Reminders

Apologies for doing this twice in a day... but I have a couple of reminders...

First of all for my appearance at the Ilkley Festival this Saturday http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/user/index.php

and also for NovelCon in Manchester this Sunday
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/54747

Busy weekend coming up, I guess.

Here's a couple of good things to read. Gene Hult's published one of his earlier short stories on http://www.citysqwirl.com/

and I've just been directed to Lucy Mangan's articles in the Guardian on classic kids' books. To follow up this week's post about Eve Garnett, here's her piece from last year on 'One End Street':
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/dec/06/family-from-one-end-street

Nick C at 'A Pile of Leaves' emailed me about 'Hornets' Nest' part 2 'The Dead Shoes' and wrote the following:

"I finally heard The Dead Shoes. Where did the Captains go, both Yates and the dog? Outside of this, I absolutely adored it. Too many favourite things – the chase through the dollshouse, the malevolent giant baby, the mummified feet, the Truth About Mrs Wibbsey, the peculiar dancing. I think what I most like is that you take these wonderful, obscene images and then, very subtly (in a way) tip things into absurdity, so that they’re not actually nasty. It’s like you’re constantly testing the limits of Doctor Who by firmly driving into them and bouncing off – I think whenever that’s been done, by Robert Holmes or whoever, it’s had a marvellous effect, and made the series the strange beast it remains. So well done, and thank you."

And here's Cody Schell in Iowa, experiencing the Stuff of Nightmares first thing in the morning...

"Good morning! How are you doing?

"Today is a cold rainy day (which I love). I listened to the first half of "The Stuff of Nightmares" on my way to work, through the rain, the sky turning that funny blue that only happens just before the sun comes up. Listening to Tom Baker murmur about stiff legs jutting out from rubbish tips made me laugh and then chilled by spooky owls and ticking clocks. Really nice atmospheric morning! I can't wait to hear the rest."

I love the fact that the people who like my stuff write such lovely letters!

One of the pics above is of Fester sleeping on my reading chair.