What have Michael Rosen, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Professor Irene Tracey, Korky Paul, Paterson Joseph and me in common?
I love the Today programme during the Christmas period, when it has guest editors. Their choice of in depth subject matter is inspirational. First off was author and screenwriter, Frank Cottrell Boyce, on a subject dear to my heart – access to and the importance of books. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00268mh
He talked about books in a tactile way that gives joy. ‘A story can hold you in an embrace.’ He suggested that reading to your child is like a hug that will last the rest of your and his/her life. I am guilty of talking a lot about books for upward mobility because I wouldn’t be an author if I didn’t have access to a library as a child. It may seem that I’m forgetting the pleasure but the two are married. Michael Rosen, the famous children’s author, was the curator of stories at the Story Museum when I cast him away on Oxtopia. He told me that the evidence from everywhere in the world is that children who read for pleasure, do well academically. Read his castaway feature here:.Michael Rosen
I’m delighted that the Oxford Indie Book Fair is growing in size and in public awareness. Our aim is that books should be available to EVERYONE.Tomorrow the Today guest editor will be Professor Irene Tracey, the Vice Chancellor of Oxford University. She generously opened the Oxford Indie Book Fair in 2023.(Seen in the pic enjoying a joke with Korky Paul) Like Paterson Joseph, this year she represents what we want to stand for- inclusion and access to books for EVERYONE. Unlike previous Vice Chancellors, Irene was educated at a comprehensive school- Gosford Hill in Kidlington so she represents Town AND Gown. Most previous vice chancellors have been humanities graduates. Irene is a scientist. OXIB is about that kind of inclusion too – all knowledge, all genres for all ages. Books, art and illustration for knowledge but also for joy and lifelong friendship.
This year Paterson Joseph the actor and Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University opened the fair. He told me how he, like me, would not have had the career he has had without access to Willesden Library–Luton in my case.(See pic at the end) That is why I’m passionate about saving and creating libraries. In my memoir, there’s a chapter on how the illustrator Korky Paul helped us save 22 Oxfordshire Libraries from closure. At the memorial to broadcaster ,Bill Heine, the former Chair of OCC, Keith Mitchell told me that, when we invited him to tea, seeing us demonstrate the importance of libraries in the community helped change his mind . The Pied Piper Procession I organised was the novelist’s way – a case of Show not Tell. We didn’t lecture or hassle him but he had to listen while Korky read to the children. Here’s the chapter with the story :Chapter 30 The underestimated importance of libraries and reading
Korky is also patron of a project I initiated to build the first community Library in Musanda in west Kenya. We hope it will open at the end of 2025. As part of the project bringing our communities together, I produced Cosmic Cats – a book of stories by children from my village school and a school in west Kenya. The zoom launch linking the schools was filmed on South Today. You can watch it on this blog.
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 .
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!
Excellent news about the fab Proof Social but Kennington is NOT a SUBURB but is the site of a world championship
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24256468.oxford-bakery-named-among-best-bakeries-britain/
Excellent news but I object to my village being called a SUBURB by the Oxford Mail! Oxford would love it to be but Kennington has always resisted the take over. My whodunit, Current of Death is inspired by the VILLAGE where I live. In my foreword I describe it thus,
‘It’s an independent sort of place somewhat dwarfed by its famous neighbours. To the north lies academic Oxford with its dreaming spires overshadowing the town with its multicultural east and Cowley car factory where Harry King, the protagonist of my novel Sculpting the Elephant, grew up. Abingdon, which claims to be the longest inhabited town in England, is a few miles south of Kennington. Being overlooked means that villagers have got on with their lives without obvious interference.’
Proof Social Bakery is a perfect fit for the independent culture of the VILLAGE of Kennington. That is why Proof Social appears in Current of Death and why I had a launch there. Round and About magazine covered it and got it right!
It is also the location of a World Championship!!! See below. Proof Social will serve coffee there this year!
Afterwards some of the kind people who attended went with me on a walk to some of the sites in the book . 
To buy copies of Oxford Castaways 2
Go to
http://www.oxfordfolio.co.uk
and click on the cover image.