YouCaxton has a stand at the Wellington Literary Festival this Saturday, 11 October, 1914, and on Saturday 25 October. We’ll be happy to answer any questions concerning publishing and printing.
All posts by Bob Fowke
Secular Medical Forum
Dr Lempert’s talk, ‘What is Lost’, at the latest YouCaxton Literary Lecture in the Pengwern Bookshop, Shrewsbury, was full to capacity last night. Those who attended heard Dr Lempert’s articulate and passionate description of the effect of religious belief on medical practice in the modern world. (Dr Lempert is Chair of the Secular Medical Forum.) His talk touched on religious fundamentalism in countries such as Pakistan and Israel as well as nearer home in Britain and Europe. It looked at how medical interventions based on custom and belief rather than medical necessity, such as circumcision both male and female, have been sanctioned or tacitly tolerated due to pressure from religious authorities. His description of legal threats and of the machinations of multinational bodies was rivetting.
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher
There’s an excellent review of Hillary Mantel’s latest collection of short stories in the Guardian by James Lasdun although he is perhaps a little tough on her The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher – August 6th 1983 which ‘has an engaging sprightliness, and the situation it contrives – of a captive woman who shares her captor’s loathing for the Iron Lady, almost to the point of being willing to trade places with him (“You go and make the tea and I’ll sit here and mind the gun”) – is full of comic as well as serious possibilities. The problem is that so much of the story’s energy goes into the elaborate mechanics and metaphysics of its counterfactual … Nothing to object to, but it amounts to little more than cheerleading (or jeerleading), which is disappointing, to say the least, after the richly layered political theatre of the Tudor novels.’
More Than Words
Elizabeth Yeoman’s new book of poetry More Than Words was launched on Friday evening, 29th August, to a crowd of more than three hundred in south Shropshire, at Chelmarsh Sports and Social Club. The event was a tribute to Elizabeth’s bravery in attending despite her serious illness. Steve Edwards spoke a few words at the opening and has special words of praise for the makers of a triumphant Victoria sponge cake. A bitter-sweet moment for all involved and a special achievement for a remarkable Shropshire figure. Nearly all the books taken to the event were sold.
Local History West Midlands
YouCaxton’s list of works of local history has been building steadily and writers often approach us with interesting, well-researched projects. Two particular problems sometimes delay publication. The first is caused by the, understandable, reluctance of some writers to exclude hard-worked-for research in the interests of a coherent narrative; the second lies in a tendency on the part of some writers to indulge in a little too much ‘telling’. The rules of fiction apply to non-fiction as much as to fiction if the writer, too frequently, attempts to ‘tell’ the reader how he or she should respond to things related in the text. In general, we prefer it if the facts are left to speak for themselves.
Radio critics: Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph
Those Were the Days, David Corbett’s meticulous history of BBC Radio’s old-time dance output from 1943 to 1991, is receiving glowing reviews. We’re planning a ‘launch ball’ for early 2015.
‘A real work of broadcasting scholarship as well as being a useful piece of social history.’ GILLIAN REYNOLDS, Radio Critic, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph.
‘Those Were the Days’ is wonderful…..it will give me great pleasure.’ PAUL DONOVAN, Radio critic, Sunday Times
‘I arrived home the other day to find a large wrapped paving slab leaning against my door. When I opened the package I couldn’t believe the size and detailed contents there were within. What a magnificent undertaking, and I can’t tell you how much I’ve already enjoyed reading about my early days at the BBC, and so many wonderful names from the past. I shall display the book with pride on my book shelves.’ BILL BEBB, Producer of, ‘Those Were the Days’ 1964.
Humanist Celebrants
The YouCaxton Literary Lecture for July 2014 was given by Victoria Denning at the Pengwern Bookshop in Shrewsbury on Tuesday 22 July. Victoria has been a celebrant presiding over weddings, funerals and baby namings for the past eight years and is associated with the British Humanist Association. She described her work and the multitude of different people that require her services to a curious and entertained audience.
Self-Publishing Shropshire
Bob Fowke talked on the history of publishing and of self-publishing ‘from the Ten Commandments to Kindle E-Books’ in Shrewsbury Library on Wednesday 9 July. He covered many centuries and several countries and ranged through subjects as diverse as the invention of printers’ ink and the dismemberment of John Milton’s body, all to a rapt audience.