Living the letters for real

I met up with Carly Butler today, a Canadian in London researching her grandmother's war-time story through the letters she sent during that time and planning a book about the experience. I read about her adventure in the paper and couldn't believe someone was following just the kind of war-time/letter journey for real that I imagined when I wrote Pictures at an Exhibition! What a brilliant adventure she is having. Here is a picture of us at the National Gallery in the shop where I was also pleased to discover that the copy of Pictures at an Exhibition that Carly bought was my third sale of the day. 

Waterstone's Islington

Do come to my Q&A on 29 November at Waterstone's on Islington Green (nearest tube Angel), from 6.15!

Best of British Magazine

Please take a look at my article in this month's issue of Best of British magazine (readership 100,000 a month) - all about the National Gallery during the Second World War. I really hope you like it! You can buy Best of British at WHSmith or online.

Pictures at an Exhibition - Audiobook now available

Very excited to collect a mystery package from the Post Office yesterday and open it to reveal three copies of the audiobook of Pictures at an Exhibition. I didn't even know there was going to be an audiobook! Complete and unabridged and available from Isis Publishing...https://www.isis-publishing.co.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/7125

Skyping with the Yummy Mummy's Book Club

Lovely time last night appearing at a book club in St Alban's by skype.  I now feel technically ept on two fronts - first, the use of QR codes in Pictures at an Exhibition, which is unique in fiction, and then speaking to a book club remotely. It opens up the whole world! Thank you to all the members for asking such good questions and being so positive about my book (and so kind about me dialling in late!).

Hampstead & Highgate Literary Festival

I appeared at my first literary festival this weekend - the Hampstead & Highgate Literary Festival not too far from where I live. It was a pleasure to meet the other panellists, Kathleen MacMahon (author of This is How it Ends) and Harriet Lane (author of Alys, Always), and Belinda Jack who acted as facilitator.  Belinda is the author of, amongst other things, non-fiction book The Woman Reader, which tells the history of women's reading and the controversies that it has inspired.

Review in the Irish Examiner

I was really pleased to see this interview and review by Sue Leonard in the Irish Examiner, calling Pictures at an Exhibition "Stunning. The best debut I've read this year."

http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/0901/features/beginners-pluck-206008.html