Oxford Indie Book Fair on Dec 1, the biggest in the country and a challenge!
Andy Severn, James Harrison Ray Foulk and I had a dream of an event for book lovers which was free to enter, welcoming of everyone whatever their age or background. I tell the story of how it all began on this link https://www.oxfordindiebookfair.co.uk/history/ Lots of pics on the website.
On Dec 1, the Fifth Oxford Indie Book Fair took place at the impressive Oxford University Examination Schools in the High Street. We believe it was the biggest Indie Book Fair in the country. ‘Indie’ is short for ‘Independent’ so our event supports small publishers as well authors, illustrators, artists, poets and publishing services. Go to the website and Exhibitor Directory to see who exhibited. I suspect that there are more authors per square mile in Oxford than anywhere else in the world. I’d love to put out a challenge to Oxford researchers to discover if my assumption is true. My fellow Oxib organiser, Ray Foulk, author of Stealing Dylan from Woodstock and other books wants oxib to go national in 2025.
The 150 exhibitors, the 1,500 visitors, the organisers, the Oxford Brookes student volunteers and Paterson Joseph, the actor, author and Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University who opened the Oxford Indie Book Fair on Sunday came away with the same impression –one of friendliness and welcome. Paterson Joseph was meant to stay for one hour but left, reluctantly, at 2pm for another engagement. He summed it up,
“I loved it more than I could have imagined! The welcome, the care taken of me, the infectious atmosphere of exhibitors, visitors and writers … inspiring is the perfect word. A great day all round. If you ever invite me again, I’ll make sure to stay longer and chat to more folks … and bring a bigger bag for the books I buy! Every member of your team is a star?”
We have tapped into a need. The oxygen of publicity goes to those books published by the big five. Traditional but small publishers like Claret Press who publish me and self -published authors struggle to be seen. Yet often they tell stories that need to be told. Telling the WHOLE story was the title of the talk I gave with Pen Farthing, whose reputation was trashed at the time of the chaotic exit from Afghanistan. Operation Ark – his side of the story is published by Claret Press. His previous big publisher wouldn’t publish it and no major paper was prepared to tell his side of the story.We believe in the need to know the ‘whole’ story and not just the version the powerful want you to hear. “Pen Farthing is still angry. It’s understandable” – Private Eye
Brushstrokes in Time by me is the only novel that tells the story of the revolutionary art movement at the heart of the birth of the Democracy Movement in China. When? 1989 ? No 1979! That’s why the story of these courageous artists needs to be known and only Claret Press in the UK was brave enough to publish it – because I am not ‘Chinese’! Journalist friends, Emma Woollacott and Gill Oliver were disappointed our talk was not LONGER!
Other speakers included the effervescent historian and TV presenter, Janina Ramirez interviewed by James Harrison and Hugh Warwick hot off the Infinite Monkey Cage in discussion with Rev Canon Charlotte Bannister Parker chaired by ‘green’ architect Ray Foulk.
Paterson told how he would not have had the career he has had without assess to a public library. So he was delighted that the County Library Service had a free stand as did the Abingdon based charity, the Nasio Trust who are building the first community library in a poor part of west Kenya.
There were lots to attract children and families, including activities provided by Korky Paul,Clive Goddard and Wild Boor. Non-fiction for children too .Rebecca Mileham, author of popular science most recent book is ‘Cracking the Elements‘ (2018) which takes a comprehensive look at the development of the periodic table – and reveals untold stories, unsung pioneers and intriguing science along the way.
Our aims:
‘We are a unique book fair based in Oxford that CELEBRATES Independent Creators—authors, writing groups, poetry writers and performers, local and independent bookshops, printers, publishing services, small press and independent publishers—all of whom bring fresh, original works to readers. We believe in Championing a Diversity of Voices across the cultural spectrum – embracing unique perspectives, genres, and backgrounds to enrich the literary landscape. OUR FAIR IS INCLUSIVE
We believe in Building a thriving community of readers, writers, and artists, rooted in local engagement and support. We believe in creating meaningful relationships between authors and readers, fostering a sense of community and shared passion for literature. OUR FAIR IS ABOUT COMMUNITY
We believe in Inspiring Lifelong Learning – Cultivating curiosity and intellectual growth through books, workshops, and discussions. OUR FAIR IS A NETWORKING EVENT’
Andy Severn, Felicity Dick, James Harrison, Ray Foulk, Shona Nicholson and Sylvia Vetta
To see the full programme go to
The Reith Lectures : Current of Death -not imagined?
Is violence normal ? In her 2024 Reith Lectures, Dr Gwen Adshead, addresses four questions that she has most commonly faced in her work as a therapist with violent perpetrators in secure psychiatric units and prisons: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0025cmg. It’s not surprising that I opened my first whodunit, Current of Death, referencing Hannah Arendt.
‘… Death by natural causes – a heart attack – Giovani’s body was found after considerable exertion in a bedroom at the Club …’Alex Hornby was imagining it all, so there had to be more to it than that. She’d just read The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt. It left her considering how easy it is to be deceived and to deceive oneself. She wanted to explore that theme in her latest book.’
Hannah Arendt described the ‘normality’ of Eichmann.
‘For when I speak of the banality of evil, I do so only on the strictly factual level, pointing to a phenomenon which stared one in the face at the trial. Eichmann was not Iago and not Macbeth, and nothing would have been farther from his mind than to determine with Richard III ‘to prove a villain.’ Except for an extraordinary diligence in looking out for his personal advancement, he had no motives at all… He merely, to put the matter colloquially, never realized what he was doing… It was sheer thoughtlessness—something by no means identical with stupidity—that predisposed him to become one of the greatest criminals of that period. And if this is ‘banal’ and even funny, if with the best will in the world one cannot extract any diabolical or demonic profundity from Eichmann, this is still far from calling it commonplace… That such remoteness from reality and such thoughtlessness can wreak more havoc than all the evil instincts taken together which, perhaps, are inherent in man—that was, in fact, the lesson one could learn in Jerusalem.”
That’s why a normal village, like Kennington, where I live is such a good location.
Geographical and historical reasons for the location of Current of Death
My village is home to the most dangerous stretch of water in the county of Oxfordshire. Sandford Lasher is the name given to the weir just above the lock at Sandford-on-Thames, adjoining the island known as Fiddler’s Elbow. The calm surface of the water is deceptive, hiding strong currents below. One of many young victims was Peter Pan- well the inspiration for Peter Pan! Michael Llewelyn Davies, the adopted son of J.M. Barrie drowned there in 1921.
Jerome K. Jerome in his classic Three Men in a Boat describes the spot as ‘a very good place to drown yourself in’ and comments that ‘the steps of the obelisk are generally used as a diving-board by young men now who wish to see if the place really IS dangerous.’ The obelisk is a memorial to drowned Christ Church students. So the obvious destination for a fictional watery death!
Some locations in Current of Death
Sandford Lane leading from the industrial estate to the Thames often floods.
To reach the lock, I crossed the Pooh Sticks Bridge where the World Championship now takes place.
WITNESSES ? Cormorants on the cormorant tree not far from Sandford Lasher.
One character lives on a house boat.
Alex and Kate meet in the Kings Arms and have a useful conversation with the volunteer lock keeper- a character inspired by John Argyle.
Proof Social Bakery which appears in Current of Death and was where I had a book signing event.
How can somewhere so peaceful and beautiful have a dark side? 15 years ago a Kennington house was raided. It was being used as a cannabis factory. Here is a recent example in an unexpected place.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/27/there-are-worse-places-to-hide-armed-police-arrest-wanted-man-in-north-wales?
Lovely feature in Round and About Magazine
The launch of Current of Death was fun – discussion on Oxford Murder Capital of the World with the help prolific crime writer Peter Tickler and Chris Andrews who has photographed Oxford for forty years .
Politics, Lives, Page Turners: The Courage of Claret Press publishing Sylvia Vetta and Pen Farthing
Politics, Lives, Page Turners: The Courage of Claret Press publishing Sylvia Vetta and Pen Farthing
I love my publishers new book mark. It sums up what Claret Press is about. Her latest author is Pen Farthing and his book is titled Operation Ark. The last government and the Tory Press trashed Pen’s reputation as a means of diverting our attention from the chaos and apathy that marked Dominic Raab’s handling of leaving Afghanistan . Decide for yourself after reading his account telling the WHOLE story ! Or come to the Oxford Indie Book Fair on Dec 1 and hear us discuss it. https://www.oxfordindiebookfair.co.uk/whats-on-december…/
Pen had previously been published by one of the big guys, Penguin Random House. But they decided his brand is ‘toxic’. I’m delighted that CP has published his account of events in August 2022, so readers can make up their own minds knowing all the story and not just the propaganda line ‘Pets before People’. In my opinion, the government used him as a scapegoat to divert the vitriol away from their incompetence. After twenty years in Afghanistan, they hadn’t a plan for an orderly and successful evacuation and the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab couldn’t be bothered. He preferred to stay on the beach in Cyprus. That Pen managed to get out his 68 Afghani Staff without their help, is an achievement. You need to read the whole story to understand that this charity is not about Pets over People. 1000 Afghans a year were dying of rabies after being bitten by street dogs and his charity was trying to make that a thing of the past.
I knew that Katie had courage. My first novel Brushstrokes in Time was 10 years in the making. When I learned from the artist Qu Leilei about the courageous Stars artists, I realised that their story was ignored and forgotten –written out of history. I believe it’s an IMPORTANT story that needs to be told. As no one else would write it, I took on the task. That entailed three years interviewing Leilei and other Stars, a year researching and visiting the places in the book. While doing that I studied for the Diploma in Creative Writing at Oxford ,so that I had confidence to do it as a novel. By creating a few fictional characters, I could tell the story without harm to living people.
I sent it to Myslexia. I knew they introduce you to an agent if they shortlist you. They indeed did that for me. The agent said that my novel was interesting, well-written and a publishable page turner but unfortunately she wouldn’t be able to sell it. I tried other agents and the ones who responded did so in a similar way. One was honest and explained the reason, ‘I am not Chinese.’ They were afraid of the toxicity of the label ‘cultural appropriation.’ I thought the Ms would stay on my computer until a friend told me about Claret Press. In her latest newsletter she explains why she takes on authors like me and Pen. https://www.claretpress.com/single-post/a-sip-of-claret-news-operation-ark-is-out-now
She writes,
‘Last Saturday I set up my stall at the Oxford Indie Book Fair alongside 60 other exhibitors. The OXIBF promotes books and voices from outside the mainstream publishing industry (by mainstream I mean the ‘Big Five’ publishers responsible for 80% of all books published in the US and UK). It was, as always, a delight. It was, as always, bigger and better than before. And its existence is thanks to Claret Press author Sylvia Vetta and a few of her friends. I met Sylvia after a literary agent told her that no publisher would take her novel which was inspired by Qu Leilei, the Chinese founder of the Stars Art Movement, now exiled — like so many of his compatriots. Her fictionalised telling of recent Chinese history lifts the lid on its tumultuous change including the Cultural Revolution, the Democracy Movement and the Stars Art Movement (1979).
Equally, it is a touching coming-of-age love story. Brushstrokes in Time was praised by professors at both Harvard and Oxford and the Guardian’s chief foreign correspondent for China, among others. It was translated into German. And yet, the reason why the big publishers wouldn’t take it because Sylvia is not Chinese. They didn’t think it was authentic enough despite the story being based on many, many interviews of Qu Leilei conducted by Sylvia herself.
Also at the Oxford Indie Book Fest was The Dawson and Lucy Series author Steve Sheppard, who writes page-turning thrillers full of twists and adventure with a kick-ass heroine and a lovable hero. They also happen to be laugh-aloud funny. So are they comedy thrillers? What to call this unique blending of styles? For lack of an easily marketable label, Steve couldn’t get published by the big leagues. My gain. Again Steve’s books have been praised widely by comedy writers and by his growing legion of fans.
And then there’s Pen Farthing. We launched his book in London this Monday. He was a Sunday Times bestseller who fell out of favour with his publisher because of the uproar over the Afghanistan Evacuation. You’d think that would mean that he’d be even more of a hot ticket. But no. He got blackballed and lost not just his publisher but also his literary agent. Again, his book, Operation Ark, about escaping from Afghanistan during the disastrous evacuation in the summer of 2021, has been highly praised.’
Memories of inspirational people including the legend that was Roger Bannister.
As it is such a wet and miserable day, I’ve been sorting through old loose photographs attempting to put them in some order. I came across this pic from the FOKL (Friends of Kennington Library) Fundraising Gala Night –a launch of the first Oxford Castaway book. I was privileged to interview 120 inspirational people from Town Gown and County. Some of them came to Kennington for this launch. The first launch was in the Ashmolean Cast Gallery where the legendary Roger Bannister gave the closing speech.
Two Kennington castaways in the top picture-Air Commodore Bob Martin and Charles Swaisland are no longer with us but Philip Hind , Professor James Leonard and Prof John Dewey still enrich village life. The broadcaster Bill Heine came to many FOKL events but he too is no longer with us.
The artist Weimin He (in the pic) illustrated the cover and has attended and has sketched at many FOKL events ncluding the wonderful Peggy Seeger when she came to another gala night I organised.
Peggy is also an Oxtopian castaway.
Weimin’s calligraphy and Peggy’s!
The series could have gone on forever but Newsquest stop employing freelancers so my twenty years of writing for the Oxford Times ended. While it lasted it the castaway events were warm, fun and friendly like this one in Antiques on High.
If you are interested in the series, documentary film maker Zoe Broughton filmed this illustrated lecture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NvrzUnGE50
Here are a couple of collages of some of the other Oxford castaways .
The features were turned into three books filled with fabulous photographs and inspirational life stories.
Wow! Philip Pullman and I had the same response to questions.
It’s the wonderful Oxford Arts Week. On Tuesday, I was on a panel in Littlemore church exploring the creative process. This evening, I attended the annual Arts Week Forum which had a distinguished panel including Sir Philip Pullman.
Imagine my delight to discover that I had answered a question in a similar way to him! Asked about how I begin, I explained that some writers know what will be in every chapter but I’m not like that. I have a vision, an idea of the end but mostly I create the principle characters and let them take me on journey.
Philip described how he created the character of Lyra and imagined her in a room where she was not meant to be, hiding and overhearing something she was not meant to hear. Then he let her lead him.
On my panel, some talked of the magic of creation. While Philip did not dismiss that idea, he said ‘The magic comes because you put in the hard graft.’ He stressed that writing is mostly about putting in the time and the effort and the discipline.
The previous evening, I had described an interview I did with Colin Dexter the creator of Inspector Morse. Colin began by saying ‘Education has dominated my being, indeed, my first books were educational not crime fiction. I was Senior Classics Teacher at Corby Grammar School when deafness struck and blighted my life. After that I came here, in 1966, to work as Senior Assistant Secretary at the University of Oxford Delegacy in Ewert House where I continued to work until I retired in 1988.’
I realised that meant he had written his first seven novels in his spare time after the day job and wondered how he did it? Colin joked that after supper, listening to the Archers and a pint of good ale at the local, if he wrote one page a day that was 365 a year and a book written i.e. the hard graft!
With Coli Dexter at an Oxford Castaways Oxtopian event .
Cosmic Cats: A World First for World Book Day? Connecting children across continents. Purrrfectly Pawsome
Cosmic Cats: A World First ? Charming feature on BBC South Today covering the school’s launch .
Click on the link below to see it.
Here’s how you buy a copy
Cosmic Cats brings together stories written by children in my village and in Mumias. Reading and telling stories, creates empathy and understanding. New residents of Kennington may not realise that for fifty years, through KOA, Kennington was the only village in the UK, possibly in the world, which fundraised every year for overseas projects. It was done through events that villagers loved, like the fete, fun run, pop -up shop and children’s concert. Well here’s another FIRST for our village. St Swithun’s CE Primary School and Mumias Primary School in west Kenya have come together to produce this anthology of stories written by pupils. St Swithun’s CofE Primary School, Kennington (Oxon) and the Nasio Trust are proud to announce the launch of ‘Cosmic Cats’, an anthology of stories written by children from Kennington, Oxfordshire and Mumias, Kenya. The book celebrates the collaboration between the two communities to help set-up the first community library in the west Kenya district of Mumias/Musanda.
Cosmic Cats was launched at St Swithun’s School on the 6th of March, 2024 and included a virtual interaction with the children from Kenya. The internationally loved children’s illustrator Korky Paul gave a presentation and well known children’s author, Julia Golding, thanked the authors individually. The public launch and book sales will be from 11-12 am on 9th of March in Kennington Village Centre.OX15PG.
Winnie’s cat ,Wilbur, has endorsed Cosmic Cats as Purrrr-fectly pawsome!
Cosmic Cats Nasio Trust: Feature on BBC South Today
The library will be built by the Nasio Trust led by, Nancy Mudenyo Hunt, the co-author of Not so Black and White .Cosmic Cats will be the first book to be put on display in the Musanda library when it opens in 2025. This has been possible thanks to our long term association with the Nasio Trust. In Musanda, there is a spirulina factory built thanks to KOA. St Swithun’s School took part in the Spirulina Cookbook too. All proceeds from sales £8 will go towards the Nasio library. Cosmic Cats will be the first book in the library so the children will know their library, like Kennington library, welcomes them.
Feel the force of fifty children’s voices. Recognise the bravery of turning an empty page into a living story and celebrate how art and story-telling brings together young people who live continents apart. Cosmic Cats connects Mumias Township Primary School (Kenya) and St Swithuns CofE Primary School (England).
Aged seven, I discovered libraries and a love of reading and writing but the idea that a working-class girl from Luton could become an author was as crazy as eating the straw boater with which my birthplace was associated. Middle class parents can afford to buy books for their children. Lack of access to books for children without them, is a handicap for upward mobility. That is why I asked the illustrator Korky Paul to lead our 400 yard Pied Procession to save our library from closure and it changed the leader of the County Councils mind. Our library is still open and supported by the County Council but it is a community library so the Friends( FOKL) have to raise £4,000 per annum to keep it open. Please support your library . You may not need it but lots of people young and old do.
March 6 School’s launch: Mumias authors
St Swithun’s Authors
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Head Teacher Mrs Knighton talking to Mumias School authors
Korky Paul with Mrs Knighton and I and his rendering of Cosmic Cat! The children had a purrrfectly pawsome time!
To buy copies of Oxford Castaways 2
Go to
http://www.oxfordfolio.co.uk
and click on the cover image.