Vicki Burke, author and musician to launch new book at Hunting Raven Books in Frome.

Local musician and writer, Vicki Burke, is to launch her new book at Hunting Raven Books in Frome on Thursday 24th February at 7pm. The book, the second in her trilogy, continues her journey from her arrival in Frome almost ten years ago. When Vicki, an established saxophonist and harpist, quickly started to engage in this vibrant town, she felt it begin to open doors and expand her way of looking at life.

This book, Beauty in the Beast - Facing our Collective Shadow is a memoir, but also a deep dive into looking at her own, as well as our culture's refusal to acknowledge its problems and the looming worldwide. Her enquiry leads her to look at the history of humanity from the long perspective, all the way back to the Garden of Eden.

She considers the idea that we have chosen a society that puts science and knowledge first. Although this is not wrong, a culture that turns away from its history due to trauma will not learn from its mistakes, Instead it will most certainly continue to repeat these patterns of unresolved conflict. Vicki examines ways, using a walking meditation into the famous Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral, to break these cycles.

A companion to this book, the CD, Beauty in the Beast - a Musical Journey into the Labyrinth follows the same themes. All songs are by Vicki, and were written for harp and recorded over lockdown with some exceptional musicians from Bristol and beyond. Dates for the album launch will be announced soon. If you can't make any of the events in person, Vicki offers performances and readings online and the book is available in physical and digital format if you visit the website www.keystothegoldencity.com

Vicki recommends that book your place for the book launch, as space is limited. Call Hunting Raven Books on 01373 473111 or email: [email protected]