Authors Electric

The British Library just posted me a book. The Dead of Summer I won’t lie: it makes me feel sort of special to have a large, hard-backed and very handsome book posted to me by Britain’s National Library, the book-branch of the British Museum. And what a gorgeous book! A glowing scarlet with gilt illustrations. As the sub-title says, it’s a collection of, ‘strange tales of May Eve and Midsummer.’ There is something eerie about those days, sunny though they might be. They’re two of the year’s great ‘turning days,’ linked to superstition, magic and myth for centuries beyond memory. The barriers between the worlds grows thin as smoke in mid-summer dusk as much as in mid-winter dark— and the hyacinth scent of massed bluebells is a dangerous thing. Never fall asleep in a bluebell wood, it's said. If you do, you won't wake in your own world or time. The Dead of Summer ’s editor, Johnny Mains, chose the stories from books in the British Library’s collection. The first story is ...

  Have I ever told you about the day I went to Heaven for the first time? Via St Pancras? I arrived, not by a straight and narrow way, but via a broad and inviting set of steps.                                                                                          from Wikipedia   Of course, as St Petra explained to me, you can’t just walk in; there’s a ticket system. I was crestfallen at that, thinking I had come on this long and difficult journey only to be denied. What saved me and gained me admission was a dirty,   crumpled-up letter in the bottom of my bag.     It bore the logo of Barefoot Books. ‘Oh, you’re a WRITER,’   said St Petra, touching her forelock as a mark of respect, ‘Com...

A new exhibition starts today at the British Library:  Alexander the Great: the Making of a Myth . From now until 19th February 2023, you can explore the blurred lines between history and myth to discover how the young prince of Macedonia, who tamed a horse grown men were afraid to ride, became known across the ancient world as 'Great' Alexander. I'm delighted that my novel straight from that untamed horse's mouth -  I am the Great Horse (Chicken House, 2007) - is included as one of the exhibits. This book re-tells history through the eyes of Alexander the Great's faithful horse Bucephalas, aiming to be true to the known facts about his life while incorporating some of the myths that grew up around his name, such as his encounter with the legendary Amazon queen. Although published originally for a young audience on the Chicken House/Scholastic list, this novel has since found a readership across all generations of horse and history fans and is now available in both ...

Getting ready to post Did you know if you publish a book (or other printed materials - click here to find out what) in the UK you must send a copy to the British Library, free of charge? This is called ' legal deposit '  and it's been law since 1662.  Since 2013, the legal deposit regulations were expanded to include digital content, as well as print publications. You not only have to send a copy to the British Library  but a copy may also be requested free of charge by a further five legal deposit libraries.  These libraries are: National  Library of Wales  National  Library of  Scotland Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford Cambridge University Library Trinity College Library, Dublin There are benefits to the publisher and author depositing books in this way, which include: The book becomes part our national heritage Publications are added to the online catalogues, which can ...