I don’t know about you, but what with missing the Romantic Novelists’ Association winter party (where I actually won an award as their Media Star), having heavy Christmas decorations drop on my head from a great height, spending six hours waiting for an ambulance to arrive for my mother when she broke her hip, having our shared drains with the neighbours collapse, and returning to the weird passing out unexpectedly that I suffered earlier this year, to name just a few events from the last two weeks I think I could do with a party!

Consequently I’m delighted to be part of the release day celebrations for The Big Event by Anne John-Ligali, especially as she originally hails from my home city of Peterborough. I have my review of The Big Event but even better is a wonderful giveaway from Anne John-Ligali that you can enter at the bottom of this blog post to win Sparkly Afternoon Tea for Two at Vertigo 42 in central London and one e-copy of The Big Event.

The Big Event is available for purchase from Amazon UK

You might like to watch a trailer for The Big Event here too.

The Big Event

You are cordially invited to the party of the season where you’ll meet Constance and friends in action.

Constance Jeffries is excited when she gets the chance to meet up with virtual friends at a get-together in a London hotel. She’s been tweeting and messaging her lovely friends for years and feels they must be just as excited to finally meet her in person too. Or so she hopes.

The Big Event is first part in a short story series about the importance of ‘real’ friendships and how it’s the little things that matter the most.

A Gorgeous Venue, A Room Full of Friends, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

My Review of The Big Event

Writer Constance finds attending a real-life get-together of virtual friends from social media doesn’t quite work out as planned.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Constance. Although The Big Event is a short story, Anne John-Ligali creates vivid characters instantly so that there’s a visceral reader response as protagonist Constance introduces them. I felt I knew them straight away.

I loved this short story. It might only take ten minutes or so to read (perfect for a tea or lunch break) but it really packs a punch. There’s considerable humour, especially in the almost asides Constance makes, so that I smiled my way through the story and kept sniggering too, especially at Jagger’s wallet!

That said, there’s a super moral here that tugs at the emotions. As Anne John-Ligali explores our modern reliance on social media for ‘friendships’, she teaches the reader where to find true value in life and relationships so that I felt a lump in my throat and a prickling behind my eyes as I read the ending.

I’m looking forward to see what happens to Constance in the future as more of this short story series is released. Smashing stuff!

About Anne John-Ligali

Anne John-Ligali is a writer and the founder of Books and Authors UK, a popular website featuring author interviews and book reviews.  She loves all things books: reading, writing, going to book events, and meeting other book lovers. She has written a series of short stories and is currently writing her first novel.

When Anne is not writing, she is likely to be at soft play with her kids, taking long evening walks in Hyde Park, making green smoothies, window shopping, or having a pampering session at her local beauty salon (whenever she gets the chance). She can also be found watching box sets (albeit with a bit of shame at still having to catch up on Scandal, Grey’s, and Downton).

Originally from Peterborough, Anne now lives in London. After moving to London, she studied graphic design at the University of Arts and has held a number IT administration jobs in the city. Anne continues writing and aspires to write more women’s fiction books, a non-fiction book and several children’s books.

You can find out more about Anne on her blog, on Facebook, Instagram and by following her on Twitter @AnneJohnLigali.

Giveaway

Win Sparkly Afternoon Tea for Two at Vertigo 42 in central London and one e-copy of The Big Event.

To enter and for full terms and conditions, please follow this link for everything you need to know.

(PLEASE NOTE: This giveaway is run separately from Linda’s Book Bag.)