FEBRUARY 2005

NEWSLETTER 14

Work in Progress

I have just started writing Made in Heaven. The research has been enormous fun. My friends have sent terrific accounts of their ideal wedding, or, in some cases, they’ve said: no way! I’ve worked out an outline in some detail so I hope progress will be swift and pleasant.

Hester’s Story came out a couple of weeks ago, and is gratifyingly present in many shops. It’s in a 3-for-2 promotion in Waterstone’s and in 440 Tesco stores. Not as Book of the Week (see my last newsletter) but there in large numbers in a lot of places. I saw it in the Stockport Tesco Extra store and when I offered to sign copies, the staff were very happy for me to do that, and they also (thanks, Sue!) helped me copy the poster above the books which had it highlighted as one of the ‘new books’ that week. It’s taken me a long time to do it, but I’ve now got used to going up to people in shops and saying: ‘would you like me to sign some stock?’ You feel strange doing it, but surprisingly, everyone seems quite pleased at the idea. No one checks up to see if you are who you say you are, either! I signed about 40 copies in the Deansgate branch of Waterstone’s and in the immortal words of Tesco itself: Every Little Helps!

There have been some good reviews in magazines, but nothing yet in the press. Sometimes I think I’d love some reviews…but what if they hate the book? Wouldn’t it be better to be ignored? Who knows? Discuss!

Events

On December 2nd last year, I was one of a panel, this time with my editor, David Fickling and Beverley Naidoo for the British Council at a hotel in Burton-on-Trent. They were hosting a week for librarians from many different countries and we’d been brought in to talk about books for children and the ways in which librarians could expand their reach in the various countries represented. It was quite fascinating to meet so many people with particular problems and needs and they were all charming and seemed to be having a good time in UK. The British Council had taken them to Stratford and into Birmingham and brought in many guest speakers. From my point of view it was good to be there not only to address the conference but also to meet David and Beverley and have a chance for a chat again. The event was organised by Annie Everall who used to be at Birmingham and is now at Derbyshire and who is one of the great dynamic children’s librarians who are the glory of the British Library Service…which is itself a treasure.

On December 7th, I did an afternoon of creative writing with some children from schools in the Trough of Bowland. I travelled by bus from Clitheroe through most beautiful countryside to a lovely shop-cum-restaurant called Puddleducks. Sure enough, the ducks were there in large numbers, puddling away on the grass outside. Maureen Fenton, who invited me, was Writer- in -Residence for Bowland Transit, the local bus company, and all credit to them for funding such a residency. The children enjoyed themselves I think and so did I. In the evening, after a delicious supper in a very old and picturesque pub called The Hark to Bounty in Slaidburn, I spoke to some adults about Facing the Light and Hester’s Story. It was a very pleasant occasion.

On January 20th 2005 I started the year on a real high with a literary lunch at the Cotswold House Hotel, courtesy of Natasha Roderick-Jones of the Chipping Campden bookshop. I met Helen Richardson from Orion and Annie Ashworth ( half of Annie Sanders who wrote Goodbye Jimmy Choo) at Banbury Station, where I had the worst cup of cappuccino in the universe for a ridiculously high price: £1.30 for a really revolting brew with no relationship to coffee. Things then got better! We drove to Chipping Campden in Annie’s car and I hadn’t realized how beautiful it was. To think that I was down the road at Oxford for three years and never visited it. It’s quite lovely and on this day, the sun was shining and everything looked wonderful. Natasha’s shop she described to me in an email as ‘about the size of a bedroom’ and it’s not big, that’s true, but it’s full of wonderful books all beautifully displayed and chosen with care and attention by Natasha herself. She knows her customers and they are lucky to have her there. The hotel where the lunch was being held is called the Cotswold House Hotel and if you’re in the area it’s worth a visit. It’s really beautiful and the food at the lunch was quite delicious, but the highlight was the fantastic loos, upstairs on the first floor. As well as being amazingly luxurious, there’s a screen at (sitting) eye level where silent wild life film plays as long as you’re in the room. I saw parrots, wildebeest, desert scenes…all absolutely stunningly photographed and most relaxing and interesting. The tables were full for the lunch and that was very pleasing. Also, every single book that Natasha brought along was sold, and it was a most auspicious launch for Hester’s Story. A few days after I returned home, Natasha sent me a lovely present of a PVC carrier bag designed to look like the cover of one of those old Penguin books. They come in all sorts of colours and I’d admired them hanging up in the bookshop. Natasha chose well and mine is purple and white, and advertises books by Virginia Woolf and Aldous Huxley. It’s a really super souvenir of a fabulous day.

On February 1st and 2nd, I was in Northamptonshire. I stayed the night at the Falcon Hotel in Castle Ashby and had dinner in the restaurant with Caroline Bentley–Davies (the English Adviser for Northampton) and her husband, Ross. It was the most wonderful meal and if you’re in the area, it’s well worth seeking out. The next morning, I had breakfast looking out on to the garden. The Falcon is often used for weddings so I had a good look at the marquee which was set up there, ready for the next occasion.

The workshops I was doing took place at Grendon Hall, and I did three workshops with pupils specially chosen from the county’s schools because they were interested in writing. The children were in Year 9, and were full of enthusiasm. They attended sessions with three of us in rotation: me, a sports journalist from the Times, called Pete, and a drama adviser as well. The whole day was most enjoyable. The children were coming back the next day to do more workshops with their teachers building on what we’d done with them.

On February 10th I went to Birmingham to a school called Water Mill Primary. Pat Tate of the Federation of Children’s Book Groups met me at New Street and we discussed the forthcoming Royal Wedding on the way there. My visit was a prize to the school for winning a quiz based on knowledge of Children’s Books and it was great to meet the children who’d taken part. Lunch in the canteen was very tasty…chocolate pudding...and thanks to Rejoice and Molly for escorting me down there after my morning talk. I met Emily at lunchtime. Her favourite writer is Jane Austen. Emily is eleven and she and Eleanor and Helena and Lili-Ange and Shadi were in the team that won the quiz. After my session with Years 5 and 6 we went down to the library to have our photos taken for the local paper. The school is a happy place to be in…you can always tell.

On February 16th I went down to London for an interview and a lunch. The interview was with Paul Blezard of One Word Radio. He is a wonderfully engaging host and the half hour passed very pleasantly. We spoke about Hester’s Story and I read two extracts from the book, as well as chatting about the novel. The programme, Between the Lines, also did a piece when Facing the Light appeared but I missed that when it was broadcast. Paul has promised to send me a CD of both interviews and there’s a distinct possibility that a link will shortly go up on this site which will allow those who can do such things on their computers to listen to them at home. Watch this space.

After the interview, I went to Orso’s with Jane Wood, my editor and others from Orion to celebrate the publication of Hester’s story. My agent was flying back from Peru at the time, but she had a worthy deputy in Anna V. The food was delicious and the company very jolly and entertaining. Travelling down in the morning, I was on a train which took only 2 hours and 5 minutes to go between Manchester and Euston. I hope this is the way of the future.

Forthcoming Events

On February 23rd, I’m doing another Historical House event with Linda Newbery and Ann Turnbull. This is in Bath at Prior Park School. We’re meeting the night before and having dinner with Lara Price, who invited us to speak. And we’re all staying together in a very nice-looking hotel. I’m really looking forward to it.

On March 3rd I’m going to visit schools in Ealing and I’m sure that will be fun.

I’m very excited about the Kings Lynn Festival where I’m sharing a platform on March 12th with one of my favourite novelists, Jane Gardam. She has written some of the very best teenage books of the last thirty years, as well as excellent adult novels and our session is being chaired by Stephanie Nettell, who was for many years the Children’s Books Editor of the Guardian. The Festival brings its writers together for discussions and meals and I have had nothing but good reports of it from my daugher, Sophie Hannah, who’s often appeared there. Consult the website www.lynnlitfests.co.uk for details.

On March 23rd I’m appearing at Simply Books in Bramhall, talking about my books in general and Hester’s Story in particular. The event will be in the evening and again, check the Simply Books website for details of the time. This is a wonderful shop which has always been very supportive of me, so it’ll be good to go there again.

Books

Snobs by Julian Fellowes is one of the most pleasurable books I’ve read in years. The plot concerns a young woman marrying into the aristocracy and what happens to her is observed by one of the savviest and wittiest narrators since Oscar Wilde. The novel is full of the sparkle and malice that made Gosford Park such a great movie. Anyone who liked that will adore this. It’s full of terrific detail and gossip and insights into worlds which remain firmly outside the sphere of most of us. The cover is a little lacklustre but don’t be put off... this is a real treat.

I’ve just finished a proof copy of Jonathan Safran Foers’ latest book: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Viking). It’s an unusual novel about the effect of 9/11 in New York on a young boy. It’s brilliant at getting inside his precocious and strangely skewed mind and his adventures and the people he meets make up a very different kind of picaresque novel. It’s beautifully produced and the photographs which occur in the text, and the typographical effects are a major part of the attraction.

Also in proof, I’ve read Morag Joss’s new book, which will be out in March. It’s called Puccini’s Ghosts and is quite mesmerising. Don’t expect a crime novel such as you’ve been used to from this writer, but rather a very clever story about a family, an amateur production of Turandot in a small Scottish town and a teenager who knows both too much and not enough about everything. It’s very well-written and also unputdownable. Do watch out for it when it’s published. It’ll probably make a terrific movie one day so read the book first.

The Promise of Happiness by Justin Cartwright is very good indeed. It has a wedding at the end of the story, which was one reason I was interested to read it.

Now I’m nearly at the end of Dress your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris which is like no other book you’ll have read. These short pieces started life on the radio and the effect is cumulative. You feel as though you’ve made a most unusual friend after only a few pages. It’s hilariously funny and surreal and sad in places. Do try it.

All sorts of good children’s books have come my way since I last wrote. Linda Newbery’s At the Firefly Gate (Orion) is for younger children and The Merrybegot (OUP) by Julie Hearn is for older ones but both are good examples of the new resurgence of historical fiction. Long may it continue.

The next newsletter will be published in mid-April.

Goodbye for now.

Adèle Geras

STOP PRESS!

On 18th April I'll be taking part in an event to celebrate the launch of the charity BookAid International's Author Association. Book Aid International have been working for over 50 years to get books into the hands of readers in the developing world. Most people in Africa will never be able to afford to buy a book, and so their work is vital.

Books provide nourishment for the imagination.

Through www.bookcrossing.com I'll be 'releasing' my book Facing the Light on that day for someone to find, so keep your eyes peeled!