Author diaries

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2 March 2009 Entry: "Fingers"

My finger is recovering, but my pride and self esteem are taking longer.
It’s alarming how many people ask ‘Were you drunk?’ when I tell them about my break.

Never mind, the National Health Service is a wonderful institution, and every week I go for physio where a lovely woman lays my hand on a soft, towel covered cushion, slathers cream on my finger and rubs gently, then pushes and pulls my knobbly knuckle. She moulded a hot piece of plastic to my hand, for me to wear at night as a splint to straighten it out. Very peculiar. I forget I’m wearing it, then I try and scratch my nose, I hit my face instead.

At least my typing is more or less back to normal.

Which is just as well, as I have lots of deadlines that I was very worried about when I thought I couldn’t write:

this week I have written a chapter on women’s writing in the North East for a commemorative book about New Writing North, which Stevie Ronnie (the new dad of Odette, hurrah) is co-ordinating. I was very honoured to be asked to contribute, but as I was only allowed 2,000 words, it had, of necessity, to be a bit of a skate through. I’m worried that I’ve forgotten to mention (or was ignorant of) some major women’s event - so I have put in a get-out clause, to fend off Ms Erable before she rings me up to tell me off - I have made it quite clear it is a personal view. (I don't suppose that will wash with everybody, but there you go).

I’m also putting together a book about the rebuilding of the city library. The new Library opens to the public in June, so my deadline is getting close. It’s a lovely project to work on, I have interviewed all sorts of interesting people to put their comments in the book - from children in the Library, to the Council Leader, John Shipley, to the architects and the builders and the artist Kathryn Hodgkinson, who created the glass images. I asked them a variety of questions, including what were their favourite books as a child. It’s like being paid to be nosey. Plus I’m going to have lunch with Andrew Motion at the new Library tomorrow - I’ll be able to say I ate with the Laureate.

The poetry circuit seems to be hotting up again, with launches and events all over the place:

A few weeks ago I went to the launch of the Sampo cd at The Cumberland, with Bob Beagrie, Andy Willoughby and Gobbleracket. It was entrancing, and fantastic. I haven’t enjoyed a poetry event so much for a long time. I strongly urge anyone who’s interested to see them live, but also to buy the cd - it works both ways. Brave, inventive lyrical poetry and wonderful sounds.

Monday 9th March is International Women’s Day, which will be celebrated at Northumbria University by a number of women poets including Pauline Plummer and Joan Hewitt, and photographer Sirkka LiseKontinen. Open to everyone and free I believe.

I’m reading at the launch of Lit, the Newcastle University Anthology, including graduates from the creative writing courses, past and present, 7.30 at the Culture Lab on Tuesday 10th March, admission free, and then again on Saturday 14th March at the Chillingham pub, along with Paul Summers and Kate Fox with music by Doctor Socrates, 8pm.
Which of course, clashes with Ben Okri and the Festival of African Writing at the Culture Lab on the 13th and 14th of March. Ah well.