Category Archives: Literature

When in Doubt, Go to the Library

The local library I joined when I was little was forced to close recently and is awaiting demolition. This sad news has prompted me to contemplate the many positive experiences I’ve had at libraries all over the world. Kents Moat … Continue reading

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Link Age Southwark Charity Celebration

I’m delighted to be volunteering with Link Age Southwark, a fantastic London charity providing support for isolated older people in the community. I’m organising a UK and Ireland-wide writing competition to celebrate the charity’s 25th birthday this year as well … Continue reading

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A London Literary Salon

This month I went along to the Tea House Theatre for a Words Away literary salon. These monthly talks aim to ‘bring writers together in a creative environment to explore the writing process.’ Event founder and host Kellie Jackson welcomed award-winning novelist Tessa Hadley to explore … Continue reading

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Celebrating Jane Austen at the Althorp Literary Festival

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen. I was thrilled to attend the Althorp Literary Festival for a talk by Paula Byrne. Paula’s book The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She … Continue reading

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City Writes Competition

My short story The Anniversary recently won the City Writes competition. So I was very excited (and a tiny bit scared!) to do a reading at a special event at City University London. I was in excellent company with fellow winners Katy Darby and … Continue reading

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Greenwich Book Festival 2017

This year’s Greenwich Book Festival took place in the beautiful setting of the Old Royal Naval College and was accurately described as ‘intimate in scale, though grand in setting.’ Its diverse programme featured both famous and emerging writers from a wide range of mediums including memoirs, … Continue reading

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Interview with Author Donatella di Pietrantonio

Having reviewed two books so far by Italian author Donatella di Pietrantonio (My Mother is a Riverand Bella Mia), her publishing house Calisi Press invited me to put some questions to her this week about her approach to writing. Read my interview with Donatella di Pietrantonio … Continue reading

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Republic of Consciousness Prize

Four of the books I have reviewed (The Storyteller, Forbidden Line, Solar Bones, and The Empress and the Cake) were recently long-listed for the inaugural Republic of Consciousness Prize. I went along to the short-list announcement on Wednesday night and met … Continue reading

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