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WriteCon Zürich15
WriteCon is back! Our spring workshop is happening! Right in the centre of Zürich, we welcome writers of every kind to come and learn, ask questions, find facts and meet new friends. A stellar lineup...
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I Do Not Want Your New Free Book
Herewith the oft-quoted and possibly apocryphal Picasso anecdote: Picasso is sketching at a park. A woman walks by, recognizes him, and begs for her portrait. A few minutes later, he hands her the...
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A Box of Delights
I first encountered Jane Davis when we were both selected as Readers’ Recommended Reads in The Guardian. I was very glad I did. Not only is she a lovely person, but I am a serious fan of her writing,...
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Seeing the Trees – Ten Ways Around Writer’s Block
A writer friend is helping me out by checking a Spanish translation of my work. I asked how I could repay the favour. “Encouragement!” she said. “I’m blocked. So many false starts, I need help to get...
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A Goodbye
Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. Several years ago, I met a very special woman. Yesterday, I learned she had left us. So I’m posting my interview with her as a tribute to a...
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IAF Booking Opens Today!
IAF 14 Photo by Ruth Jenkinson The Indie Author Fair is back, bigger and better and bang in the middle of London! IAF15, as part of the London Book Fair Indie Author Fringe Festival, run by the...
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International Women’s Day interview – Alison Morton
Alison and I ‘met’ on the happy occasion both our books were chosen as Editor’s Choices in the first Bookseller Indie Author Preview. Turns out we have a lot in common – indie authors, series writers,...
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What Did the Arts Ever Do For You? Part I
The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling hit me hard. I love a book that makes me furious, tearful and determined to change. (For those unaware of the book/adaptation, in the simplest terms: councillor Barry...
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What Did the Arts Ever Do For You? Part II
Following last week’s reaction to The Casual Vacancy (last week’s is here), three more talented minds share thoughts on young people and the arts; safe places and how much imagination can change and...
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A Time and A Place
Question 1 What does ‘Green Fairy’ mean to you? A: Fauna in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty B: Washing-up liquid C: Absinthe Question 2 I say “black and white”. You think: A: Ebony and Ivory B: 101 Dalmatians...
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Easter Picnic
Happy Easter! A bunch of treats and goodies for you to indulge in at your leisure: 1. Writing Retreat Writing At The Castle is 5 days of professional tuition and private writing time in the inspiring...
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Going Global in Shorts
New horizons. I’m excited to the point of dancing on the mesa/tavolo/Tisch! Today sees the publication of Appearances Greeting a Point of View in Spanish and Portuguese! This short story collection...
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London Book Fair – Fringe Festival
Friday 17 April saw London Book Fair’s first Fringe Festival. Foyles, London’s biggest independent bookstore, opened its doors to the Alliance of Independent Authors, IndieReCon and IAF15, organised by...
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Sound and Vision
Recent events at Foyles Bookshop (see below) in central London created some multi-media perspectives on indie authorship and author collectives. First up, audio. Here’s a radio interview with JD...
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Introducing the Bookmuse Recommended Read Award
In the radio interview with Roz Morris and Peter Snell, bookseller Peter wondered if there could be such a thing as a stamp of quality for indie books. We took his words to heart and thought about it....
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Pros and Cons of the Indie Author
Joanna Penn nailed it at our CrimeFest panel and summarises it all again here. A perfect, energetic, brilliant summary of why we do it our own way. Yes, that grinner in the middle is me....
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A Year of Publishing Only Women?
I like Kamila Shamsie. I enjoy her writing and admire her as a person. This week in The Guardian, she condensed her National Conversation with Writers’ Centre Norwich into a ‘provocation’. Her...
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Behind Closed Doors – Chapter One
Behind Closed Doors Chapter 1 Utrecht 2007 “Howzit? You got here, then?” “Yes, Joop. I got here. At last.” “Uh oh. Delays?” “Right now I’m in a taxi from the airport. Not only did we leave Jo’burg...
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The Right Book in the Right Format
Ereaders? Love them. I can take an entire library on a mini-break. Audiobooks? Great for the car and for ironing. They make me feel like a multi-tasker. As for paperbacks, the house is creaking with...
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60 Seconds with Meg Rosoff
Meg Rosoff was born in Boston, USA. She studied at Harvard University, worked in New York City for 10 years in publishing and advertising, left for England in 1977 to enter St Martin’s School of Art,...
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