Une Vie BBCR4

Little Gate, Etretat, Normandy

Fifteen minute drama Une Vie is on BBC Radio 4 all week 10:45 am/7:45 pm.  Aimee-Ffion Edwards plays Jeanne in a week long adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's first novel.  The character of Jeanne is based on his mother who appears as a character in my novel The Lady in Grey, a fictional exploration of the life of her son.  Une Vie charts the rocky marriage of Maupassant's parents although he remained on good terms with his feckless father even after their acrimonious split.   The story is set in his home in Etretat pictured above.

Book news: Random House and Penguin to merge?

Random House and Penguin to merge?

Pearson confirmed today that it is in talks with giant publisher Bertelsmann regarding a possible merger between imprints Penguin and Random House.  Such a move will be the first major structural shift in the global publishing industry since 2006 when the French media firm Lagardere acquired Time Warner Book Group creating Hachette.  In a statement the UK listed group said 'Pearson confirms that it is discussing with Bertelsmann a possible combination of Penguin and Random House' although the two companies have yet to reach agreement.  This news is perhaps not surprising as it follows Penguin's recent announcement that they would seek to recover unearned advances from their top writers.  Better news for the imprint is that two of their books are currently in the top ten - Martin Jacques study of the growing economic power of China When China Rules the World:the End of the Western World (reviewed in The Guardian 21 June 2009) and The Better Angels of Our Nature by cognitive scientist Steven Pinker who argues that violence has declined in the modern world (reviewed in the Guardian 7 October).

 

The Stella Prize

 

Australia has launched a $50,000 prize for women's writing which will be called the Stella Prize.

 

Waterstones to sell Kindle devices

 

In the UK, bookshop chain Waterstones has decided to sell Amazon's Kindle e-reading devices in recognition of the influence of the new technology on the book market.  Kindles went on sale in their stores from yesterday.

Christmas gift suggestion

'It was the season of frost fairs and mistletoe..'

Not quite but there is a distinctly autumn chill in the air this morning prompting me to think about forthcoming Christmas shopping and ideas for gifts.  My own offer is my swashbuckling Christmas adventure Master Merryman which tells the story of events surrounding the Christmas Feast of 1497 held by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Cardinal John Morton, to celebrate the signing of the marriage contract between Prince Arthur of England, son of King VII, and the daughter of the King and Queen of Spain, Princess Catherine of Aragon.  

 

Cardinal Morton has a slight problem.  The Spaniards are insisting they will only sign the contract subject to The Condition involving a certain handsome prince who is at that moment languishing in the Cardinal's cellar as a prsioner. Cardinal Mortan recruits his secretary, playwright Henry Medwall and another English playwright Miles Bloomfield (who between them taught Shakespeare everything he knew) and the rest of the King's Players to find a way to fulfil the Condition without delivering his prisoner into their hands.  All is going smoothly until an unfortunate co-incidence and a one-eyed Portuguese knight, the finest swordsman in Europe, start getting in their way.

 

 

 Shopping details: Available at http://www.amazon.com/dp/BOO4NBZL5G

Price: Paperback £6.40 GBP or $7.95US Kindle editions £2.55 GBP £3.99US

The book can be read for free if you are a member of Amazon Prime.

The story is suitable for any reader from aged 10 upwards.

 

London Film Festival winners

It's that time of year again.  The trees are changing from green to gold, Guy Fawkes night is nearly upon us and the London film festival has drawn to a close.  And the winners were...

Best film: Rust and Bone

First feature competition - the Sutherland Award went to Benh Zeithin for his film Beasts of the Southern Wild - a brilliant distinctive vision of life on the edge of the world.

The Documentary Competition - the Grierson Award was won by Alex Gibney for his film Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God (Great title) - a damning indictment of the Catholic Church and attempts by the Vatican to cover up one of the most appalling scandals of our time.

Best British Newcomer was Director and Screenwriter Sally El Hosaini for My Brother the Devil.

BFI Fellowships went to Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton.

None of my predictions won anything.  Oh well.. there's always next year.