I love it because you can see things like this: Rose Tremain's acceptance speech for the Orange Prize. Now we don't have to just watch acceptance speeches for TV, film and music. When I found out she had won the prize, I went to YouTube, not really expecting it to be there but there it was. Hooray! (ps she thanks her agent, who is also my agent, the wonderful Vivien Green)
Also, there was this TV item about the awards night, which gives a surreal amount of airtime to Gerri Halliwell (Spice Girl) who is apparently an author and literary critic.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
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16 comments:
Hi Rachael - how is the writing going...? I find when I am close to the end, that i procrastinate and faff about more than ever - do you have this experience? (Waiting for the new washing machine arrival doesn't help....)
Glad to hear of Tremain's win, yet to read it, but then again what is new, just add to the pile...almost as taller than my bed now....
Did love 'The Colour' - last one I read of hers ages ago, about your NZ, really stuck with me, did have you read?
cheers
gondalgirl@gmail.com
No I haven't read The Colour or her latest... been meaning to, but like you, my pile gets higher and higher and I seem to acquire books faster than I can read them. I have read 5 or 6 of her books though and loved every one. I actually got my agent by looking up who Rose's agent was and then sending off my book and hoping.
Oh, and novel not going so well this week as you may have deduced by three blog posts in a week. I did however finish a short story for the first time in six years.
Yes I have read most of Rose Tremain's work, i love her too. As to the pile, I am ok novel reading early days of my own novel process, but slowly cannot concentrate on anything else as I progress. Do you read when you write?
Sluggish week for me, I blame the winter maybe, but if it was sunny, wouldn't I be wanting to get outside....hurt my back early in the week - which didn't help ( maybe blog-es-phere doesn't help either, so tempting to google away the time :), however I think it has been a good pause as my brain has gone and ticked all my plot problems over so now I just have to write to the end ( to the happy sounds of my new washing machine, no more handwashing to be done)
Well done on short story finish...what is it about ( so nosey am I forgive)
Interesting to hear Rose Tremain say that until the Orange Prize win she has been always the bridesmaid and never the bride. Also great to hear her list all the top prizes and the women that have won them this year. No harm in that, eh? Here they are:
Nobel: Lessing, Costa: Kennedy, Booker: Enright, Orange: Tremain. Thanks for the links, Rachael.
Sorry forgot to reply to Gondal-girl's questions: yes I read when i write, but as I go on, it needs to be something that relates to my work or, like you, I can't concentrate.
And don't really want to disclose my short story subject... superstitious and all that...
Thanks for asking!
Hi,
I really like the graphics on your book jacket, wondered if you get any say in the artwork?
Hi Rachel, I got a little bit of say with the ones pictured but it was more just telling them whether I liked it or not. i had more say with the New Zealand cover - a designer friend mocked up an idea I had and I passed it on to Random House who loved it, so they employed her to complete the job.
Do you think the current economical climate is influencing what you are currently writing about? Do you feel pressure to write for a specific market (ie historical fiction) or are you free to choose your own creative paths?
Good question. I started the novel before I'd heard anything about a recession, but that wouldn't have affected me anyway. The truth is that I want to write books that sell anyway, because I want to make a living out this writing lark, but I only want to write the kinds of books I like to read, that is, good stories, well told (and well-written!). So that is all I'm striving for, and no, i don't feel pressure to write to a historical fiction market. My new book has both contemporary and historical aspects.
P.S. just read your posts about much work you have and the looming deadline....I had a fridge magnet that read "dull women have immaculate houses" - it is now my mantra....lost the magnet somewhere in the clutter...
Yes i love that quote! Although I don't want to diss any of my clean-freak friends. Housework can be very therapeutic and good thinking time. But the sad fact is that my house is a mess.
I definitely fall into the messy house category but I do admire those women who can juggle it all, spin those plates and have a house like an interiors magazine shoot!Was it ever in your mind as you wrote your first novel that potentially you would be requested to write in that genre forever?
No, it didn't cross my mind. At the time my favourite novels included Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey, who has written historical and otherwise. I think when I was writing was just on the cusp of when 'historical novel' stopped being a dirty word that indicated some kind of poorly written bodice ripper. I called it while I was writing 'literary novel with a historical setting'. Now I just call it an historical novel. Some of my favourite authors have written in a range of settings and time periods.
Good questions - I'm intrigued where they are coming from. Are you a writer yourself? Because the conversation started on such an old post I doubt anyone will be joining in, which is a shame because I'd love to hear from some of my other writer readers about all this.
I am a writer but as yet unpublished and completely daunted by the idea of feeling the need to market myself, become a product if you like, for the sake of making a living. That's not to say I view it as intellectual prostitution, nothing so high brow! But I am filled with questions (remember that annoying one in seminars who always made the seminar leader work for their coffee break? That's me) Forever learning....so far am learning the hard way..rejection letters a plenty but it's making me a better product...erm sorry, writer!
My only advice to you would be to not try and write for a 'market'. The market is constantly changing, for a start. Write the kind of books you love reading. Good luck!
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