When Naomi and I bought our first Christmas tree together, we only just had enough money for the tree itself, and not for any decorations. Rather than buy a whole load of crappy cheap ones, we bought two or three pretty ones that we liked and had a very bare tree that year. Since then, everywhere we've travelled together, we've bought a new … [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...]
North American cover design for The Stone Thrower
Check out the cover design for the North American edition of The Stone Thrower from ECW Press. What d'you reckon? I'm thrilled with it. This was my favourite of the three proposed versions they sent over, so I'm glad it ended up as this one. At its core, the collection is about the fragility and vulnerability of children, and the fragile and … [Read more...]
The London launch at What’s the story?: a photo-caption blog
Last night I launched The Stone Thrower in London at Cathy Galvin's new lit night: What's the story? Chris Paling, David Vann, Zoe Lambert and I read to a sell-out audience of beautiful people at The Society Club in Soho. Here's my picture caption report of the night. Click on any pic to open up the full size gallery. … [Read more...]
My day at the Manchester Literature Festival in bullet points
Had a blast at the Manchester Literature Festival, even if getting there was hell. Here's my report. • Naomi and the boys give me a lift to the train station. • There are men in luminous jackets all over the tracks. • This station is closed today. Eeek. • Naomi and the boys come back, drive me the first 20-min leg of my journey. • Discover … [Read more...]
The naughty angel of the north
The first time I went to the Lancaster Litfest, I went up to Lancaster Priory with Clare Wigfall before our events. One of the guys working there asked us if we'd like to see the practice carvings. These were carvings done on the underside of pews some time around the 1300s by apprentice carvers - I guess before they were let loose on the more … [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...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- …
- 9
- Next Page »