Carys Bray's Blog, page 11

A new list

A Song for Issy Bradley is at number 9 in Random House New Zealand's Top 10 International Titles to Bookmark in 2014. I've read number 1 and number 2 - The Kept by James Scott and The Lie by Helen Dunmore - and I thoroughly recommend both novels.

MMU Novella Award

Following the successes of the Manchester Fiction Prize, Manchester Metropolitan University’s Cheshire Campus is launching the MMU Novella Award in 2014. The Award is open to any unpublished novella of between 20,000 – 40,000 words and any entrants in the English-speaking world are eligible. The prizes are £1,000, publication through Sandstone Press and representation by Diana Beaumont of the

U.S Cover

Look what I found on the U.S Random House website today.






Isn't it lovely? 



Some of the things I love about it:

It feels a bit retro (it reminds me a little of the cover of A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian). 

The way the fish is floating above the bowl.

The water drops look like tears.

The way the house sits above the water, almost like Noah's Ark. 

The blast of light behind

The Shock of the Fall

I haven't read much for pleasure recently. I'm still working my way through my PhD poetics reading list and last week I rather unexpectedly (and possibly ill-advisedly) started writing something that may turn into a novel. Anyway, yesterday I decided to have a little break and I began reading The Shock of the Fall, a book that has been recommended to me on numerous occasions. Within a few

Deleted scenes and characters

I was recycling a massive stack of draft chapters of A Song for Issy Bradley when I came across some early storyboards/outlines. It was really weird to read notes about long-forgotten characters who didn't make it into the book - it was a bit like finding a surprise menu of DVD extras.

I had completely forgotten that the Bradley family (Bradbury at one time - the surname needed to be similar

Lists

It's the time of year when people make lists; lists of books they read during the previous year and books they intend to read in the next 12 months; lists of resolutions and goals for 2014. 
I was excited to see A Song for Issy Bradley on a few lists: 'Hot 2014 Books' in the Express newspaper, 'Ones to Read in 2014' at The Writes of Women blog and in Chief Executive of the Bluecoat Mary Cloake's

Happy Birthday to Me

It was my birthday last weekend. Anyone who has read my short story collection will understand the significance of the present in the photograph.

It's the best present I've had for ages; half-joke, half-very-useful and thoughtful gift as I'll probably be doing some travelling next year with book related things.

P.S When opened, the case was empty. Phew!

Research

I'm starting to think about the next novel (gulp - fears of never finishing the first novel have been replaced by fears of never repeating the feat). I've got a list of things to research, including bus drivers, museum archivists, stalking, trumpet playing and collectors.

Last weekend I visited a friend of a friend to see a collection of dolls and doll's houses. It was incredible. While

Down the memory hole

Last year J didn't get a home made birthday cake. He never got around to telling me what he wanted and suddenly it was the day of his birthday so we popped to the supermarket and bought a frozen cake. After we'd done the whole happy birthday to you thing and the children had gone to bed, J's dad ate the last piece of cake.

For the past 12 months I've listened to J say, 'I didn't have a cake on

Win a limited edition proof of A Song for Issy Bradley

I'm giving away a limited edition, proof copy of A Song For Issy Bradley. I'm including a Books Are My Bag tote bag and I'll sign and dedicate the book.

To be in with a chance of winning you just need to follow this link and 'like' my author page. I'll post the book and the bag anywhere in the world.

The winner will be drawn out of a hat on Saturday 7th December.