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It’s been a mixed couple of days to be honest. I’ve been a bit under the weather (amongst other things) but seeing what Sara Crowley said about Not So Perfect yesterday cheered me up no end, mostly because I love her work.

And then I noticed that I’d made it onto the top ten books of the year so far at Book Chase, which made me happy too. Being mentioned in the same list as people like Joyce Carol Oates and Tracy Chevalier is both an honour and an utter thrill. (You can read the original review here.)

And tomorrow I’ll be playing a word association game with Tania Hershman (whose cat has my very best wishes).

Me, talking to Vanessa

Vanessa Gebbie, as well as being a wonderful writer and teacher of writing and competition winner and judge, is a friend. She also said nice things about my book. When I asked her if she’d endorse it she said this:

‘Nik Perring’s many gifts as a writer include a rich imagination and a quirky sense of humour married to great tenderness. In ‘Not So Perfect’ he uses these skills to great effect as he explores those fractured moments at which we are most vulnerable. This marvellous collection resonates with a surreal impishness, exploring with a wry smile the often unfathomable complexities that underpin our relationships. He offers no answers, but demands that we look again. And again. In so doing he greatly enriches those who read him.’

which is high praise indeed.

So, today I’m over at her blog being asked, among other things, about the book, teaching writing and other people’s stories.

Read it here. 

Morris Dancing Competition

The Pygmy Giant (who published Pieces of Us a little while ago) are running a competition, and the prize is a copy of Not So Perfect. All you have to do is write a story (less than 800 words) which contains the words ‘Morris Dance’, ‘May Pole’ and ‘Chester le Street’. Good luck. Details here.


And there’s a brill review of Not So Perfect by the top fella, Adnan Mahmutovic here.

The Winner and More To Make Me Happy

Thanks to all who entered the draw for a free copy of Like Bees To Honey by Caroline Smailes. The names were put into the trusty Clipper tea tin, shaken a lot and then I picked one out. I did not peek.

And the lucky winner is: LovelyTreez

Could you let me have your address by clicking here please (or DMing it to me if you’re on Twitter)?

Congratulations. You will not be disappointed!

***

And I’m really, really thrilled with the review of Not So Perfect on Book Chase.

Hearing that people who I don’t know have enjoyed it is a wonderful feeling.

Sam saying this made me particularly happy: “do not let their brevity fool you because each of the stories packs a little kick of its own. Perring has such an uncanny ability to create believable characters and unusual situations in very few words that I found myself always looking forward to the next story to see if he could pull it off again. He did.”

Thank you, Sam.

And you can pre-order Not So Perfect from all good book stores including amazon, The Book Depository (free international delivery) and The Big Green Book Shop.

Best Ever

It is no secret that I’m possibly the world’s biggest Aimee Bender fan. And it’s no secret that she’s responsible in a huge way for the way I write what I write now.

And I’ve just found this. Her reading one of my all time favourite stories, ‘The Meeting’. I can’t tell you how much I love this.

Listen to it here. It is WONDERFUL.

Or click Play below.

http://dublit.com/widget/dubplayer.php?q=475

A Special Day Giveaway!

I’m sending huge congratulations to Caroline Smailes because her third novel (which I’m loving!) ‘Like Bees To Honey’ is published today!


Hooray!

And to celebrate I’m giving a copy away (not mine, you understand!).

All you have to do is leave a comment saying ‘pick me’ or something similar. And while you’re at it, why don’t you pop over to Caroline’s blog and say hello…




I’ll pick the names out of a hat tomorrow afternoon/early evening.


ADDED: May 28th, 17:05: Competition Closed.

Flash Clash Day 2

It’s been a funny old day. A bit of a slower pace and to be honest it’s not been all that good. I’ll not bore you with the details but I’m a little cross.

But.

It’s the second day of RobAroundBooks’ Flash Clash and I’m still doing well, and that’s cheered me up.

He’s said ‘Sure I’ve only read two of his stories so far but he’s revealing himself to be both astute and impressively reflective. Is it possible to be reflective in something as short as flash fiction? I wouldn’t have thought so but Perring seems to be pulling it off somehow.‘ which makes me happy. I really, really think that this whole Flash Clash competition is an utterly brilliant idea. Thanks for doing it, Rob.

And now I’m going to go somewhere quiet and finish up today’s work.

The Flash Clash Begins

Top bloke Rob from RobAroundBooks has officially started his Flash Clash challenge.

He’ll be reading Not So Perfect alongside one of (the master) Etgar Keret’s, David Gaffney’s and Alex Burrett’s books and rating them as he goes.

I think it such a brilliant idea.

And a little terrifying. (As I said to Adnan Mahmutovic on my Facebook Fan page thingy earlier, I do feel a bit like Luke going up against Vader.)

But mostly, it’s really brilliant.

Anyway. He’s posted the first round’s results. And I’m not doing all that bad.

Let’s hope that continues…

Smiling

I notice another review of Not So Perfect has sneaked up on Amazon. And it’s another good one which is both thrilling and a relief.

H. Kara says that

Nik Perring has a well-developed imagination and he is not afraid to use it.’

and that

Nik Perring has a delightfully wry sense of humour, a great ear for dialogue, and the ability to give even the shortest flash – such as Pieces of Us, or When You’re Frightened, Honey, Think Of Strawberries – a voice of its own’


Which makes me happy. Hence the smiling. You can read the full review here.

Thank you, H. Kara!

***

And I’ve just got back from teaching my writing group and I have to say I was UTTERLY DELIGHTED with what they’d written this week. They’d decided they wanted to have a go at magic realism (much of what I do) and the results were stunning.

That made me smile too.

Plus, I had a lovely weekend (despite a bit of the old sunburn).

Smiling’s good.

Thank You

I’ve just noticed that, further to yesterday’s unexpected and really, really wonderful review, Jen has posted her thoughts of Not So Perfect on amazon.

She says ‘If you’ve never been sure about short stories, this collection will make you an addict‘. And I don’t think compliments come much better than that.


***


And I wanted to say a thank you to everyone who’s read Not So Perfect and have taken the time to post their thoughts on it. I’m utterly thrilled and a bit bowled over by the reaction it’s had – and it’s not even out yet!


And thank you to YOU. For reading my blog.


AND thank you to everyone who’s emailed or phoned or texted or tweeted or met up with me or just been there.


Cheers.