Just thought I'd post here a couple of readings which I'm doing around the publication date of A Secret Alchemy (anyone who's already seen them on my blog, look away now). If you feel like dropping by for a listen, do come and say hello. And if after that you feel like buying a copy of A Secret Alchemy or The Mathematics of Love or even both, I'll be happy to deface it/them with a signature and a dedication to whichever aunt on your Christmas list will leave you out of her will if you don't come up with something other than bath salts this year.

Wednesday 19th November at 7.30pm: I'm reading from and talking about A Secret Alchemy at one of my favourite indie bookshops, Review, in Bellenden Road, Peckham, which has its very own small but perfectly formed performance space. This is part of the Peckham Literary Festival, and there'll be drinks, nibbles, and the general atmosphere of off-beat literariness which is South East London's hallmark.

Wednesday 26th November at 5pm: I'll be reading at Goldsmiths College. Goldsmiths, in a very real sense, is the birthplace of A Secret Alchemy. Drinks and nibbles, and if you're thinking of doing an MA or even a PhD in Creative Writing, either there or elsewhere, or just want to explain to them why Creative Writing can't be taught, it's a chance to meet staff and students, as there should be a good few of both present.

Emma

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STOP PRESS:

Change of date for the Goldsmiths Reading: it is actually Wednesday 3rd December, still at 5pm

Best of luck Emma. I'm working on those dates, but would love to come hear you at some point!

JB

Ooh, I hope so.

Emma

Still waiting for you to visit Manchester

x

Emma, can't make the 19th -a friend is being sworn in as a lay reader at St Pauls with a service afterwards. Should make great background for a story, so duty first.

I've just put the Goldsmith event in my diary, though. It's my old alma mater, and I remember the great reading of your first book in that Nunhead venue. The drama training certainly shows. I can do a write-up for the alumni magazine, I should think.

Sheila

Casey, yes, if I get there, I'll let you know.

Sheila, it would be lovely to see you on the 26th if you can make it - you must come and say hello. And you might see some old friends. And a write-up would be brilliant!

Emma

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Being a lay reader at St Paul'ss would be cool! I was confirmed in St Paul's, about a hundred years ago, and have sung there in choirs once or twice, but really belonging to a building like that would be so wonderful.

Her home church is in Haringay, and St Pauls just hosts the re-licencing ceremony. She did mention some important officiating Bishop - her eyes went all shiny- but I've forgotten who. She's someone who swims at my local baths before she goes to work. What a commute! I didn't even know you had to have a licence to be a lay-reader.

All the people I knew at Goldsmiths will be long-gone. However, I met the editor of the alumni magazine on a Creative Writing course there a couple of years back. I covered some boring talk about arts funding, so this will be a treat. I think he's moved on, too.

Sheila

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Yes, you're right, it must be lay reader. I like my version, though, for the interesting images it conjures.

Very best of luck, Emma!

Rosy x

Thanks, Rosy.

Licensing lay readers always sounds incredibly medieval to me - you'd need to be sure they weren't covertly spreading heresy and sedition, after all, wouldn't you. Or we'd all end up burnt at the stake...

Emma

Strangely enough, my friend was telling me that at one of these episcopal occasions she asked her opinion on female bishops. She felt she couldn't give an opinion. They must have it drummed into them not to say anything outside their remit. Wouldn't suit me at all. It is medieval in the sense that most of the rituals and customs date back to then. I just thought all you'd need as a lay reader was an expressive speaking voice, as with reading yur novel. Apparently there's more to it, but I shall know more after the 19th.

Sheila

Can't make it in person, Emma, but I'll be there in spirit.

Hope all goes well.

Dee

Dee, thank you.

Sheila, I suppose that they have to check that you actually mean/believe it, but it's a nice question: would it matter if the reader didn't? Mind you, lay readers can actually take services - they only can't usurp priestly functions, like blessing people and marrying them.

Emma

Yes, I think she did do a sermon once, which was really nerve-wracking for her.

Anyway, hope all goes well with the reading.

Sheila

Emma,

I'd love to make the Peckham one - got to rearrange a few things but hope to meet you there.

Susannah

Cornelia, yes, that would be slightly terrifying. I've sung in St Paul's once, but collective things aren't the same.

Susannah, that would be lovely if you can come.

Emma