from her new book 'Writing on the Road - Campervan Love and The Joy of Solitude'
Sue Reid Sexton will talk about her new book, and her love of campervanning (and also about how to buy a campervan) on Tuesday 24th May at 6.30pm at Blackwell’s, South Bridge, Edinburgh. Tickets are free but need to be reserved through EventBrite please.
The opening paragraph of Sue's Writing on the Road: Campervan Love and the Joy of Solitude is reproduced below:
'Hammering up the western side of Loch Lomond, I reach across the passenger seat of the campervan, flick the door open and shove a broken washing machine out the door. I picture it landing and bursting into a million pieces, and a series of resounding crashes filling the air as it careers backwards along the road, sparks flying. Finally, in the wing mirror, I watch it burst into flames and the faulty inner drum rolling across the road. Narrowly missing the oncoming Glasgow bus, the drum bounces off a rock, leaps over some campers whose bonfire is just getting going, and sploshes into the loch with a hiss.
Ah, how I love this journey! Onwards to salvation before nightfall!'
Please also see: http://suereidsexton.wix.com/sueweb-2#!
https://www.facebook.com/Writing-on-the-Road-1130321500332574/?fref=ts
Sue’s ‘Writing on the Road’ is available now priced £8.99
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