Bookfair Chic
I had a manicure on Saturday. I look at my red fingernails adoringly. They are undoubtedly the highlight of my otherwise gloomy week. The distributor has raised their charges. Peirene’s designer would...
View ArticleMicro Genre Success
Regardless of whom I met last week at the London Bookfair, not once did I need to explain what Peirene is or does. Our reputation in the book world is now global. Even international publishers and...
View ArticleOut Alone
On Wednesday evening I was invited to be part of an historical event: the greatest gathering of authors in the largest bookshop in Europe. Waterstones Piccadilly asked 36 writers to hang out in the...
View ArticleCareer in Space
Every now and again a pointless engagement turns into an unexpectedly fascinating meeting. Back in December I met an agent. The meeting didn’t start well because, a week before, we both realised in an...
View ArticleNew Order
Peirene and I are both creatures of habit. In addition, I’m a (young) middle-aged woman and she’s an (ancient) Greek Nymph. This means change equals challenge. I will give you a simple example. If we...
View ArticleBack to Dhaka
In Spring I visited Bangladesh for a literary conclave. A few weeks afterwards I received an email inviting me to the Dhaka Lit Fest this month. I accepted the invitation in June. Since then a lot has...
View ArticleRuby Red Nails
‘Ooh, we really are leading exciting lives.’ Peirene is clearly thrilled as the taxi is driving us to Liverpool Station to catch the Stansted Express. We have been invited by Literature Across...
View ArticleBaltic Treat
‘I’ve worked out our diet plan for the next days,’ Peirene announces. We are sitting in a café in the old town of Riga. In a couple of hours we are flying back to London. ‘Soup without bread for lunch...
View ArticleA Cold Dip in the Irish Sea
‘I’m wondering if what you are doing to me is actually illegal.’ I can hear Peirene panting behind me. It’s 7.30am on a beautiful sunny morning in Aberystwyth, a picturesque little Welsh seaside town....
View ArticleSaving Peirene’s Heart
‘I think there is something wrong with my heart.’ Peirene stops in her stride, bends forward, both hands on her heart. ‘We don’t have time for this. We are late.’ I grab the Nymph by the arm, trying to...
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