Pancakes and Moveable Feasts
One of my favourite reference books is 'Days, Months and Years' by the gloriously-named Magdalen Bear. It's 46 pages long and I refer to it often, because it will tell…
Sheep that Grow on Trees
I was looking cotton up on Wikipedia. I'd had my nun dressed in undergarements of cheap, scratchy cotton, but thought I ought to check. Just as well! Back in the…
Do you Want to Write a Blockbuster?
I'm still reading Zuckerman's book and have come to an important realisation: I don't want to write a blockbuster. I've always known that, but it's good to have a reason…
An Artist’s Date at the V&A
I met my cousin from Canada and her friend at the Victoria and Albert Museum yesterday. We headed for the new medieval and Renaissance gallery. Last time I went there,…
From Midlist to Blockbuster and Beyond
As recommended last week by Ann Reid, I've bought Al Zuckerman's Writing the Blockbuster Novel - not a book I'd be seen dead reading, you understand. That title is on…