Yikes! Mea Culpa!

Oops.  I guess my weekend in Scotland was even more "intoxicating" than I had realized, because it has come to my attention that I called yesterday's wonderful blog stop "The Doggerel," rather than The Dotterel.  How embarrassing!  Please forgive me Tim, and everyone, please go over to his blog now and say nice things to him.  He's lovely.  It was a great interview and, I guess, I'm a bit out-of-it.....

What will she do next? :-)

Untangling the Roots

Week 2 of "The Space-Time Tour" begins with a fascinating and in-depth discussion with The Doggerel.  Now we get to the nitty gritty of some of the theoretical physics concepts that sail in and around Tangled Roots, not to mention my brain, while also coming back "down to earth" to acknowldege the crucial influences of Mel Brooks and The Doors!  Please do check it out.

And speaking of coming back down to earth, a spectacular birthday celebration for a friend brought me up to Scotland this past weekend and two days of catching up, funny surprises, crazy weather, over-indulging and wonderful scenery.  Sure, all this roaming around the cosmos is great, but let's also hear it for earthly delights!

Towards the end week we'll be flying over to Israel with what I know will be a fantastic conversation with the brilliant Tania Hershman.  But if you've missed any of the previous stops, you can find them at Chez Aspie, Jamieson Wolf, Tea Stains and Trixie on the Hunt.

Feeling Pretty Mushy

The weekend takes us to a final few days with Jamieson.  It's been wonderful spending so much time with him.  There's been so much to discuss.  And then next week will find us first at the home of The Dotterel on March 30.  I'm feeling rather overwhelmed by all this attention, and by the generosity of time and spirit that my friends in the blog world have shown me.  I thank them all: Chez Aspie, Tea Stains and Trixie

and I thank you for joining me.

And I also have to thank someone else now.  Quite unexpectedly, a google alert came on my screen announcing a new review of Tangled Roots.  It is really humbling and I am greatly touched by it.  Do take a look at what the The Book Pedlar had to say.  We all pursue these quixotic ventures of ours, alone in our rooms in front of our screens somehow having the faith that out there someone will care about what we write.  And when you get evidence that the connection has indeed happened, well, excuse the mushiness but, it is pretty great.

Have good weekends everyone.

Hunting through Space-Time with Trixie

Pop on over to Trixie's place.  We'll be there all day sharing secrets, getting to know each other, talking about our roots, tangled or otherwise.  And, of course, we're still having a lovely time at Jamieson's, where today we're talking specifically about the book movie he created for Tangled Roots.  If you haven't seen it yet you could watch it here.  But why do that when you can go straight to Jamieson himself and learn about the hows and whys behind putting it all together? Fascinating stuff.

And in case you've lost your way, previous tour posts are at

Chez Aspie

Tea-Stains

You know already, lately, it's occurred to me what a long, strange trip it's been......

Across the Universe

Today the "Space-Time Tour" finds us both in Canada with Jamieson  and in Bangkok sipping tea with JJ.

And tomorrow....we're still hanging out with Jamieson while also stopping by to reveal some personal secrets to Trixie.  See you there.

As they say, on wings of song.......

And so it goes....

The "Space-Time Tour" continues today over at Jamieson Wolf's place for an interesting discussion about inspiration.  Then tomorrow we continue with musings about process and the rather torturous way in which Tangled Roots took nearly a decade to write!

And at the same time, tomorrow also finds me hanging out with JJ's Tea Stains in Bangkok where we share some exotic snacks and I'm forced to grapple with the concept of home and dislocation.  This tour has barely begun and already I'm being challenged to look at myself and my work in all sorts of fascinating and difficult ways.  I hope you can come along and help me think some of it through.  I'd love to hear your comments on some of these ideas that we're now tossing around the cosmos.

And if you missed any of the first tour postings, you can find them at:

Chez Aspie and Jamieson's.

And now, for a little traveling music.  How many of you remember this obscure theme song?  Needless to say, it's been infecting my brain for a long time and yes, I know I'm showing my age...

The Space-Time Tour

I've woken up this Mothering Sunday (as we say over here in the UK) to find myself truly transported.  Not only have my sons seemed to have remembered to lavish all sorts of of love and praise on their ole mum, but my friends around the blogosphere have also begun to host me on my "Space-Time Tour for Tangled Roots."  It all begins with a marvelous introduction and Sunday giveaway at Chez Aspie.  From there we're all going over to Jamieson Wolf's place where he and I will begin a discussion about motivation, process, inspiration -- all that good writerly stuff -- which will continue in bits and pieces every day this week.  This is all great fun for me, and greatly moving to think that so many people around the universe have been touched by my work and are so generous as to want to help me tell everyone else about it. 

So enjoy today, linger awhile tomorrow and Tuesday at Jamieson's, and then toss a few of your atoms over to Tea Stains on Wednesday for JJ's questions, some of which have really thrown me for a loop!

Happy Sunday everyone, and Happy Mother's Day, too.

                                                                  illustration by Corey Wolfe

Beam Me Up, Guys

Last year, when the hardback version of Tangled Roots came out, I found myself on train platforms all across Britain, from Portsmouth to Manchester, from Reading to Bristol, heading off to the next stop on my first-ever book tour. It was great fun, and very exciting to be sure. But now I am embarking on something new, high-tech, spacey, in a "the future is now" sort of way. In celebration of the publication of the paperback edition, Sunday, 22 will see the inauguration of "Tangled Roots: The Space-Time Tour." John, my favourite (though fictional) Physics Professor, would be proud.

Just think...a tour where I can be in two places at once...or even three; where I can hip hop across the globe, meeting friends, answering questions, delivering virtual treats. The tour will take me from Britain to Canada to Ireland to Israel to Thailand and back again, and we can all do it together.

We begin on Sunday, UK Mother's Day, at (somehow appropriately) two places at once:
Chez Aspie will get the ball rolling with a special offer
while Jamieson Wolf helps me put my virtual feet up and settle in for the beginning of a week's-worth of conversation over at his place.

As the next few weeks progress, I'll be beaming over to
The Dotterel
The Crafty Gardener
Trixie on the Hunt
Tea Stains
Tania Writes
Watching 9987 and then ending up at the home of
Elizabeth Baines

There'll be lots of surprises along the way, good chat, good food, good fun. I'll let you know the exact dates as they come along, but I do hope you'll join us! I think even Scotty would be pleased. Energize!

Paperbacks!

They just arrived!

Aren't they lovely?

You can get one of your own, you know (and just in time for Mother's Day if you happen to be in the UK) here, here, here or in any number of Waterstones, Borders, local fabulous indie bookshops.  Go on.  You know you want to :-)

Radio Head

I'm meant to be writing to remind everyone that they can hear me go on and on about the writing life -- with some terrific Hendrix, Cream, Jefferson Airplane etc in the background -- tomorrow evening, Tuesday 17 March at 7 pm GMT on Express Fm, either at 93.7 on your radio, or at www.expressfm.com on your computer where you should click on the red button in the top right-hand corner.

So that's what I'm meant to be blogging about.  But I can't think of anything today except the fact that it's Number 1 Son's birthday and he's turning 25 years old. 25!  How can that be?  I remember when I turned 25...I was in North Carolina at graduate school studying to be a professor of classics (well, you know -- as I always say, the road is curving). I remember watching television and seeing an "Oil of Olay"commercial (I was in the States so it was a "commercial" rather than an "advert).  They were going on and on about "skin over 25." I was horrified.  And now here I am with not only my own skin over 25, but my boy's skin too.  But all kidding aside, it's a wonderfully happy day .  Tonight we all celebrate, but in the meantime, for my son, for me and for everyone else who feels like joining in:

  

Creating Music and Social Change

I want to share with you a wonderful videoclip of an orchestra born out of one of the most amazing movements for social change developed over the last three decades: El Sistema.  Founded in 1975 by the Venezuelian musician, Jose Antonio Abreu,  El Sistema's goal is to use music for the protection of children through training, rehabilitation and prevention of criminal behaviour.  The program is known for rescuing young people in extremely impoverished circumstances from the environment of drug abuse and crime into which they would likely otherwise be drawn.  Children are provided free tuition and instruments, but just as importantly, encouragement and role models to show how a life devoted to art can change themselves and the world.  As the children grow older and progress in their musical technique, they move from one group, one orchestra, to another, culminating in the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra, the national high-school-age youth orchestra of El Sistema, made up of the best young musicians from throughout Venezuela.  Various television documentaries have been made about this incredible movement -- and it really is a movement rather than just a "program" -- but this videoclip shows them in action.  The orchestra is here led by Gustavo Dudamel, himself a graduate of El Sistema.  They play Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, 2nd movement, and Arturo Márquez' Danzón No. 2.  Just look at these kids!

PS Remember my radio interview plays on Tuesday, 17 March at 7 pm.  Don't worry, I'll remind you again on Monday -- you can't get away that easy....

On Air

Just a quick note to tell one and all that I will be interviewed by Rob Richardson on his "WriteOn" program tomorrow, Wednesday 11 March 2009 at 11.00 am GMT.  If you're hanging around or driving around or otherwise find yourself with some empty head space, give a listen.  It would be nice to know I'm talking to friends (besides Rob, that is).  Rob is a bit of a local celebrity and an arts entrepreneur.  He is known in Portsmouth as the originator and organiser of WriteInvite, a unique vehicle of writing that has under its cosy umbrella The Live Short Story Competition, and Write On The Night, a night of  themed writing over twenty minutes.  His latest venture, WriteOnSite, brings these ideas to the internet (I wrote about it here a short while ago).  So, we'll have lots to talk about, and I'll even read a bit from "Tangled Roots," and hopefully some poetry, too.

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MY BAD!!!!

It seems I was mistaken.  Tomorrow morning is only the taping.  I won't be going out over the airwaves live (and it's probably just as well...).  But you'll be able to hear me in all my witty brilliance on Tuesday, 17 March at 7 pm!!

If you'd like to listen (maybe while you're having a glass of wine and cooking spag bol - I'm sure that's what I'll be doing) you go to the ExpressFM website and click on the red On Air button in the upper right hand corner.  If you do it at 7 pm GMT Tuesday evening, 17th March, you'll get me speaking with Rob.  Sorry about the confusion.  And don't worry...I'll remind you :-)

The Other End of the Rainbow

I'd like to introduce you to David Gardiner and his wonderful new collection of short stories "The Other End of the Rainbow."  David is an expat Irishman, a former teacher and "professional student" now living in London. He has previously published the sci fi novel, "Sirat",  and his first short story collection, "The Rainbow Man", plus a number of stories in magazines and anthologies. He is Co-editor of Gold Dust magazine and volunteer editor for bluechrome and UKA Press. His interests range from science, philosophy, travel, wild life, communal living and alternative lifestyles, to contemporary folk music, photography, scuba diving, IT and cooking and many of these interests have found their way into his stories. David is the organiser of the annual UKAuthors.com holiday for writers and the last few UKAlive writers' events in London, and he is especially pleased to note that he has recently been presented with his very own London bus pass .

I loved reading David's new collection.  They take you back and forth from a world of fairy tales to harsh, modern reality, yet he accomplishes this with a lightness of touch and a real musicality of language.  Within his stories David inhabits the skins of dozens of characters, bringing their voices to life and their lives to voice.  The first of these characters that you meet is the Rainbow Man himself, and that led me to my first question:

* I see that this is the second time you have used the conceit of The Rainbow Man.  He is a fabulous character, but I was wondering if there is a technical reason why you've used his voice again as an entree into your stories.

The Rainbow Man is just a gimmick I invented to tie the first collection together, and since people seemed to like him I decided to keep him on for the second collection. I came up with him when I was on a one-week writers' retreat at a place called Anam Cara in Co. Cork, which I won as a prize in the Fish Short Story Competition. At that point I had a back catalogue of fifteen or twenty stories that I thought might be good enough for publication, but they were very diverse both in style and subject matter and I felt they were more of a heap than a collection. At Anam Cara we did a lot of talking about the craft of story-telling, and I remembered an old story-telling vagrant that I had known in Ireland when I was a boy. I had the idea of resurrecting him, embellishing him quite a lot, and allowing him to introduce each of my stories with some piece of apocryphal wisdom. It seemed to work. People liked him and the heap became a collection. The attraction for me is that he allows me to steer my readers surreptitiously in a particular direction and get them into what I consider the correct frame of mind for what's coming.

* Story-telling is an important cultural experience within in many cultures, but especially among the Irish.  Do you think your Irishness has contributed to the particular form of story-telling that your narratives fall into?

I've noticed that although I've lived in England much longer than I've lived in Ireland, when I sit down to write it's more often than not my Irish background that comes to the fore and I find my stories taking place in Irish settings or spawning Irish main characters. The Irish influence seems to be very strong. I'm not aware of having been steeped in a story-telling tradition but I think it must have been there, as when Welsh people discover they can sing even though they have no conscious recollection of learning how to do it or growing up in a musical culture. Story-telling is something quite deep in the Irish psyche – it's the Irishman's natural mode of artistic expression. The country has produced writers in numbers and quality totally out of proportion to the size of its population.

*Before your story, “Light of the World,” the Rainbow Man says: “If ye were to wait to find out what story was true an’ what one wasn’t before ye believed it,sure ye wouldn’t have anything to believe at all, an’ then where would you be?” What a fabulous definition of fiction! But it makes me wonder about the role that “truth” has in your writing, and if you conceive of yourself as a writer of “magical realism”?

Truth in fiction is a difficult one. Obviously what we write isn't literally true or it wouldn't be fiction, but it has to contain truth of another kind if it's to be any good as fiction: it has to be 'true of', to contain insights into human nature and motivation. When the writer is doing his or her job properly you recognise the truth in the piece, it strikes a chord, you find yourself saying in effect: 'I always knew that but I wouldn't have been able to put it into words'. When I was a student I had an enormous regard for Solzhenitsyn and I particularly loved his Nobel Prize speech which was all about this aspect of literature. It was published under the title 'One Word of Truth'. I recommend everybody to read it. 'Magical Realism' strikes me as one of these terms invented to give critics something to argue about. It doesn't really matter if a particular story comes within that category or not; if it contains lots of realism and a little bit of magic that's more than enough for me.

*What comes first, the idea of the story or the idea of The Rainbow Man's question?

 In every instance, the story comes first, but it's set up to look as though the story grows out of The Rainbow Man's reflections. Many of the stories in both collections were previously published elsewhere without The Rainbow Man's introduction, which rather gives the game away.

* “Intelligent Design” looks at the connection between myth and science. As I tried to explore in “Tangled Roots,” this is an idea that fascinates me. Do you see this as an important central focus of the collection?

I don't think the collection has a central focus, I wish that it had, but I've always been very drawn to scientific ideas and the philosophy of science and I suppose this shows through in places. My first (and only) novel was a science fiction story about artificial intelligence ('Sirat') and my early stories were practically all in that genre. I think there is a relationship between myth and science: human beings are story-telling animals, they need a story about everything, they can't leave holes in their understanding of the world and just say 'I don't know'. So every culture's understanding of the universe begins in myth, which, if they are lucky, is slowly replaced by science. I don't think the two are in any sense the same. The difference is that science is self-critical, always looking for counter-examples and better theories to replace ones found wanting. Myth on the other hand is fixed and immune to revision in the face of contrary evidence. That is exactly what is going on at the moment, particularly in the US bible belt, with respect to the conflict between evolutionary theory and 'intelligent design'. In this story I'm poking gentle fun at the whole thing, and also I hope getting people to think about something that may actually lie in the human future.

Well, I could go on forever discussing your work with you, David, but I should probably leave well enough alone now and just urge everyone to go out and buy it.  Read it for yourselves and let David carry you into his world.

I'm With the Band

This little game has been going around cyberspace lately, but it's just too much fun not to waste an hour doing it.  So, if you're looking for a good procrastination technique, let me recommend the following:
1. Band Name. Go to 'wikipedia' (click here) and hit 'random article'. The first article it comes up with is what you call the name of your band.

2. Album Title. Go to "Random quotations" (click here). The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3. Album Cover. Go to flickr (click here). The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4. The Album. Use a graphics package to put it all together. (If you don't have one then you can go here for a free online one).  As you can see, my band, Nephrotic Syndrome, has now produced its first album, "Squandering Ourselves for a Purpose" (actually, I couldn't think of a better title myself -- so fitting for this writing life of mine, don't you think?).  And what could be more apt than a soft-touch picture of daisies to illustrate it all :-)

5. TAG the friends you want to join in. Thanks to Jamieson, DJ and Carol for getting me to do this.  Now off you go and if you do give it a try please let me know....I'd like to see what you come up with.

Announcing The Paperback!

It's easy to think that the paperback is the hardcover's adorable baby brother...lovable, of course, important, definitely.  But some how, just not as...as.....exciting.  Well ladies and gentlemen, I am hear to tell you that it just ain't so.  The looming publication of the paperback of Tangled Roots is generating all sorts of excitement chez Guiney.

First of all, there's the new cover -- the same amazing image, but now with wonderful quotes by generous readers, an author's bio on the back and even a small photo of the author (ie, me).  

Then there's the first promotion which I mentioned here and which you can still check out over at bluechrome's blueblog.  A piece of Mars, anyone?

And now, the most exciting of all...THE BOOK MOVIE!  Jamieson Wolf, writer and artiste extraordinaire, has created through his company Night Wolf Design a rather amazing trailer for Tangled Roots which I am thrilled to show you now.  

Oh, I tell you, paperbacks are wonderful things!

CurvingRoad Calling

As you probably all know by now, the other hat I wear is as Artistic Director of the arts charity, CurvingRoad.  Last autumn saw the successful and incredibly exciting West End premiere of new playwright, Leo Richardson and his play, Sh*t-M*x.  Now we are sitting ourselves down, dusting ourselves off, and starting all over again.  So to that end, for the very first time, we are issuing a Call for Submissions!  Ta ta ta ta.....bring on the trumpets......here it is:

********** STOP THE PRESSES**************

CurvingRoad announces its first Call for Submissions

After the success of Sh*t-M*x, CurvingRoad is now looking for another new play to develop and ultimately stage. If you are an emerging playwright with a piece of work that you think you are ready to bring to the pubic, and if you meet the following criteria, do contact us:

*You must be 40 years old or older
*You must be writing in English
*You must never have had a play professionally produced

If this is you, then send a brief (1-page max) bio, synopsis, and full script to:

Sonja@curvingroad.com write “Play Submission” in the subject line

Submissions will be taken by email only.

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Okay now.  On your marks, get set, go.......