Monday 28 September 2009

Sounds of Poetry

Last Monday was my first go at co-presenting the weekly 'Sounds of Poems' event held at Cookie. I presented with the very able Stosh Quartz and - organisational issues on my part aside - it was a very enjoyable evening. As usual, the event was filmed by Jilly Kidd, who has uploaded the edited highlights to YouTube (her many other videos can be found here). Part One includes a reading of a poem by my great great grandfather about the Suffragettes (he didn't approve, it appears).


Thursday 17 September 2009

Obama shelves Europe missile plan

One of the topics discussed in The Day is Full of Birds is that of the missile shield being constructed by America, using European bases. In the book - which is set in an alternate world - this issue ends up pushing the planet into war. Today, President Obama announced the shelving of these European bases (in the Czech Republic and Poland). It's a major, major shift in policy, and one which will enrage many republican supporters (who previously insisted the shield had nothing to do with Russia, and are now - curiously - angered that pressure has been taken off Russia in this move). The missile shield is far from dead, but the move is an important step towards a better relationship with Russia. Only 14 months ago, I expressed my concern over the escalating tensions. How the world can change in a year.

Tuesday 15 September 2009

First draft finished!

The final words of the first draft of 'Beside an Open Window' fell happily onto the page at a Costa coffee shop on Sunday afternoon. Work has already started on the second draft, which as a quick read through with some alterations as I go to tighten up consistency. It should be done by the end of September, giving me a whole month to prepare for National Novel Writing Month 2009!

Stay tuned for details of reading dates.

Monday 7 September 2009

Nearly there...

'Beside an open window' is now at either 72,000 or 75,000 words (depending on which of my two versions of Open Office you believe). More importantly, the story is approaching its resolution and is likely to be finished by the end of September. Once that's done, I'll start work on a brand new metaverse fiction project that I've been turning over in my head for several months now. Stay tuned for an anouncement!