Authors Electric

 Do you remember a time when we believed that all the new-fangled modern devices would save us time? We seem to be busier than ever – especially as writers. We have become slaves to our phones, with algorithms that suck us into rabbit holes. It’s research we protest – who are we kidding? If we’ve actually reached the dizzy heights of publishing a book, we have to promote it, find ways to market it and of course sell it – these days being an author demands we wear so many other hats – publicist, bookseller, inspirational speaker. This is the stage I am at. My first book, my memoir, was out in January. “You can’t be a one hit wonder!” said my brother at the time – Cue Chesney Hawkes singing “The One and Only” – if you are of a certain vintage you will understand. But when do I find time to write? What better plan that to take a retreat and carve out some dedicated writing time. No dishes to wash, no meals to plan, no distractions. I’ve taken a retreat in November befo...

                                                                              Japanese Novels Newton after Blake by Eduardo Palozzi I really enjoyed teaching a course on Japanese novels with my WEA students a few years ago, so you can imagine how pleased I was when my friend Chris, who had lived and worked in Japan as a teacher, sent me a text to say that  The Guardian  had just published an article about Japanese fiction.  Reading through it I immediately hit upon one of the books we had studied -  Convenience Store Woman  by Sayaka Murata. There was also an interview with one of the authors of another book that we had read -  Norwegian Wood  by Haruki Murakami - who says that he always likes to leave his readers with something to think about.   Chris and...

The Magic Pudding  by Norman Lindsay What does the word ‘magic’ in a book title conjure up for you?  Not a silly question. There’s method in my magicness. Because before I read one of my favourite books as a child, I’d have assumed a story with that word in the title would be about fairies, or wizards, or mysterious lands where animals can talk and rivers run silver… a benign, happy kind of magic in other words. Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree , for instance, or Aladdin's magic lamp in A Thousand and One Nights , or Alison Uttley’s Magic in my Pocket .  Then my uncle returned from Australia with a copy for me of  The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay.  Nice title, thought I, if a bit predictable. Obviously, a version of the Brothers' Grimm Magic Porridge Pot that miraculously feeds the impoverished family who owns it, without ever running out. (As long as they obey the rules that is. There has to be a catch somewhere.) All about generosity, in other words, from...

                                                                 I find myself in a very exciting position this November and December: I wrote a novel and it’s about to enter the world! It’s not my first book – I have written three before it: The Camera Obscure , (a collection of gothic stories), Tourist to the Sun , (a poetry collection) and That Little Voice, (another Poetry collection). However, Burnt Lungs and Bitter Sweets is my debut novel, and I found a new, exciting and distinctive voice. I am not really sure where this voice came from as it’s probably the last book you’d think I would write. If you know me though, then maybe you would expect me to invent my little bunch of misanthropic, disaffected punks. If you know me well enough, you’d definitely expect me to give the whole book a ‘...

     Look at this little fella. Isn't he great?           I imagine most, if not all, of my readers will immediately recognise him — even without the caption — as a knight from the Lewis chessmen. The photograph above, though, was taken by me of one that sits on my shelf. It's a replica, quite a good one, I think, and it allows you to hold the little character in your hand and get a good close look at him.           He's very like a Norman (norse-man) knight, with his kite-shaped shield and his conical helmet with a nose-piece. His horse is a sturdy little beast — I think its size, proportionate to its rider, was probably accurately observed.  The rider has stirrups, and the horse has a caparison.           Here's the other piece I own: a Bishop.     ...

According to the National Literacy Trust, kids (particularly boys) are not reading for pleasure these days, preferring films and online games for their thrills. Bad news for children's authors and publishers, but perhaps understandable when such games and films are available 24/7 on their smartphones. To quote the Roman poet Virgil: "The gates of hell are open night and day; smooth the descent, and easy is the way." Thankfully, my younger readership shouldn't be too distracted by the new Gladiator movie with its 15 certificate, although the level of violence and gore is not much more than can be found in many kids' books for the 10+ readership (including mine!). It's where I heard these lines from Virgil, but if there were any raunchy scenes of a sexual nature unsuitable for younger viewers in Gladiator II, I missed them. So what, besides poetry, can you expect from the much-hyped sequel to the original Gladiator (2000)? As can be expected in the final days of...