Pebbly bits and Celebrating Books

 I have been working in a small notebook I made and designed in Scotland a few years ago. Its funny how it takes a while to realise how those wobbly pebble forms have been working away slowly in the back of my brain...

I  had a couple of commissions for large pebble pendants to do when I got back and this week has seen it all happen. 

I soldered six pebble forms, rolled them, oxidised a few and then got them onto cords. Now to catch up with their prospective new owners for a cuppa and a handover.

We are also busy with preparations for our annual book event - The Big Book Club. This year we are looking at re-writing the Classics - what it means to take a tale well known, and re-imagine it. 

We have focussed on James, by Percival Everett, and Huckleberry Finn. James tells the story from the perspective of Jim, a black slave in the original book. James was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, and won the 2025 Pulitzer along with the 2024 Kirkus Prize for Fiction and the 2024 National Book Award in America and a wonderful book on its own; but better because of it's re-telling I think

We begin with small, facilitated group discussions about both books and then gather together as a larger group for the plenary session, where I will be interviewing Kate Evans from ABC Radio National's book program The Bookshelf.

Always a challenge interviewing a highly skilled and talented interviewer!

We will be discussing what re-tellings and re-imaginings do; how they work; when they don't work; and what it means to take somebody's story and tell it again, differently.

I am really looking forward to it but am still beavering away trying to make the interview flow...

I am sure it will be great event on Saturday 19 July 2pm - 4pm (doors open at 1.30pm for afternoon tea delights). Bookings here...