Forgetful

Honestly, I’ve a memory like a sieve at the moment.

The two books I’ve mentioned recently (Willful Creatures and Out of a Clear Sky) were not discovered by accident. No sir. Out of a Clear Sky, I found, via Roger and Vulpes Libris; and Willful Creatures came to me courtesy of the Short Review.

I meant to mention that before. I forgot.

So now you know. Anyway, what was I doing…?

Busy Busy

These past two weeks have just flown by. I’ve made considerable headway with the group anthology (up till 11:30 the other night doing it while my beloved was visiting her sis in the Big Smoke) so that’s nearly done, had a small commission, which is done, and now I’m working on a poem, which is nearly done. Not bad going, I’d say.

I’ve also been dipping into Willful Creatures, a collection of short stories by Aimee Bender, which so far has been mind-meltingly good. The stories are deliciously surreal and are written, well, just brilliantly as far as I’m concerned.

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And here are a couple of links for you: I’ve enjoyed reading Robin Jarossi’s blog/site, and this, which is also deliciously written.

Right. Back to that poem.

Sally Hinchcliffe Interview

Well, you can’t say I don’t spoil you!

After recommending Sally Hinchcliffe’s terrific book, Out of a Clear Sky, last week (read what I said about it here) I’m delighted to be able to post this – an interview with her. Big thanks to Sally for taking the time to do it. Hope you enjoy it, folks! I did.

“So, who’s it for and what’s it about?

Well, everyone, I hope. It’s a psychological thriller but you don’t need to be a big thriller reader to enjoy it. It’s about birds, and the people who watch them, about obsession and what happens when obsessions go too far. And it’s also about Africa and Britain and what it means to make one or other of those places your home.

Why did you write it?

The short answer is that I was doing an MA course and part of it formed my dissertation. But the germ of the book had been at the back of my mind for ages – the phrase ‘the stalker stalked’ came into my head and wouldn’t go away. I wanted to write a book set in a world most people wouldn’t be familiar with and birds and birdwatching fitted the bill.

What do you hope readers will get from it?

If they’re not birders already, I hope that they’ll look at birds now with new eyes, and understand what makes them so fascinating to some of us. And of course I hope they’ll be entertained, and maybe a little disturbed as well.

How long did it take you to write?

Three and a half years, the bulk of which was rewriting. Writing a book takes a looooong time, something I underestimated at the start. The book went through four or five major drafts and I was working full time at the time as well as completing my MA so that slowed me down a little.

It seems to me that you’ve an extensive knowledge of birds, did that mean more or less research before you started writing it?

There’s a difference between the things you think you know, and what can actually be verified. So I did have to do some research to check my facts – things like the swifts never touching land and sleeping on the wing, I wanted to be sure that was actually true. I ended up reading a lot of in-depth monographs about bird behaviour, most of which never made it into the book. It’s quite easy to get carried away with the research side, but at least I was doing it as I went along rather than before I started it.

Did you use a fountain pen to write it?

Sorry, no! I use a laptop, and although I do print out drafts and scribble all over them when I’m revising, it’s all in skanky old biro rather than a nice pen, whatever I’ve got to hand. The last time I picked up a fountain pen was to write my final exams…

Tell us something about you.

Erm… gosh. I used to be in the fire brigade at school. Actually, that could be the basis for a whole other book…

What’s next for you?

I’m working on my next book – it’s too soon to say what it’s about but this one won’t be about birds. At least, it’s not about birds so far.

Anything you’d like to add?

I’d like to encourage everybody to read my book – and if they do, to drop me a line (through my website) to let me know. It’s a lonely old life, writing, and hearing from a reader makes my day. Oh and thanks for the interview and your lovely review!”

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They were both a pleasure, Sally. All the very best for future projects – I really can’t wait to read the next one.

Thoughts, Anyone?

For a while now I’ve been considering starting another blog, or blog type thing. It would be a place where people could share what they love, whatever that might be, anonymously. But, aside from suggesting people put their loved things in a comment box, for me to upload onto the main page after, I’ve no idea how it would work.

Any thoughts?

Anyway, I think, if I were to start it, that this is how it would begin:

I love, that moment before a shiver.

Tremendous Tool

I’ve just been reminded what a tremendously useful book this is (I was describing someone as a ‘let-down’ and needed to know whether the hyphen was correct. It is.). Writers, if you don’t already own a copy, I’d give serious thought to putting that right.
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I’m about three quarters through type-setting the stories and poems for my writing group’s collection (I finished proofing and editing them yesterday). Slow work, it is. I’ll be happy when it’s all done and I can get back to writing (what I’m paid for!) – not that I’m not enjoying it. There are stories that need writing and a little novel that needs fixing and finishing. More hours in the day, anyone?

Out Of A Clear Sky

As well you know, I don’t write book reviews. What I do do though, is mention ones I think are good. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do now.

I read Out Of A Clear Sky, by Sally Hinchcliffe over the weekend. It is a remarkably good book, one I thoroughly enjoyed and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. It’s a thriller, but in no way over the top. It’s believable and it’s creepy; it’s scary and tender and delightfully written.

And it features birds (which I know you know I like). Really, the whole story is told through them – expertly. Most of the characters in the book are birders. But don’t be put off if birding’s not your cup of tea; prior knowledge is in no way essential and knowing nothing about birds would not inhibit any enjoyment of the book.

Birds aside, my favourite thing about it is the feel of it. A lot of the action takes place outdoors – in fields, by lakes, up mountains. And the book feels, the way it’s written is, airy. It feels like fresh air.
Definitely one of my favourite books of the year, and probably ever.

Enough waffling (you can see why I don’t write reviews now, can’t you?).