Finchley Literary Festival 2015

There are just three weeks until the fourth Finchley Literary Festival.

Each year the festival has been a bit different. Last year we had extra funding and sponsorship so we really pushed the boat out. This year's festival was intended to be a smaller affair. However, we all know that intentions don't always work out the way we expect, and so we have far more events than originally planned owing to the enthusiasm of members of our local writing community! A few events are popular repeats from last year but most are new.

There are workshops galore on all sorts of aspects of writing - designed for beginners and more experienced writers alike. They are about whetting the writing appetite and maybe encouraging participants to try writing in genres they don't usually tackle.

There are author events with fiction and non-fiction and even zombies, thanks to the star event with Mike Carey, author of The Girl With all the Gifts. Books about zombies aren't usually my thing, but this book is many cuts above what I suspect is the norm. A fascinating read even if, like me, zombies don't generally appeal! The festival also has music and performance poetry and literary walks - something for everyone.

There are lit fests everywhere these days so was another necessary? Rosie Canning and I thought there was and instigated Finchley's festival because there was very little going on in the arts world in our part of north London. Our near neighbours, Highgate and Hampstead, have a rich literary history and regular literary events but we felt our patch was distinctly lacking. When setting up FLF (originally Greenacre Writers Lit Fest) we discovered that Finchley has plenty of literary endeavour, past and present, and that Finchley is name checked in more than a few works of fiction including the aforementioned The Girl With All the Gifts!

Our first festival in 2012 was the first literary festival to be held in the borough of Barnet. We started a trend because Middlesex University's festival, which was originally at the Cat Hill site in Enfield, is now based at the Hendon campus in the borough and this year Barnet libraries had their own festival - a week of events with author readings and similar activities. We maintain, of course, that FLF is the best, focusing at least a couple of our events on literary talent local to Finchley.

For details of all events and workshop bookings see Finchley Literary Festival. Hope to see you at some of them.

World Book Night 2015

As the fifth WBN approaches, I have just been to a nearby library to pick up 18 copies of After the Fall by Charity Norman.

It was at the same library where a few weeks ago I attended an author event, a talk given by a best-selling author of crime thrillers, who mentioned that she did not like WBN as she felt it devalued books. She pointed out that authors put in many hours of research, writing and editing before a book is published - which of course all those who have written, or tried to write, a book will know - and she felt this effort should not be undermined by giving books away for free. But on the point of devaluing books or their authors - I can’t agree with her that WBN’s aims devalue books.  I think, it enhances them.

Yes, thousands of books are given away, but the volunteers are asked to give wisely, not just to hand them out to their friends who fancy a freebie. We are asked to give them to people who need a bit of encouragement to read, to those who don’t regularly read for pleasure or own books. A couple of years ago I gave a WBN copy of The Book Thief  to a colleague who told me he rarely read fiction. He loved it, and continued to ask me to recommend books and I leant him several. He now reads and buys fiction.  

I wrote once before about giving a WBN book to a client who was had serious depression and was not able to work. Living on a meagre income, her only pleasures were her two small dogs and reading. She was thrilled to be given a book that she could keep. ‘It’s the best thing that’s happened to me for ages,’ she said. It may not have changed her life but it changed her day, and hopefully a few more days as she read the book.

There is evidence that The WBN titles actually boost sales so authors gain too. I have certainly bought some titles as I felt that having been selected for WBN, they must be worth reading. I'm sure many other people have done the same.

I love the idea that I can help encourage people to develop a love of reading and am pleased to be part of WBN again this year. I hope the gift of a WBN book will 'make' a few more days for my recipients.

World Voice Day 2015

April 16th is World Voice Day. Nearly 400 WVD events are taking place around the world in 52 different countries in celebration of the human voice which, as the campaign points out, is the original social media.

For information about voice and WVD events see World Voice Day.

I wrote a blog-post three years ago about how people who have voice problems can feel: here.

If you are not always confident about looking after and using your voice, my Voice Skills for Writers Workshop for Finchley Literary Festival on May 23rd might be just the thing for you.

A scary prospect: A rewrite and a change of title.

I recently had a brilliant session with editor Gillian Stern as my prize from Finchley Lit Fest's Dragons' Pen. I had printed and packaged my novel and delivered it some time before and now was the christening. The baptism by fire - we're talking dragons here. People often talk about novels being babies but mine is actually more of a young adult who should be leaving home but won't budge.

And there is the problem. I knew in my heart that this would be an issue and it was the first point Gillian made.

It's a novel about contemporary life but I began writing it nine years ago and life has moved on. 2006 had a different feel to 2015 especially when it comes to technology. My character is divorced, 50 and has a daughter of 20. To make her 50 in 2015 I would have to completely re-invent her backstory. And I'm not sure I can write with the same authenticity the very essence of somebody born in the mid 60s rather than the mid 50s.

The answer is of course to make her 60. I can do that. But her daughter will be 30 - a big difference. And the issues at 60 are not necessarily those at 50 - or are they?

After all, women hitting 60 today aren't retiring with cosy slippers and some knitting - they'll be about 108 before they get their state pension. Some have taken retirement from one job but are embarking on another, or are setting up a business. Some still have teenagers at home. Some even decide, God forbid, to have a baby. They travel, they study for degrees, they enter marathons. Yes, some do. They really do. Yes, some also look after grandchildren, have knee replacements, need several trips to the loo at night, but who says these are incompatible with dipping a toe in the dating game?

So I am embarking on a huge rewrite...

Another helpful piece of advice? Gillian suggested I go to a speed-dating event. Purely in the name of research of course. Why the hell did I have that as a scene in the novel? Why couldn't my character just go somewhere exciting like New York? Oh, wait, she does.

Reading your Writing: A workshop on Voice Skills.

You may be a great writer, but does your work sound as good when you read it aloud?

Most writers know that reading out their work helps them edit it for grammar and general style, but how about reading to an audience?

Does your voice turn into a mousy squeak? Do you find yourself on the point of collapse because your stage fright makes you hyperventilate? Or do you find that while you have taken the time to write a carefully crafted story you read it as fast as you can to get it over and done with?

More and more writers are taking part in literary events necessitating reading to audiences: from open mic events to book launches and book promotions. I've been to a number of literary functions and have heard many authors - including some of our greatest - read aloud. While many read their work beautifully, others simply didn't do their writing justice.

As part of Finchley Literary Festival 2015, I am running a practical workshop for writers who want to get the best out of their vocal skills. Participants will need to be prepared to read a small sample of their work aloud and take part in practical exercises. Numbers are limited to eight participants.

The two-hour workshop will include information on voice care, along with exercises for the speaking voice, relaxation and breath support. It does not involve any singing. The atmosphere will be relaxed to make this interactive experience fun. After all, laughing is good for the voice. I suggest wearing informal loose clothing and comfortable shoes.

Date: Saturday 23rd May 10.30am - 12.30pm.  

Venue: North Finchley Library, Ravensdale Avenue, North Finchley, London N12 9HP.

Cost: £12.00 per person. Payable by PayPal or cheque  (please email for payee and address)

Bio:
As well as a writer, I am a speech and language therapist specializing in voice. While most of my work is with people who have voice problems, I also see clients who wish to improve their vocal skills and to this end have worked with a variety of professionals who need to give presentations, radio presenters, ministers, lecturers and barristers.
I trained at Central School of Speech and Drama and am a member of The British Voice Association.

email: finchleyliteraryfestival@gmail.com for more information.

 

My best reads of 2014

Of the fifty or so books I read this year, these come out as my top ten. They are not only books published this year. As always I choose them not necessarily on literary merit but enjoyment and the impact they had on me. Here they are in the order I read them and how that came about.

The Buffalo Thief  - Yojana Sharma. I heard something about this author and looked her up. I liked the sound of this book and ordered a copy. I wasn't disappointed.

After the Fall - Charity Norman. This was a selection made while browsing in my local bookshop.

The Ghost of Lily Painter - Caitlin Davies.  Caitlin was a speaker at The Finchley Literary Festival and needless to say I bought a copy - especially interesting as it had local Finchley references.

And the Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini. I gave this to my daughter as she loves his books and she lent it to me.

The Aftermath - Rhidian Brook. Another bookshop browse. I have often heard Rhidian's Thought for the Day and guessed his novel would be an interesting read.

Someone Else's Skin - Sarah Hilary. I had linked with Sarah via Twitter and Facebook as fellow writers. When Sarah published this, her first novel, I had no idea it would take the book world by storm.

The Shock of the Fall - Nathan Filer. My daughter, a mental health nurse, bought this. She thought it very authentic. I borrowed her copy.

Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut. When I went to the book section of our local recycling centre to take some very tatty books which would not be worthy of a charity shop, I spotted this classic and rehomed it.

Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese. This was a birthday present from my daughter. She chose it because she knows I love books set in other lands.

Life after Life - Kate Atkinson. Another bookshop browse (after all you can't buy only one book at a time).


Here's to great reading in 2015.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas...

I wish my readers a happy Christmas - whether you celebrate this or not - and hope that 2015 makes our world a more peaceful place.

This is my Christmas tree: it represents many wonderful hours of reading, which has taken me around the world, back and forward in time, has made me laugh and cry and made me think about any number of issues. It has accompanied me on my own travels and has comforted me when things were dark.

Thank you to all the wonderful writers who helped create my Christmas tree.