Launch Photographs – Black River

The below Photographs are courtesy of photographer Natasha Hirst. For more information about Natasha please visit her blog here: www.natashahirstblog.co.uk

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/51-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7895.jpg

Freshly printed copies of Black River in Waterstones.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3281.jpg

Film and TV star, Mark Lewis Jones, and up and coming Swansea actor, Ross Leyshon, pose for pictures.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/54-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7907.jpg

A moment of organisation before we begin.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/11-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3415.jpg

Martin Shipton, Chief Reporter of the Western Mail, and I pose for a photo. Martin’s my guest speaker.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/76-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7974.jpg

Writer and film director, Karl Francis, talks to Martin Shipton before the event gets underway.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/32-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3366.jpg

Writer and film director, Karl Francis, talks to Martin Shipton before the event gets underway.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/59-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7913.jpg

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/63-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7929.jpg

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/62-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7921.jpg

A light moment with Ross and Mark before the speeches and dramatic readings begin.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/7-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3292.jpg

Friend and poet, Clare Potter, has a cup of tea as Mark and Ross discuss last minute details in the background.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/11-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3302.jpg

My nephew, Tommy.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/50-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7894.jpg

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/60-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7917.jpg

My mum.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/74-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7963.jpg

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/14-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3307.jpg

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/95-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-8052.jpg

Mark Lewis Jones in character as Harry Roberts.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/72-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7959.jpg

Mark brings Harry to life.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/73-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7960.jpg

Ross does a terrific job of playing the role of Julian, a trainee reporter at the Echo.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/109-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-8084.jpg

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/8-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3293.jpg

Phil Carradice, writer and my mentor on the Literature Wales Mentorship Scheme.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/23-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3333.jpg

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/114-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-8100.jpg

The readings and speeches going down well.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/116-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-8110.jpg

Questions and answers.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/119-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-8125.jpg

Conrad Carter about to ask why does it takes so long to write a book. Re-writes!

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/35-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3374.jpg

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/8-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3403.jpg

A quick pause for a photo.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/7-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3401.jpg

Good feedback!

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/123-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-8148.jpg

Old friends, Zoe and Emma.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/26-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3347.jpg

In the queue: Chris Mayers of MLMC, friend of the family Liz Pendleton, my writing pal Bob Davies, Christine O’Brien and Natalie Harvey of Martyn Prowel Solicitors.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3382.jpg

Rachel Carney, book blogger and reviewer.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/3-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-3386.jpg

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/64-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7932.jpg

Mark Lewis Jones before event starts.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/71-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7958.jpg

Mark and Ross.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/70-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-7955-1.jpg

Martin Shipton runs through his speech one last time.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/88-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-8029.jpg

My opening talk.

http://www.blackriver.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/100-Black-River-Launch-LoRes-HIRST-8064.jpg

I lead the applause for my guests.

Professional photographer Tracey Paddison was also at the launch and took some amazing pictures, of which she has compiled the best to make a sort of ‘launch story’. See these photos for yourself here: https://spark.adobe.com/page/FzOSHdQoQfG1m/