Author diaries

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16 December 2004 Entry: "Apology for Absence"

I've borrowed the heading for this diary entry from Julia Darling's new poetry collection. Its launch at the Hatton Gallery (more of a lovely party really) is one of the many events that I've enjoyed recently, and which have filled my diary to such an extent that I've neglected this diary - sorry! (And thanks to the friend who pointed this out.)
So much has happened since September, it's hard to think where to begin. My short story mentoring with Sara Maitland is into the final months, and I have built up a fair number of stories. On Monday I was in Manchester for the launch of Bracket, the new anthology from Comma Press, which features my story, 3,000 Degrees. The reading was at the Central Library and it was great to meet other contributors - plus there was a Christmas market outside, so I came home on the train with vast quantities of very pungent cheese and sausage, plus Belgian sweets and Dutch biscuits. It was probably just as well that the heating wasn't working! The theory was that these goodies would be kept until Christmas, but some have already been enjoyed - a couple didn't even make it back to Newcastle.
I took my laptop with me, so on the way to Manchester was able to work on my latest short story. Having the laptop makes such a difference. We are in the process of having our loft made into a bedroom and study, so the family computer, like everything else, is stacked up in the spare bedroom. The laptop has kept me sane! I've discovered that I prefer writing stories and plays straight onto the computer, but poetry is still a notebook love affair. There is something about writing it out longhand that helps with the creative process.
My play, The Anstruther Light, took third place in the SCDA one act play competition last month. I didn't think I would be quite so nervous, but spent most of the two intervals in the ladies' loos at the Howden Park Centre, Livingston (thankfully, they were quite nice). I learned a lot from seeing the play performed and have rewritten some sections. The Kaims Players in Montrose, my home town, are going to put it on in February.
Last week, I was lurking around Blaydon Library with a camera. The reason? To photograph the stone head of Garibaldi, which is displayed between the used stamp collection box and the copies of Gateshead Council News. My Iron Press collection, Garibaldi's Legs, is progressing and the illustrator working on the cover wanted to know more about the Garibaldi connection. I did explain what I was doing to the librarian, but some of the people queuing to return library books obviously thought me very strange.