Author diaries

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18 August 2003 Entry: "Endangered Species"

So there are readers out there! Several people have been in touch to say that they read my diary entry last week, so here goes with a second one.
I've now got a couple of ice poems written. They're at the stage where they are what I call my carrying poems - the ones I've got copies of in my bag. I look at them in spare moments. Usually this is when words that don't fit suddenly jump out at me, or I realise that I've repeated the same word or idea and set about changing it. I used to hate tweaking poems like this but over the years changed my mind. This week I'll probably email the poems to a couple of friends and get their feedback.

Last week I heard Val McDermid interviewed on Radio 4 about the Save Our Short Story campaign. I signed up a while back and the first two stories were sent out this weekend. I think it's a fantastic idea and I really enjoyed reading the stories by Ali Smith and Denise Mina. In case you haven't heard of it, two short stories are emailed to subscribers every month for a year. There is also a website with loads of information about short stories - including news on who is seeking submissions, so if you are interested in reading or writing short stories you should definitely visit it.
Another good website is Canongate Books. I've visited their website before, but have only just discovered the members' scheme that they offer. This is free. You sign up online and then when you buy books (which are discounted) you get a free book of the month too. I placed an order on Thursday and on Saturday a parcel with Louise Welsh's The Cutting Room and Ray Lorga's My Brother's Gun arrived. Now all I need to do is find time to start reading them...