Month: September 2007

This Time Last Year

I don’t know why I’m feeling all nostalgic. Maybe it’s because, a little under a year ago, I became an author proper when my book was released to the world. And I find myself thinking, was it only a year ago? and, no, a whole year ago! at the same time. It’s been a funny year; difficult at times. But I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed the visits I’ve done; the workshops I’ve led; the talks I’ve given; the people I’ve met; the writing group; their book; my writing. And when I put it like that it reminds me that I rather enjoy doing what I do, in spite of the terrible pay and the Hard Work.

Yes. I enjoy being that writer and workshop leader from the north west of England. And I reckon there’s plenty more to come from him.

Anyway, here’s what I said, on this very blog, almost a whole year ago to the day:

“Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Slipping ByGoodness this week has just flown. Monday and Tuesday have just been a blur and I’m tired. I can’t believe that we’re almost in Wednesday. The days are just slipping by, and the release of my book gets closer and closer (only three days to go now). And that also means that the start of the Roaming Roman Book Tour is getting nearer as well. I’m at Styal Primary School on Monday, I’ve a workshop on Tuesday and on Thursday I’m running some workshops at Crewe Library. The first event on the tour that’s open to the public is on October 14th at Bollington Library. You can click here to see the other public dates. They’re all free and everybody’s welcome.I saw a film last night of a book that I’ve always wanted to read but, as with so many others, haven’t had the chance. It is called Regeneration and tells the story of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon’s … well I’ll not spoil it for you. I’d highly recommend a watch though. The book, I believe, is very good as well.Signing off for now.”

Read All About It!

As if you’d do anything else on a blog.

This dropped through my letterbox earlier. Coverage of the awards I mentioned the other day had made it onto the front page of the Community News. So, once again, congratulations to everyone who managed to complete the challenge and well done to all who took part.

(I’m not going to grumble about the misspelling of my name because I’ve grumbled about it before and it’s not made any difference. Sigh.)

Authors Attract

Tis true, and was proved last night. I’d been invited to attend a ‘special evening viewing’ of an exhibition on Cheshire’s literary heritage held at the Salt Museum in Northwich. I went last night, not really knowing what to expect (well, you wouldn’t really, would you?). After a brief and friendly chat with a couple of staff members I was ushered into the room where all the guests were being held. I accepted a glass of water and waited for things to commence.

I must have stood there for about five minutes before I realised that I was going to struggle to engage anyone in conversation. Some clearly weren’t all that keen on even returning smiles. But they don’t know me and I don’t know them and I suppose they might not have been there to talk to people – and in my motorcycle jacket I could have been anyone/trouble/lost.

And then a lady and her husband walked in and ended up heading my way. They nodded and smiled, as did I, and pretty soon we were having a great old chat. It turned out that, not only was the lady, Gee Williams, a fellow author (you can order her book, Salvage, – which sounds marvellous – here) but we also share a writer friend.

From then on the evening was great. The exhibition was fab. They had original typescripts of Robert Westall’s, The Machine Gunners, his typewriter, medieval writing implements (not his), stuff on Alan Garner, Lewis Carroll, Elizabeth Gaskell… all sorts. Well worth a look if you’re in the area.

And at some point, people started to smile at each other.

A Possibly Slightly Lengthy Post

Where to begin?

Well, seeing as this post is going to be, in part, about more birthdays and nice authors who write nice things in your copies of their books, I think I’ll start here. By wishing my sister a Very Happy Birthday.

***

I received the copy of Something Beginning With (fab book – read it!) I sent to be signed by its author this morning – along with, as an extra – Leading the Dance – a collection of her short stories. Which is all rather lovely. Very much looking forward to reading it; if it’s as well written and entertaining as SBW then I’m definitely in for a treat. I’ve feeling it (and I) will be.

I was also really chuffed to hear that she’d given the spare copy of my book I’d sent to her to some children who live near to her. I really hope they enjoy it. Thanks again, Sarah.

***

This evening I handed out awards (medals actually) to about eighty children who’d completed the Summer Reading Challenge I mentioned a couple of days ago. And it all went swimmingly. I think a particularly big thanks should go to Alison and the library staff who did a terrific job of organising things and a great big well done to all the children. I was also very impressed with the photographer who came along for the local paper. Again, the organising of children and of me was done very well.

After we’d finished giving out the awards and whatnot (not the item of furniture!) I hung around and chatted with some parents, some children and some library staff and signed some books. And it was all very nice.

It turned out that one of the boys is currently being taught history by the same teacher who taught it me when I was ten. I was very lucky in that every history teacher I had was great, but it was nice to send him a message (via the pupil) to thank him for getting me interested in history.

***

And last but by no means least (and I mean that!), I’m very happy to be able to say that Prince Rupert’s Teardrop by Lisa Glass is up and available for pre-order on Amazon. I’ve just ordered my copy. Go and have a look, folks.

Do as I Say, Not as I Do

When people ask how they can improve their writing I always tell them to write a lot and read a lot. It’s sensible advice and is often given by writers (it’s certainly one of the things I remember being told when I was starting out). And I believe in it.

It’s frustrating then when I can’t practice what I preach. I have piles and piles of books I desperately want to read but I just don’t have the time when I’m writing (that and the fact that some are so well written and have such distinctive voices that I’ve been avoiding reading them until I get to a point when I’m not writing because I worry that what I’m writing will end up sounding like I’m trying to sound like whatever it is I’m reading). I should be better at dealing with this but I’m not. I’m certainly getting better. And I hope to continue my getting better by reading Alis by Naomi Rich, which I received this morning, complete with a very nice note inside it from the very nice author.
As a funny aside, I’m handing out awards later this week to children who’ve completed the Summer Reading Challenge (read six books over the summer hols). I would not be getting such an award. I think I read four (unless it includes non fiction for research…).
***

And on a much happier note I was thrilled to read Anne Brooke’s review of my writing group’s collection of short stories and poems.
Here’s what she said:
“This is a lovely and very readable collection of short stories and poems, which has been edited by our very own Nik Perring. And it also includes some of his work, so definitely worth a read for that alone!However, I also particularly enjoyed work by Karen Crook and Sandy Milsom, especially the darker pieces. And special mention must go to “A Dog’s Life” by Gay Horton. There’s a tale with bite, for sure …
My collection favourite (I always pick one!) just has to be Karen Crook’s “Borrowed Time” (sorry, Nik – your little green man just missed out …!). I for one would definitely be keen to read more about Henry’s ghostly adventures in Hadley Great Hall.Of course, other people will have other preferences, but I would recommend this collection. There’s something for everyone and the cover’s great too.”

So, a big WELL DONE to all involved I think. And, of course, a big thanks to Anne. Thrilled you liked it.
(I should mention too that there are a few of Anne’s books sitting on the really want to read pile. Sigh.)

Breville Monkey!

I went to see Ross Noble on Wednesday night. How I laughed. He was absolutely brilliant. He didn’t talk about Breville Monkies though, which was a shame.

Oh, and I was flicking through a book on antiques, as part of my research for a story I plan to write, and discovered that a whatnot is actually an item of furniture. Who’d have thought it!