JULY 2006

NEWSLETTER 21

WORK IN PROGRESS

I’m continuing to work on Novel 4 which still doesn’t have a title. I’m likely to be busy on this book till mid-January, so there’s nothing much to report here. But some nice news: ITHAKA is one of 20 books chosen by WHSmith travel to be on sale at railway stations and airports during August. This is something that’s never happened to a children’s book of mine before, so I’m very pleased. I’m sure it’s the beautiful cover that swung opinion my way.

Here's a link from the Harcourt Website to their Teachers' Guide to TROY and ITHAKA... it's very useful and carries a long interview with me.

Teachers' Guide to Troy and Ithaka - Adobe PDF file opens in a new window

EVENTS

On May 18th, I went down to Warwick School to talk to the boys. Annie Ashworth (who is half of Annie Sanders, author of GOODBYE JIMMY CHOO and WARNINGS OF GALES) met me at Banbury and we had a long chat over cappuccinos at Sainsbury’s before going to the school. The boys were most enthusiastic and lively and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. They also bought a lot of books, which was good and asked a lot of intelligent questions. I’m a bit wary of all-boys audiences, because some of my books are frankly ‘girly’ to look at, but they had a good time too, I think.

On May 20th, I travelled to Bolton to meet reading groups at Heaton Library. There was a full house and it was a terrific occasion. Everyone had good questions, and no one was shy about chatting and discussing HESTER’S STORY. I hope I’m asked to do such an event again. It was a very pleasant evening and thanks to Katherine for arranging it all.

On May 24th, I went down to meet Patricia Nicholson’s book group in East Sheen. They’d all read HESTER’S STORY, but I have to confess that most of the time was taken up with looking at Patricia’s wedding photos, eating the gorgeous lunch she’d prepared and generally chatting with Patricia, Katie Marsh and all the others. It was a very enjoyable occasion and I had a really good time. Now that Patricia is in charge of the PR for Roedean School, I may be going down there in the autumn to do a Creative Writing Master Class.

On June 7th, Sophie Hannah and I went to Simply Books at Bramhall to do an event together. Sue and Andrew have extended the shop upstairs and it’s fabulous... they now have, as well as a super bookshop and a café, a wonderful dedicated space for readings and so forth. It was a smashing evening for Sophie and me and I hope everyone who came to hear us had a good time too.

On June 15th, I went down to Dulwich at the request of some children at James Allen’s Preparatory School and their teacher, Ruth Lee. They’d read A CANDLE IN THE DARK and had all written such lovely letters that I was glad to accept their invitation. The school is beautiful and the girls very welcoming and friendly. Thanks to everyone for a really good day.

At James Allen's Preparatory School - click the picture to see a larger version

On June 26th, I joined in a day of creative writing at Kelham Mill Museum in Sheffield. I gave a plenary speech to all the children and teachers and then took about eight enthusisastic girls for a short workshop session on writing historical fiction. I also enjoyed meeting up with the other writers there, especially Liz Cashdan and Liz Barrett. Many thanks to Maire McCarthy for organizing it all so well.

I went to Our Lady’s School in Oldham on June 30th, and alas, Sue Ford was off sick that day, so I didn’t see her. But Sarah and Maureen and the others were around and we had a very good time and thanks to them all. I’ll look forward to seeing Sue next year!

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

There are a few of these, but they’re not till after the summer so I’ll keep them till next newsletter. I’m going to have a very busy month ahead….see below!

BOOKS

I’m a category judge for the children’s books section of the Costa Book Awards (which used to be the Whitbread Book awards) so until September 6th, which is my deadline for the first lot of reading, I won’t be opening anything other than those novels I’ve been sent for the judging.

Before the Costa waters (or coffees!) closed over my head, these are the books I enjoyed during the last two months or so.

The new Lionel Shriver, DOUBLE FAULT is not as good as WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, but then that’s true of most books! It’s still very readable and good and interesting, but would be even better for someone who had a great interest in tennis. I don’t, I must say, but I still liked it, and read it very quickly: always a good sign. I haven’t yet got to Candia McWilliams’s WAIT TILL I TELL YOU but THE BROKEN SHORE by Peter Temple was terrifically exciting and it’s very good to have an Aussie voice in a thriller for a change. It’s being heavily pushed and deservedly so.

THE HISTORIAN has now been given the stamp of approval by Richard and Judy... it’s one of their Summer Picks. I still haven’t got to it, and there have been dissenting voices among my email correspondents saying it’s rather boring after the first 150 pages... I do intend to get to it, really, but it’s too hot at the moment to think of vampires!

Well, the Orange Prize did not go to either of the books I favoured. I haven’t read Zadie Smith’s ON BEAUTY but if it’s better than the Mantel or the Waters, I’d be most surprised. It was a matter of some satisfaction that at least two of the judges agreed with me!

And finally, Andrew Taylor, who’s one of my favourite writers, has a new website. On it, he reproduces an article I wrote about his Roth Trilogy for Susan Hill’s magazine, Books andCompany. The magazine is now, alas, no longer being published so I’m delighted that this article is available to draw people’s attention to a really cracking trilogy of novels by this writer who deserves the widest readership. This is the link: The Roth Trilogy

Anyone who loves books will enjoy having a browse round this really super blog: dovegreyreader. It's beautifully laid out and full of good content... lots to look at and enjoy.

Enjoy the summer! The next newsletter will be posted in mid-September.

Adèle Geras

Please email me at: adele @ adelegeras.com