Kingston University Press, officially launches on 1st December with an event in Central London. The press have a really interesting range of titles and we look forward to working with the team on feature titles in the coming months and 2010.
The launch of the press received a mention in the Bookseller last week, in an article discussing the survival of University Presses in the current economic climate, with Kingston bucking the current economic trends.
To read the article click here!
Lucy
Bonnie Greer, author of the brilliant Obama Music was interviewed in the Saturday Times this weekend. Below is a taster:
My mother and father
My father, Ben, was a factory worker, and my mother, Willie Mae, a housewife. They had a limited education and little money, yet managed to raise seven children. The things they taught me have stayed with me. My father always said, “Consider the source”, so whenever I have any criticism, I always analyse who said it, why they said it and how much I value their opinion. If I don’t rate them, I don’t care. My father has passed away, but my mum still lives in Chicago and is twice the woman I’ll ever be.
My husband
David and I first met in the aisle of a supermarket 23 years ago, but we lost each other for six years before bumping into each other again at a play opening. We got married six months later and have been together ever since. Even though he is as different from me as he could possibly be – he is a white, English, suburban ex-public schoolboy – from the moment we met he knew exactly who I was and he still does. He is the person I can’t do without, and being with him is incredible. I tell every woman I meet not to give up on love because it is true; there is somebody out there for everyone and you will meet them.
My hero
The person who first moved me and still does is the late African-American author James Baldwin. I was 12 when I read his first book, Go Tell It On the Mountain, about his childhood in Harlem in the Thirties. He nailed the emotions I felt right on the head and I read all his subsequent books.
My agent
When Judith told me she was in her mid-twenties, I just started laughing. She is a generation younger than me, but is a great editor, is wiser than me and keeps me in touch with younger people. She is more like my big sister. I feel lucky to have her and always tell people not to discriminate against others based on their age.
To read the interview in full click here!
Lucy
Mark Liam Piggott, author of Fire Horses has just been interviewed on literary site Frank Mask. Below is a taster:
How would you describe your writing style to someone unfamiliar with your work?
"The world I portray tends to be grim – squats, loneliness, squalor – but I want to write in a poetic, elegiac style rather than the “phony-phonetic” style used by all the writers who try (and fail) to copy Irvine Welsh. I wanted to show you can write about anything and make it seem beautiful – “the beauty of the kebab-strewn street” as I rather poncily put it."
Do you try your hand at other forms, such as poetry?
"I started out writing poems, or rather, first I wrote punk lyrics that became gradually more angst-ridden and pretentious. In my twenties I wrote quite a few, influenced by everyone from Yeats to Bukowski, but it sort of tailed off and I now write maybe one a year. I’ve had a couple published but don’t really send them anywhere. I suppose I try and get my poetic images into prose."
What genre of books do you like to read?
"I don’t really do genres, unless “literary” counts as a genre – I’m not really into straight thrillers, sci-fi or horror, though I’ve read books in all these genres that I loved. If I tell you the last five books I’ve read were Tim Winton (Breath), Chris Cleave (Incendiary), Roberto Bolano (2666), GG Marquez (Living to Tell The Tale) and a book of Hemingway’s short stories, maybe that gives you an idea."
To read the interview in full click here!
The site also has links to some fantastic short stories written by Mark, which are well worth a look!
Lucy
It was great on Tues to be invited to meet the Minister of State in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Pat McFadden, as one of the businesses chosen by the Prince's Trust to showcase. The event was to announce and celebrate the news that Pat McFadden's department are to provide a further £1 million to the Prince's Trust as they work to help young people in a myriad of ways. As the Prince's Trust helped me when I set-up Legend Press, I am one of those people and am eternally grateful for their amazing and tireless work.
For full story, click here
It was also great to see for the second time, Charles Dunstone, joint-founder of Carphone Warehouse and Chairman of the Prince's Trust - one of the best examples of an entrepreneur.
Tom
We are about to launch a number of titles with Kingston University Press. The Press have a great list, and we are delighted to be working on these fantastic books with the KUP team.
The Sound of Turquoise by Gill Gregory is out on 1st December. The book has received excellent reviews from those who have already read it.
‘A gripping and very moving book, a family story chronicling the effects upon a sensitive young woman of two family tragedies, one close at hand, the other in pre-revolutionary Russia. I found it hard to put down and am sure that other readers will feel the same.
’ Leonee Ormond‘This subtle, beautifully written narrative is irresistible. Built from stories within stories, memories within memories, it tells of a girl growing up in the sixties haunted by the three men in her family – her brother who has severe epilepsy, her mysterious psychiatrist father and her exotic Russian grandfather. The tenderness and the bleakness, the jokes and the tragic tensions evoked in Gill Gregory’s book are unforgettable. She is a fine writer with a gripping story to tell.’
Isobel ArmstrongAuthor Gill Gregory comments 'This book is an experiment of life writing. As a third person narrative it is not memoir or autobiography. The story is based in real histories but it also maps the invisible pathways, the haunted terrains that this child, who is myself, keeps on bearing in mind.'
Lucy
Last night Bonnie Greer appeared on BBC Four on World News America speaking about her latest book 'Obama Music' which was out at the end of October.
Bonnie spoke about the influence of music on Obama's presidency including jazz, soul and the blues. If you missed the interview it is now available to view by clicking here!
It is great to see Bonnie on such an interesting programme, marking the 1st anniversary of Obama's presidency.
Lucy
Order Overseas copy - £9.99 (inc P&P):
