Hoorah for the Beeb, who announced the details last week of their ‘Year of Books’ programming, and it looks like we have some corking programmes coming up. There’s the dramatization of Edwin Drood for one thing, which if it’s half as good as last year’s Little Dorrit will definitely see me tuning in. Anne Robinson […]
I am heading to Corvara tomorrow, a lovely village in the Dolomites, for a week’s holiday in the snow and where I plan to try my hand (or rather, feet) at snowboarding. My initial bravado (‘I’m a good skier, how hard can it be?‘ didn’t last long so I sensibly took myself to Snow & […]
I will be interested to listen to today’s discussion, Doctors in the Dock, on BBC Radio 4’s programme Face the Facts (will catch it later on bbciplayer). It centered around the question: Is the General Medical Council the right organisation to regulate the medical profession? The plan to instate an independent regulator to discipline doctors […]
Ever wondered how book designs are created? Think you have to be a whizz at Photoshop and advanced Illustrator? Granted, basic techie skills are necessary, but sometimes it’s more creative – and certainly more fun! – to do it the old-fashioned way. Windmill Books have recently proved their creativity with their post about the aptly […]
Having spent a good few weeks of my autumn working away on Dr Dale’s Zombie Quiz app, an accompaniment to his hilarious book Dr Dale’s Zombie Dictionary, I feel like my eyes and brain have been attuned to the rather gorier tid-bits one finds on the internet, I’m attracting stuff like a magnet now! And […]
Today I saw the longlist for The 2011 BTBA Fiction Longlist. I am lucky in that I know four languages – the perks of coming from an international background (or, how my other-half ‘endearingly’ puts it, “being a mutt”). And I do love languages, all with their own unique rhythms, inflections, tones and expressions. So […]
And so we continue now with my précis of War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy. BOOK TWO Peace shifts to War in Book Two, and so there is much parading of troops and inspections by generals, and many assurances that the Russian troops are not only confident in their ability to defeat the enemy, but […]
We are very impressed with the innovative design for these obscure H G Wells titles recently republished by Orion in hardback. (Georgina spotted them at The British Library on the weekend). The title and author name features as a newspaper headline and the usual details on the back cover (bar code, price, publisher etc) are […]
Burns’ Night (today 25 January) isn’t really my kind of shindig. There’s whisky for one thing, of which I love the smell but can’t stomach at all, and then there’s haggis (repress shudder and move on). And while a raucous célidh might be tempting, I’ll take pity on any prospective dance partners’ toes and bow […]
As the Save Our Libraries campaign continues, celebrities too have shown their support. Everyone from Tony Christie, Joanna Trollope and Philip Pullman are up in arms at the cuts, and big names such as Julian Fellowes and Kate Mosse (author, not supermodel) are putting together a Save our Libraries Campaign film. It’s heartening to see […]
Well, in this case, the little Devil is rather ingenious. I’m a huge fan of the likes of Stomp and Tap Dogs, and now have come across this brilliant video by the Up and Over It dance duo (who have toured with the likes of the Riverdance troupe) with their innovative take on Irish Dance. […]
The award-winning series Land Girls returned to BBC1 with five new episodes. Missed it? Catch any of the episodes on BBCiplayer, or delve into more Land Girl drama with Julia Stoneham’s acclaimed books.
Following my public declaration that I would read the epic tome War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy and summarise it for others in our blog, here is proof that I have not given up on my 2011 resolution (yet) and proudly present you with the first installment: BOOK ONE It is 1805, and to the […]
Here’s a sneak-peek at the upcoming cover to Alice’s Girls (out in hardback March 2011) – the third book in a series about a group of Land Girls on a Devonshire farm. Written by Julia Stoneham, whose mother ran a Land Army hostel in Devon, the book follows Muddy Boots & Silk Stockings and The […]
The e-book revolution is well and truly underway with Amazon reporting that the Kindle is its best selling product of all time (read article in the Guardian) – yes, that includes the final Harry Potter. But there are still those who have not bought in to the hype. They are the ones who stand by […]
What do The Return of the Jedi, The Name of the Rose and Jane Fonda’s Workout Book all have in common? Not a lot you would be right in thinking, except for the fact that they all graced the New York Times Bestseller lists the week I was born. Was I born under an (in)auspicious […]
What a nice Friday treat – my 2011 Linnea Design Diary arrived in the post for me today! You wouldn’t think a diary could bring someone so much pleasure, but these limited edition diaries are always gorgeous and this year’s edition is particularly beautiful. Each page shows a full month (which I find very useful) […]
Tuesday 18th January, 1.00pm BBC RADIO OXFORD Catch crime author Adrian Magson live on BBC Radio Oxford 92.5fm with presenter Jo Thoenes for an interview about career as a writer and his new book Death on the Marais, the first in a brand new Lucas Rocco series set in rural France in the 1960s.
Thursday 3rd – Saturday 5th Feb SFX WEEKENDER 2, CAMBER SANDS Amongst the galaxy of guests, panels and signings at 2011’s SFX Weekender 2, you will find the one man who might actually save your bacon one day. Dr Dale, author of Dr Dale’s Zombie Dictionary will be running his award-winning How To Survive […]
A few months ago we featured the four covers to Stephen King’s new book Under The Dome and questioned which book would have the most appeal. Well, I set about buying a copy as a gift just before Christmas and walked into Waterstone’s High Street Kensington only to find they only had the cover with […]
Thursday 10th February, 101.45am – 3.15pm CUMBRIA COUNTY RECORD OFFICE, KENDEL Historical mystery writer Anna Dean, author of the acclaimed Dido Kent series, will be leading a workshop in the Cumbria County Record Offices, Kendal, LA9 4RQ. The workshop will explore eighteenth and nineteenth century letters and diaries, and examine the ways they can […]