Paul’s Comments (group member since Jun 20, 2012)

Paul’s comments from the Q&A with Tahir Shah group.

hmmmm, I just got my copy of Timbuctoo from Amazon and found the first map of London is upside down. Has anybody else found this? Cock up or clue? ( It is a rather beautiful book though )

Writers have been experimenting with various ways of showing their material, particularly in Japan where 'text message' books, self posted online books etc. have been used.This is following on from music where online music etc. is subverting the record companies. Recently a woman writer (I can't remember the name) had her first book accepted but the publisher would only publish it if she did loads of tours,book signings etc. She is an attractive woman and it looked to me as if they wanted to sell her looks as much as her books. I think writers should have the choice of how much they reveal of themselves, surely we want the book , whatever form it takes, and the writer could, if he or she chooses, remain completely anonymous.Having said that, I'm also enjoying Tahir's willingness to engage.The question is Tahir, is it your nature and wish to engage via social media, these Q&As and so on or do you feel forced to do so in order to promote your book?

Sadly I think my library is very unlikely to buy Timbuctoo because of the cost. I have suggested they buy the e-book but their e-book service is currently badly run and any influence I have with the service is only with the book side. Timbuctoo is expensive for the fiction section and doesn't really fit their reference book criteria. Is this of any concern to you? They currently stock several of your previous books and have most of the rest on order.

I agree about the amount of books produced that are badly written etc I also feel that publishers are getting less concerned about good new writing and stick more and more to what they think the market will buy. Far too safe in my view, resulting in 99% of books being not worth reading

What do you read,if anything apart from travel writers( and presumably Lessing)?

Hi Tahir, I'm also a great admirer of Chatwin and Doris Lessing, although I admit I'm still trying to work out some of her stuff and I must re-read her Canopus series, especially the marriages between zones 3,4 and 5 ( I think) which relates to the Alhambra? One of my all time favourite buildings... astonishing place

Hi I'm Paul Wordley, I'm an art therapist, psychotherapist, fundraiser,writer and general dogsbody for Afghan refugee organisations in London. Thanks Tahir, I look forward to the discussion

Self publishing used to be the home of the failed writer and narcissist but with the likes of Timothy Mo and now Tahir Shah that image has changed completely. Big publishers are becoming more like big supermarkets with the emphasis on what is 'guaranteed' to sell. Thus the rash of big name formulaic thrillers, ghosted celeb books and rehashed recipes put out under a TV chef's name. I congratulate Tahir Shah on this move in order to get the freedom to produce such a beautiful book.