I just got back from the most amazing trip to the Beijing Bookworm Festival. Thanks so much to the Bookworm and to the British Council for taking me over there, along with awesome short story writers Zoe Gilbert and Rachel Tresize. What a treat. Here's my report of the week's highlights, in bullet points. Meet Zoe and Rachel at Heathrow. Mutual … [Read more...]
Five things I learned at Small Wonder yesterday
At dawn on Sunday morning I drove down to Charleston, near Lewes in East Sussex, for the final day of the Small Wonder short story festival. The events were - as always - fascinating and diverse. Here are five things I learned there: 1 William Trevor used to be a serious sculptor. In a recorded interview with Small Wonder Artistic Director Diana … [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...]
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 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...]