Thoughts about things I’ve written or read or heard or seen. An attempt to stay positive in a turbulent world.
Recent Articles
Spread the Word some more …
On 4 February Richard Lea listed, on the Guardian Unlimited’s Arts Blog, the ten books on the Spread the Word shortlist under the heading: ‘What Goes into a “Book to Talk About”?’ Then he wonders why ‘the Kennedys, Enrights, Adichies et al were never in with a sniff’. He goes on, ‘It looks like a...Continue reading→
Spread the Word
Speaking of Love has been shortlisted for World Book Day’s The Book to Talk About award. It’s very exciting … . You can see the ten books on the shortlist here; you can comment on and vote for the ten books on the shortlist here or you can go straight to Speaking of Love’s very...Continue reading→
Birthdays, and getting older
It’s my birthday next month and I’ve just rediscovered this 17th-century nun’s prayer: Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to...Continue reading→
Need cheering up?
I have just been to The Big Green Blookshop blog – which I found on Fidra’s blog. I’ve been MATing all morning and I really MUST get down to some writing, but if you need cheering up (I don’t this morning, but it happened anyway, if you see what I mean) read this post by...Continue reading→
Camas Chil Mhalieu, Loch Linnhe
I am going here: Which is in northwest Scotland. Image © Copyright Donald MacDonald and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence. I’m going in search of the cottage that my great-grandmother used to go to get away from it all. I want to breathe the air, see what she saw and hear what...Continue reading→
BUILDERS and FISHERMEN, a MAT with a purpose
I am MATing, but there is a point. (Well, I would say that wouldn’t I?) Last night the boyf and I were talking about writing and I said I felt as if I was assembling, not writing at the moment. I’m just collecting the already-written pieces of my third (sorry, second) novel and putting them...Continue reading→
New Leaves
Leaves from my small plot for the new year. And as for turning them over, or at least paying attention to them, I shall divide 2008 between writing my third novel, a modern Beauty and the Beast (it’s really my second second novel, because the first second novel turned into a short story) and preparing...Continue reading→
This Christmas Life, a poem by Wendy Cope
Wendy Cope’s Christmas poem is quite beautiful. I heard it on Radio Four on, I think, Saturday night last. As far as I can tell it was published a couple of years ago, but it is timeless. I can’t post it here for obvious copyright reasons, but you can read it where I found it,...Continue reading→
Booking Through Thursday
Today’s questions are: 1 What fiction book (or books) would you nominate to be the best new book published in 2007? (Older books that you read for the first time in 2007 don’tcount.)2 What non-fiction book (or books) would you nominate to be the best new book published in 2007? (Older books that you read...Continue reading→
Happy Christmas
I hope you don’t think it’s too early … but I took this last night, after decorating it on the weekend. And now for the cumberland sauce, the brandy butter, the smoked mackerel pate (yes), the Dickens reread – or Oliver Twist every night this week on BBC 1? – and, because the presents are...Continue reading→
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