TSFG member Anthony’s book launch was held in Leamington on Saturday 6th April. ‘Small Wars in Madrid’ is his fourth novel. A packed audience included many members of TSFG. For more information and to order your copy, click here

Associate member Mez Packer interviewed Anthony about his new book.

Above – Anthony reads from ‘Small Wars in Madrid’. Below – the audience, including many TSFG members.

Cover image.

April 2024 is a busy month for the Tindal Street Fiction Group with two members launching novels. First up on Saturday April 6th 2-4pm in Leamington is the launch of Anthony Ferner’s fourth novel, Small Wars in Madrid. (click link for more information and to order a copy). If you wish to attend the launch, please leave your email in the comments and we will send you details.

Some reviews:

Small Wars in Madrid is a thoughtful novel about trauma, coming-to-self, and the sometimes inextricable links between such complex processes. ‘ — Ilana Masad, author of All My Mother’s Lovers

‘Anthony Ferner’s easy, fluent and often witty writing style breezed me through the story of David Aguilera, a Spanish naval commander pursued by professional and personal guilt and failure. As well as searching for some kind of atonement, Ferner’s protagonist grapples around trying to establish a religious and cultural identity for himself that proves shifting and tenuous. It’s a captivating page-turner with a skilfully-constructed narrative so from page one I’d signed up for Aguilera’s journey. He appears to await judgement from all sides and I was invested in the outcomes. Characters and settings alike are captured succinctly in precise and economical prose and there are many moving scenes between family members that I found particularly absorbing. It’s a story with real depth and empathy. ‘  — Fran Hill, author of Miss, What Does Incomprehensible Mean? and Cuckoo in the Nest

Later in the month, April 25th at 6:30pm at the Kitchen Garden Cafe in King’s Heath (B14 7SA) Heath Bookshop hosts associate member Elizabeth O’Connor’s launch of her debut novel, ‘Whale Fall’ (click on link for more information and to order a copy). Elizabeth’s book was the subject of a bidding war (won by Picador) and she was featured as one of the top ten debut authors in the Observer recently. Unfortunately tickets for the launch are sold out.

Some reviews:

‘I didn’t want it to end’ – Maggie O’Farrell
‘Powerful . . . written with a calm, luminous precision’ – Colm Tóibín
An Observer Best Debut of the Year 2024

The quiet cadences of Whale Fall contain a deep melody of loss held and let go. It is a gentle, tough story about profound change’ – Anne Enright

Here’s the link.

Associate member Elizabeth is one of the writers featured in the Observer’s 10 Best Debut Novelists in 2024. Her novel ‘Whale Fall’ was subject of a bidding war and comes out in April from Picador.

From the article: ‘Set… in an isolated island community off the coast of Wales, on the eve of the second world war, it’s an exquisite, evocative coming-of-age story that takes place in a world on the cusp of great change. The arrival of two anthropologists from the mainland to research a book on the island’s customs throws the inhabitants into disarray and gives the young protagonist, Manod, an opportunity to imagine a new life.’

Read more here. The ten novelists are pictured below. Elizabeth is third from the left.

Amanda says:

Great news just in—LOOK AT YOU, my collection of short stories, dated from 2001 to now will be published by Peepal Tree Press in 2024. I am overjoyed. The linked stories which are located inTrinidad and UK, explore themes of displacement, belonging and loss. So happy to have Peepal bring them into the world.

Alan Beard has had two pieces published online. The first ‘Snow, 1979’ was also nominated for Best Microfiction 2024. Here it is: https://trampset.org/snow-1979-b0827903e7c3

The second story ‘Green Man’ was published by Fictive Dream . Find it here.

TSFG members Mick Scully, Alan Beard, Gaynor Arnold and Steve Bishop talked about their personal memories of Joel Lane and his time in the group at the recent Joel Lane day at Voce Books, Digbeth. The event was well attended; it was good to see Joel picking upp a new audience.

Pictures below: Steve (top) and Alan reading (giving Gaynor a headache by the look of it), and the new editions of (some of) Joel’s books.

Update, Nov 26th 2023: Proof copies arrive:

Long time member Anthony has his fourth novel coming out from Fairlight Moderns. Here’s what the cover will look like:

Here’s the publisher’s blurb:

“Alone in his Madrid apartment and faced with the prospect of losing his family, David Aguilera confronts his conflicting Catholic and Jewish identities to reconnect with his wife and children.”

Anthony adds: ‘the action takes place in an only slightly parallel Europe that is fraying at the edges… Aguilera is a naval captain with the ‘European Defence Force’, awaiting the judgement of a court of inquiry into the sinking of his vessel on the Baltic Sea and watching his family life founder along with his career.’