My dear Subscribers, Readers and Visitors! After nineteen months of submitting a regular blog, I have decided to pause for a while, take a break and think about a new book that keeps nagging at me. But please don’t let this e-sabbatical stop you corresponding with me. I have enjoyed your comments and complaints, your insights and corrections. Whatever [...]
Archive for the ‘My writing’ Category
Kit Chapman takes a Blogista’s holiday!
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, My writing, Uncategorized, tagged Amazon, BRAZZ Taunton, Kit Chapman, My Archipelago, The Castle at Taunton on October 23, 2011 | 8 Comments »
A Family Business: The Castle at Taunton looks forward to the next generation.
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, My writing, Uncategorized, tagged Albert Goodman "Family Business Club", Albert Goodman Chartered Accountants, Dominic Chapman, Family Businesses, ICFIB, International Centre for Families in Business, My Archipelago, Nicholas Chapman, The Castle at Taunton on July 9, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
We live in a corporate world. Or so it appears reading our newspaper headlines these days. Too often it is a world that looks pretty murky. But few people realize that, in fact, 75% of all UK businesses are family owned and run. Among them The Castle at Taunton and a host of other hotels and restaurants. With [...]
A taste of what’s cooking at The Castle in 2011
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, My writing, Uncategorized, tagged Arabella Weir, Charlton Orchards, Christopher Plummer, Jamie Raftery, Jerry Hall, Mercer Books, My Archipelago, Nicholas Parsons, Somerset, Taunton, The Castle at Taunton, The English Apple on January 2, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Happy New Year to you all! My kind blog-meisters at WordPress.com suggested I posted “2010 in review” below and I was happy to oblige. To be absolutely accurate, I finished the year on 10,139 views for a blog I began in March. A creditable result. Blog aside, 2010 was a landmark year for three reasons: the publication of [...]
“Are you Gok Wan?” he asked.
Posted in My writing, Uncategorized, tagged Amazon, Cribbs Causeway, Dorchester, Gok Wan, My Archipelago, The Castle at Taunton, Tony Blair, Waterstones on November 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
My Archipelago continues to reach out to the Glorious British Public. I have now pitched my story to hundreds of book lovers at signings and talks across the country – and there are more to come in the run-up to Christmas. Meanwhile at The Castle, bedrooms and dining tables, our reception desk, cocktail bar and brasserie bristle with neatly designed cards promoting a special [...]
Will too many cooks spoil the Anniversary Broth? Gary Rhodes stirs the pot!
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, My writing, Uncategorized, tagged Amazon, BBC Radio 4 "Midweek", Dominic Chapman, Friends Book Choice, Gary Rhodes, Good Food Guide, Libby Purves, Moet & Chandon, My Archipelago, Richard Guest, Sir Michael Parkinson, The Castle at Taunton, The Royal Oak in Paley Street on October 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The first of our 60th Anniversary parties is now less than a week away. My late-father, Peter, arrived at The Castle as a young manager in October 1950. So, this month is a moment when the Chapman family celebrates 60 years as custodians of The Castle at Taunton. It is significant for many reasons, not least because [...]
Book signings: Soul-destroying ordeal or ego booster?
Posted in My writing, Uncategorized, tagged Amazon, BBC Somerset, Brendon Books Taunton, Margaret Thatcher, My Archipelago, Stephen Fry, The Castle at Taunton, Tony Blair, Waterstone's Taunton on September 25, 2010 | 2 Comments »
My Archipelago is published. And at the close of week one of the PR circus, the book seems to be enjoying high critical praise and moderately steady sales. Amazon has already attracted nine ecstatic reviews on the book’s webpage, each commentator awarding me the maximum five stars. An evening talk and signing at Brendon Books in Taunton [...]
Top names join us to celebrate The Castle’s Diamond Jubilee.
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, My writing, Uncategorized, tagged Bibendum, Bragard, BRAZZ, David Gentleman, Dominic Chapman, Gary Rhodes, Heston Blumenthal, Michael Caines, Moet & Chandon, My Archipelago, Raymond Blanc, Richard Guest, Sir Michael Parkinson, Skiathos, Taunton, The Castle at Taunton, The French Laundry, The Royal Oak at Paley Street, Thomas Keller, Villeroy & Boch on September 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
As summer fades and rain clouds gather over our Aegean archipelago, we pack up house on Skiathos to return to Blighty. For Louise and me, this will be a busy and eventful autumn. And uppermost in our minds will be the launch of my new book this coming week and the 60th anniversary celebrations of my [...]
My Programme of Events for the launch of My Archipelago
Posted in My writing, Uncategorized, tagged BBC Radio 4 "Midweek", BBC Radio Somerset, Brendon Books Taunton, My Archipelago, The Castle at Taunton, Waterstone's Cribbs Causeway, Waterstone's Dorchester, Waterstone's Exeter High Street, Waterstone's Taunton, Waterstone's Tiverton, Waterstone's Wells, Waterstone's Yeovil on September 11, 2010 | 1 Comment »
With hundreds of preview copies of the book successfully sold, the honeymoon is over and My Archipelago is poised for publication on 20th September. Here is my programme of events for the coming weeks. September Thursday, 23rd - Brendon Books, Taunton 7.15pm Talk & Signing. Saturday, 25th - BBC Radio Somerset, Morning Show, 10.00am live. Waterstones, Taunton . Signing [...]
Appearing on the BBC is a bonus.But it is readers who guarantee book sales.
Posted in My writing, Uncategorized, tagged BBC Radio 4 "Midweek", Caterer & Hotelkeeper, My Archipelago, The Castle at Taunton, Waterstones on August 14, 2010 | 2 Comments »
My blog yesterday enthused about my invitation from the BBC to appear on Radio 4′s “Midweek” on 29th September. A great public relations break for My Archipelago, yes, but no guarantee that the book is going to fly off the shelves at Waterstone’s up and down the land. One advantage of my modest campaign to sell [...]
A Call from the BBC. A Coup for the Book.
Posted in My writing, Uncategorized, tagged Amazon, BBC Radio 4 "Midweek", Brendon Books Taunton, HarperCollins, jrpr, Literary Lunch at The Castle at Taunton, Mercer Books, My Archipelago, Orion Publishing Group, The Castle at Taunton, Waterstones on August 13, 2010 | 1 Comment »
This has been a good week for The Book. But while sales of signed preview copies have been brisk, their numbers only amount to a few hundred. To break even, I need to sell thirteen hundred. Remember, this is a self-published work with my partners, Mercer Books. We are not Orion (publishers of An Innkeeper’s Diary, my last [...]
