The launch party for Legend Press' latest novel Heading South was a huge success at the Crockatt & Powell bookshop, near Waterloo, last Thursday (24th May). Over 75 guests attended the launch, including many of late author Luke Bitmead's close friends and family.
Luke wrote Heading South in conjunction with debut author Catherine Richards, after they came into contact with each other on the BBC's Get Writing Forum. Sadly they never got the chance to meet in person before Luke's tragic death in October last year.
Luke's family were delighted to have the opportunity to meet Catherine at the launch and many fond memories of Luke were shared. Details of the Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund were also announced, and the first grant for fledgling writers is expected to be awarded in 2008. Luke's royalties from Heading South and also from continued sales of his debut novel White Summer (published by Legend Press last year) will all go to the Memorial Fund. More details can be found at www.lukebitmead.com.
Catherine continued promotion of the book’s launch by hosting a successful champagne book-signing at Banbury Waterstone's on Saturday (26th May), marking the first day the book hit the shops. A wealth of positive feedback from readers and reviewers is already flowing in and Legend Press expects the novel to be one of the hits of the summer.
