I just got back from a spectacular week at the Festival of the European Short Story in Croatia. A whole week of literary mayhem. So much fun. Here's my report, in photo captions: … [Read more...]
Shortlisted for the Edge Hill Prize
Last week, while I was away tutoring at Arvon Lumb Bank with the brilliant Kate Clanchy, I got the news that The Stone Thrower has been shortlisted for the prestigious Edge Hill Short Story Prize, previously won by Colm Tóibín, Claire Keegan, Chris Beckett, Jeremy Dyson, Graham Mort and Sarah Hall. I'm thrilled. Just look whose company I'm in on … [Read more...]
A week tutoring at Arvon Totleigh Barton
I've just got back from a brilliant week tutoring a short story course and stuffing my face with Tania Hershman at Arvon's Totleigh Barton centre in Devon. What a treat! Here's my report, in bullet points: Monday • Totleigh Barton is REMOTE. It's an hour's drive from the nearest train station - Exeter St David's. When I arrive, my phone … [Read more...]
Small Wonder 2012: the food and drink highlights
I just got back from the Small Wonder festival where I launched The Stone Thrower. I also stuffed my face all weekend. Here are a few of my highlights: ***WARNING: CONTAINS SHAMELESS NAME-DROPPING*** Eating date flapjack while discussing swearing with Roshi Fernando, DW Wilson and Elanor Dymott – a discussion that Roshi ended by setting a … [Read more...]
My first ever story collection (aged 7)
To celebrate the official launch day of my new short story collection, The Stone Thrower, I thought I'd post the first book of short stories I ever wrote, when I was 7. I've typed up the stories beneath the pics in case you're reading this on your phone. I hope you enjoy my stories. The Devil Witch: The Devil Witch is nasty. She lives in … [Read more...]
Do you remember Zembla?
I was tidying up bookshelves in my attic yesterday and discovered a few old issues of Zembla magazine. It only ran for eight issues between 2003 and 2005, but it was a unique and wonderful literary mag - big and glossy with sexy cover stars – closer to GQ and Vanity Fair than most of the dry literary journals I was aware of at the … [Read more...]
I’ve got writer’s FOMO
There’s a wonderful sense of freedom that comes at the end of a book project. After being locked into one idea for a year or two or three, you’re free to do whatever you like, experiment, play. But then, at some point (the point I’m at now), you’ve got to decide on THE NEXT PROJECT. Once you’ve settled on it, you know it’s going to be with you … [Read more...]
The first Story Salon at The Society Club in bullet points
Here's my report on the first Story Salon at The Society Club in Soho - the new monthly lit-night from Cathy Galvin, creator of the Sunday Times EFG Award. Meet Alison MacLeod at Oxford Circus. She has a new purple coat. Arrive at the Society Club and meet Carrie Kania, one of the owners. GREAT selection of books here. Carrie says each one … [Read more...]