ABERGAVENNY GAY WITCH HUNT : ABERGAVENNY BOOK SIGNING 20 SEPTEMBER 2014 : SETTING UP

26 September 2014 Book Signing Blog Part 1 : Setting Up : William Cross writes about the book signing at The Abergavenny Book Shop on 20 September 2014. On the weekend Saturday of the popular Abergavenny Food Festival we set up base camp outside The Abergavenny Book Shop in the town’s High Street. Monty Dart, author of “ Who Killed Dripping Lewis?” ( the Pontypool murder case from 1939- see below) shared the limelight - or firing line. We were there for several purposes : to greet people, to ask them to take a leaflet or two, buy a book and chat . He stayed there immoveable from 9.30am to 5.00pm. But it felt strange. Both of us have been long standing supporters of the Abergavenny Food Festival and have worked for many years there as Venue Managers. In 2013 we decided to hang up our aprons and leave it to younger folk to take over our batons and napkins. The Aber Fez event seemed a good place to attract people coming into the town, and offer them a chance to learn about an important chapter of Abergavenny’s history. Brian Hughes at the Abergavenny Bookshop has been supportive from the start on offering the book on the war time scandal to those who want to read it. Our unmissable table spread was adorned with the quaint display in clerical purple declaring “ HOMOSEXUAL WITCH HUNT: BOOK SIGNING TODAY “ . This banner was last seen at Cardiff Pride. What was equally noticeable were our black tea shirts brandishing the front cover to the book in all it’s glory, which is a colourful drawing by Newport artist and cartoonist, Gerard Whyman, of the Abergavenny Coliseum Cinema in it’s heyday . In 1942 the Cinema was the lair of George Rowe, the evil paedophile who preyed on his young page boys. However as well as the book on THE ABERGAVENNY WITCH HUNT we had on offer a variety of other books including our series of titles about wayward members of the Morgan family of Tredegar House, Newport, the notorious Carnarvons of Highclere Castle ( read Downton Abbey, of course), a book about an unsolved murder in Pontypool in 1939, and a Memoir of a Ward Maid at St Cadocs Hospital, Caerleon. TO BE CONTINUED…….

Friday 29 August: Visit to Abergavenny: New Stock of Books

Spent the afternoon in Abergavenny. Called in to the Abergavenny Book Shop, High Street, Abergavenny with a new stock of copies of the Abergavenny Witch Hunt. Whilst I was there one man came into the shop to buy a copy and I was able to explain some key ingredients about the war time story. Brian Hughes at the Abergavenny Book Shop agreed I could do a book signing at the shop on Saturday 20 September , 2014. A new stock of flyers on the book were accepted by the Museum at Abergavenny Castle and by Martin at Martin's Gallery in Baker Street. Much Thanks folks.

The Abergavenny Witch Hunt : Update on Promotions

8 August 2014 : As of the end of this week copies of " The Abergavenny Witch Hunt" have been sent to various interested parties in London, Newport, Swansea, Cardiff, Monmouth, Herefordshire, Devon, Solihull, East Sussex, Somerset, ( and of course Abergavenny ). A copy of the book has been forwarded to the non-fiction editor of "Wales Art Review" ( with thanks to BG). The book has been kindly promoted on the "The Welsh Cinema Photo History" and another Cinema forum ( with thanks to GG).A short posting on a website called " Forgotten Abergavenny" has brought a positive response from that website's co-ordinator.

SUPPLEMENTARY BLOG ENTRY MPs, AMs, ABERGAVENNY TOWN COUNCILLORS.

The Author’s Blog 4 : The Abergavenny Witch Hunt at 4th August 2014. SUPPLEMETARY BLOG ENTRY MPs, AMs, ABERGAVENNY TOWN COUNCILLORS. The Marketing for the Book. The Abergavenny Witch Hunt. An account of the prosecution of over twenty homosexuals in a small Welsh town in 1942. • Round Robin e-mail with e-flyer on Book Signing at Cardiff Pride on 16th August 2014 sent to selected local South Wales MPs, AMs, the Clerk to the Abergavenny Town Council and all Abergavenny Town Councillors listed on the Town Council website. • These Abergavenny Town Councillors advised about the signing ( and also that copies of the book are available for sale in The Abergavenny Bookshop) are listed below. • Councillors : Samantha Dodd, Paul Jordan, Paul Wadsworth, Mark Chiplin, Martin Hickman, Maureen Powell, Douglas Edwards, Melissa Toombs, Cllr Woodhouse, Roger Harris, Maggie Harris, John Prosser, Robin Harries and Nick Tatam.

The Author’s Blog 3 : The Abergavenny Witch Hunt at 5th August 2014.

The Author’s Blog 3 : The Abergavenny Witch Hunt at 5th August 2014. The Marketing for the Book. The Abergavenny Witch Hunt. An account of the prosecution of over twenty homosexuals in a small Welsh town in 1942. • 30th July 2014: LGBT Rights Campaigner Norena Shopland kindly offered to mention the book on her Facebook page. • Norena later advised she had done this. She also mentioned the Cardiff Pride on Saturday 16th August and suggested she might be able to arrange a book signing session. • Flyer designed ( thanks to MD) for book signing at Cardiff Pride being held at Cooper's Field, Cardiff CF10 3RB. Andrew Davies of Unity agreed to take flyers for the book and arrange a book signing at Cardiff Pride on 16th August 2014, 2pm-3pm. • Websites updated to mention book signing at Cardiff, Facebook page tagged to website, Tweets sent ( with several re-tweets.) • 3rd August – 5th August 2014 : Round robin e-mail circular sent about the book signing at Cardiff Pride on 16 August 2014. • Literature Wales ( thanks Louise) and The Society of Authors ( thanks Charlotte B )included coverage of the Book Signing at Cardiff on their events website and by e-mail flyer.

The Author’s Blog 2 : The Abergavenny Gay Witch Hunt. At 31 July 2014.

The Author’s Blog 2 : The Abergavenny Witch Hunt The Marketing for the Book The Abergavenny Witch Hunt An account of the prosecution of over twenty homosexuals in a small Welsh town in 1942 • 24th July 2014 : The book went on sale supported by a full page spread ( page 8) in today’s Abergavenny Chronicle. [ With thanks to Tim Butters] • Book Mentioned at the Meeting of the Society of Authors, Gloucestershire and Neighbouring Counties Group Lunchtime gathering on 28 July 2014. • Book cover designer, Gerard Whyman signed copies of the A2 sized poster ( created by Pat S, who also designed flyers) advertising the book. • Visit to Abergavenny on 31 July, 2014. Moderate sales locally to date reported. More publicity initiatives planned. • No letters/ comments about the 1942 case in today’s edition ( 31st July ) of the Abergavenny Chronicle, one week following initial coverage. • The always inspiring custodians of Newport's The Friends of Tredegar House website ( much thanks to Anne and Les) adding a reference to the book on The Abergavenny Witch Hunt on their website.

The Author’s Blog : The Abergavenny Gay Witch Hunt of 1942

The Author’s Blog : The Abergavenny Witch Hunt. The Marketing for the Book: The Abergavenny Witch Hunt. An account of the prosecution of over twenty homosexuals in a small Welsh town in 1942 Week Commencing : 21st July 2014 • After some wrinkles at the printers copies of the book finally arrived on 21st July 2014. • Advance Orders prepared for despatch. • A Press Release e-mail was issued by Book Midden Publishing giving details about the book. • A round robin mailing followed in the next few days and complimentary copies sent to those who especially helped make the production of the book possible. • The book was listed for sale on Amazon.co.uk and on Amazon .com sites. • Author and other Websites updated with links to the book. • Author Page on Amazon was updated. • Society of Authors page was updated. • A tweet sent out on Twitter about the book. • As the week passed The Abergavenny Chronicle confirmed that there would be an article about the book in the edition of the paper for 24th July 2014. • Brian Hughes at the Abergavenny Bookshop, 1 High Street, Abergavenny NP 7 5RY confirmed his agreement to stock and sell the book. • Visit made to Abergavenny on 23 July 2014, called at the Abergavenny Chronicle Offices to leave a poster and to get copies of the paper. • Visit made to Abergavenny Bookshop to deliver copies of the books. • Visit made to Wetherspoons Coliseum ( the site of the Abergavenny Coliseum Cinema- the scene of much of the storyline of the witch hunt , in 1942). The Manager of the Wetherspoons Coliseum agreed to put a poster on display about the book.