Thoughts about things I’ve written or read or heard or seen. An attempt to stay positive in a turbulent world.
Recent Articles
Cover story … and fab reports
In October I asked people to tell me the short story that Speaking of Love‘s paperback cover told them. I promised a copy of the paperback to the writer of the story that most appealed to me (see original post here) … and the one that most appealed to me was Richard Gray’s. It’s in...Continue reading→
Congratulations to …
… Jonathan Trigell and Boy A on becoming THE Book to Talk About, 2008. (Press release here.) And thank you to everyone who voted for Speaking of Love. It has been a privilege for the book to be on the shortlist.Continue reading→
It’s a little bit funny …
… this feeling inside. The rest of Elton John’s song doesn’t apply, but today is a day when it’s difficult to concentrate because I’m feeling a bit funny inside and I’m not even trying to MAT: a MAT is being forced upon me because … … in 24 hours’ time the author and the publisher...Continue reading→
Do you live near Oxford (England)?
If you do, and you aren’t already doing something tonight, you might like to come to Mostly Books in Stert Street, Abingdon at 7.30 to hear Eliza Graham and I talking about the effect that the Spread the Word, Books to Talk About shortlisting has had on our writing careers, and how our books made...Continue reading→
Daffodils for St David’s day
… from my little garden. … aren’t they beautiful? And because it’s St David’s day why not support a Welsh Arts Centre that might lose its Arts Council funding? The St Donat’s Arts Centre runs the wonderful Beyond the Border storytelling festival (which features in Speaking of Love) among many other brilliant events. Posted by...Continue reading→
Spread the Word / World Book Day – last chance to vote
As I write this there are less than three hours to go before voting closes on the shortlist for THE Book to Talk About 2008 award. If you’d like to vote for Speaking of Love, go here. Or click on the link on the paperback cover over there on the right. Thank you … and...Continue reading→
Booking Through Thursday
Who is your favorite female lead character? And why? (And yes, of course, you can name more than one . . . I always have trouble narrowing down these things to one name, why should I force you to?) There is only one: Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bennet. She is feisty, funny, serious, sympathetic, won’t-be-downtrodden, thinks intelligently...Continue reading→
Jallaludin Rumi, 13th-century poet
The Guest House This being human is a guest houseEvery morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meannessSome momentary awareness comesAs an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them allEven if they’re a crowd of sorrowsWho violently sweep your houseEmpty of its furniture. Still treat each guest honourably:He may be clearing you outFor some...Continue reading→
Books and Myths
Ali Smith has written a wonderful book for the Canongate Myths series (a wonderful series, too) called Girl meets boy. The book sets ‘Ovid’s most joyful metamorphosis’, the story of the man-woman Tiresias, in the twenty-first century. I’ve just read this passage (from pages 29-30): The second-hand bookshop used to be a church. Now it...Continue reading→
Booking through Thursday
All other things (like price and storage space) being equal, given a choice in a perfect world, would you rather have paperbacks in your library? Or hardcovers? And why? My father used to throw paperbacks away … and I rescued them. I couldn’t bear the idea of books being thrown away, but he came from...Continue reading→
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