Faeries at Glastonbury

We've just spent an amazing time in Glastonbury!  First there was a book signing event in the Cat and Cauldron, an Aladdin's Cave of witchy goods.  I'd met the proprietors, Trevor Jones and Liz Williams, ages ago when I was interviewed for Radio Glastonbury, and they were kind enough to host this event for me to coincide with the Avalon Faerie Ball.  We'd hoped to get to Glastonbury nice and early and give ourselves plenty of time to spend in the Faerie Market.

Linda Ravenscroft is one of the many talented artists who were at the market.  We met Linda several years ago at the Elf Fantasy Fair in the Netherlands, where we had a stall selling Stonewylde books and cards, and we've bumped into her many times since.  It was lovely to see her again in Glastonbury, although sadly we only had ten minutes to spare in the market.  The drive down had been horrendously slow and we'd failed to anticipate all the half-term traffic heading west.

The Cat and Cauldron were well organised and had ordered in plenty of copies of Shaman of Stonewylde.  We brought along some ceremony cakes, badges and bookmarks, and before long, the shop was filling up! 

It was great to see so many lovely, smiley faces!

Time flew by, and before we knew it, all the copies of Shaman had sold out!  It was a shame having to disappoint people who came dashing in (also held up in the traffic).  Members of our Stonewylde network site had organised an impromptu get-together across the road in the old George and Pilgrim Inn, so we packed up and headed off across the road.

It was so good to see so many Stonewylde friends.  I knew none of these people before I wrote the books, but I count them as my friends now.  We were given the use of a room to ourselves, which was great, and there was a lot of hugging and catching up.  There have been several smaller meet-ups since the big Moongazy Camp last May, but because we're spread so far geographically, it's always good to get an opportunity like this to see each other.

Many of us were staying the night in Glastonbury and attending the Avalon Faerie Ball that evening.  So we reluctantly said goodbye to those who weren't, and went to get ourselves ready for the ball.

Unfortunately faeries must have a big thirst on them, because it wasn't that long before the bar at the Faerie Ball was drunk dry! There were several acts, and the one we enjoyed the most was an amazing couple called the Gypsy Pyksy, performing a dance which I think was called Ur Tre.  It involved a girl, covered in mud and her clothes in rags, being engulfed by a tree. It was really spine-chilling and creepy, and I had a nightmare about it later that night! The very talented Dorset band The Dolmen were headlining, and once they came on, they immediately had everyone dancing.  It was all great fun and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.   But now ... back to reality.  Although some of that glitter just won't scrub off!

Shaman of Stonewylde - book launch in Dorchester

It's Sunday, and I'm feeling tired and happy.  Yesterday was the official launch of my final Stonewylde book (despite Amazon sending out copies all during the week!) and I'd chosen to do this at Waterstones in Dorchester.  I decided this because the shop (as Ottakers) had been one of the very first places to stock the original self-published editions of Magus of Stonewylde back in October 2005.  I'll never forget the thrill of seeing my first book on a proper shelf in a proper bookshop!  So seven years on, it seemed appropriate to launch the fifth and final book in the series in the same shop, although the staff have changed several times.

On Friday I spent the morning baking cakes.  These were Ceremony Cakes, which anyone who's read the books will know all about.

There were many jokes in Waterstones about the likely effects of these cakes - but the exotic taste was, I promise, nothing more than a careful blend of cinnamon, rosemary and lavender, with a sprinkling of poppy seeds for good measure.  

The staff at Waterstones (Max, Darwin and Emma) had done me proud again, with a lovely big table and plenty of copies of Shaman, all beautifully arranged, as well as the other four books.  It was brilliant to see so many people who'd come along to buy copies of the books and get them signed.

It's so exciting to have a queue of people waiting, and one of the first customers of the day was a lad I'd met on World Book Day when I visited St Osmund's School to talk to the pupils about writing.  He's now an avid fan, and he stayed in the shop for most of my time there talking to other shoppers (he's a great salesman!).

Another very keen Stonewylde fan came to buy her Christmas presents.  She's bought all the Stonewylde books for members of her family right from the start, and she's a little concerned about what she'll buy them next year!  You can see her here with eight copies of Shaman!

A very proud moment for me was when a handsome young man who'd been standing in the queue for a while finally reached me, and stood there grinning.
     'I don't expect you remember me,' he said a little shyly, and I was amazed to find it was a boy I'd taught many years ago when he was in Year 6 at primary school - he'd just graduated from university this summer!  I certainly did remember him, though I didn't recognise him!  In fact, several of my ex-pupils turned up, and it was great to see them all looking so grown-up.  And excellent to know that all my nagging about reading paid off too!

One thing that did surprise me was how many people who came along who were my friends on Facebook.  Many of them I'd never met before (they "friended" me after reading my books) and it was great to actually meet them in the flesh.

I really appreciated some of my self-named Promo-pixies turning up to support me.  There's nothing better than the sight of a lovely familiar face at a book signing, and they were brilliant. Unfortunately Mr B didn't take any photos of them in action, which was a little remiss.

One of the very last people to come to the signing, just as we were finally packing up and getting ready to leave, was a young lady who's at present studying Creative Writing at Winchester.  I was so glad she made it in time, and it was great to know that she's found Stonewylde such an inspiration.

Many thanks to everyone who came along to buy the final Stonewylde book, and I really hope you enjoy the story.  On our social network site, there are discussions going on amongst people who've now finished it.  Many are referring to it as "a roller-coaster read" and I'm looking forward to seeing how people review the book online.

My next trip out is on Tuesday when I'm a guest of Greg Mosse, who runs the Creative Writing MA at West Dean College.  I'll be speaking to his students about Stonewylde, and I'm really looking forward to it.  The next signing event is on Saturday at Glastonbury, where I'm also attending the Faerie Ball.  I have a small pair of wings ready, and lots of glitter.

James Naughtie and those pesky chickens

It's been a week of radio so far, in this run up to the launch of Shaman of Stonewylde.  The book will be published tomorrow, although many people who've pre-ordered it on Amazon have already got their copies. This seems a bit naughty to me, and nothing to do with making sure readers have it on the day of publication at all.  But anyway, talking of naughty ....

On Monday, I went up to London to take part in the Radio 4 Bookclub. I've done this before and it's great fun.  This recording was done at Langham Place and it's very exciting, going into the BBC building, getting your security badge, sitting in the grand studio with lots of people buzzing around with microphones.  James Naughtie is the presenter, and he's a really lovely man.  This photo is courtesy of the Radio Four website - I didn't like to ask if I could take a picture.

I made him laugh the last time I attended a Bookclub recording, by likening characters in the book Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont to characters in Fawlty Towers.  I was delighted when this was included in the final edited show that went out on air!  So on my visit this week, to discuss the Costa prize-winning book Pure by Andrew Miller, I hoped to amuse him again.  And I certainly did that - although not in the way I'd intended.

We were about to start recording, and James told us to make sure our phones were off.  I'd already put mine on silent, not actually knowing exactly how to turn it off.  It was all very quiet, no rustling or coughing, no interruptions as James began introducing the novel and its author in his beautiful, mellifluous tones.   And then suddenly, the room was full of a terrible jangling noise, the sort that plays in Tom and Jerry cartoons when something dreadful happens and someone's eyes are out on stalks.  And I realised, as my cheeks flushed and my body broke out in a sweat, that the noise was mine.

Everyone in the room - over thirty people - stared at me in horror as I scrambled in my bag to locate my phone.  I'd put it on silent!  But I knew exactly what that noise was:

You probably can't read this - I took this photo of my phone-screen yesterday but it didn't come out very well.  The top line of the alert says "Chickens!!!".  This goes off every day, including Monday. Whilst the weight of everyone's disapproval crushed me, James made light of my dreadful faux pas with a kind comment about the bad timing of people's calls.

     'No,' I muttered, horribly embarrassed and still scarlet with chagrin, 'it's not my phone going off.  That's my chicken alarm.'

     'Chicken alarm?' 

     'It's to remind me to put the chickens to bed, so the foxes don't get them.'

At this the room erupted into laughter and I didn't know where to look.

     'Well are they alright?   Do you need to phone someone to ask if they can be put to bed?' asked James, rolling around in mirth.

     'No, no!' I said.  'They're fine - I put them into their pen before I left.'

James made several references to my chickens throughout the recording (I'm assuming these will all be edited out) including referring to me as the chicken-lady when I plucked up the courage to ask the author my question about the elephant in his book.  The book Pure is wonderful, by the way!  Dark, quite Gothic, disturbing but utterly fascinating and beautifully written too.   Before I left the studio, I promised James that if ever I were lucky enough to take part in the Bookclub again, I'd bring him a box of eggs!  And the darling man told me that he kept bees!  

The next day saw me in another radio studio, doing an interview for BBC Radio Solent.  This station covers the Hampshire/Dorset area, and as I have book signing events in both Dorchester and Southampton, my PR lady had no trouble arranging this interview.  I had intended to drive down to Southampton to the main studio, but at the last minute it was arranged for me to pop up to Caversham, just outside Reading, and use the BBC Radio Berkshire's studio.  How clever!

Another grand building, and although there was some confusion, at last I was shown into a little studio where I could speak with Katie Martin from Radio Solent.  

It was a bit weird talking to a blank wall like that (when I'm on the phone I always pace around and do things like water the plants or tidy up the fridge) but Katie sounded really friendly and the interview went well.  This is what she looks like, apparently - such a smiley face!  The picture is from the Radio Solent's website.

Apparently the interview goes out today - you can hear it on Radio Solent which can be found here - and it's available on the listen again facility for seven days.  I can promise that during the interview, there are no alarms whatsoever - I've certainly learnt my lesson, and how to actually turn the damn phone off!

Shaman arrives - by Drax

I'm Drax, and on Sunday I left my litter and was driven all the way to Reading to live with my new family. I've settled in quite well at my new home, although it's a bit mad here.  The two Burmese cats, Magus and Malik, are very unfriendly and have resisted all my attempts at friendship. The three chickens run when they see me and hide amongst the trees making silly noises.  Good job Kit and Mr B love me so much!

A bizarre thing has happened though - this big cardboard box arrived and it made Kit squeal!  I had a good sniff of it but really, it seemed quite innocent.  I have no idea why she was in such a state.  I thought I'd better stand guard whilst she dashed off to the kitchen to get a knife.  A knife???

While she was gone, still making strange, excited noises, I thought perhaps I could lend a helping paw.  Or at least, a very sharp set of puppy teeth, which are much safer than anything she could find in the kitchen.

So I pulled and tugged at this delicious little cardboard tag that silly old Kit had missed ....

And I really pulled hard, and gave a little growl for good measure, until at last ....

A bit of green was visible, and Kit made such a very loud shriek that I had a small accident on the carpet!  She took over at this point with the box, pushing me away and muttering about my sharp teeth and her precious Shamans.

Honestly - I was quite pleased then that she hadn't called me Shaman, which I know she nearly did.  I mean - I'm not green, nor do I have anything to do with hares, magpies or snakes, all of which I could see on the front covers of the books.  By this time, she was doing a crazy dance all around the room and phoning Mr B and really, getting quite over the top.  And then she grabbed one of the books and raced upstairs (where I'm not allowed - and all because those snooty cats think it's their domain) and I heard her burst into tears!

When she came down again, I gave her a very thorough wriggly, bitey lick to cheer her up, but I don't think she was sad at all.  She said it was one of the best, happiest days of her life, seeing all her five books together on the shelf.  And then she said something even stranger ...

"Five - always five!"

Tout Quarry on Portland

Last week I drove back to Weymouth for the day, for an interview with Ruth Meech of the Dorset Evening Echo.  She's writing a piece about Stonewylde for the special Saturday paper, and hopes it'll be out on Saturday 13th, one week before the book launch in Dorchester on Oct 20th.

After the interview, I went to visit a very good friend and we drove across to Portland for a walk.  You can see how blessed we were with the weather - it had been absolutely pouring on the drive down, with  so much spray on the motorway that visibility was dreadful.  But just look at that glorious blue sky in the photo!

We walked to Tout Quarry, which is actually the place that inspired me for Quarrycleave.  Tout Quarry is a disused quarry near Easton, and it's been turned into a sculpture park.  It's wild and natural - you just turn up and wander around.  It's enormous and would take several hours to see all of it; it's well worth the time.

Tout Quarry is an amazing place, but it's not the Place of Bones and Death that features in Stonewylde.  That idea came to me in a nightmare a long time ago and scared me so much that even many years on, it still frightens me.  But when I began constructing Quarrycleave in my imagination, it was Tout that kept popping up in my mind's eye.  The boulders, the swarming ivy ...

There are canyons of stone, dead ends, great blocks, hidden recesses.  And without wishing to put any spoilers in here, there's a carving called "Still Falling" which had a profound effect on me.  I think of it often.  Can you see the falling man?

Tout is full of unusual carvings and sculptures.  It's a strange place - not terrifying like Quarrycleave, but with a certain atmosphere that would definitely put me off visiting after dark.  Not exactly haunted or creepy, but not comfortable either.  And just look who's crawling back up!