Endorsement by Zadie Smith...

It's been a roller coaster over the last week, reading the Willesden Herald Blog, and Zadie Smith's wake-up call to writers of short fiction to do do better. Her refusal to award the prize this year has caused ripples, and they are still spreading:

The Sunday Times carried almost a whole page: HERE

Yesterday's Daily Telegraph followed suit: HERE

But hey:

If people want to know what she does like, there are two in this book... In Words from a Glass Bubble.

One joint first prizewinner from 2006 (Dodie's Gift), and one runner up from 2007 - the title story that went on to take second at Fish.

Making writing work...

What better way to get the message about the book 'out there' than to get a few acceptances, and put a mention in the bio?

Acceptances this year so far:

Beat the Dust ezine (Neo Punk)
Right Hand Pointing ezine (nice, small lit zine)
Innisfree Poetry Journal (poetry)


Current: GUD print journal (cult cutting edge literary/fantasy/genre)
Birmingham Arts Journal print (nice little print magazine linked to Birmingham Arts organisation, USA)

Forthcoming: Night Train ezine (strong literary outlet)
See You Next Tuesday Anthology of Sex Stories...Better Non Sequitur Press.. (er...sex stories?)

THE COVER SAGA

Although the painting is beautiful, Chris at Salt had worked on something quietly, and he surprised me with this...

and I LOVE it. So here you go. This is the new cover:

COVER STORY CONTINUES

I know the most fabulous artist,Cecil Rice. And I have several of his paintings. And his book.

It suddenly struck me that one of his paintings would make a very strong cover...

watch this space.

He had agreed, and the image is gong through to Salt for them to have a look, to see if it's suitable. Fingers crossed...

Cover issues and invites...

It is looking less and less like this will be the cover.

The agency can't track down the photographer, but a person there who knows him well says he is unlikely to approve it because of the colourwash and text over the image.

It's one of his favourites.

I understand that. I wouldn't want someone editing my work without my permission, and I wouldn't want them to turn a piece into something other then itself, if itself was already as I loved it. (grammar, woman!)

So. Yes, I just went and cried. And yes, it's awful, as all the promotion's been done with that cover, and its built up recognition already. And yes, it won't be the same without it.

But hey.

Worse things have happened.

and I'm handwriting invites to the launch today... so lets hope the Foundling Museum doesn't fall down.



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GOOD COMPANY, ANTIDOTE TO THE BLUES...

Hey, no point in being depressed about the cover problems. I can do nothing about it, and I know that Salt will do all they can, both to sort the problem, and if it all falls flat, they'll come up with something brilliant instead!

So look at what's coming out later this week, from Salt Modern Fiction.




Richard Bardsley's BODY PARTS

Now THAT has to be on my list of 'must reads'...
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My lovely cover....

Might not be my lovely cover. I have to face that. I heard today that the photographer has not given his approval for the use of his photo in this way, and is being chased to do so.

So, I am sad, to say the least. He's away travelling, apparently, and unless we can get his agreement in the next day or two, ....