Tindal Street Fiction Group
Here is news of publications, launches etc for TSFG members. On my links page I list links to their books and webpages etc. Obviously this will need to be updated regularly as success keeps rolling in. Any TSFGers out there who I've missed let me know.
NEWS:
23/12/09 - Jackie Gay is getting married and emigrating to Canada. We will all miss her, she's been such a great member of the group over many years, and she will remain an associate member and come and see us all on her visits back to the UK. She works(ed) as a creative writing tutor at Birmingham City University (where I work as a librarian on a different site) and I attended her leaving do last week. Very enjoyable, meeting several interesting writing students and tutors, including my namesake Richard Beard who is director of the National Academy of Writing based here at BCU. He's a prolific writer of fiction and non-fiction. We reckoned we might be related as his family come from the Forest of Dean (Gloucestershire) and so do mine (on my father's side). Anyway, great do, and we all wished Jackie bon voyage.
2/10/09 - Good night last night - launch of Tindal Street Press's 'Roads Ahead' anthology which is a follow up collection to 'Hard Shoulder' which was the first ever TSP title in 1999: so also a ten year anniversary celebration too, attended by David Lodge and other Brum literary luminaries like editor Catherine O'Flynn and the Black Country duo Anthony Cartwright and Paul McDonald. Two TSFG members (Luke Brown and Kavita Bhanot) are in the book. I meant to buy a copy but the booze was expensive and all my cash went on that, (no cards accepted), so I'll have to get a copy from amazon. It got a good review in the Guardian on Staurday. (Doesn't appear to be online though). I enjoyed the readings I heard, particularly Luke's, but then I'm biased as he's a mate. Yes I have got a hangover this morning.
17/7/09 - Gaynor brought along the American and Canadian editions of her book to last night's group meeting and although they both used the same picture on the cover (a girl in a blue dress of course) it was interesting to see the differences - the American one was brighter, and used many more quotes on the back, and each had used a different writer photo. Gaynor also brought along two good reviews one from the New York Times and another from The Washington Post - you can also see the American cover via this link.
8/7/09 - Jackie Gay has had a story accepted by Malahat Review (Canada), which will appear in their autumn issue.
23/6/09 - Bleeding heck, Joel brought along another book to last week's meeting. His second within two months. This is another beautifully produced book 'The Terrible Changes' a limited edition (only 300 copies I think), at a cost of £30 each! Worth every penny though - it brings together his previously uncollected stories.
11/6/09 - Just heard that Amanda's book 'Black Rock' called 'Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange' in the States has been picked for Oprah Winfrey's 25 books you can't put down this summer: http://www.oprah.com/slidepopup/omagazine/200907-omag-summer-reading-list/22 Congrats Amanda.
30/4/09 - at the AGM last week Joel brought along his latest book, 'The Witnesses Have Gone' - I make that his seventh! Well done Joel.
19/3/09 - a great week for TSFG. After last week's wonderful launch of Amanda Smyth's book 'Black Rock' at the Trinidad and Tobago embassy in Belgravia, and the announcement of her marriage on the following Saturday, came news that Gaynor Arnold's Booker longlisted novel 'Girl in a Blue Dress' had made it on to the Orange longlist too. Amazing.
10/2/09 - haven't had chance to report on the launch of Stuart's & Godfrey's books at the Old Moseley Arms on Friday 30th Jan (see entry below). It was a lovely evening with readings from Godfrey's daughters, poems read by David Hart and Joel Lane, and a beautifully read passage from Stuart's unfinished novel by his friend Stephen. There were also tributes and stories of how the books came about from Alan Mahar, Myra Connell and Gaynor Arnold (on behalf of TSFG). Much drinking and reminiscing was done, and I staggered home missing the two gentlemen all over again.
19/1/09 - advance notice of a book launch: TSFG members Stuart Crees and Godfrey Featherstone who both died in 2005 have posthumous books coming out soon. I worked on Stuart's along with Joel Lane & Alan Mahar and others and his book features stories and a novel extract. Myra Connell edited Godfrey's one, which has extracts from his work along with writing about Godfrey, including a poem by David Hart which will be read at the launch. The launch of both books is on January 30th at The Old Moseley Arms in Balsall Heath. This is the right place for it - the pub is in Tindal Street and was where we all went for a drink after meetings until our venue changed to Moseley. Everyone welcome to come along to what should be a celebration of both members, with readings of their work and remembrance of their lives from those who knew them best.
10/12/08 - Roz Goddard has had her story 'The Mirror' posted on the Sunk Island Review website.
12/9/08 - wonderful launch of 'Girl in a Blue Dress' last night, appropriately in the Dickens room of the Midlands Institute in Birmingham, packed to the brim, including many TSFGers. A 63 year old social worker from Wales was radiant with her recent success (see entry below).
30/7/08 - FANTASTIC NEWS! Gaynor Arnold's novel Girl in a Blue Dress has made it to the Booker longlist. The novel is - as the Times put it - 'a fictionalised account of Charles Dickens' troubled marriage'. Gaynor has been bringing chapters of the novel-in-progress to the group for many years and finally all the hard work has paid off. I'm so pleased for her. She has been attending the group almost as long as I have (she is the treasurer), and this news comes in a great year for TSFG. Well done Gaynor! More news later I'm sure.
12/3/08 - Annie Murray's novel (her twelfth) The Bells of Bournville Green is out in May 2008. Have a look at her webpage for more information.
10/3/08 - Amanda Smyth's novel 'Black Rock' has been accepted for publication by Serpent's Tail. Again, more details when I know of them. This is turning out to be a bumper year for TSFG members!
29/2/08 - another member - Gaynor Arnold - has a novel coming out with Tindal St Press in September called 'Girl in a Blue Dress'. Launch is on the 11th (as yet unconfirmed). More details later...
29/2/08 - Sidura Ludwig's launch (see below) was excellent. Sidura was confident, happy and in good voice (as was her baby daughter), and bigged up Birmingham and TSFG. It was good to see many TSFGers there too.
6/2/08 - just heard that Sidura Ludwig's Holding My Breath published by Tindal Street Press will be launched at Borders Bookshop, Birmingham (UK) on February 27th 2008. Not sure what time! I do now - 6:30pm. See you there.
17/09/07 - ex member Yann Lovelock has contacted me with an up to date biography and links to works on the web. See the TSFG Members all time page. Any other TSFGers are welcome to send in details, links, biog, etc...
01/09/07 - Mick Scully's Little Moscow (link below) gets a great review in the Guardian. Well deserved too.
22/5/07 - Mick Scully's linked collection of stories Little Moscow published by Tindal Street Press is to be launched on June 12th at The Bond, Birmingham.
15/3/07 - One of TSFG's newest members - Amanda Smyth - has a story available to read on the Caribbean Writing Today website - read it via this link.
4/1/07 - just heard that Sidura Ludwig's novel Holding My Breath will be coming out in March 07 - you can read details about the book on her website: http://www.sidura.com
Julia Bell's novel Dirty Work is out from 5/1/07 - the launch is next week. Unfortunately I can't go! More info from Julia's site:http://www.juliabell.net. More news (6.2.07) - good review in the Guardian
Links to stories and novels by TSFG members has moved -see Links page
