Find out how my novel-writing is going. Or not…
Recently I wrote an introduction to a fascinating panel discussion on immigration in the UK held by the Royal Society of Literature under their umbrella Only Connect… Today’s Only Connect is from RSL Member Ali Thurm, who has chosen the recording of our event The Good Immigrant with Vahni Capildeo, Eva Hoffman and Nikesh Shukla discussing what it means to be an immigrant … More Only Connect
Still plodding on … with so many disruptions it’s hard to concentrate. Now printed off what claims to be chapter 16 but has so much going on and so many reveals that there’s enough material for a least three chapters! I’m off to cat sit for friends in Shropshire. A blissfully quiet market town where … More Another journey, another chapter
Chapter 15 almost had me beaten. During August I had a couple of weeks away but printed off the chapter and carried it around with me as if being away from my desk would inspire me. It didn’t. Too much going on, too much melodrama and everybody ‘looking’ at everyone else as if it was … More A new chapter?
I’ve already tweeted about an adventure we had on holiday last week when, trying to cross a field back to our cottage we were cut off by a gang of curious bullocks. (Apologies that these are not the actual animals but at the time photos weren’t the top of our priorities.) I know they’re more … More Cows and Corona
Exciting news! I’m on the long list. If you enjoyed One Scheme of Happiness please vote for me! http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2020/aug/03/not-the-booker-prize-longlist-vote-now-to-decide-the-2020-shortlist
thank you so much, Joanna for this fab review! by Joanna Clark Ali Thurm’s debut novel, One Scheme of Happiness, is an extraordinary and extraordinarily skilled piece of story-telling. The narrator and main protagonist, Helen Farrish, at first seems almost deliberately dull and self-effacing; very matter-of-fact. In new-found freedom, following the death of the mother for … More “But that wasn’t how I remembered it…”
From the Waterstones website… I’m thrilled with this review of my novel. Thank you, Paul! Paperback edition by Paul Barry Ali Thurm writes with delicate skill and mischievous wit to create a tale coloured with both the light and the shadow of passionate obsession. I found myself quickly sucked into the manoeuvrings of her gently drawn characters … More What a debut!
If you want to write, you need to feed your creativity, and in lockdown it hasn’t been easy. I’m lucky enough not to have to commute to work (well only from my bed to my desk) so my first trip by tube to the National Gallery this week was more than exciting. It felt like … More Feeding your creativity
Up and down week. The ups were: getting a five star Amazon review for One Scheme of Happiness – I’ve no idea who it was, but when things aren’t easy (lockdown isolation) the idea that someone out there has read and enjoyed my book gives me a little glow! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on … More Writing update
When One Scheme of Happiness, my debut novel, was published at the end of February there was time for two launches – one in my daughter’s cafe The English Rose in Victoria, then a second one in Ealing where I live at a lovely independent bookshop The Pitshanger Bookshop. I was planning so much more… … More Writing update
Ali Thurm 