BESTSELLING authors, book bloggers at TV presenters were among the 75 ladies present at Sue France’s fifth annual Belle Époque literary lunch.

The event, which has seen consistent growth since its 2013 debut, brings together a network of creatives and has, over the years, features workshops and speakers all alongside a meal.

With many guests who attended the first event, themed around self-publishing, still returning for the unique annual lunch, many have received the guidance to achieve their own book-writing dreams.

Two of the guests at the inaugural events were book editors Sian-Elin Flint-Freel and Sue Miller.

Sue, who runs the Creative Connecting in Cheshire networking group, said: “It’s so rewarding to see people come back after attending the event one year with a published book to show off the following year.

“I think this lunch has started the writing journeys of at least 15 ladies over the years.”

Speakers and their publications this year were Denise Chilton, ‘Suddenly Single’, Phillipa Ashley, ‘Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles’, and Jude Lennon ,’Little Lamb Tales’.

An additional feature at this year’s event saw book blogger Joanne Robertson speak on ‘My Chestnut Reading Tree’, before surprising two guest authors in the audience by picking them out and reviewing their books on stage.

Authors such as Molly Blake, Debbie Bennett, Clare Capper and Christie Barlow were among the talented writers also attending this unique event.

The lunch was sponsored by NatWest, Bare Bones Marketing and Team Author.

Sue’s next event will be a coffee morning at Hartford Golf Club on Thursday, November 9, followed by a charity fashion lunch at The Courthouse in Toft Road on Thursday, November 23.

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