Category: Sarah Salway

Two Birds, One Stone.

Well, kind of. (See how birds are creeping into my writing, more and more?)

First bird:

Rosy has just tagged me.

“1. Pick up the nearest book.2. Open to page 123.3. Find the fifth sentence.4. Post the next three sentences.5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.”

Okay. My sentences are:

He’ll tell her later. When they’re home. When they’re alone.

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Second bird:

The above sentences were from Leading the Dance, by Sarah Salway. The reason I had it to hand was because my girlfriend has been reading bits of it. The reason she’s been reading bits of it is because last night, while discussing my short stories and short stories in general (see what she has to put up with) we got talking about one of Sarah’s stories she read ages ago, ‘Jesus and the Aubergines.’ She said it was her favourite short story ever.

Sarah, if you’re reading, that is high praise indeed.

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And a huge thanks to Anne, who’s doing me the huge favour of reading my current WIP. Trusted readers, and those who find the time for you, are seriously hard to come by. Thanks Anne – looking forward to hearing what you think.

Wow!

Actually, there is more than one wow today.

Wow #1.

Alicia Silverstone is, according to here, going to play the lead in a US adaption of best selling author and lovely person, Kate Long’s The Bad Mother’s Handbook. I loved the ITV one which aired last year (Catherine Tate played the lead in that one – pics here). Fantastic news. You can see the interview I did with Kate a couple of months ago here.

Wow #2.
… would be this latest post from John Lenahan.

Wow #3.

I signed up to one of those stat counter wossnames a little while ago and I’ve been really surprised and thrilled to see just how many people drop by on my blog. Thanks folks!

(Interestingly and strangely, over fifty people have found their way here courtesy of this image of a Landseer Newfoundland I posted ages and ages ago.)

Wow #4.

Well this wouldn’t be the first time I’ve pinched something from Sarah Salway’s blog. It’s her fault for posting such cool things. (They’re plastic bags tied to a NYC subway vent, by the way.) Enjoy…

Winner

Yes, I won the Cool EP T-shirt, which is, naturally, very cool. And I have plans for it. Yes I do. As soon as I hear back from a certain someone I’ll let you know what those plans are (if the email comes back as a ‘yes’ that is).

And how cool, by the way, is this picture? Cool, cool, cool. Thanks Sarah.

Oh, and I’ve read the whole Cool EP. Three marvellous stories by three exceptional writers. An utter bargain and a terrific idea.

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I saw Kate Rusby on a Channel 5 over the weekend and am a convert. She’s brilliant. Here’s a sample (how moving is the colliery band!).

Books, Birthdays and Blog Stuff

First, double congratulations to Roger. His third book, A Vengeful Longing was officially released yesterday and it is his birthday on Sunday.

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And I’ve read some marvellous articles and such on writing/blogging/reading this week – all well worth a look. Here, Lisa Glass writes about book review blogs; here Susan Hill talks about blogging and here Emma King-Farlow writes about the art of critiques. (Also really cool to see the terrific Leading the Dance reviewed in The Short Review , though I’d disagree with what the reviewer said about its cover – I think the covers for both editions I’ve seen have looked very well.)

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As for me, I’m still writing.

Going Live and Falling Over

You can now see two of my poems over at the Shine Journal. Go on, have a butcher’s.

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Received these beauties the other day and I can’t wait to get stuck in to them. Big thanks to the splendid Sarah Salway for sending them.

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And last night I slipped over on the snow. Properly. And how amused was I to see that I’d made an imprint in the snow? Well, amused enough to take a picture of it:

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And rather less amusing was having it pointed out to me that there’s a bloody typo in my book. The fact that no-one else noticed (not even me) in the fourteen months it’s been out makes it no less frustrating.

As Promised …

a picture of Leading The Dance’s cover (as mentioned below and here).


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And I’m still with my head down, writing, writing, writing. Trying not to think about having to go for a blood test tomorrow and not eating for twelve hours before.
Writers shouldn’t have to have blood tests. They should have to take spelling tests or something more suited to their disposition.

Like Chocolates

Some books, more specifically short story collections, are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. And I found myself thinking this about Leading The Dance, by Sarah Salway this week.

You see, I never read the stories in collections in order. I don’t know why, I just don’t. Last week, after many weeks of dipping in to it, I realised that sadly I was nearing the end. I probably only had one or two stories left to read, though, as I’d not read it in order, I didn’t know how many.

So, like those last few chocolates in a box you’ve really loved, I tried to save them. You know, as a treat. I didn’t want to be greedy and scoff them all in no time. And I didn’t want to lift the lid and see how many (or few) I had left. I wanted to enjoy them. And enjoy them I did but…

The box is empty now, and I’m disappointed.

I want more.

I loved the first book (Something Beginning With) of Sarah’s I read. And I love this, I think, as much. It is, I think, the best collection of short stories I’ve read. It’s delicate and tender in places, and heart twistingly sad in others. It’s not short on laughs either. And if there’s one thing that’s present right the way through the book it’s the uncanny way that you can empathise with or recognise almost all of the characters.

It is expertly written and hugely enjoyable. The prose sparkles mostly, while at times it is nothing short of dazzling. And touching.

A fantastic collection.

PS I don’t seem to be able to post a pic of the cover here at the moment. I’ll try again later.

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PPS

I know some of you who know me will know that I can’t actually eat chocolates. But I used to be able to and therefore remember how it feels. So there.

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And how cool is this? How nice are some writers? If you’ve been following the Comments bits on recent threads you’ll know that I’ve been after some colour coded index cards, but haven’t been able to find any.

How happy was I to receive some in the post this morning from the extremely lovely and hugely talented Emma!

Thank you so much! They’re perfect!

A Tale of Two Blogs

Firstly I’d like to draw your attention to Vanessa Gebbie’s blog – especially her last post (January 9th) as I think what she’s doing is both incredibly interesting and hard. Editing a passage from a novel into a short story is serious business.

And secondly I loved the short film Roger Morris has just uploaded. Authors and their coffee pots! (Be warned, folks – I may do one too!)

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I’m currently feeling most jealous of Sarah. The place sounds just wonderful. (Cheered to hear that she’s over her home sickness too.)

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And where’s Annie Wicking’s blog gone? It seems to have disappeared. Anyone?

Thoughts on Walking and Thirteen

My cheeks are red and tingly. My legs ache a little and my fingers are only just coming back to life and/or thawing. And I am very happy. I love walking. Especially when the weather’s a little white and crisp – almost cutting. I love the rough stillness of being in a place where there are no other people; just trees and birds, bushes and grass. I love the merciless iced wind that knives; and the kestrel who didn’t seem to mind it one bit.

I am happy that I’ve taken this extra time off. I am beginning to relax.

Happy sigh.

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I was thrilled to see Scott Pack singing the praises of another Sarah Salway book. I know, from reading his excellent blog, that he is, like me, a big fan of hers. I’ve not read Tell Me Everything yet, but I fully intend to and soon.

And while I’m on that subject…

I finished reading Thirteen, by Sebastian Beaumont the other day. I read it because he’d (Scott Pack) recommended it. Simple as that. (Well, it sounded interesting too, but that’s not the point. The point is recommendations work. Even in the smallest of numbers.)

The book is excellent. It’s hypnotic, neurotic, weird and edgy – all of these in a very good way. And, most importantly, it’s a good (and oddly believable) story told well. As Mr Pack says, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but with that said and accepted, it’d come highly recommended by me.