Lissa Evans has written six novels, including Their Finest Hour and a Half (which was filmed as Their Finest,) and a loose trilogy which comprises the best-selling Old Baggage, Crooked Heart (longlisted for the Bailey’s Prize) and V for Victory. Two of her books for children, Small Change for Stuart and Wed Wabbit, were shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Lissa has a background in radio and TV comedy production; her programmes included ‘Room 101’ and ‘Father Ted.’
Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?
I was in my mid-thirties, and I was feeling stuck – both emotionally and physically. That’s the basis of my first novel, Spencer’s List: three characters who find a way to move on – from grief, from inertia, and from an unsellable house!
What came first the characters or the world?
They seemed to arrive together. Though all the characters were me, really – different parts of me…
How long did it take to write?
The first two chapters took about five years – I kept writing and re-writing them. Then I decided to bite the bullet and attempt chapter three; the rest of the book took about eleven months. It was eventually published when I was 41.
Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?
Currently: ‘Eclogue’ by Gerald Finzi and various tracks from Radio Lento, which specialises in long, wordless recordings of the natural world, my favourite at the moment being number 150, ‘Looking down on Coldingham Sands’.
What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your books?
My favourite response, always, is ‘it made me laugh’.
What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?
I started off as a doctor, but it really wasn’t for me (I was scared the entire time) and after that I became first a radio comedy producer and then a television comedy producer and director. I always wanted to be a writer, but I had to find what I wanted to write about, and also to develop my own style of story-telling, something which was enormously helped by years of script-editing
Which genres do you read yourself?
Mainly 20th century fiction, including short stories, and a huge range of non-fiction. I am a very big fan of reading accounts of epic journeys, explorers struggling through extreme cold/heat/terrain etc, while I sit in an armchair with a cup of tea next to me.
What is your biggest motivator?
Guilt. I’m lucky enough to be a published writer, and therefore I SHOULD BE WRITING.
What will always distract you?
Everything and anything, unfortunately. When I told one of my friends that I’d written a book, she said ‘You can’t have, Lissa. You have the attention span of a flea.’
How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?
More than I used to. I buy a lot of books, and the books I write are the sort of books that I enjoy reading, so my criterion for my own covers is only ever ‘Would I pick it up if I saw it in a bookshop?’
Were you a big reader as a child?
Yes, I read all the time, even at meals. And I’m certain that if there had been the same distractions then as now, then I wouldn’t have read nearly as much, and my life would have been very different. The immersive reading of childhood and adolescence shaped me as a writer.
Do you have any rituals when writing?
I try to do the ‘Pomodoro method’: 25 minutes of concentration, then 5 minutes off. I also drink a lot of tea.
What is your current or latest read?
I’ve just finished a riveting novel called ‘The Village’ by Marghanita Laski, written and set in 1946, about snobbery and the social changes brought about by the war.
What inspired you to write the genre(s) you do?
My last four novels for adults (and the one I’m currently writing) are historical – one set during the 1920s, and the others during the Second World War. I’ve been fascinated by the Home Front since I read a book called ‘How We Lived Then’ by Norman Longmate, when I was about twelve. I carried on reading about the subject, and eventually used it as the setting for a novel about film-making (‘Their Finest Hour and a Half’) which was later made into the movie ‘Their Finest’. Those finite years of fear and restriction and making-do, continue to fascinate me.
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Farhana Islam, illus. Nabila Adani. Puffin. (32p) ISBN 9780241552476
Not Now, Noor!
A fun story about an extremely curious young girl and her family and how persistent she can be to get an answer to her questions.
I was sent this after seeing it available for a review copy and was really pleased, loved the bright and fresh illustrations by Nabila Adani which match the book perfectly and give it such an active and bright feel.
Noor is extremely curious about the hijabi in her life and wants to know why they wear a hijab? She has lots of theories why and tells them to the people she is asking the question of, but they all tell her ‘Not Now Noor!’, though they never deny her theories 😉
She talks to all the women in her immediate family until she gets to her mum who answers her question.
Beautifully paced and a great story for young ones to find out about themselves or others.
If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.
Ian is the director of The Reading Realm. He is also a content creator and resource writer for various educational organisations, including The Literacy Shed and Authorfy. Ian has taught in primary schools for 13 years and during this time has been a member of the senior management team, a phase leader, and literacy co-ordinator. He has an NQPSL, which focused on improving reading. Ian has also run staff training and writing workshops for children. He especially enjoys sharing picture books, poetry and creative writing activities with the children he teaches.
Glitter Boy began life as a picture book called Mr. Hamilton’s wedding and gradually grew and grew! It weas inspired by my own experiences of homophobic bullying in secondary school and my career as a primary school teacher. I used to hear a lot of kids say, “Oh, that’s so gay!” to describe something as ‘rubbish’ and it really bothered me. My husband and I had just adopted our little baby boy too, so I was thinking a lot about the relationship between fathers and sons and this is a thread that’s explored throughout the story.
Essentially Glitter Boy is about the impact bullying has on an 11 year old boy called James. James lvoes singing, dancing, poetry and Mariah Carey! The book explores how James overcomes feelings of being on the outside, of being vilified and whispered about, and of being told he isn’t good enough. It’s a hopefully, joyous book about standing up for yourself, friendship, and LGBTQ+ history and pride.
What kind of reactions have you had to your book? What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?
The reactions have been amazing! I always find it such a nerve-wracking process! I think releasing any book out into the world is a rollercoaster of emotions. There’s all the gruelling work that goes into the book, the excitement of publication day, the worries about school visits, and the concerns about how an LGBTQ+ middle grade book will be received. However, I did get to go onto ITV News and talk about Glitter Boy, homophobic bullying, and Section 28. This was a real highlight for me! The best thing has to be hearing from young readers though – it’s so special when your book speaks directly to someone and they find it a comfort. Lots of people in the LGBTQ+ community have reached out to me to tell me how much they loved Glitter Boy and that means an awful lot.
What can you tell us about your next book?
I have lots of books coming out over the next few years! Sadly, I have to keep it all quiet at the moment though! I have two more picture books coming out this year which I’m really excited about. I’ve also signed with some new publishers who I’ll be working on more LGBTQ+ inclusive fairy tales with and I’m just feeling my way into a new middle grade book, which is going to be very different to Glitter Boy. I feel so incredibly lucky!
What did you do before you became a writer?
I was a primary school teacher for thirteen years and loved it! However, towards the end of my teaching career I was struggling with exhaustion and my mental health and knew I needed to take a break. Teachers work so incredibly hard and ii think I was completely burnt out. The nights of marking books and weekends of planning and inputting data were just too much for me and the job has changed a lot since I first started teaching. I have a huge respect for anyone who works in education nowadays. I still enjoy visiting schools with my writing workshops and working alongside children and teachers. A great school can really energise and uplift you and visiting a school is a wonderful way for me to connect with my young readers.
Ian Eagleton
Which author inspires you?
So many! As part of my job writing resources for Authorfy I get to read lots of middle grade books every week. I particularly admire Elle McNicoll although she INFURIATES me! How is it that each of her books is better than the last? How does she manage to show such control over so many different genres! How is she so good?! But in all seriousness, I was also really lucky to meet Elle at an event and she was very kind and chatted away to me when II was feeling very nervous. I’m also a big fan of Dom Conlon, Dean Atta and Jay Hulme – I think their poetry is so beautiful, insightful and honest.
Which genres do you read yourself?
I love crime thrillers and whodunnits! I always remember my mum having a huge bookshelf of murder mystery books and I loved reading John Grisham and Agatha Christie as a child. There are so many wonderful crime thrillers that have kept me up all night, glued to the edge of my seat. It’s so much fun trying to decipher all the red herrings and work out any clues which are peppered in the story along the way and I LOVE to be tricked and have the wool pulled over my eyes. A friend recently recommended The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi, which completely terrified me! I’ve also enjoyed The Sanatorium and The Retreat by Sarah Pearse, which were exciting, eerie, and atmospheric.
What is your biggest motivator?
I would probably say my biggest motivator is wanting to see change. It infuriated me for many, many years that there was very little LGBTQ+ inclusivity in children’s books and I wanted to reach out to younger members of the community and show them that they deserve to be included in the literary space too. It’s so important that children see different types of families and relationships in the books they read. I think a lot of my writing is spurred on by a stubborn defiance to make space for the LGBTQ+ community and really push the boundaries. Now that I have a son of my own, it’s also become really important that he sees his family structure in books and feels included too.
Were you a big reader and writer as a child? What were your favourite childhood books?
I HATED reading as a young child. It involved lots of Roger Red Hat books and ii thought they were so boring! However, I did love being read to. My mum read to us every night and I have fond memories of this, of feeling warm and cosy as we listened intently to my mum’s soothing voice whisk us away on all sorts of adventures. I loved the Alfie and Annie-Rose books and anything by Shirley Hughes. It wasn’t really until I was ten that a teacher called Mrs Perry guided me to Matilda by Roald Dahl and the Supergran series by Forrest Wilson. From that moment on I adored reading!
Mrs Perry also encouraged lots of creative writing – she would often give us a starter and then just leave us to write away. Or she might give us some characters and challenge us to weave them into an exciting story. I loved listening to her read every day, on the carpet. I remember vividly giggling away to Rebecca’s World by Terry Nation. I also fondly remember being sat at the Listening Station, headphones on, escaping into the magical, snowy world of The Enchanted Horse. There was also lots of drama, plays, acting and art in her class, which I loved and freedom to create – one day, Mrs Perry allowed me to write a story for the younger children in the school on the new school computer. She applauded my use of repetition and the next day I waited with baited breath as the computer painfully, slowly, gradually coughed my story out, over the course of an entire day. What a feeling!
I then spent a lot of my teenage years devouring all sorts of books by Philip Pullman, Judy Bloom, Paula Danziger, R.L Stine, and Iris Murdoch.
Now, I spend my days reading lots of children’s books and get to call it work! We really are in the ‘golden age’ of children’s fiction. I’ve particularly enjoyed Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan, The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell, Scavengers by Darren Simpson, The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson, The Star-Spun Web by Sinead O’Hart, The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods by Samuel J. Halpin, and Kate Wakeling’s beautiful collection of poetry Moon Juice.
What do you hope young readers take away from Glitter Boy?
I hope readers of all ages take away a sense of how damaging bullying of any form can be and how negatively it impacts on people’s mental health. I also really hope they are set off on their own journey to find out more about LGBTQ+ history and maybe do some research into some of the trailblazers and icons mentioned in the story who have fought for our rights. Most of all I hope they get a sense that change is possible, that we can be accepting of others, that we can live freely and happily and that treating others with respect and kindness is just so important. Perhaps they might even decide to put some Mariah Carey songs on at full blast and dance their socks off!
Finally, can you describe Glitter Boy in three words?
Hopeful, joyful, defiant.
If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
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Jacey Bedford is a British writer of science fiction and historical fantasy. She is published by DAW in the USA. She has seven novels, out: the Psi-Tech and Rowankind trilogies, and her most recent novel The Amber Crown, a historical fantasy.
Her short stories have appeared in anthologies and magazines on both sides of the Atlantic, and have been translated into Estonian, Galician, Catalan and Polish.
In another life she was a singer with vocal trio, Artisan, and once sang live on BBC Radio4 accompanied by the Doctor (Who?) playing spoons.
Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?
Ah, that’s a question that has to be answered by a question. What do you call a debut novel? My first-published novel, Empire of Dust was not the first novel I wrote, nor was it the first I sold. The first I wrote is still on a back-burner. The first I sold was Winterwood, a historical fantasy. By that time, I’d written seven complete novels, and my editor also bought Empire, which was science fiction/space opera. For my first three book deal I sold Winterwood, Empire, and a yet-to-be-written sequel to Empire (which became Crossways). It just so happened that DAW had a gap in the publishing schedule for science fiction in 2014, but if they’d gone with Winterwood first, it would have had to wait until 2015 – so my debut novel was Empire of Dust. As to the inspiration… it was a prequel for the two novels that are still on the back-burner, but set 1000 years before them. At that point it could have been a standalone, or the start of a trilogy (which it became). I’m still hoping to revisit those two unpublished novels because I still think they have legs – though obviously I’ve learned a lot since I wrote them, and revision would reflect that.
What came first the characters or the world?
Characters. Always characters. I usually start off with characters-in-a-situation, and take it from there. The world is often flexible in the early stages of writing. My latest book, The Amber Crown, is a historically-based fantasy. When I first got the idea, I could have set it in any number of different settings, either real-world, generic medievaloid, or it could even have been a second-world setting. In the end I settled on an alternative version of the Baltic States around the 1600s, though I mucked about a fair bit with history. I’d just been reading about the Northern Crusades, which is what made me latch on to that region, though it’s not set during that timeline. I have a friend who doesn’t like reading science fiction or fantasy and I just keep telling her that they are all stories about people in situations interacting with other people, whether it’s medieval Italy or modern-day New York. Look how many versions of Romeo and Juliet there are, from Shakespeare to Shakespeare in Love and West Side story.
How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?
I sold my first short story in 1998, and my first novel didn’t come out until 2014, so my overnight success took sixteen years (not counting the time it took to sell my first short story). Getting an agent was the first hurdle. My first agent (acquired on a recommendation from Anne McCaffrey) was so easy to get that when we parted company, I didn’t realise how difficult it was going to be to get another. It took NINE years. That was largely my fault because I was subbing to a single agent at a time and some of them were taking months to reject me (or simply not replying at all). Then my lovely second agent retired from agenting with Winterwood still circulating publishers. I knew DAW hadn’t seen it, so I sent it to their slushpile with a recommendation from one of their authors… and I sold it. On the back of that I got a new agent, too. The secret is persistence. I could have given up at any time during those sixteen years, but I didn’t.
How long did it take to write?
I wrote the first draft of Empire of Dust – 70,000 words – in about a month. Then I spent years revising it – writing other novels in the meantime. Eventually it ended up at 240,000 words. It changed shape and size many times during various edits, so altogether it took years to get to the 173,000 word final version.
What can you tell us about your next book?
It’s a YA book based on the Tam Lin story as depicted in the folk ballad about a knight captured by the Queen of Fairies and intended to be her tithe to Hell. He is saved by the love of a mortal. I’m not giving away spoilers, you can find the ballad on the internet, but I hope I’m bringing something different to it. The ballad is set in the medieval period, but I’ve set it partly in the modern world (England) and partly in the land of Fairy.
Do you take notice of online reviews?
I try not to. I’ve been lucky to have no real stinkers (that I’ve noticed). The golden rule is never to respond to a review whether you think it’s justified or not.
What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?
I sang for twenty years with the vocal trio, Artisan, touring all over the world, UK, USA, Canada, Australia. We didn’t do much in Europe, just Belgium and Germany a few times, because our words were important and so we preferred to stick to countries that spoke English as a first language. (www.artisan-harmony.com) When we ‘retired’ from the road, I started a music booking agency, securing gigs for (mainly folk) musicians in the UK. That’s ongoing.
Which author(s) inspire you?
Oh, I don’t know. I like any number of authors, but I didn’t discover most of the ones I read today until after I started writing. I suppose I read Andre Norton and Anne McCaffrey in my twenties. One of my current favourites is Los McMaster Bujold. I love her Vorkosigan books, but my favourite book of all time is her fantasy, The Curse of Chalion. It’s the book I would grab as I ran screaming out of a burning building.
Which genres do you read yourself?
Fantasy, science fiction and the occasional historical novel. I’ll read dark fantasy and Grimdark, but I draw the line at pure horror. I can’t watch horror movies either. Regency romance is my guilty pleasure.
What is your biggest motivator?
A deadline.
How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?
I’ve been very lucky. DAW has always asked for my input, and I even got to suggest the artist (Larry Rostant) for my Rowankind trilogy.
Were you a big reader as a child? And what were your favourite childhood books?
I could read fairly fluently by the time I was three and I joined the local library as soon as I was old enough. I was only allowed two books a week, but when we discovered I could use some of my parents’ tickets I used to get five books a week. I loved pony books. One of my favourite writers was Monica Edwards who wrote about children and ponies having adventures. Her characters were very real to me. I would read anything with a horse on the cover, which was how I found C.S. Lewis’s The Horse and His Boy – my gateway book into fantasy. And then in my teens I read my way through the Gollancz yellow jackets – the science fiction books: Arthur C Clarke, Isaac Asimiv, James Blish, Bob Shaw. I wish I’d kept a list of what I read. They’ve all faded into a hazy memory now.
Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?
Sadly, my part of the UK has no specialist bookshops, so there are only the chain bookshops in cities which I hardly ever visit. These days I mostly read on Kindle because I can make the print bigger. My favourite actual bookshop is halfway around the world – Bakka Phoenix in Toronto, which I used to visit regularly when we were on tour in Canada.
How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?
I call it my Strategic Book Reserve. Probably about sixty or seventy actual physical books, but I have hundreds of unread books on my Kindle. (We’re just talking about fiction, right?) I buy books for research in dead tree format because dipping in and out of a Kindle book is more problematical.
What is your current or latest read?
I’m reading T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead ,and I just finished The Dead Dragon Job by Anne Lyle. I post all the fiction I read on my reading blog on Dreamwidth. (https://jacey.dreamwidth.org/) – though I also have a writing blog at WordPress. (https://jaceybedford.wordpress.com/)
Any events in the near future?
After several years of keeping my head down because of Covid I’m booked into the UK Eastercon in Birmingham in April. I’m really looking forward to being on panels again, and seeing a bunch of friends. I’ll be attending a writing retreat in May for a week, and the Milford SF Writers’ Conference in September, which is a workshopping week with other published writers. For my sins I’m the Milford secretary, so I’m one of the organisers. (www.milfordSF.co.uk). Incidentally, Milford is launching an anthology called Eclectic Dreams at Eastercon in order to help fund our Writers of Colour bursary. I have a story in that,
and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?
I love the freedom science fiction and fantasy gives me to make up stuff for pleasure and profit. I like playing in new worlds, or in old worlds reimagined. You write what you read. I’ve always been more interested in swashbucklers and spaceships than in police procedurals and kitchen sink dramas. Funnily enough I often manage to get a horse into my books somewhere – even the space operas – which probably harks back to those pony books of my childhood and my many years of hanging around stables.
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My name is Rikin Parekh and I’m a Children’s book Illustrator based in North West London. I also work as a LSA (Learning Support Assistant) in primary schools.
I studied at Camberwell College of Arts, then at the University of Westminster in Harrow. After graduating, I freelanced as a Film Production Illustrator working mainly on monster movies.
I then decided I’d love to follow my first true love of picture books and turned my hand to children’s publishing.
I’m an avid film buff, love collecting old comic book art, reading sci-fi novels and meditating. I also LOVE eating pizza.
My influences range from Jim Henson, Sir Quentin Blake, Colin West, Val Biro, Judith Kerr, Kandinsky, Jimi Hendrix, and the great Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau.
When did you know you wanted to become an illustrator?
I think it was during primary school, I saw all the picture books and was just blown away and knew that’s what I wanted to do, somehow!
How long does it typically take to make a page or cover for a book?
It takes a good week, maybe two. I care for my disabled mum and help around the house too so much of my time is taken up with care and chores, but I’ve learned how to juggle all of this (and be really good at asking for extensions!) Also, I hand drawn/colour everything, no digital art whatsoever so that makes it’s even longer.
What’s your favourite piece of art equipment?
I think, if you asked me a few years back, I would say my dip pen, and it still is to some degree, but it’s most probably a tie between the Polychromos pencils that I use to draw and the brushes I use to ink now, as supposed to inking solely with dip pens like I used to do years back.
Do you have a favourite colour scheme, if so what and why?
I don’t really, but I do love bright colours, energising colours like yellows, oranges and warm blues.
Who were your inspirations when starting out?
The classics like Dr Seuss, that was huge, Jim Henson and Quentin Blake.
Do you have another job besides being an illustrator, if so what?
I do, I also work, when possible, as a Teaching Assistant in Primary schools. I find it deeply rewarding and so much fun.
What do you do to overcome a creative block?
Meditate, watch a film, try to go out in nature or just listen to music
Do you have a favourite piece in your portfolio, if so could you share it and talk about it?
I don’t really! I find that the spontaneous sketches are the ones that are really cool.
What was your first book related project?
It was a series of picture books written by an Irish Canadian author, Bernard P Morgan. I was really new (illustrating books) i and was so lucky that Bernard gave me full artistic licence!
What type of media do you prefer to work in and why?
I prefer to work traditionally, using black Indian ink, concentrated watercolours, polychromos pencils and the odd crayon. I find it’s much more instinctive and raw and I find I can put across the feeling and passion straight away.
Do you have a playlist you like working to? If so do you want to share it?
It differs, it can be Liquid Drum and Bass, Chill to Psychedelic Rock from the 60’s, Hendrix/The Beatles or sometimes feature film soundtracks.
Do you have any rituals when working?
Good music, light some incense and be in the moment of joy in doing what I love doing.
Do you have a favourite artist outside of the world of books, if so who and why?
Mainly the inking masters of comic book art, John and Sal Buscema, John Romita and Wassily Kandinsky.
Did the books you read as a child influence your work?
I think so, I read lots of US comic books and watched lots of films so I’d like to think my illustrations have that filmic narrative.
Has your illustration/art style changed over time?
Very much so, at first, it was mirroring Dr Seuss, I copied him, his colour schemes etc, but now I am much more open and less constrained to the black ink line.
How closely do you work with the author on developing the illustrations for a book?
I try to strike up a conversation so I know I’m doing the right thing, especially as it’s their vision, that is important to me. I’m always in a state of gratitude towards those authors so I try to take on as much as they want, i.e. their visions and ideas into the illustrations.
If you could illustrate any classic book which would it be and why?
It would be ‘The Enormous Crocodile” by Roald Dahl, I loved the character and the story! The character more tbh!
Which illustrated books in the last year have you loved?
I’ve not been able to read many tbh, I’ve just been far too busy! 🙁
If you can please tell us about your latest project and if not your last project
I’m just finishing up on a wonderfully bonkers picture book with Walker Books, am nearly done final artwork for the next “Worst Class in the World…” series and am in the early stages of working on a TOP SECRET PROJECT and there other projects coming soon…
Do you have any events on in the near future?
I have a couple of school events but apart from that I do not know, there might be some on the way!
If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.
Victoria Goldman MSc. is a freelance journalist and editor. She is a book & stationery addict, crochet novice and nature lover (especially the local wild parakeets). She lives in Hertfordshire and is married with two sons
Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?
I’d always wanted to write a crime novel – since I was a child. The idea for The Redeemer came from seeing a fake blue commemorative plaque (a historical marker in the US) on a local house. I wondered what would happen if these plaques suddenly appeared on local buildings and no one knew who had put them there. And what if these plaques highlighted someone’s misdemeanour rather than a good deed, and were linked to a series of mysterious deaths? This led to the plot of The Redeemer.
What came first the characters or the world?
I guess I have to say the world, as The Redeemer is set in a fictional version of my home town in Hertfordshire, though obviously I’ve taken artistic licence. But when writing the books, shaping my main character, journalist Shanna Regan, was very important, as my book is as character-driven as it is plot-driven. Hopefully it’s worked, as readers have picked up on that and want ‘more Shanna books’.
How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?
So hard that I ended up having to publish it myself! I wrote three books in seven years and tried to get an agent or publisher. The Redeemer is the second book. Agents were telling me I’m a talented writer but ‘not this book’. After so many agents turned down The Redeemer, I gave up writing for a while, but crime authors and reviewers who had read my book urged me to get it out there myself. Three years on, I decided to take that leap. And I’m so glad I did as, to my astonishment, The Redeemer was shortlisted for Best Debut Crime Novel of 2022 in the 2022 Crime Fiction Lover Awards.
How long did it take to write?
It took me 2.5 years to write The Redeemer, but that’s mainly because I had to fit writing in between a hectic day job and a busy family life.
Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?
I don’t have a writing playlist, as such. But I do have a list of songs that remind me of my main character, Shanna, and her own story. All of the songs were in the charts (or being played on the radio) while I was writing The Redeemer.
Promises by Calvin Harris
Lost Without You by Freya Ridings
Love Wins by Carrie Underwood
Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood
Don’t Feel Like Crying by Sigrid
Call Your Girlfriend by Robyn
If Tomorrow Never Comes by Kent Blazy and Garth Brooks
What kind of reactions have you had to your book?
I’m astonished by such a positive response, especially as I’m self-published and all the agents said ‘no’ to The Redeemer. To date, I’ve had 99 Amazon UK reviews with an average of 4.5 stars. Readers have really enjoyed my book and are saying that they’ve learnt so much from it – without realising they were learning – about Jewish culture and identity, and about antisemitism. My book was chosen for the Bloody Scotland Book Club in October 2022, and a book club in Indiana, USA, asked me to join them via Zoom. I’ve been interviewed on podcasts here and in the USA, and, as already mentioned, The Redeemer was shortlisted for a debut crime novel award. I never expected to find readers at all, but couldn’t let The Redeemer lurk in a virtual drawer forever.
What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?
It has to be a US review in a prestigious Jewish magazine/website (called the Jewish Journal). The reviewer began with: ‘Faye Kellerman – behold your British counterpart.’ This made me laugh, as an agent once told me I could be the British Faye Kellerman, but I didn’t agree with the changes she wanted me to make to The Redeemer. I’m glad I didn’t make those changes as it would have been a very different book.
What can you tell us about your next book?
I can’t give too much away, although the blurb is written and the cover has been designed. But it’s the sequel to The Redeemer and features my same main character, journalist Shanna Regan. She’s investigating a missing woman who has been working on a Jewish-Muslim interfaith charity project in East London.
Do you take notice of online reviews?
I try not to! Although, because I don’t have anyone to filter them for me, I do skim over them occasionally.
Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?
I originally started writing historical fiction but was getting too bogged down with research and wasn’t making much progress. I’m not sure if I’ll venture properly into other genres, but maybe one day… I have already written a health book and contributed to several more, thanks to my day job.
What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?
I’m a health journalist and editor (including freelance health editor for Bupa). I also edit and proofread fiction, memoir and nonfiction (especially health and wellbeing) for UK publishers.
Which genres do you read yourself?
I read a lot of crime fiction, but prefer it when it overlaps with horror and supernatural. I also love well-written creepy gothic fiction and some sci fi.
What is your biggest motivator?
Before I chose to self-publish, my self-confidence was very low, since The Redeemer had been rejected by all the agents. When I decided to go down this route, I realised I had to be my own advocate, as there’s no one to do it for me. And I had to make sure The Redeemer was good enough to sit on a shelf next to any book with a publisher and agent. My motivation is ‘not to fail’ rather than ‘to succeed’, and to try to open doors that aren’t often open to self-publishers. I’ve managed to get my paperbacks into 15 UK libraries so far, through perseverance and interested readers.
What will always distract you?
Chocolate … and people talking to me. I’m actually not that easy to distract as I’m used to working in a busy household, so if I need to focus, I just block out the noise around me. I often write in front of the TV. My theory is that I’m a big overthinker and my mind wanders a lot – I need to keep that side of my brain occupied with the distraction, so the rest of my brain can concentrate and focus properly.
How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?
Because I’m self-published, I guide the cover designer – but since he’s the expert, I leave him to come up with his magic once I’ve given him my brief. I can’t wait to reveal the cover for my next book.
Were you a big reader as a child?
I was a huge reader from a very young age. From Enid Blyton to Agatha Christie and then Stephen King. I was rarely seen without a book, and my parents would often tell me off for reading at the dinner table.
How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?
An embarrassing number. I used to be a book blogger, and I’m an expert reviewer for the Lovereading website. Because of that, I have so many bought books that I’ve not had a chance to read yet (as well as proof copies)!
Any events in the near future?
Nothing concrete but there are some plans in the pipeline.
and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?
My natural inquisitive nature, my interest in human behaviour and my love of the ‘dark side’ of life!
If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
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Hi! I’m James. I write funny books for kids. I am a writer, filmmaker, performer, pole-vaulter, wizard and exaggerator and I live in Middlesbrough.
I only went and won the New Writing North and Hachette Children’s Novel Award for my first book The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory! I know! I’m as surprised as you, but here we are.
I love comedy. I’ve spent my time making silly short films, comedy sketches and animations, sometimes just for fun, sometimes for places like the BBC and Channel 4. I’ve also run comedy nights in Middlesbrough, and I often perform live comedy with my friends. I can’t stop. I’ve tried.
I am a mentor and workshop leader for Writers’ Block North East, a Teesside creative writing and development service.
My super powers include time travel (forwards), making the most excellent mashed potato and inventing new words like an absolute blambletruff.
Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?
I’ve been writing silly, funny bits and bobs for a few years now, mostly for my own amusement – I wrote short films, sketches, stand up comedy, I made my own zine, I did a bit of writing for Shooting Stars. I carried on doing all that for a lot longer than most people would think was healthy. Eventually my partner suggested that I give writing a children’s book a go. I say “suggested”… it was more of a demand if I’m honest. So I thought I’d better give it a go. I was 47 when I started, so I had a lifetime’s worth of ideas about what I’d like to see in a children’s book – anarchy, silliness, monsters, explosions, fun, heart, dinosaurs, loud music, science, flying surfboards etc. I threw it all in, and even though I had to take the dinosaurs out I’m very proud of it.
What came first the characters or the world?
I always think of the mad situation or “what if” first. In the case of The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory the “what if” was “what if there was a Stranger Things-style science lab opening holes in reality near a British town, and what if monsters kept coming out of those holes, and those monsters were making life very difficult for everyone. And what if everyone KNEW exactly what was happening but chose to ignore it?” (I’ll admit that climate change and Brexit were playing on my mind at the time.) Once I had that idea it was a case of asking “who would be the best/worst person to have to sort this problem out” and that’s how bolshie, overconfident punk guitarist Haddie arrived in my brain.
How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?
It was weirdly easy, just because I submitted it to the first New Writing North Hachette children’s novel award in 2019, and it won, and the prize was to get published, so I avoided most of the hurdles that usually stand between an author and their first publication. I was very, very lucky, especially when you consider I’d submitted the same book to the Northern Writers Awards the previous year and got nowhere.
How long did it take to write?
From first chapter to final draft, I’d say it took 2 years.
Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?
I love having music on in the background when I’m writing but I don’t have a set playlist. The Go! Team were on a lot while writing TUBF – fun, dancey, summery, poptimistic throw-the-kitchen-sink-at-it music. It seemed to fit the mood I was going for.
How many publishers turned you down?
A lot of agents said “no thank you” before I won the award. And a lot more said “no thank you” afterwards. The general gist of the rejections was “I can see what you’re doing, and you seem to be doing it well, but I haven’t a clue what I’d do with it.” Can’t argue with that, really.
Happy Town Must Be Destroyed
The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory
What kind of reactions have you had to your book?
Generally good. The word “bonkers” is used a lot. It’s the best feeling to meet a reader who’s loved reading a book you’ve written.
What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?
I think the best reaction was the girl who dressed up as one of the orange monsters to go to school. Her mum sent me a photo. It wasn’t World Book Day or anything. She seemed like my kind of reader.
What can you tell us about your next book?
I have a picture book coming out next year. It’s a fun story about the power of play and creativity (just like all my books so far) and I have seen some roughs of the art and it is going to be lush.
Do you take notice of online reviews?
I do! I can’t get enough of them. I think I’ve been lucky in that I’ve never had a scathing review yet. My favourite was a lady who basically said she’d tried, she’d really tried to read it but it just wasn’t for her and she’d had to give up. I felt for her. My stuff is not for everyone!
Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?
I would like to try a straight-up horror. I think horror and comedy are very close relations – you can’t fake ‘em. You know when you find something funny, and you know when you find something scary. You’re going for a primal, visceral reaction, and I enjoy that challenge.
What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?
I have done all sorts, but nothing you’d really call a job job. For the last 20 years it’s mostly been based around the things I love – creative stuff – theatre in education, drama teaching, writing workshops, filmmaking, drama-based training.
Which author(s) inspire you?
For the sort of things I write the touchstones have got to be Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. Funny, crazy, weird and exciting. I do try to aim more for Pratchett’s kindness over Adams’ cynicism. I’ll never be as good as either of them, but you might as well aim for the stars. Having said that, when I was writing TUBF I was reading a lot of David Peace (super-hard-boiled crime dramas) and I found my sentences getting shorter and more rhythmic like his, so I take inspiration from anywhere I can get it.
Which genres do you read yourself?
I tend to exclusively read genre books. Sci fi, fantasy, crime, horror. They all deal with the same themes as more literary novels but they have monsters and explosions to sweeten the deal. I like monsters and explosions.
What is your biggest motivator?
It’s the writing itself. The creating, the doing. The fun of it, the challenge of it. Trying to delight and surprise myself. The sense of achievement when you finish something is very rewarding. Creativity keeps life interesting. I was writing, making and performing silly stuff for years before I was published, and hopefully I’ll never stop.
How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?
Not a great deal. I managed to wrangle a guitar onto the cover of The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory, but I figure publishers know how to sell books and I should probably get out of the way when marketing decisions are being made.
Were you a big reader as a child?
I was an avid reader. Books, comics, magazines, the backs of cereal packets… The only things I didn’t like to read were books that people told me I should read. That would put me right off. Still does, really.
What were your favourite childhood books?
I grew up in the 1970s, and the books that have stayed with me are things like the Narnia books by CS Lewis, A Dictionary of Monsters and Mysterious Beasts by Carey Miller, Dr Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts vol 1 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Batman from the 30s to the 70s by various, Fascinating Facts by Giles Brandreth
Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?
Drake in Stockton is my current favourite – they are so supportive of authors, always organising events and schools visits, and it’s such a lovely, friendly shop. My all-time favourite is no longer open – Saltburn’s second hand bookshop. I bought so many books there over the years. I still dream about it sometimes.
What books can you not resist buying?
I have zero impulse control when it comes to buying books.
Do you have any rituals when writing?
I used to think I needed a whole day free to do any writing, but recently I’ve learned that if I have half an hour free and somewhere to sit I can write what I need to write that day.
How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?
Oh lordy, an awful lot. Novels, manga, comics. Loads of em. I’ll get round to them, I swear.
What is your current or latest read?
I’ve started to work my way through the Jack Reacher books. They are really well written, and sometimes you just want to read about a big man kicking baddies in the face. It’s cathartic.
Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?
All of them. As long as they have monsters and/or explosions, I’m in.
Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?
I’m working on getting a very silly chapter book into publisher’s hands this year, and hopefully another picture book or two. We’ll see how it goes!
Any events in the near future?
I’m appearing at York Literary Festival in March.
and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?
If “monsters and explosions” is a genre, and it definitely is, then what other genre could I write? What other genre would I want to write?
If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.
For many years Fi Phillips worked in an office environment until the arrival of her two children robbed her of her short term memory and sent her hurtling down a new, bumpy, creative path. She finds that getting the words down on paper is the best way to keep the creative muse out of her shower.
Fi lives in the wilds of North Wales with her family, earning a living as a copywriter, playwright and fantasy novelist.
Writing about magical possibilities is her passion.
Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?
So many things but if I have to choose one, it would be that I wanted to find a vehicle for two characters I’d written about in another fantasy story. Hartley Keg was originally a travelling salesman who had the knack for being in the right place at the right time with the exact gadget that was needed to solve any dilemma. He was a naughty, jovial, mentor figure. The second character was a dark assassin and initially a villain. The essence of that character turned into the darkling in Haven Wakes.
But on top of that, I wanted to write a fantasy novel that wasn’t set in a medieval or Tolkien-esque past, but in a world much closer to our own.
How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?
Like many authors who want to get their novels out there, I started by looking for a literary agent and while I got lots of lovely feedback over the three years I spent on that search, no agent ever said ‘yes’. So, I decided to find a publisher myself. I came across Burning Chair on a list of indie publishers open to submissions, sent my novel off, and the wonderful people there said ‘yes’.
How long did it take to write?
This is a difficult question to answer because Haven Wakes went through numerous edits, reframes, and title changes before it landed in the hands of Burning Chair. In its final format, it probably took about nine months to a year to complete.
Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?
I like to write in silence but if I’m having problems, I’ll write to ambient soundtracks. I generally use the Peaceful Ambience channel on YouTube.
What kind of reactions have you had to your books?
Overall, I’ve had a wonderful response to my novels Haven Wakes and Magic Bound. Readers like my characters, my mixture of fantasy and sci fi, and genuinely want to know what will happen next. Beyond the flattery of lovely book reviews, I also listen to what readers say they want from the next book or what they felt was missing in the current book. One question that’s cropped up in several of my book reviews is, ‘where are Steve’s parents?’. I’ll answer that one in the third book of the series.
What can you tell us about your next book?
Haven Wakes was Steve’s introduction to magic. The second novel, Magic Bound, took him further into the magical culture, made him face the consequences of what happened in Haven Wakes, and forced him to leave the city limits of his hometown.
In the third novel, Steve’s world – both magical and futuristic – is further investigated. He lost one person dear to him in Magic Bound and now he’s in search of two other people he loves, his parents. There are new, more deadly villains to tackle, and Steve will discover more about his family’s connection to the world of magic and his own origins too.
Do you take notice of online reviews?
I do but I try to keep my own response realistic. Some people will like, or even love, my books while they just won’t be other readers’ cups of tea. I have to accept that. However, I do look for the gems in amongst the good (or bad) stuff, those clues that point to how I can improve my writing and plotting for the next novel.
Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?
Yes. I currently write fantasy which is also my favourite genre to read. However, I do have plans that touch on sci fi and horror too. Perhaps it won’t be horror, so much as dark fantasy. Or maybe dark fantasy is horror.
For years, I wrote murder mystery plays for amateur theatre groups and small fundraisers, and I’m tempted to use those as inspiration for a series of cosy mystery novels at some point.
What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?
In the past, I worked across a variety of companies and industries as a secretary, PA, office manager, etc. I also wrote murder mystery plays.
Now, I earn my living as a freelance copywriter creating blog posts and web articles for small to medium businesses.
Which author(s) inspire you?
There are so many, and they change from year to year as I read more books, but the main list would have to include Mary Shelley, Sheri S Tepper, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Clive Barker, Terry Brooks, and Stephen King.
Which genres do you read yourself?
The big one is fantasy, but I also read horror and sci fi. I love vintage whodunnit and mystery from authors like Agatha Christie and Wilkie Collins. From time to time, I’ll dip into poetry collections too.
What is your biggest motivator?
In life, I’d say my family. As a writer, I’d hate to waste the story and character ideas that come to me (generally in the shower or just as I’m about to nod off to sleep). I have so many stories to tell. It’s just a shame I’m not a speedy writer.
Were you a big reader as a child?
Absolutely. I was an only child to parents who were the age of most of my friends’ grandparents so while Mum and Dad didn’t feel that I should be seen and not heard, I was definitely expected to entertain myself a lot of the time. They were both big readers, so we had a house full of books and I was allowed to read whatever I wanted. They filled a bookcase in my bedroom with fairytales and mythology stories too. And I enthusiastically tagged along with my mother on her weekly visits to the library.
What were your favourite childhood books?
Fairytales and mythology played a large part in my childhood reading, but I also discovered Roald Dahl’s books. I loved his magical but often dark take on life.
As I said, I was allowed to read what I wanted and both of my parents owned big tomes of Shakespearean plays. I loved diving into them and imagining a theatrical production as I read.
How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?
Oh dear, this is rather telling of the lack of time I have to read and my problems resisting new book purchases. My physical TBR pile currently holds sixteen books. The plan is to read at least twelve books this year, with the hope that I’ll be able to fit in more.
Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?
I’m working on the third book in my futuristic fantasy series. It doesn’t have a title yet – I just keep calling it Book 3.
I wrote a novella set in the same world as my novels for subscribers to my author newsletter last year and I’d like to write another novella for subscribers this year too.
What inspired you to write the genre you do?
It’s all about the magic. I was brought up on a literary diet of fairytales and myths, around colourful folk that seemed magical to the child I was, and by a father who constantly told me stories of his past. It was always the magical ‘what if’ that caught my imagination so it’s no surprise that my stories have always tended towards fantasy.
If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.
Jean Giono, trans. Barbara Bray. Vintage. (64p) ISBN 9781784878016
The Man Who Planted Trees
I had to get this book as soon as I saw the cover and read the blurb, but as usual it has sat on my shelf for what feels like forever waiting for my mood to swing back to it.
Yesterday it did and I was so pleased it did, a short read but kept me engrossed from start to finish (along with the interesting story about its origin and life after writing).
Giono’s prose as translated by Bray is wonderful, full of heart and passion.
We enter the world of Elzéard Bouffier, a lone shepherd in the foothills of the Alps who day by day plants tree seeds and has a new world grow around him, literally. This growth brings back more than tree life, it bring back humans and hope in the valleys as the forests grow.
A lovely story about how one person can change things and that this can have such a positive impact on the world and those around them
I love these short books that come in to your life make a big impression and sit there at the back of your mind forever.
It has been made into a short film and if you want to watch it you can find it at YouTube.
If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.
Hettie Judah is chief art critic on the British daily paper The i, a regular contributor to The Guardian’s arts pages, and a columnist for Apollo magazine. She writes for Frieze, Art Quarterly, Art Monthly, ArtReview and other publications with ‘art’ in the title, and is a contributing editor to The Plant magazine. Following publication of her 2020 study on the impact of motherhood on artists’ careers, in 2021 she worked with a group of artists to draw up the manifesto How Not To Exclude Artist Parents, now available in 15 languages. She regularly talks about art and with artists for museum and gallery events. A supporter of Arts Emergency she has mentored artists and students through a variety of different schemes. She is currently working on an exhibition and book on art and motherhood, among other things.
Lapidarium: The Secret Lives of Stones is published in the UK by John Murray and comes out in the US with Penguin on March 7th
How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents) is published by Lund Humphries, and will be available in the US on January 13th
Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) book?
I write about art. Inevitably I pinch all my best ideas from conversations with artists. The two books that came out late last year – How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents) and Lapidarium: The Secret Lives of Stones – are no exception. The first asks why artist mothers (and art about motherhood) still make the art world uncomfortable. The second is a book of stories exploring how stone has formed human culture, and how human culture has formed stone. It plunges through geological deep time, mythology, the occult, storytelling, land art, poetry, alchemy, jewels of power and protection. Contemporary art turns up in unexpected places in Lapidarium –in the story of a Victorian forger, for example, or of Imelda Marcos’s ill-gotten sapphires.
My ‘debut’ book was a little different – though that, too, came out of conversations with artists (or, more accurately, art students.) Studying in Glasgow in the early 1990s I self-published a cookery book called Black Coffee & Cigarettes. Many of my friends could only cook toast. They’d pass out at bus-stops – very picturesque in all their art student finery, but not a sustainable strategy in the long term. I don’t think anyone had done a student cookery book at the time. Mine was very basic, only text, no pictures, but the recipes worked. I laid it out (very, very, badly) on one of the blocky grey Apple Macs in the library. It was sold for £1.50 at student unions and local bookshops.
How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?
I turned 50 last year and have been a professional writer half my life – I have written for most British broadsheets, and international papers such as the New York Times. I also write for arts publications, and lifestyle magazine. Nevertheless, it took me until last year to get a book proposal accepted by a publisher – How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents), which came out with Lund Humphries in September. The books I authored up to that point were all brought to me by commissioning editors. I had proposed plenty of books before then, but none were picked up.
How long did it take to write?
Most of Lapidarium: The Secret Lives of Stones was written over a very intense nine month stretch. It is a complex, research-hungry book. I worked on it seven days a week, for about eleven hours a day. Not a healthy way to write. I felt unhinged. Nevertheless, I think Lapidarium came out well – I’m very proud of it.
Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?
I can’t write or read with any kind of sound in the background.
How many publishers turned you down?
Too many to count…. (…and I still don’t have an agent.)
What kind of reactions have you had to your book?
The readers of How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents) have become a kind of club. So many artists have taken it warmly into their hearts – I have been very touched. Watching Lapidarium go out into the world has been intriguing. It appeals to such a range of readers: artists, hobby geologists, jewellery makers, creative people looking for inspiration, anyone who enjoys a good story. It constantly surprises me to see who’s reading it.
What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?
A lot of sharing and public reading of How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents) happens on Instagram. Artist mothers can feel very isolated – I love the idea that the book helps them connect to one another and share experiences. I’ve been approached to do a children’s version of Lapidarium, which would be very exciting.
What can you tell us about your next book?
My writing task for this year is On Art and Motherhood – a reader-friendly and approachable art history. I hope readers will want to carry it with them and read it on the train. On Art and Motherhood looks at motherhood as a subject for art from pre-history to the present day, and in particular at motherhood as a state experienced by artists. Along the way it will explore themes including infertility, identity, sexuality and the mother body as a vessel for culture. The figure of the mother is one of the most familiar subjects in art – whether the Madonna, or the angelic bourgeois matriarch – but making art about motherhood based on direct experience has been somewhat taboo.
Do you take notice of online reviews?
Oh, I wish I was suave enough not to take notice of reviews! Of course I do, though. Does anyone still discriminate between print and online?
Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?
Absolutely. The art world is ripe for satire.
What did you do before you became a writer?
I was involved in experimental performance when I was a student and moved from that into organising a small arts festival in Glasgow in the 1990s. From there I moved into journalism and art criticism.
Which author(s) inspire you?
I am in awe of Marina Warner. I read Alone of All Her Sex last summer and still think about it. Her intellect is formidable. Brian Dillon’s essays are so invigorating that I once leapt out of the bath mid paragraph. Thoughts of Dillon pull me up when I relax into lazy habits. Maggie Nelson has inspired many imitators: none yet come close to the philosophical gymnastics and linguistic clarity of The Argonauts. Primo Levi’s The Periodic Table – with its intimate symbiosis of the mineral and human – was on my mind while writing Lapidarium.
Which genres do you read yourself?
Art books, artist biographies, books of ideas – most in the stacks surrounding me were bought for research. On holiday I read sci fi – China Miéville, Stanislav Lem, Ursula K. Le Guin.
What is your biggest motivator?
In conceiving books: to fill in historic gaps and make the overlooked visible. In writing books: deadlines!
What will always distract you?
Once in the zone I’m very focused. If I’m not in the zone anything will come between me and writing (or, worse, edits) – social media, chores, food, the dog. No random and unrelated email will ever be answered so swiftly as when I have edits waiting.
How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?
How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents) is part of a series with a fixed template – I suggested the colours (red and pink) and the publisher was happy to go with those. The cover for Lapidarium was designed by Holly Ovenden for the US edition (published by Penguin in March) – I’m really pleased that the UK publisher (John Murray) decided to use it too. I was asked if I liked it, which I did. I’m not sure it would have changed much if I hadn’t, though.
Were you a big reader as a child?
Yes. Whenever I was slow to respond (which is to say, any time I was called,) I was told off for having my nose in a book.
What were your favourite childhood books?
Small me loved wordplay and jokes. I remember different Russell Hoban books at different reading stages. Very young – the Frances books. Later – the adventures of Tom, Captain Najork and Aunt Fidget Wonkham Strong. Tween me felt the immersive pull of fantasy: C.S. Lewis, Ursula Le Guin, Alan Garner.
Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?
My local, Queen’s Park Books in London. They are geniuses on books for children. They are a proper community bookshop that supports local authors – I held the launch party for Lapidarium there. Further afield, the ICA bookshop is a danger zone for art books, poetry and philosophy – I can never walk through without buying something.
How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?
It stretches to many metres – I spend years accumulating books for projects I want to work on in the future. Each project starts with a couple of shelves of foundational research.
What is your current or latest read?
I’m just finishing Silvia Federici’s Caliban and the Witch – I can really see her ideas percolating through certain sectors of the art world. To my shame I haven’t read Annie Ernaux. A friend gave me The Years for Christmas, so that’s the next journey.
Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?
Jennifer Higgie’s book on women, art and the occult – The Other Side. Lauren Elkin’s Art Monsters: Unruly Bodies in Feminist Art. Brian Dillon’s Affinities.
Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?
My planned book On Art and Motherhood has partially morphed in a Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition which opens early in 2024 and will travel to four different venues in the UK. Details coming soon.
Any events in the near future?
In February I packed my Interrail card for a speaking tour in Europe – dates in Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. I read from my books, and lead talks and workshops.
and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?
To write about art and artists is to constantly engage with other minds and challenging ideas. It’s an invitation to see the world afresh, over and over again. What could be more exciting?
If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.
