Well, this only happens once in your lifetime, and only if you've very, very lucky. Today is Publication Day of my debut novel, The English Monster. I'm going to spend it in a country pub with my family, a pint of beer and something with lots of … [Continue reading]
Todd Snider at the Borderline
Posted on February 23, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
My son and I share genuine fandom for Todd Snider, the self-described "stoner folk singer" from Nashville via Oregon who sings songs about the politically weak and the permanently frazzled which are funny, beautifully written and always very, very … [Continue reading]
Teller on the “compositional secret”
Posted on February 16, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
A young magician wrote to Teller (of Penn and...) to ask for advice about creating his own style, and what he got back was a manifesto for anyone who wants to create, perform or entertain. It's blockbuster stuff, for which I am an absolute … [Continue reading]
An interview with SHOTS MAG
Posted on February 15, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
Amy Myers, one of the excellent people at SHOTS, the crime and thriller ezine, was kind enough to interview me about The English Monster and writing in general, and they were also happy for me to cross-post it here. I thought the questions were very … [Continue reading]
Suspicious quote marks
Posted on February 12, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
Why you should "never" use quote marks for "emphasis". Very Suspicious Quotation Marks | Smosh. … [Continue reading]
Sasha Frere-Jones and the “I” of Whitney
Posted on February 12, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
Sasha Frere-Jones is my favourite music writer, and his impeccable straight-no-chaser memorial to the brittle genius of Whitney Houston is a masterclass in talking about popular music: Her biggest hit gave the stage to “I,” a first person that … [Continue reading]
The ghost trees of Brockwell Park
Posted on February 10, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
Harkaway on books, ebooks and contexts
Posted on February 9, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
It's the second reference to Nick Harkaway in a week on here, but what the hell, he's got a book out this week (and bloody good it is too, judging by the first hundred pages). Anyway, Nick's jumped into the whole "ebook v. print" debate which some … [Continue reading]
Is the story of Japan’s decline actually a media construction?
Posted on February 8, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
Japan's been stagnating for two decades, right? Well, not according to Eamonn Fingleton, it hasn't. He argues that Japan's been doing very nicely indeed, thank you. It's just that Japan doesn't want you to know that: If we believe the evidence of … [Continue reading]
Townes van Zandt: Muddy Waters and Mozart
Posted on February 8, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
There's so much brilliant stuff in this Aretha Sills piece on Townes van Zandt, who I liked when I first heard him and who I like more and more the older I get. I fully expect him to be the one singing when I die. And he said this: There’s so many … [Continue reading]
