This is the last day of my blog-week and I would like to thank all those who are still doggedly reading it and those that have commented. And very special thanks to those who, at my personal pleading, have restrained themselves from commenting – you know who you are, only one day left to control yourselves, you can do it.
I’m sitting at my desk looking out at the garden which is in full summer flower thanks to – with a little help from the Almighty – the skills of Marietta, my wife. The truth is that I’ve rather exhausted my blogging repertoire and would like to go out and enjoy the last rays (or rather, first rays, here in the midlands) of summer sunshine; and you should probably be doing the same, so I’ll keep this short.
I’m often asked, sometimes asked – well, was asked once, what type of book is The Ghosts of Eden? Is it a thriller – should beta-blockers be taken before opening? Is it a romance – will my mascara be ruined? Is it a crime novel – must I look for clues? Is it humour – will it make me laugh out loud on a train? That would be embarrassing. Is it literary fiction – will I look erudite if I pretend I’m reading it? Is it a coming of age novel – is there a Kevin in it? Is it horror – must I only read it during daylight hours?
I like reading novels with a little of all the above and I suppose The Ghosts of Eden has some elements of some of those. It’s probably a little difficult to place in the middle of a particular genre. That might present a problem to booksellers: what shelf do they put it on? In Leicester: local author, I guess. Elsewhere? The shelf reserved exclusively for Picnic Publications of course!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll sign off and, as they say in southern Africa, have a sundowner on the stoep, and so should you. Have a good weekend and get ready to welcome Ben Beazley and his historical detective novel, Crooked Mile.
Hello, Andrew,
I’ve really enjoyed reading your blogs this week. Didn’t manage to comment yesterday but found your entry fascinating all the same. Not only have you given us insights into southern Africa, other cultures and the glories of blood soup (!) but also into the life of a writer. I wish you ever success with the novel and look forward to reading it.
Aigen.
Enjoy the sun, Andrew! Thanks for an interesting blog.
I know what you mean about the difficulty of categorising books. I think we’re all a bit ‘crossover’ around here!
I’m catching up on your blog week here from Santa Cruz, California. I must say your forthcoming novel sounds exciting, and especially interesting to me as I spent some weeks in Zimbabwe and Kenya back in the summer of 1989 when things were relatively calm. Once Africa gets in your blood, you only crave for more.
Thanks for your well-wishes and your interest in the novel, Aigen.
Dana, as you say, there’s something about Africa. It’s quite a challenge to convey that in fiction; to try to give the reader its sensations. Some of the best of course are African writers, like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in the same way that Indian writers often capture India so perfectly. Living it, breathing it, clearly helps.
Enjoy living California!
Hi Andrew
I’ve not posted before, despite best of intentions, I ran out of time; where does it go? I’m looking forward to the book launch and reading your book.
Congratulations!
Diana
Hi Diana
Thanks for posting this. We have about 120 coming to the launch but hope we have time to chat. See you next week.
Andrew
Hi Andrew
I’m just about to post a link to your book on my own blog – so have just stumbled across yours! How I wish it was true that Leicester bookshops have a shelf marked ‘Local authors’. I will shortly be summoning up the courage to approach a few to take my Firebridge to Skyshore book. But I know they tend to work from lists sent down by Head Office – very cetralised these days. Though Mary did well with her local memoirs which is more appealing to them. You can only try. And dream of that shelf …
Thanks for your comment and nice to see that I can be stumbled upon in cyberspace. Hope you didn’t stub your toe! There are enough Leicester authors for a dedicated table for us all near the door of the bookshop. Perhaps we should work on that.