Morning! Oh, right, yes, it’s 4pm. I’m a little behind today…
My excuse is that last night it was the launch of Manchester’s new press, The Hidden Gem, who will be publishing Hungry, the Stars and Everything next June. Here’s a link to some photos just gone up on the HG site:
http://www.hiddengempress.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=107716256
Thanks to everyone who came and everyone who sent good luck wishes. Turns out margaritas are the perfect aperitif to reading out loud. I was worried earlier in the day because as I was practising I seemed to be possessed by the voice of Denise Royle (Da-a-ave!). But a few margaritas at the Palace Hotel (lovely cocktails, lovely tiling) and I was back down to my normal frequency.
The launch was at the brilliant new Anthony Burgess Foundation – well worth a visit if you haven’t been yet. Claire Massey kicked things off with a stunning short story for a new bird-themed collection edited by Nicholas Royle – who was also in attendance selling his beautiful Nightjar chapbooks. Then Zoe Lambert took to the stage with the fantastic ‘Down Duchy Road’, which features in her forthcoming collection The War Tour (very excited about this), published by Comma Press – represented last night by the legendary Ra Page and Jim Hinks.
It was really hard picking what to read but in the end I decided on the very beginning and then a chunk from a chapter or so later to give a flavour of the structure. It’s always unpredictable how a reading will go but I thoroughly enjoyed last night – the atmosphere in the room couldn’t have been warmer, and the lights went right down during the readings which gave everyone a ghoulish glow (and made it feel much more intimate). And nobody threw blood or holy water at me for talking about the Devil, which was a bonus.
So now it’s trackie bottoms and tea and biscuits and finishing off the copy-edits (amazing how many tweaks you make just from reading something aloud, because you see how the rhythm could be improved – although I am an obsessive tweaker). Then I’m going to have a play about with some blurb for the back cover. Then I’m going to get into bed with Hilary Mantel’s humongous Wolf Hall and feel very humbled.
* http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7102818576179804947#
It was ace! I think the two excerpts you chose worked really well. And there were some lovely touches of wry humour, which the audience really appreciated… And the light was lovely and you looked really smashing through my new glasses. All round good-times, great night, well done you. x x
Thanks doll! Your new bins look pretty damn ace from the other side too x x
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