Library haul

Had a rush of blood to the head on Saturday when I went to change my library books.  Sometimes I wander round unable to find anything that takes my fancy.  This time within five minutes I'd an armful.

Normally I'd check them out then put half of them back; this time I brought the lot home.  Rag bag brain my sister said.  Maybe; we'll see.  They range from Orson Scott Card, through Edgar Allan Poe and Kate Atkinson to Cynthia Harrod Eagles' Morland Dynasty. to 'UFO in her eyes' which I had to pick up because of the title.

Oh and some Neil Gaiman short stories.

Lucille Clifton

Catch her poem Homage to my hips at http://www.writersalmanac.com/  Made me laugh out loud.

Music and wellbeing: Making Music conference

Glasgow,10–11 September 2011 For more details http://www.makingmusic.org.uk/


The impact and application of music to improve mental, physical and social wellbeing has many advocates and well-established initiatives demonstrating positive impact. Making Music will be looking at programmes taking place across the UK and the opportunities these create for voluntary music.

Cadogan Hall Lunchtime Concerts

21 June - 25 August, 12-2pm  OUT TO LUNCH FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

'Join us for lunch and be entertained! Cadogan Hall presents a mix of established stars and emerging talent in the beautiful surroundings of the Culford Room - jazz, classical, workshops, 'Meet the Authors', and much more.

London Vocal Project • Alex Berger • Liane Carroll • Cole Porter Songbook • Trio Manouche • Rhiannon Lambert • Julia Williams & Sara Sheridan • Charlotte Sterland • Steve Fishwick Jazz Trio • Pocket Caravan • Kai Hoffman Trio • Jim Hart & Ivo Naeme • Randolph Matthews & Byron Johnson • Pauline Melville & Maggie Gee • Milos Karadaglic • Peter King Quartet

FREE ENTRY, no need to book tickets – just turn up and enjoy the music.'
check out www.cadoganhall.com/outotlunch

If you're in London and you haven't been to the Cadogan Hall, I can highly recommend it.  Lovely acoustics.

What Else Can I Do?

Course for women wanting to change jobs or careers.29th June,Nottingham 7.15-9.45pm . Details http://www.whatelsecanido.info/ 

Nottingham Writers' Days; Writing Graphic Novels

One-day intensive writing workshop with graphic novelist and comic writer Brick (John Clark) will take you through the art of comic writing and unpick the nuts and bolts of making a word script come alive.

This is the second in the 2011 season of Nottingham Writers' Days, organised by Nottingham Writers' Studio, which also includes a day on writing for stage with Nick Wood in September.
The price is £75 for a day, or £50 for members of NWS.
To book, download the booking form from http://www.nottinghamwritersstudio.co.uk/projects/nottingham-writers-days/, or address any enquiries to Robin at admin@nottinghamwritersstudio.co.uk.

Cockasnook Books at Lowdham Book Fair 25th June

Margaret Swift from independent publisher Cockasnook has let me know they'll be at Lowdham this coming Saturday.Their titles include, two novels for young people, three fantasy fiction and three autobiography/biography  Catch them in the hall or on the grass behind it.. 10am till about 4pm.

http://www.cockasnookbooks.co.uk/

Lowdham Book Festival 14 June - 14 July 2011

Highlights include Jasper Fforde in conversation with Stephen Booth (25 June)
Alan Sillitoe Commemoration (25 June)
An evening with John Simpson (21 June)

For full programme  http://www.lowdhambookfestival.co.uk/

Parkinson's Bookshop Southport

I'm off to Southport today to see family and have been checking up on bookshops there, since I haven't been for a few years.  Parkinson's of Lord Street still thriving so I shall be sure to pay a visit.

http://www.parki.co.uk/locshps.htm

and Broadhursts on Market Street

http://www.ckbroadhursts.co.uk/

Outings

I went across to Souhwell Minster today with a friend to have a look at the Exhibition of Bibles they had mounted in celebration of the King James Bible anniversary. 

One of the facts that surprised me was that there was a version in Old English in the 11th Century.  I have to admit my knowledge of this period is not extensive.  According to the information, this was superseded by the use of Norman Latin which of course restricted the reading of bibles to the better educated and rich part of the population.  About the same time there was a dialect version in what is now the East Midlands area.

I always find it very moving to look at hand written bibles with their beautiful script and the early printed versions.  With our days of digital print on demand the times of typesetting are long gone but the care and hard work the early copies demanded are incredible.  There was one copy and on the pages open to view, there was English, Greek and Hebrew set.  Very skilled work.

But publishers, shall we say,'shortcuts' were evident in one bible on show.  Open at one of St Paul's epistles, it was pointed out to us that the capital P at the top of the page had a rather inappropriate picture of a lady less than fully clothed turning into a tree.

Unsure of his profits the printer was cutting his costs by using an already made capital.


It's a while since I've been to the Minster and I'd forgotten how beautiful it is in there. 

Keeping Your Spirits Up by Sarah Dale

Absolutely thrilled to bits to promote this book.  Sarah is one of my clients and I helped her last April to get started with a draft of this book.  Afte planning it for some time Sarah needed a push(gentle) to begin. 

What I admire about Sarah is her determination to stick to what we agreed in our sessions despite being a mum of teenagers, doing a course for her business and all the other ways she generously shares her time in the community.

And what pleases me most is that she's overcome some of her fears about contacting 'experts' in her field.  As a result she has some positive and supportive testimonials from them after reading her book.

I wish her all success.  For more details check it out at the link.

http://www.creatingfocus.org/?page_id=466