Author diaries

Mother's Day

What a strange month March is with it’s two celebrations of Women at each end: 9th International Women’s Day and then 22nd Mother’s day. What would a Martian make of that? Every other day is Men’s day? Discuss.

Went to see Live’s presentation of a reading of Taxi Driver’s Daughter, adapted extremely well by Carol McGuigan, who also performed. Jim Kitson was the Taxi Driver, and three very good young actors were the two sisters and the boyfriend: Josie Hepplewhite, Andrew Neale and Christina Whitehead. It was directed by Tess Denman-Cleaver, who I thought was a young school friend, so youthful is she (showing my age). It had verve and believability, it was wonderful to see it brought to life, but also quite upsetting too. It felt like hearing Julia’s voice, as we discussed afterwards ‘which character was the Julia character?’

Of course, they all are, in one facet or another. Vicky Darling, Julia’s mother was invited to officially open the Julia Darling Writing Room at Live, which was a happy and moving moment. There was a miniature shoe tree in a pot, and we were invited to write a note on a label and tie it on. It was soon covered .

I had an exciting moment this month as well - I was Archived by Seven Stories. I wasn’t sure what the archivist might want, so I took scraps of paper, my writing notebooks, press cuttings and discs of interviews that I’d conducted when I was writer in residence at the Centre for the Children’s Book. All background evidence of the writing process of ‘Wall’. They were happy to have it all, and had kindly got out some other material for my interest. So it was I spent a fascinating morning at The Design Works in Felling, looking at the hand-written pages of Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, and Edward Ardizzone’s dummy book with drawings and writing. Anyone can visit by arrangement; it’s extraordinary that in the future, someone might come along and ask to see my material.

I think I’d better get going and write some more before I’m consigned to history’s rubbish bin. I am currently working on a prose novel, for older children. I decided two verse novels that couldn’t be categorised was enough. I’m discovering what a lot of words are needed for prose. It’s daunting but fun. Writing is my escape and my raison d’etre.

My teenage son has signally failed to acknowledge Mother’s Day, am I bothered? Not really, I got to enjoy his (rare) company when I took him and his girlfriend to see Slumdog Millionaire last night. As we were going in, we overheard a child coming out saying something, that led me to expect a different ending(I realise I can’t put what it was in case I spoil it for anyone else!). It wasn’t at all as I expected it to be. We all enjoyed it, and I realised as it finished that it was really a fairy story, and none the worse for that.

Posted by Ellen on 22 March 2009 at 11:23 AM GMT [Link]

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.

Posted by Ellen on 2 March 2009 at 11:27 PM GMT [Link]