Temperatures in mid-Missouri over the past few days have been low. When you take the wind-chill into account, we’re talking 20 degrees below – and I’m talking Fahrenheit. Nippy. There’s lots of lovely snow on the ground and the children spend lots of time looking mournfully out of the window and wondering when they’ll be allowed out to play in …
Book News
I’ve been meaning to write this post for some time now. One of the purposes of this blog was to keep everyone up to date with what’s going on with the new book and the publishing process. Regular readers will have noticed a conspicuous absence of anything to do with the novel of late. So what’s up? This should bring …
Blast from the Past
Ah, the irony. The above picture was sent to me this morning by a friend of ours who lives in our old neighborhood of Islington in London. This is the front table of Border’s bookstore, which was a regular haunt of ours when we lived there. The store, I understand from book trade sources (thanks, Ralph), is about to close. …
Last Minute Reminder…
… about the reading at Orr Street Studios, Columbia, Missouri tonight. Afterwards we shall be going to Cafe Berlin for wine and other good stuff. Should be a fun night. Do come if you can!
Orr Street Reading – November 10
A quick reminder that I will be reading from the new book, AMERICAN LOVE SONG, at Orr Street Studios on November 10, at 7.00. I’ve chosen two never-before-heard extracts to read. Should be a lot of fun – for me, anyway. I’d love to see you there.
Sick.
I’ve got the flu. In honor of sick men everywhere, here’s a cautionary tale about the perils of men getting ill.
The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree
My son Hallam has started his own blog. It’s all about two stuffed animals he’s had for as long as any of us can remember, who go by the names of Fred (who is a blue monster) and Squirrel (who is a squirrel.) These were originally hand puppets that I would put on and animate with silly voices, but he …
Title News
You may have noticed that there’s not been much book news on this blog of late. There’s been a lot going on, but I am under strict instructions not to jinx any of it by announcing stuff to the world prematurely. Anyway, one thing I can tell you is that, following my discovery of a town in Missouri called Paradise, …
Happy Birthday Diz, and others
Big day for birthdays, today. My friend Martin turns 40 today. I’ve known him since we were both 13. Weird. It’s also my nephew Jack’s birthday, and for the nth consecutive year I have totally failed to get him a present or a card on time. He is always very understanding about this, but it doesn’t make me feel any …
Dead Mouse
This was not a good way to start a Thursday morning. The dead mouse in question was an actual, literal dead mouse, not a metaphorical dead mouse. I found him, at 5.13 this morning. He had drowned in the downstairs toilet. This raises so many questions, of which the most intriguing is: how the hell did he get there? Two …