After three novels and a book of essays ex TSFG member Julia has published her first collection of poetry, a memoir in verse about growing up as the daughter of an evangelical vicar in Wales. It is attracting rave reviews:

‘These full-throated poems bring to resonant life the story of a daughter whose father’s calling “sits on all our shoulders like a fog”’. (John McCullough).

‘..vivid, intense and freeing.’ (Maggie Mackay)

‘superb, intriguing’ (nation.cymru)

Charlie has another book ‘The Harmony of the Stares’ out with Egaeus Press. They say:

‘Egaeus Press and the marvellously unique Charles Wilkinson join forces once more for The Harmony of the Stares: Ten diversely strange tales, steeped in menace, linked in the most unexpected ways by an auricular theme… These are tales in which music often plays a role: music as ritual, music as language, impossible music, lethal music. But here also are the silences, the stop-gaps between notes, the attempted retreats from the audible world.’

More information here.

Associate member Elizabeth was at the centre of a ten-way auction for her first novel, which was eventually won by Picador. The novel ‘Whale Fall’ has been described as one ‘of incredible intensity, immense control, and devastating beauty. It is that rare combination of a thrilling read and a novel of profound resonance.’ Read more here.

Readers will have to wait until 2024 for its publication. We’re looking forward to it!

Helen has written a piece for the Royal Literary Fund on researching for her novel set in post first world war Ireland and Russia. Tindal Street Fiction Group has a role. Read it here.

Kit’s autobiographical book about growing up in Birmingham has been garnering wonderful reviews. Here’s one from the Guardian, and another from The Scotsman. It has been called intelligent, angry, very funny, and richly observed. It was serialised on BBC Radio 4.

Commissioned to reflect the lives of Ugandan Asians in Britain 50 years after they were expelled by Idi Amin, Ashok’s moving play is part of a trio recently performed to acclaim.

The Guardian said ‘Patel movingly and unflinchingly exposes political, economic and racial tensions between the black and Asian communities in Uganda’s capital.’ You can read the whole review here.

Kudos to Annie Murray, one time TSFG-er, who had an extract from her The Chocolate Girls novel included in BBC Radio 3’s ‘Words and Music’ programme about Birmingham this past Sunday, alongside Morrall, Lodge, Fisher, Coe, Zephaniah, Liz Berry, and other fine Brum-linked writers.

Hear it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0019c18

Kit’s best selling novel ‘My Name is Leon’ has been adapted for television and will be screened this Friday (10th June 2022) on BBC 2 at 9:00pm. It was taken up by Lenny Henry’s production company.

‘Sir Lenny, who previously voiced the audiobook of My Name is Leon, added: “Kit’s writing is so vivid and pictorial, when I was doing the audiobook I could see the characters in my head.

‘ “I rang my office and said ‘we’ve got to do something with this’ and six years later, here we are.” ‘

Kit is extremely pleased with the adaptation and said at the launch: “Every author who has their work adapted, you hope it is faithful, you hope it turns out how you imagined it and it absolutely has been a dream team. ”  Find out more here. Watch a trailer here.

Congratulations to Amanda for this wonderful achievement – well deserved.

Strong opposition, including Colm Toibin (see picture below) but fingers crossed she turns out to be the winner (watch this space). Here’s more information on this year’s list.

Two weird stories by Charlie appear in his chapbook ‘The January Estate’ published by Eibonvale Press.

‘Charles Wilkinson writes with a very classical and subtle touch – the quiet historical writing, the haunting weird tale, shot through with hints of deep strangeness and wildness, elegance and refinement.  This is the type of writing that slowly seeps its way into your mind, and that pulls you in slowly until you find yourself deep in the strangeness of it all. Subtle and immersive.  The January Estate presents a pair of stories that showcase the author’s unique style.’

More information from:

https://www.eibonvalepress.co.uk/chapbooks/Chap17_Estate.htm