Of course, we are facing a world in which digital forms of entertainment have gained rapid ground. For younger people, in particular, they are the the first resort when it comes to choosing how they wish to spend that segment of their leisure time.

I touched on the subject of digitization in my previous post and its effects will have far-reaching consequences for all creators of original entertainment. Those who fail to adapt to the new environment may find that there is no longer a place for their work on any platform.

You can read what Anthony Horowitz has to say on the subject here:

Horowitz Blogging at The Bookseller

I suggest you head on over there and read the debate in its entirety.  It’s fascinating to see it from all sides, some authors clearly very unhappy with their experience of agents and others coming at it from a more positive angle.

Here’s what I had to say:

This is the cover of the German edition of Kumari, Goddess of Gotham, which has just been published by Fischer Schatzinsel in Frankfurt. Like every author on the planet (and if they deny it they’re lying) I’ve checked on Amazon.de and it seems to be going down well with four and five star reviews. For all I know, as I don’t speak German, they could be scathing in their content but, in this case, I’ll settle for blissful ignorance.

What I love about foreign editions are the variations on a title – in this case it has become Prinzessin in New York. I also love the illustration by Annabelle von Sperber and the satisfyingly chunky feel of this hardback edition. That’s the other great thing about translations…sometimes your work acquires epic proportions in the process.

It is with another of his often misquoted sayings, however, that I take issue, especially as today is Mother’s Day for it was also Connolly who said: “There is no more sombre enemy of good art than a pram in the hall.”  Given that Connolly died in 1974 at the age of 71, it is reasonable to assume that he was referring mainly to women artists and writers as hands-on parenting was yet to become fashionable amongst fathers.  In my experience and his vernacular, Connolly was talking utter tosh.

Post motherhood, most creative women I know become even more so.  Sure, we no longer have the luxury of endless stretches of unbroken time to dedicate to our work but, then again, who does?  Live, as ever, intervenes and what more valuable intervention can there be than a child?  In fact, I would hazard that most artistic mothers achieve even more and do so with greater efficiency.  We learn to wring every atom of productivity out of the time we have and push boundaries farther than we did pre-motherhood.

After all, if you can heave out the average-sized child and deal with the dollops of maternal guilt ladled out by society you can certainly handle the odd wayward plot or tricky character.   I think Connolly put it better when he said:  “A lazy person, whatever the talents with which he starts forth, will have condemned himself to second-hand thoughts, and to second-rate friends.”  Now that, Cyril, is more like it.

While you’re there, check out her new book: The Ice Cream Girls.  As thought-provoking, warm and insightful as her other books, this is sure to be a huge hit.  Here’s what the blurb has to say:

As teenagers Poppy Carlisle and Serena Gorringe were the only witnesses to a tragic event. Amid heated public debate, the two seemingly glamorous teens were dubbed ‘The Ice Cream Girls’ by the press and were dealt with by the courts.

Years later, having led very different lives, Poppy is keen to set the record straight about what really happened, while married mother-of-two Serena wants no one in her present to find out about her past. But some secrets will not stay buried – and if theirs is revealed, everything will become a living hell all over again . . .

Gripping, thought-provoking and heart-warming, The Ice Cream Girls will make you wonder if you can ever truly know the people you love

Here’s my latest video – the Biker Goddess stock signing tour to promote Kumari. I spent a day whizzing round the major Central London book stores on the back of a Triumph Bonneville clad only in a sari, a pair of Raybans and a dodgy leather jacket. Move over Isadora Duncan…

The five page special focuses on what it flatteringly describes as the ‘best local writers.’ Not sure how Hanif Kureishi feels about being left out but there you are. In case you missed it, there was another piece a couple of weeks ago about my forthcoming event at the shiny new Shepherd’s Bush Library. You can read that one here.

Here’s me talking about my writing life at the Thoroughly Modern Heroines event which took place at Waterstone’s in Notting Hill – beside me are fellow authors Josa Young http://oneappletasted.com and Kate Morris http://katemorris.co.uk. Click on this entry to see the video and for more check out my Youtube channel AmandaLeesTube…

This is not because of any lack of love of books but rather the result of an intense burst of writing that has seen me publish a trilogy and start two completely new projects in a short space of time.  Compared to the other members of the panel and the audience, however, I classify as a wimp.  In one small area of West London there are eleven known book groups and probably many more beavering away anonymously.  Judging by the discussion that ensued, they are well-read, positively keen to overlook hyped up bestsellers and hungry for excellent writing both classic and new.

The debate bore out the old adage that you should never underestimate your audience.  Publishers sometimes make the mistake of thinking that dumbed down sells.  Maybe in Dan Brown’s case but then he is an exception to every rule.  What was apparent is that people everywhere, from all walks of life, still love and appreciate a good book.  We need more festivals like this to bring together such passionate bibliophiles. 

All praise to Torin Douglas (pictured) for his superb organisation of the event which attracted such luminaries as Michael Frayn, Jacqueline Wilson, Antonia Fraser, Anthony Horowitz, Sir Ian McKellen, Michelle Paver…and me.  All the money raised went to support three worthy charities.

For more about the festival visit:  http://chiswickbookfestival.org

As for that perfect book club book…there isn’t one.  The book club members I met were far too diverse, erudite and interesting to be pinned down to a genre, never mind a single book…

Here are a few dates for your diaries:

Sunday 27th September, 3pm,  I’ll be at the first ever Chiswick Book Festival to talk about the perfect Book Club Book along with Celia Brayfield – sadly I won’t be able to make the Saturday Children’s events as (happily) my best friend is getting married (aaaaaah):

http://chiswickbookfestival.org

Wednesday 30th September, 7 – 9pm, Waterstones Notting Hill – I’ll be talking about Thoroughly Modern Heroines alongside fellow authors Josa Young and Kate Morris:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=101979982767&ref=mf

Saturday 17th October, 2.30pm, Shepherds Bush Library – I’ll be talking about the Kumari trilogy and giving some writing tips

http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/Leisure_and_Culture/Libraries/Shepherds_Bush_library/14295_Libraries_Shepherds_Bush.asp