JUNE 2004

NEWSLETTER 10

Work in Progress

Hester's Story is in the process of being prepared for the press and I'm delighted with the cover. I won't reveal it here quite yet, but it's beautiful and will, I hope, entice readers into the book. Proofs should be ready by July and publication in hardback is planned for December 31st this year. This means, to be realistic, straight after the New Year and it's a suitably wintery book.

Lizzie's Wish is also being turned into a proof and many exciting events are planned around the publication of the Historical House books in the autumn, including all three of us (Linda Newbery, Ann Turnbull and I) appearing at the Cheltenham Festival.

Next up is Ithaka for which I already have a most glorious cover by Chris Corr. I will try very hard to finish this over the summer. There's not that much to be done, but it's a very busy time.

Events

At the beginning of April, I went to the Federation of Children's Books Groups conference which was held at the Paragon Hotel in Birmingham. This was a fascinating place which used to be, in Victorian times, a hostel for working men who'd come to build the canals and railways etc. It had something of the air of the Overlook Hotel in 'The Shining' though it wasn't as luxurious, but several of us decided that it was definitely haunted in the nicest possible way.

These occasions always turn into marathon talking sessions. It's so good to see old friends and make new ones. This time, Niki Daly and his wife from South Africa were here and it was great to meet them. Lovely to see Linda Newbery, Ann Turnbull (yes, the Historical House trio did an event together...) Celia Rees, Laura Cecil, Bob and Brenda Swindells, Ann Jungman, Megan Larkin, Justin Somper, Pat Thomson, Jon Appleton, Brenda Gardner(very briefly), Penny Dolan, Julia Jarman, Caroline Pitcher, Liz Laird, Margaret Bell, and lots and lots of others including all the brilliant organizers of the conference. Good to hear Eoin Colfer speaking too. He is very charming and looks like a character from one of his own books. Niki Daly was fascinating about his picture books and life in the new South Africa. The talks were all interesting. At our Historical House tea party, large squares of cake were served, iced in purple and pink (the Usborne colours). I tried to wear a suitably vivid top for my talk about Other Echoes which is set in North Borneo. On Sunday morning, there was a panel discussion about writing for the crossover market and that was very good too, though I would have liked more time left for questions from the audience.

I missed Michael Morpurgo but (see below) I caught up with him later.

A delightful postscript: I was really happy to win a raffle run by Happy Cat Books: a beautiful furry ginger and white cat which is now a firm favourite with our granddaughter. It was altogether a really enjoyable conference and I'd like to say thanks for everything to Roz, David, Jenny, Pat and the whole Birmingham team.

At the beginning of May, I went across to Leeds for a day at the Royal Armouries for a day event to launch the beginning of the Federation of Children's Book Groups Tell A Story Month. There I met Jonathan Stroud, John Foster and Korky Paul as well as many Federation friends. Sinead Kromer and her team were most efficient. Sonia Benster ran a fantastic bookshop where all the visitors could buy books and get them signed. The whole day was most enjoyable and I loved the Royal Armouries shop where I bought a set of postcards of the magnificent set of embroidered panels which were commissioned to celebrate life in Leeds in all its glory. All sorts of community groups were involved in the making of these panels and they are very beautiful.

On the most perfect summer day you could imagine, I went down to Hampshire to visit the Junior Department of Bedales, Dunhurst. The English teacher there, Simon Kingsley-Pallant, has written a play for his pupils to perform which is based both on the Iliad and on my novel Troy. I spoke to three different classes and was very impressed with the atmosphere of the school and with the really delightful children I met. I had lunch with some members of the cast, including Ellie Nunn, who's playing Xanthe, the heroine of my novel. Another Ellie, Louisa and many others joined in the fun. I've forgotten a lot of their names, but not their lovely faces and it seemed to me that the Dunhurst Helen is prettier than the Hollywood one and all the young men playing Achilles, Paris, Priam and Odysseus and so on can give Brad Pitt and his chums a run for their money. I've not seen the movie yet but brilliance of its screenplay has not been a feature of the reviews. My favourite headline for one of these came from the Daily Telegraph: 'Even the horse was a bit wooden'. I've read Simon's play and it's terrific, so I'm sure his version will be marvellous. It was a really enjoyable day.

Towards the end of the month, I spoke at a conference of primary teachers organized by Warwickshire Schools Libraries Services. There I caught up with Michael Morpurgo again. He was giving a talk about isolation and the inspiration behind some of his books. We had lunch at the same table, together with Chris Riddell, the illustrator and political cartoonist and it was very interesting to hear what he had to say about his work. Many thanks for an excellent day to Angela Ballard and Gillian Richardson, who gave me a lift to and from Coventry Station. There were books on sale and lots were sold, which is always gratifying. It was also good to be in the company of so many teachers who are committed to promoting a love of books in their pupils.

News and Forthcoming Events

If you're in the Trafford Area of Manchester on Saturday 12th June, do come along to Sale Waterside (just opposite the Metro station) where Trafford Libraries are hosting a day called Let's Share Books. The line up is starry: Melvin Burgess, Sherry Ashworth, Paul Magrs, Tony Ross, Craig Bradley, Valerie Grove and me. After lunch, I'm chairing a panel where all the others nominate their favourite books and the ones that have had most effect on their lives. For further details, booking etc. phone 0161-912-5154.

And a reminder of the event at the Stonehouse Court Hotel in Gloucestershire. This is a literary dinner arranged by Ottakar's of Gloucester in aid of the Stroke Association. For booking details see the Ottakar's Website or my Newsletter No. 9.

Books

First, a few hangovers from the last newsletter. The Val McDermid (A Distant Echo) was very good, and I particularly enjoyed the Scottish detail. St. Andrews came to life before your eyes. Cloud Atlas was outstanding. I'm sure it will be on the Booker shortlist. It's not an easy read, but most intriguing and brilliantly written. I must admit to not being able to get beyond page 40 or so of The Time Traveller's Wife. I wasn't enjoying it and don't think I got my head round the concept at the heart of it.

No children's books this time as I'm in the midst of the judging of the Guardian Children's Book Prize and up to my ears in all sorts of wonderful things. More about these at a later date.

Books I've enjoyed during the last few months include: Trawler by Redmond Hanlon which is the kind of narrative that makes you grateful for your house, the hot water in your bath, and most of all, the fish you eat. It's brilliant.

Spies by Michael Frayn I'm getting to rather late, I know, but it is a masterpiece: short, elegant, full of unexpected delights. Good to see the Whitbread Novel of the Year going to something that so much deserves it. It's wonderful.

The Space Between by Rachel Billington is about a widow and the adventures she has a couple of years after the death of her husband. Fast-moving, very readable and with a most engaging heroine, I'm sure Billington's many fans will also love it.

I've been lucky enough to have been sent the proof of the new Ruth Rendell, which is called 13 Steps Down and which is coming out in October. It's terrific and I think a real return to form after The Rottweiler which I wasn't that keen on. She (and her alter ego Barbara Vine ) are the names I always give when anyone springs that question about 'who's your favourite writer' on me. One thing I do know: when a RR or a BV comes into the house, I drop what I'm reading and get cracking on it straight away.

I've just finished a super book by Marian Keyes called The Other Side of the Story which is written with her customary humour and zing, but which appealed to me specially because it's about writers, agents, and the whole of the book world. Lovely!

Finally, I must mention a book of poems by my good friend Frances Wilson. It's published by Rockingham Press and collects together poems written since the death of her husband, Harry Wilson. Frances is a poet who is accessible without being clichéd, warm without being sentimental and above all, someone who knows how to describe the ordinary things of life and give them a sort of burnish. It's hard to describe so I will quote a few lines from a poem called 'From This Window', about a window in her house and addressed, as so many of the poems are, to Harry: 'It's here your mother would lift up/ our baby daughter, would beguile her/with swallows and chimneys,/ holding her soft-stemmed hand/to teach her to wave us goodbye.'

The book has illustrations and a cover by Frances herself. She's an artist as well as a poet, and it's a beautiful collection in every way.

Till then,

Goodbye.

PS. The next newsletter will be at the end of July.

Goodbye

Adèle Geras