We have lift-off

Well, the festive dust has just about been blown away by challenges of a new decade – but Harnser Press can reflect proudly on a big sprinkling of enthusiastic support on its maiden publishing flight.

The much-lauded twin launch of our family-flavoured company and The Norfolk Almanac in October clearly fed great expectations of a successful foray into the local books arena at busiest time of the year.

The Almanac shot immediately  to top of the  charts – and has been there or thereabouts ever since. Heartening sales in a number of bookshops and also online, coupled with well-attended signing sessions, must have made it one of the best-selling local books of recent times.

With copies hastening across East Anglia, various other parts of the British Isles and several to faraway climes, there were bound to be unsolicited testimonials worth cherishing at any time of year.

“What a refreshing breath of home!” and “I’ll take a peek every day to remind me of Norfolk’s glories” topped the list of uplifting comments from exiles. One of the highlights on the closer-to-home front had to be sending a parcel by first-class deliver to Sloley…

That delightfully-named small village near Coltishall must be the only one in Norfolk boasting dual-carriageway with grass down the middle! Perfect setting for a new volume of local wit and whimsy.

With Danny Skipper excelling on the book production and business sides, I had ample time to do the song-and dance bit at signing engagements in Cromer and Holt and on my entertaining rounds in honour of culture lovers in village halls.

“The book that never goes out of fashion” and “A perfect present on any date in the year” stand as compelling selling points while “normal” service resumes in local shops. Don’t forget the Norfolk Almanac is an all-year attraction as birthdays, anniversaries, retirements and other causes for celebration come round.

We are extremely grateful for all the help received in ensuring an encouraging first chapter for Harnser Press. Ideas for follow-up ventures will be considered carefully in the opening phase of 2020 and one of our longer-term aims remains to publish work by other local scribes.

Introduce family and friends to the company at www.harnserpress.co.uk - and we don’t mind if you get in touch and tell us we really ought to invest in a harnserphone…