News

This week I took one of the longest journeys I've made in a while, driving to a small village near Huntingdon. Not so far, you may say. In fact the trip ended up much longer than it should have done. The roads had changed, others had adopted new names, and others were closed. I'll spare you the details but let's just say I resolved next time to have a map to hand.

I'm not alone in wanting this 'back up', I think. Many people have been visiting the bookshop recently for a new road atlas (because garages no longer sell them apparently!). Despite the wonders of SatNav (most of the time) many of us like to get a bigger picture, to have an impression of where we've come from and where we're going, and all the places in between.

Flying above Suffolk for many years, Adrian Bleese has a better perspective of the landscape than most, noting the changes in the countryside, the housing and industrial development... and alterations to the road network. Scroll down to find out more about his work as a civilian air observer in his entertaining and enlightening new memoir 'Above the Law'.

But it's that time already - we're looking at the end of the month again. If you're planning on joining the book group discussion on Monday 26 July, please reply to this email and I'll send you the details for logging on to the Zoom meeting. This month's book is 'We, the Survivors'. If you've read it but can't come along, feel free to email me your comments and I'll share these with the group on your behalf. We're still unable to meet in person but hope soon to find a suitable venue.

However, there is a 'real life' book event taking place at The Cut in Halesworth next Sunday, 25 July. Conversation at The Cut in Halesworth features the novelist Esther Freud. She will be in person, with me, on stage, talking about her latest book 'I Couldn't Love You More'. Esther is fascinating to hear speak about the inspiration for this book from her personal story, and the research she undertook, as well as her writing career as a whole. Scroll down for more details.

I know it's going to take a while for us to feel comfortable about many of the things we used to take for granted but if you would like to see Esther, The Cut is managing these events very well. Tickets are free but due to space limitations, it's best to reserve your place in good time.

It's all change tomorrow, though, isn't it. While the government withdraws its legal requirements regarding Covid restrictions, individual businesses are making their own policies in keeping staff and customers safe. Bookshops, for example, have, in the main, decided to encourage people to continue wearing masks as they browse the shelves. Get an update from Browsers Bookshop by signing up to the newsletter here or go to the website here.

Thank you for reading.

The tennis and football has certainly provided a welcome distraction in the past few days. How nice to have some semblance of normality as familiar sporting competitions have taken place, and we've had something different on which to focus our attention and to feel a collective adherence.

There's certainly been something to celebrate, too, in the efforts of the young British player, Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon and the talent and team spirit displayed in Gareth Southgate's England as they move to the Euro 2020 semi-finals this week.

While it's still very difficult to plan ahead, and we've all become accepting of disappointments, the anticipated achievements of our favoured players has given us all something to hope for, a renewed sense of community, and a different topic of conversation!

It's a time when it's acceptable to adopt an allegiance to one side above another and, for England supporters, this week's recommended read may prove of interest as historian Marc Morris's surprise bestseller presents a history of the beginnings of England. Scroll down for more details.

So good luck for the coming week, and thank you for reading.

Marketing people like to coin a catchy term or expression, and we see it in publishing all the time. Remember 'chick lit', and then 'mum lit' and 'uplit'? Now we have 'cli-fi', a play on sci-fi when exploring issues around climate change or an ecological theme in novels.

And if you've had time away from the news or football this week to listen to the radio or read the papers, you may have seen a flurry of features about this subject, most notably mentioning the debut novelist who is visiting us online this coming week!

Kate Sawyer has achieved some outstanding media coverage and great reviews for her novel 'The Stranding' which was published on Thursday. She notched up interviews with Mariella Frostrup on Times Radio and with Emma Barton on Woman's Hour when she joined Diane Cook talking about her debut 'The New Wilderness', also about surviving in an inhospitable environment.

There have been reviews and mentions in 'The Guardian' and 'The Sunday Times', and an article in 'Grazia' as well as celebrity author endorsements, and these are only the items I've picked up.

So, if you'd like to find out why this book is attracting so much attention, why not join me in talking to Kate this week.

We're meeting online on Thursday 1 July at 7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased here and provide access to the conversation as well as a signed copy of 'The Stranding', and, if you're quick, a wonderful goody bag of branded tote, postcard and badge!

Of course I hope someday soon to be running author events in person once again. I have been encouraged by the efforts in Suffolk of The Cut Arts Centre in Halesworth and the Felixstowe Book Festival this weekend in opening up their sessions to limited numbers and with online streaming sessions, too. They've worked very well. You can view my conversation with Anna Pavord at The Cut here, and do please donate to organisations like these whenever you can to ensure that we can all go 'back to normal' just as soon as possible.

In the meantime, Browsers Bookshop Book Group discussion will be taking place tomorrow on Zoom. We'll be discussing 'Crow Lake' by Mary Lawson.

Do you remember the comedy improvisation programme on TV, 'Whose Line Is It Anyway'? I always thought it had a bit of a cult following, but it seems everyone of a certain age watched it. Of course there were many well known names taking part but it was also such an exciting prospect because no one knew what was going to happen next, including the performers.

Improvisation has had a resurgence in recent years. I've been intrigued by the Austentatious troupe who create a comedy play inspired by Jane Austen from a title suggested by an audience member on the night. Some day soon maybe I'll see them perform in real life, but I did enjoy interviewing one of their founders Cariad Lloyd a few months ago. You can take a look here.

I was interested to learn of a book recently published, explaining all we need to know about improv. The terms and devices are spelt out, as well as descriptions of the spirit and teamwork involved. What's more, though, the author, Pippa Evans explains how we can apply these techniques and understanding to our regular daily lives. It's a self-help book with a difference, and is great fun. 

Of course we have all had to improvise in coping with the restrictions and changes in routine throughout the past year and organisers of author talks have been particularly inventive in 'pivoting' their offer from real life to online sessions, streamings and hybrid events.

This coming weekend I will be at The Cut in Halesworth interviewing the gardening writer Anna Pavord about her definitive work 'The Tulip', and her life of words and plants. I'm very much looking forward to it having spoken to Anna on the phone already. She's so inspiring and entertaining. You will be able to read about her in my article in 'Suffolk' magazine on sale on Wednesday, but I hope you'll either come to the event in Halesworth in person or watch online. 

The following weekend it's the Felixstowe Book Festival where I will be interviewing a number of the authors in a packed and wide-ranging programme. Again, there are more details in 'Suffolk' magazine, or take a look at the festival website here.

And a few days later, I will be introducing debut novelist Kate Sawyer in a special online event with Browsers Bookshop.

There has been such interest in Kate's novel 'The Stranding' and, having read an advance copy, I can assure you that it's worthy of all the attention. It's fantastic! The story and characters are so engaging and there are many themes and issues to consider. It stays with you long after you put the book down. Please do reserve your place as soon as you can as this will be a popular event, and I want to make sure I get the book to you as soon as I can. All the details will be sent to you via email after you reserve your place. 

Thank you for reading.

I don't know about you but, even though I've got piles of books that I want to read, I still can't resist when a new title or author captures my attention. I just have to get that book, and it leapfrogs all the others.

Attending the Hay Festival online this week is a case in point as I've been introduced once again to lots of new writers who have enthused me with their thoughts and passions. I'm sure these are the books I'll be recommending over the next few weeks as a result. Watch this space!

I've also been enjoying the BBC 2 book club series 'Between the Covers', as I think I've mentioned.

I'd never heard of the novelist Mary Lawson until she was introduced by the presenter Graham Norton as his favourite writer on a recent programme.

We're reading her first novel 'Crow Lake' for this month's online book group and it will be interesting to see if everyone agrees with him. Scroll down for details on taking part.

Some books, too, set you off on a new path. And this was the case with my recommended non-fiction title this week.

Christopher Tugendhat has put together a social and political history of Britain from 1900-1964 by investigating the messages and preoccupations of the writing of that period.

It's a fascinating account, whether or not you're familiar with the titles he mentions. In fact some of the books I've been meaning to read for some time ('The Riddle of the Sands') and others I've never heard of but sound intriguing. 

There's something very special about finding and enjoying a new writer, and having a whole avenue of delights open up to you, particularly when you feel you've stumbled across someone little known. There is that conflict between being desperate to share them with everyone and wanting to keep them as your own little secret!

We'll be meeting a new writer in the next few weeks when Kate Sawyer, an actress and producer from Suffolk will have her first novel published. It's called 'The Stranding' and I found it completely compelling and all-consuming when I read an early copy. She'll be talking to me via Zoom on 1 July in an event I've organised with Browsers Bookshop in Woodbridge. 

Have a good week, and thank you for reading.