The Refugee post

<>I promised to do some research on the issue of refugees and here at last are the results. I’ve decided to move beyond the specific issue of ‘unaccompanied children’ so we don’t get bogged down in definitions, so much of what follows applies to all refugee children.

Please check the links and judge for yourself whether or not you feel happy about the way many children who come to this country are treated in the UK. <>This first link is from the Refugee Council and lists 205 different articles. These seem to be archived in a way that means I’m unable to link to the individual articles. Check out the one on the report on the first page by the Chief Inspector of Prisons (I assume most people would consider this to be from a respected source) about children held in detention. <>

This is a quote from another of those links that I have managed to copy and paste:

The UK government is locking up thousands of children and their families in immigration detention centres. Refugee Council has joined with Save the Children UK, Bail for Immigration Detainees, together with Scottish Refugee Council and Welsh Refugee Council in a campaign that aims to put a stop to locking up innocent children.

Children and their parents aren't told how long they will be detained for - it could be days or many months. For many of these families detention is particularly traumatic because they have come to the UK to escape terror in their own country, often at the hands of state officials.

• 2,000 children or more were detained in 2004
• They had not committed any crime
• Over 30% spent more than 7 days locked up

For children, the effects of detention in the UK have been shown to be extremely damaging. Children feel they are being punished but don't understand why.

Despite the fact that these families comply with immigration regulations, the UK government is increasing its use of immigration detention for children.

See BBC Radio 4 All in the mind for a report on the campaign
I haven't had a chance to check this myself yet ...

Click here to Read the report on the alternatives to detention written in July 2006.

I also found the following quotes:

‘Nothing can justify an immigration policy that involves locking up children. All the research has shown how incredibly damaging it is for children who may already have experienced serious trauma. There are alternatives which have been successful in other countries. It is time to end this inhumane practice.’ Maeve Sherlock, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council:

‘Detention is a stressful and confusing environment for children which has huge physical and psychological implications. The UK Government cannot defend a policy that has such a damaging effect on children when viable alternatives exist. These children have done nothing wrong; the Home Office cannot justify locking them up.’ Colette Marshall, UK Director of Save the Children

This next link is to a report by John Bercow MP, Lord Dubs and Evan Harris MP written in July 2006 for the No Place for a Child Campaign:
The report states that ‘The Home Office is in contravention of a series of national and international legal guidelines and is failing to protect children who are being detained in the UK as part of the immigration process.'

<>

Please also check the link to the Refugee Council press release written in July 2001 also on the list (again apologies for lack of direct link). I’d be interested to hear if this situation has changed since.

The headline is ‘Refugee children arriving alone are being left unsupported and unprotected, reveals UK report’ and includes the following areas of specific concern:

· Many separated children, some as young as 15, are expected to look after themselves like adults; there are still anomalies in Government funding to local authorities

· separated children are kept locked up in detention when they have committed no crime

· racism and racially motivated attacks in the UK add to the fear and trauma children have already experienced

· most children are only given temporary immigration status (Exceptional Leave to Remain), leaving them in fear of being returned and insecure about planning a future

· increased barriers across 'Fortress Europe' are forcing children into the hands of dangerous smugglers and traffickers as their only way of reaching a place of safety.

Here are a couple of quotes from the article:

‘The level of support an unaccompanied refugee child receives from the local authority can be a lottery and one of the most worrying practices is that of placing young people in unsupported B&B accommodation. The UK currently lacks a strategic approach to the reception and care of separated children. This needs to be urgently addressed if we are to stop vulnerable children falling through the net.’ Judy Lister of Save the Children

‘It's clear from this report that separated refugee children are not getting the same level of care as any other child would receive under UK childcare legislation. But we should never forget that any child is a child first and foremost and a refugee second. We have a duty to these children under domestic and international law and they must be protected.’ Margaret Lally of the Refugee Council

This next link is to a report by Statewatch written in November 2006 which suggests there has been little improvement. (I wish I could copy and paste the most shocking parts … damn my techy shortcomings! Please follow the link.)

I also found another really disturbing report on the way in which some children are being failed by the system. It’s on the 2^nd page of the original link headed “unaccompanied children” and makes for some really upsetting and disturbing reading.

I apologise if some of the quotes above may seem out of date. Unfortunately, some of the newer links are in a format that I can’t work out how to copy and paste. I used some of the older ones where this was the case but in order to get the full picture you will need to check the others yourself. Please don’t take my word for anything - click the links and check for yourself to see if you feel this country is falling short in acting in the interests of the children involved.

Please note: this post is by no means intended as an attack on the people working in the field, many of whom may well be good-hearted and humane and trying to do their best given the political restrictions under which they are forced to operate.

It seems to me the government is trying to juggle two contradictory imperatives: the need to protect children with the pressure maintained by the tabloid line that feeds voters’ fears that the country is being overrun.

Please do click the links and judge for yourself whether you believe the balance is right. I’ve only just scratched the surface of the information available.

I have no doubt that there are unscrupulous people working to use the system for their own ends. But I feel this is a necessary evil if we are to ensure the wellbeing of every child. Personally I’d rather be exploited by some rather than risk missing one genuine child. But that’s just me …

In an ideal world, we would feel able to do something practical to alter the horrific conditions these children are escaping from. But what can we really do about civil war in Somalia or the situation in Darfur? My personal view is that this is the country where I live and vote. The treatment these children get here is being done in my name and here is where I feel most able and responsible to put on pressure to protect these children.

At the same time I’m fighting despair. How many of us were opposed to going to war in Iraq and warned of the consequences? But it still happened and as a result there is now a new wave of refugees coming from that area of the world.

<>All I feel able to do is ensure this information is out there so people can judge for themselves if they feel enough is being done to protect vulnerable children and care for them appropriately. Meanwhile I will do all I can to support the campaigns working at grassroots level and the individuals within them as well as those working within the system who are asking these same questions.

I've rushed to publish this in order to shift the focus back onto the real issues. If I've missed anything or if any of the links don't work, please let me know. Apologies for the weird format of some bits. Making it look pretty wasn't a priority!

Thanks for listening.

Running for Refuge

Some facts about domestic violence:

• 1 in 4 women experiences domestic violence at some point in their lives

• 2 women are killed each week by a current or former partner

• Domestic violence kills more 19-44 year old women than anything else - more than cancer or road accidents
  

• In 90% of domestic violence incidents in families, children are in the same or the next room and in 50% of these cases, children are directly abused themselves

Until 35 years ago, the vast majority of women in these situations had no choice but to stay in the relationship. Then in 1971 Erin Pizzey opened the world's first women's refuge in Chiswick, west London.

Today, Refuge operates a network of safe houses offering emergency accommodation to 900 women and children at any one time. Demand always exceeds supply, yet they still manage to offer their lifeline to up to 80,000 people a year.

They also have an outreach service to support women when they move on from the refuge and they ensure that all their services are culturally specific.

Together with another organisation, Women's Aid, they operate a free 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline providing emotional and practical support.

0808 2000 247

This year, G's running the London marathon in aid of Refuge. They rely on charitable donations and are constantly struggling to raise funds for their services - even though those services can and do save lives!

If you would like to sponsor G and help make a difference, you can donate directly here.

Thank you!

A steep learning curve

Sometimes you need some distance.

I've decided to revisit the battlefield of Outrageous 2. Now that time has passed and I've reread the arguments, I can see it with a bit more perspective. At the time I was aware that I had lost objectivity. Communication had broken down and I knew that had to be partly my responsibility.

The only solution I could see at that point was to withdraw, concentrate on other things and then come back with a fresher eye and hopefully more balanced perspective.

So - this is how I see it now:

I take full responsibility for my initial post, which was intended to express my exasperation about bureaucracy. Perhaps naively, I never expected the issue of defining or proving the existence of 'unaccompanied children' to become the focus. Among my own circle it would not have been. But a blog isn't only seen by my mates!

I can't talk about individual cases or risk identifying people so I'm unable to provide the kind of information necessary to prove the specific claim made in the post.

On the general issue of unaccompanied children, I'm going to do some research to see if I can provide evidence that will not compromise any individuals. If anyone reading this has relevant information, please pass it on in the comments section or email me at info at debialper dot co dot uk.

However, I accept that the way I phrased the original post has led to frustration. I stoked up emotion but then failed to equip people with the means to do anything practical to try to make a difference. If I was unable to do that, I should not have published the post in the first place.

Would I do it differently if I had my time again? Yes, definitely.

I will be very careful in future not to dash off posts on such vital subjects without thinking through the implications. I clearly hadn't done that in this situation.

I'm still getting used to having these global conversations via my blog with my direct voice 'out there' and available to everyone.

I'd imagine that's true for all of us. It's a steep learning curve and I'm still climbing.

His space

Blimey! No sooner do I post my first YouTube link, than I follow up with this link to myspace.

Should I be getting out more? Not when there are gems like this to share!

Afterrabbit and Liver and Lights are the brainchildren of John Bently. John is an artist, writer, poet, performer ... and he makes books - in every sense of the word.

Here's how he describes his work:

Afterrabbit are an occasional band centred around the rantings of crazed yet strangely sensitive poet John Bently. First conceived in 2003, the band play live a few times every year, the gigs usually coinciding with the launch of one of Bently's infamous and bloody mindedly hand made publications. These are published under the collective heading of Liver and Lights...so far there have been 37 volumes in 20 years, stuffed with illustrations in editions of about 200. People seem to collect them! All over the world! The last four have contained Afterrabbit recordings and the new one, Liver & Lights no 37 Van Gig Zine contains a dvd of them performing earlier this year at the launch of Three Songs and a Camper Van, where they invited the audience to bring home made instruments to the gig to perform with them. What Fun! When it comes to jam, shoes and music Afterrabbit believe Home made is best!

I went to this gig. (Who says I never go out?) It was amazing - the home-made instruments included a crutch with string attachments, three lengths of hosepipe with cones on the ends, an ancient transistor radio with a fretboard added on ... and much more. When the audience joined in to jam with the band, the result was not only good music but was also strangely uplifting ...

Anyway, check them out. John also blogs here. I can promise you, you will never have come across anyone quite like him before!

My, how time flies ...

Check this out. Of course it would be much better if I could do that direct link-thingy to the video on YouTube ... new year - same old lack of techy knowhow ...

Anyway - the point is - the gorgeous dancer on the right with the afro is my goddaughter!

I know it's a cliche, but I can't help thinking back 20 years to the hairy-shouldered snuffly new baby looking for all the world like a miniature sumo wrestler ... Now just look at her ...

Me ... me ... on me blog

Happy New Year everyone.

This is a timely meme thanks to Amy Nelson-Mile - who liked it so much she posted it both here and here.

So - here are the first sentences of the first post on my blog from each month of the old year:

January

Saturday, January 28, 2006

My very first post

Testing ... I'm in a blog panic.


February

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

What kind of parent ...

Can you imagine your eleven year old doing something so bad you would throw them out of the house?

March

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Schools fools

So my son has got into the secondary school of his choice.

April

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Fundamental design fault - 'Off' switch not included.

Dear Creator,
I am writing to point out a major design fault in your model Homo Sapiens Version I in the hope that you will take my comments into account before launching Version II.

May

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Choices. Would you choose to have them?

I've been thinking quite a bit about this stuff.

June

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

I'm back - and to prove it - I'm here ...

Hi all! Thanks for keeping an eye on the blog for me and for keeping me alive in my absence.

July

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Two new reviews blast their way into the blogosphere

Maxine and Crimeficreader have both written really thoughtful reviews of Nirvana Bites on their blogs.

August

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Funny thing, time ...

Never enough of it.

September

Monday, September 11, 2006

Deep in the ether, something stirred ...

Now what's going on???

October

Sunday, October 01, 2006

ocCult Fiction

I've finished copy editing Minx's book, Coven of One, published by Skint's company, Opening Chapter and due out 31/10.

November

Thursday, November 02, 2006

A coven for all of us

I was a long way from home.

December

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Welcome to my world!

I seem to be on multi-tasking megadrive at the moment!

On we go to the next 12 months ... looking forward to seeing you here - or there ...

Behold - a blog is born

I'd like you all to join me in welcoming Meloney Lemon to the blogosphere. After a difficult incubation period, Meloney has just given birth to a beautiful bouncing baby blog.

You may have come across Meloney before on my blog - here, here and here. She's a writer, poet, artist, loyal friend and parent with a keen wit and a frequently surreal take on life.

You remember those early days when your blog first blinked its way into the radiance of Blogworld, don't you? The tears ... the tantrums ... the sleepless nights ...

Then, as the months roll past and your blog takes on a life of its own, you get - the tears ... the tantrums ... the sleepless nights ... But at least now you have someone - lots of someones - to share them with.

Then there's the laughs, the stimulation, the debates, the warmth, the support and the feeling of belonging to a community that you have helped forge ...

So I hope you'll all open up your hearts, minds and templates to Meloney. Welcome aboard, babe!

I'm outta here

We're off to Brighton to house and cat sit for friends for a few days.

As we always vote for spontaneity over planning, I can't say when we'll be back!

Hope you all enjoy the holidays. Stay safe and make the most of the dying embers of 2006.

Outrageous 2

The responses to my post re unaccompanied children coming to the UK are too important to risk being lost in the comments section, so I'm starting a new thread, giving space to both the comments and my replies.

Lehane said:

The simple fact of these cases is that there is a strict legal requirement on Social Services to ENSURE the wellbeing of these minors. In fact all Government agencies have very very strict minors care systems in addition to the legal requirements in place. If you and others believe this is not the case in this instance then this should be highlighted immediately to the Government Minister responsible for Social Services via your local MP.

This and Lehane's previous comment casting doubt on the facts (and I can assure everyone that I would not have posted them if I hadn't been certain they are facts) took me by surprise. My post was about these children's lack of eligibility to free school meals. It never occurred to me that anyone would question the reality of these children's experience.

I acknowledge the practical problems associated with dealing with unaccompanied children. What are the alternatives - bearing in mind the existing pressures on social services and the lack of suitable foster parents or places in children's homes?

Social Services have many 'legal requirements' - but we all know there are gaping holes in delivery through which children fall, often with tragic consequences, as Minx pointed out in her comment:

Social services are hideously under-staffed and there are not the facilities to house people who do not come under 'normal' bounds.
I agree that it should not be happening but also know that there are massive holes in the system that allow such things to pass un-noticed. That is, of course, until there is some dreadful tragedy which brings the whole matter to light.

I find the situation in which these children find themselves desperately sad - but I despair to think there are people who would deny their reality exists. Even the Home Secretary conceded the system is failing when he declared his department 'not fit for purpose'.

Lehane's next point:

However, let's not forget that these children are now going to school, have a roof over their head, are being fed and SHOULD be getting all the support expected for a minor...something they would have not been getting wherever they have fled from. It's easy to condemn the failings in a system, but these failings are actually a massive improvement on what they have come from.

Yes, there can be no doubt that anything would be an improvement on what these children endured before coming here. The very definition of the word 'refugee' is 'one who seeks refuge' - often from unspeakable horror. But this is dangerous thinking. Taken to its logical conclusion, almost any kind of ill treatment or neglect could be justified as a 'massive improvement on what they have come from'.

As for not 'condemning the failings' (failings which previously had been strenuously denied earlier in the comment) how else do you try to change things for the better if not by pointing out injustice whenever and whereever you see it?

Lehane:

And, I can assure you, these children never made it to the UK alone ...

Aaaaaggghhh!!! How do you know this about these particular children? And if you don't mean them in particular, I think it's really important in a debate this important to choose your words with care so there's no possibility of misunderstanding. These children are not in a position to defend themselves or tell us their experiences in their own words!

Lehane:

... in many many cases there are "hidden" adult family members working the system to their own benefit, whilst the bleeding hearts fall over themselves to protest against those actually trying to support these children.. There are agents and facilitators that have brought them here, being paid for by families in the originating country and the extended and hidden families here.

I accept that you see a different side to this issue and don't doubt the situation you depict exists. You say 'many many cases'. How many? What proportion? Even if you say it's 50% (and I would need to see concrete evidence to support such a figure) that would still mean 5 out of every 10 children who are completely isolated having survived unimaginable horrors.

And as Minx says:

However these children came to be in this situation is irrelevent, as is trying to shut ones eyes and think that it can't possibly happen.

Back to Lehane:

It's easy to be outraged when you only see and get one side to a story...whether it be the Daily Mail or the Guardian/Independent headline viewpoint on the conflicting extremes.

But what you're giving out here is the standard Daily Mail line! Everyone's out to get us; they're all spongers wanting to exploit the system for their own ends; whatever we do is more than they'd get back home; the 'bleeding hearts' should just shut up. Oh - and the Guardian and Independent espouse radical extremism!

Lehane:

But I have to say, and I hate having to say it, this post is dangerously misleading in making people think refugee minors are left to fend for themselves and to their own devices in the UK, as the first comment from crimeficreader proves. Nothing could be further from the truth and if it is happening, as you assure here, heads would roll and prosecutions likely to take place. Surely that responsibility lies with you now to ensure action?

I have misled no one! The children in FB's school are one example of some of the appalling treatment meted out to genuine refugees. I know personally of people, adults and children, who have been subjected to levels of inhumanity and injustice in this country that I consider sickening and shameful.

Your final sentence about responsibility is the only one with which I wholeheartedly agree. It is my responsibility and now it's the responsibility of everyone reading this.

I take my responsibilities very seriously indeed - which is why I'm backing the school in their support of these children and making sure I do all I can to publicise - not just their individual case - but also what they represent.

No hard feelings, Lehane! I've said before that I welcome debate. You espouse views I'd never normally be exposed to. It's only by allowing our perceptions to be challenged that we can see if they hold up.

Mine do!

Congratulations! You're a winner!

Hey you! Yes, I'm talking to you! Did you know you've been named as Person of the Year by Time magazine?

According to Lev Grossman, technology writer at Time,

'It's about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes.

For seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, Time's Person of the Year for 2006 is you.'

We always knew how powerful we are and the potential this offers. Now it seems we're getting wider acknowledgement.

But we should never forget that with power comes responsibility. So it may be as well to reflect on Time's choice of winner in 1938 - one Adolf Hitler.

Letting the light in ...

Happy festivals of light to all.

Whether you celebrate Chanukah, Xmas, Yule, Eid, Diwali or no specific festival, I wish you all light, peace and happiness and hope that 2007 will be the year when all our dreams come true.

Thank you all for your support, encouragement and upliftment during my year of blogging.

Outrageous!

At First Born's school, there are a number of unaccompanied children who come into the country as refugees. At the age of 14+, they live alone and have to cope with their traumatic past and complex present with no adult support apart from that provided by the school.

Now get this - these children are NOT entitled to free school meals!

How can this be possible?
Because the application form has to be completed by a parent or guardian and these children have neither!

Is this just a ridiculous feature of an uncaring bureaucracy?
No - it's worse than that. It's a deliberate attempt by this miserable government to fend off criticism about people coming into the country and claiming benefits.

Is this acceptable?
If you have to ask that question, I have no answer you would wish to hear ...

What a lovely rejection!

No one feels good about rejection.
Sometimes the reasons for the 'thanks but no thanks' can be irritating in the extreme. (See here.)
But it's not always that simple.

My agent has forwarded a letter from a publisher that has induced paradoxical feelings of upliftment and encouragement coupled with a heartbreaking reality check.

'As a committed South Londoner I particularly enjoyed the early sections of the book - Alper does this part of the world very well indeed. I also enjoyed the wackiness of it all; it was utterly different to anything else I've read recently. The dialogue is really lively and the characters feel utterly real - particularly Sky of course.

However I'm afraid that, commercially speaking, I thought it would be very difficult to relaunch Alper successfully after the two Orion books, and with such a determinedly (and charmingly) off-the-wall novel as this. So I'm afraid I have to pass - really sorry, as I did think this had a spark about it.'

I'm fully aware of the realities of the current state of publishing and have posted about it before (see here) so this only confirmed what I already knew.

In yesterday's Independent, Christina Patterson writes:

'Traditionally, there have been two models for being a writer. The first is one of daily assignations with the muse after a hard day at work. The second is abject poverty. There is a third, of course. In this model, you get garlanded with praise, showered with awards, feted, flattered and filthy rich ... about as common, I'm afraid, as a politician's apology or a lunar eclipse.'

So there we have it. There is no middle way where you make enough from writing to feed, clothe and house your family.

I've tried. I wrote 3.5 books as a manic example of the first model. Then last July (just as the final instalment of my two book advance came in) I took a year's sabbatical. At the end of the year, having finished Me, John and a Bomb, and set up my website and blogs, I decided not to go back to work. (I posted re that decision here.)

I've never regretted it for one moment. I have been able to devote myself wholeheartedly to writing and all the associated activities. I have been writing Depth Charge, have appeared at reading groups (see here and here), attended a book launch in Cardiff, organised a successful literary event, was part of a competition judging panel and, of course, have developed this blog, making many unforeseen wonderful friends along the way and publicising my novels. I've also been able to organise and attend the writers' group midweek 'coffee caucus'.

I've also been available to parent my children in the way I consider ideal. I've gone on every school trip and helped with every homework assignment. I've had no problems fitting in weekly visits to see my dad.

But the figures don't add up. G is a highly qualified swimming teacher and is working hard but his hourly rate is crap. We do a few photography jobs but can't rely on these to put food on the table. My income from writing currently runs into 3 figures - per annum - from public lending and copying rights.

So the harsh reality is that I'm going to have to look for a job. I can't see any way round it. I'll try to find something that fits in around the school hours. It would be good if it was local, so I don't have to spend hours travelling. It would be wonderful if it was related in some way to writing.

I'll try to find the positive in this because that's my way. I'll look at the extra money and be grateful I won't have to think about every penny we spend or be reduced to checking under the settee cushions for lost coins. I'll focus on the good aspects of being out there in Real Life. I'll remember that time is elastic. The more you have, the less you achieve in my experience. Whereas when you're really pressured it's amazing how much you fit in.

But don't ask me to pretend it's my choice or that I feel good about it ...

Prostitutes are in the news ...

Anyone who knows me or who has spent any time checking out this blog, will know the strength of my feelings on the issue of prostitution rackets and the global sex trade. (This was also the subject of my 2nd novel, Trading Tatiana.)

Many thanks to crimeficreader for passing on this link to Danuta Kean's blog. Danuta does more than just give a broader context for the Suffolk murders - she backs up her theories with hard facts. She also talks about the image of the 'happy hooker' in literature.

Discomforting but vital reading for anyone who cares about the 'who' and 'why' aspects of women who sell their bodies and how they are seen and portrayed.

And don't forget to put the pressure on the government to sign up to the Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings!

A Long Post about a Short Story

It takes a particular skill to write short stories. And the Skint Short Story Competition (see here and here) has proved that many of you have it in bucketloads! The overall standard was way above my expectations. I never doubted that making a decision would be difficult. What I didn't predict was that there would be so many entries that could easily have won.

I've posted before about the criteria I used to rank the entries:

• good writing (of course!)
• whether the story fitted the theme
• whether it worked as a short story
• whether it took me somewhere I hadn't been before.

Skint's co-ordination and judgement have been impeccable. Email threads wove their way between Cardiff, Cornwall, Chester, Surrey and London as the debate took shape. We all made our individual choices without conferring. What we did discuss at great length was the fairest way to arrive at a consensus.

In the end we each came up with a shortlist of 6 and ranked them. That was the point at which the subjective nature of the process kicked in.

Bearing in mind that only the top 3 would win, of those:

• only one entry appeared on all 5 of our lists
• 2 people had this as their 1st choice
• the other 3 ranked it 3rd, 4th and 5th.

• one entry was on 4 lists
• but only one person ranked it 1st
• 2 others ranked it 3rd, but the other person had it 5th

• one entry was on 3 lists
• 2 of which ranked it 2nd
• the other person ranked it 4th

• In the shortlist of 6, 4 of us had 4 of our choices
• But that means we all had choices that never made it to the final 6
• There were some cases in which one of us shortlisted a story that others felt significantly weaker than other non-ranked entries

Am I boring you? Are you still here? We agreed we wanted the process to be as transparent as possible. The only way to demonstrate how difficult the decision has been is to show you the minutiae.

What this illustrates is that if your story does not appear in the final 6, it's still quite possible that at least one of us had it right near the top of our list!

Anyway, it ain't over yet. We're now each ranking the shortlisted 6 to come up with a final 3.

Thanks to Skint for organising the competition and asking me to be on the panel. I've really enjoyed the experience and have learned a lot along the way.

Thanks to fellow judges - Skint (again), Minx, Clare and Maxine. The collaborative process worked well I thought ...

And very big thanks to everyone who entered. You made me chuckle, whimper, shiver and occasionally brought me close to tears. Good writing at its best!

If anyone would like feedback on their entry, feel free to email me by clicking 'contact me' here. I will of course only be able to give you my personal opinion, which (as must be clear by now) may well be very different from that of the other judges.

Write on!

Another step on the road

The build up

Last time I was a long way from home. This time I was on home turf …

The posse arrived early at the Crow and helped to set up the book displays and the drink – with care to give equal prominence to both.

Jon at the Crow

The bit with the speeches

Proceedings started with a small experiment – a show of hands if you fitted into each of the following categories:

1. Author

2. Work in publishing

3. Blogger

4. Member of a writers’ group

5. Member of a reading group

6. Involved in the sale or distribution of books

7. Ever read a book!

The results were a perfect illustration of what had brought this disparate group of people together on a cold December night; although many people raised their hands several times, the only thing we all shared was a passion for books.

The guest authors
















Vicky Blake & I found plenty to smile about

Martin Millar with Skint

Kate Bousfield, Derec Jones, Sarah May, Victoria Blake and Martin Millar were all there. Mark Crick didn’t make it unfortunately – though he did phone from somewhere on the motorway between Manchester and Crystal Palace.

There was a very welcome unexpected addition to the guest list when Zoe Fairbairns arrived. I remember reading Benefits and being blown away by it when it was first published back in 1979. 27 years later, it’s still in print. The book captured the zeitgeist to perfection and propelled Zoe into iconic status. I could easily have been struck dumb at meeting one of my all-time heroines, but wasn’t given the opportunity … Zoe, like all the other guests, was warmth and generosity personified.
















Not only did I meet Zoe Fairbairns, but she's holding my book! My cup definitely runneth over .

The bloggers

Then it was time to introduce the bloggerati. Among those who had travelled from afar to be there were Minx from Cornwall, Skint from Cardiff and Cailleach from Ireland. Sadly, Sharon wasn’t able to make it after all. Next time …

Derec Jones aka Skint with Rhian

Once again there was an unexpected newcomer to the list – one that symbolises the power of the blogosphere. Enthusiasm was sitting at home idly blog-surfing. He hopped through some links and came across this post on Britblog and from there arrived here.

‘That’s just down the road,’ he thought. ‘And it’s now!’

He jumped on a bus and was a welcome addition to the throng.

The blog stats
Source: Sifry's alerts/Technorati

• There are 57 million blogs worldwide

• 100,000 new blogs are created every day

• The total number of blogs doubles every 230 days

• There are 1.3 million posts each day

The main event

Derec Jones then introduced the catalyst for the whole evening, Kate Bousfield, who wove her inimitable spell over all present by reading the prologue from Coven of One.

Minx - note co-ordinating book and underwear

The important footnote

Meloney Lemon drew people’s attention to an Amnesty International leaflet publicising 10 December as Human Rights Day. Many of you will know that the issue of people trafficking ranks very high on my political agenda and was the subject of Trading Tatiana. In case you’ve forgotten, the UK has so far failed to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. If you haven’t already done so, please put pressure on the government to perform this minimal step.

The conclusion

Glasses were clinked, credit cards were battered, the till pinged, books were signed and all the authors sold copies of their work.

Organising the evening had been a short but steep and intense stretch of road. I can honestly say it was worth every scrap of the energy put in.

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to a successful and entertaining evening.

Now for the next step on life’s road …

The story so far ...

Met the Minx at Paddington yesterday afternoon.

'Gasping for a fag,' she said.
Went to great outdoors and sparked up. 2 limos + police outriders draw up in front of us.
Princess Anne (I kid you not) gets out of limo 1. She forgets to ask Minx for her autograph. Bet she's kicking herself now ...

Back home. Minx plays on my laptop. She manages to wipe off my email a/c and replace it with her own while I'm in the kitchen cooking. Then she repairs that and spends a long time Googletalking with various strange people.

Bed in wee small hours.

In morning (this morning) she had dyslexic First Born jumping up and down doing exercises and shouting. He produced best homework ever!

Then she abducted both my children.

You'll hear more as soon as I know it myself ...

She's back! Having corrupted them with cake ...

Can you believe it? Yet MORE treats ...

It's just been confirmed that Martin Millar is going to be at the event on Saturday!

Martin's first novel came out in 1987 and since then he's had around 16 books published, the best known being The Good Fairies of New York, which has just been re-issued in the USA . It won't be available in Britain until March next year, although the Crow is able to import the American editions.

On parking for the event: Jon at the Crow tells me this:

Sainsbury's is open until 9pm which means the covered car park with lifts etc, is open until 9.30pm. The uncovered part next to it, is open all the time. There is a limited amount of on-street parking around the triangle - better on Church Road, but that may be quickly taken because Sat night and lots of restaurants etc.

See you there!

Please check this out ...

Check this Very Important Post by Confucious Trevaskis.

And then give thanks for the likes of him and those who have commented who are not afraid to stand up and be counted in the war against articulate ignorance.

Told you to keep watching!

It feels like something new is cropping up every minute!

Sarah May has agreed to attend! Her first novel, The Nudist Colony, was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award. She was awarded a 2001 Amazon.co.uk Writers' Bursary for her 2nd novel, Spanish City. The Internationals, set in and around a Macedonian refugee camp during the 1999 Kosovo crisis, was published in 2003. Her latest novel is The Rise and Fall of the Queen of Suburbia.

The treats just keep getting better!

The Coven/blogmoot event planned for this Saturday is going from strength to strength!

I'm delighted to announce Mark Crick has confirmed he hopes to attend. Mark is the author of the quirky and very clever Kafka's Soup - 14 recipes written in the style of famous writers as diverse as Irving Welsh, Homer and Jane Austen. Published exactly a year ago, Kafka's Soup is now available in 22 countries and is top of the bestseller list in Croatia!

Which means that at this point the guest authors are as follows:

• Kate Bousfield
• Derec Jones
• Victoria Blake
• Mark Crick
• oh ... and ... er ... me.

There may be more in the pipeline, so keep watching this space.

On the blogmoot side, we have Minx coming from Cornwall, Skint from Cardiff, Sharon from Crewe and Cailleach from Ireland - which I suppose makes it an International Literary Blogmoot ...

There's another blog event scheduled to take place in London on the same day. Britblog is hosting a blogmeet in Covent Garden from 2.30pm. As our event starts at 6.30, there should be ample time to attend both. A veritable feast of Real Life blogging! (And Minx (the minx!) had invited Rachel Cooke and Jasper Gerard. Maybe we should all wear 'I'm a blogging moron' badges ...)

Crystal Palace is easily accessible from central London. Click here for a map. The mainline station is a few minutes walk from the Crow. There are lots of bus routes and it should also be ok to park at Sainsbury's just up the road.

So tell me, what possible excuse can you find not to be there?

(Many thanks to the following people who have posted the event on their own blogs:
Sharon, Marie, Crimeficreader, Kate, Pundy, Confucious Trevaskis, John Baker, Cailleach, Pundy, Shameless, Susan Abraham, Equiano.
If anyone else has linked and I've missed it, please let me know so I can thank you properly.)

Vital statistics

Did you know that ....

The richest 2% of people in the world ...

own more than 50% of the wealth.



The poorest 50% of people ...

own 1% of the wealth.


Think about it ...

We can have some really good fun with this!

'...blogs are to the noughties what graffiti was to the Seventies: mindless scrawls reading: 'I woz ere.' It says: 'I'm a moron, but worship me anyway ...'

This is a quote from Jasper Gerard in today's Observer. Scroll down to 'Leave us some moron-free zones'. (Thanks to Fiction Bitch for the link.)

Wanna know what I think? I think Mr G has cottoned on to the fact that he only has to be nasty to bloggers and suddenly his name will be on everyone's lips ...

You don't believe me? Put your hand up if you'd heard of John Sutherland or Rachel Cooke before they bludgeoned their way into history ...

If Jasper Gerard happens to see this post, I hope he'll accept an invitation to come to the blogmoot on Saturday so we can debate his points in person.

More on those literary treats

The Coven launch and Blogmoot event is really hotting up! 6 days to go ...

In case you need reminding, A Coven of One is Minx's magical novel, published by Opening Chapter, Skint's publishing company.

With all the storms raging in the blogosphere of late, the blogmoot will be a timely opportunity for us to discuss the issues face-to-face.

And the Crow on the Hill is the ideal venue for an evening for anyone who's passionate about books. (The Crow blogs here.)

I've sent emails to well over 100 people, sent local and national press releases and alerted writers' groups and reading groups. I've contacted local authors and their agents. I've printed and distributed posters and dozens of leaflets to libraries, cafes and shops.

I'm still waiting to hear from many of the local authors, but I'm delighted to confirm that Victoria Blake has said she'll be there. Victoria is one of Orion's New Blood authors. Her 3rd book, Skin and Blister, has just been published.

I'll let you know about any other guest appearances as soon as I hear.

Oh - and of course, you'll be there. You will, won't you ...?

(Many thanks to Sharon, Marie, Crimeficreader, Kate, Pundy, Confucious Trevaskis, John Baker and Cailleach for posting the event on their own blogs. If anyone else has linked and I've missed it, please let me know so I can thank you properly.)

Welcome to my world!

I seem to be on multi-tasking megadrive at the moment!

Here are some of the balls I'm currently juggling:

• Big time activity round the Coven/moot event on Saturday. (See next post.)

• Photography jobs are like London buses. You don't see one for ages, then 3 come along together. So that's 3 lots of taking pix, trips to lab, sorting, editing, labelling, invoicing, delivering ...

• I'm on the judging panel for the Skint short story competition. My goodness, but some of you are amazingly talented writers! The overall standard is quite remarkable and includes stories that made me laugh, cry, howl in pain, ponder and fly ...

I've read them all and - with huge difficulty - have listed my choices. It was tough at the top, I can tell you! My criteria were: good writing (of course!), whether the story fitted the theme, whether it worked as a short story and whether it took me somewhere I hadn't been before.

Now Skint, Minx, Maxine, Clare and I have to try to reach a consensus!

• All the usual parenting stuff: cooking, cleaning, shopping, washing, helping 11 yr old with homework, helping 8 yr old with homework, parents' evenings, cooking for First Born's primary school reunion, ditto for swimming club party ...

• Visiting my dad (who lives on the other side of London - approx 100 mins away by bus and train)

• Blogging - posting, commenting, surfing ... though not nearly as much as I'd like ... So please forgive me if I've been remiss in following things up.

• Trying to get the flat in a (relatively) decent state for when the celebrity author comes to stay next weekend.

• Writing - oh ... um ... sorry ... please can I have an extension ... I've ... er ... had a headache ... and the cat ate it ... and ...
  

History lesson - circa 2050

(Words in italics appear in the glossary under 'REDUNDANT TERMS'.)

In the early part of the 21st Century, newspapers (printed with ink on paper) still existed. Although some recycled materials were used, the environmental costs associated with their production and distribution were astronomical.

An even greater threat to their survival were the inherent delays. A morning paper could, by its very nature, not include up-to-date reports of unfolding news. With the internet able to report events as they were taking place, the news in papers was no longer new enough.

Features and reviews, previously penned by professionals accustomed to dictating public taste, were far from immune to the changing face of journalism. Anyone with access to a computer and internet connection (in those days the computer was a large box that needed to be plugged into a phone line with wires) was able to publish information and express opinions and make them available across the globe at the press of a button on a keyboard.

The advent of weblogs, known as blogs, hastened the demise of traditional roles within journalism. Bloggers could publish posts on any subject and others could comment on the issues raised in a form of collectively-owned interactive debate.

Many in the industry embraced the inevitable changes and adapted. Others, terrified by the unregulated (and interactive) nature of the World Wide Web prophesied falling standards and anarchy. (See here and here.)

It was no surprise that many of those who had previously enjoyed a heightened status as the sole repository of access to information and opinion felt threatened. Some worked hard to undermine the importance of blogging, provoking much debate. (See here and here . For some of the responses, see here and here and here and here. ) At this time people still believed that if someone was paid to do something like write a review, this exchange of money was in itself a guarantee of quality. The amateurs of the blogosphere argued that, as they were not accountable to bosses or advertisers, their contributions were more likely to be honest.

Within the blogosphere as well, sparks flew as the bloggers strove to identify the parameters within which they operated. This led to some unpleasant spats. One blogger, for example, when debating the independance and integrity of online reviewers, was denounced as a nitwit and a slattern!

The power of the blogosphere was such, however, that newspapers soon became extinct, with the majority of people preferring to have a diversity of sources for their information. Although there were inevitably many blogs of limited interest or dubious content, people felt able to make informed choices as to whom they trusted.

New communities of like-minded individuals sprang up, whose members were able to reach out and speak directly with one another for the first time. They dealt with rogue elements (see the comments here) in a show of collective strength and created a world where ordinary people were empowered to combat injustice and bring about radical change, heralding the advent of the brave new world in which we live today.

The full Monty

There I was trying to tantalise you all by feeding details a drip at a time - and then that Skint goes and gives you the whole lot in one go!

Not to be out done, I'm putting it here too.

Could you do me a really big favour? If you'd like to support this event (even if you can't be there in person) could you post about it on your own blog? For the evening to have the best possible chance of fulfilling its huge potential, we need a really good blogger turnout.

Thanks!

AN EVENING OF LITERARY TREATS! · The London launch of A Coven of One by Kate Bousfield. A magical book – both in content and in the story of how it came to be published. · 2nd National Literary Blogmoot. An opportunity to meet influential literary bloggers – writers, readers, reviewers, commentators and booksellers. · Guest appearances. · A chance to stock up on gifts at the best independent bookshop in town! BOOKSELLER CROW ON THE HILL 50 Westow Street Crystal Palace London SE19 3AF 6.30 – 9.00pm Saturday 9th December 2006

A bit more detail ...

You want to know more about that Something Very Exciting?

Well, she'll be there. And so will he. And hopefully all of you (see blogroll)!

And where is 'there'? Why, here of course.

Watch this space for further details.

Meanwhile delete anything else lurking in your diary for the evening of Saturday 9th December. Believe me, it couldn't be better than what we have in store ...

You are SO not going to want to miss this!

Following the triumph in Cardiff (see also here and here) did you all think that was it?

Clear your diaries NOW for the evening of Saturday 9th December for Something Very Exciting!

I'm not going to say more for now ... except you're going to love it!

Round up of the buzz

Just grabbed an opportunity to fit in my weekly surf. My goodness but there's a lot of blog buzz at the moment ...

Following the continuing rage over the remarks made by John Sutherland, Fiction Bitch is posting here and here and providing some balance in the debate.

There's more bloggy navel-gazing on the issue of whether anyone reviewing a book they were sent as a freebie should publicise the fact and whether it compromises the independance of the review. Check out Kimbofo at Reading Matters, Fiction Bitch (again) and Susan Hill for some different angles on this.

For an example of what can happen if you interpret 'independance' in way that earns the disapproval of the literary citrus fruits, check out the email received recently by Susan Hill.

Dear Susan Hill

After reading your Blog about Book Review pages, I would like you to know that no book either published or written by you will in future be reviewed on our Literary Pages.

In the light of your expressed views, I am sure you will neither be surprised or distressed.

Yours etc.

Dove Grey Reader gives her reaction here.

And DCSC is back with some thought-provoking posts. Glad she's decided not to let sleeping blogs lie.

Debi's guide to the major dos and don'ts of blogging.

So. Here I am. I've been skipping round this here blogosphere for many a moon now and I've picked up several pieces of wisdom along the way that I consider it my duty to share.

If you're new to blogdom, pay close attention. I'm going to impart these pearls to you because no one did it for me when I was just starting out. If only I had known then what I know now ...

This is it then. The Debi guide to the times when it is essential that you turn to your blog. And those times when you absolutely, indubitably, 100%edly, shouldn't be allowed within 50 miles of an internet connection.

WHEN ONLY BLOGGING WILL DO

1. When you're so angry you're screaming into your pillow with no one to hear you rant except the dust mites. And they gave up listening ages ago. In fact they've all got these teensy microscopic headphones and are boogying to the rhythm of your head banging on the pillow. Except the really poor ones who can't afford headphones and who just stick their little dust mite fingers in their little dust mite ears and sing, 'Lah lah lah lah! We can't hear you!'
2. When you're so happy you want to share the cause of your delight and spread the good vibes as far as you can virtually fling them.
3. When you have some really useful advice. (This post being a case in point.)
4. When you need some really useful advice. (Some may say this post is also a case in point.)
5. When you want to share a joke/pain/opinion/debate/stream of consciousness with a wider audience than the wooden duck you bought in Marazion but didn't want or even like but someone broke its beak and damages have to be paid for even when it's a helluva lotta money for a bloody wooden duck even if it's quite a nice piece of wood but it's got a malevolent glint in its eye ...

AND THOSE TIMES TO STAY AWAY. NO, THAT'S NOT FAR ENOUGH. BACK A BIT. BIT MORE. BIT MORE ...

1. When you've popped onto the laptop to check something for your 11 year old's homework and supper's on the stove. Fight that little voice whispering in your ear, 'Go on. Just a quick peek ...' Before you know it, the overcooked food was eaten aeons ago - along with everything else in your fridge, freezer and cupboards. And you've had your benefit cut because your First Born is over 18 - even though he's still in Year 7 because he's yet to hand in his homework.
2. When you're so off your face you can't remember how to open the laptop and find yourself staggering off in search of a hammer and chisel.
3. During a wedding - especially if it's yours - or you're the minister/registrar/photographer/best man/bridesmaid.
4. During a funeral. Unless it's yours. Otherwise the next one will be.
5. When you're driving/bathing/operating heavy machinery/operating on a patient/being shot at.

There are many more of course.

So I'm sending an appeal to all you seasoned bloggers out there. Let's create the ultimate list. Our gift to the world and to virgin bloggers everywhere.

How very very dare he?

Did you hear about John Sutherland's recent article in the Sunday Telegraph, in which he said,
'There are those who see web-reviewing, whether independent bloggery or commercially hosted, as a ‘power to the reader’ trend – the democratization of something traditionally associated monopolized by literary mandarins. And there are those who see it as a degradation of literary taste.'

Degradation of literary taste??? You can imagine the howls of fury zapping round the blogosphere! Check out Susan Hill, Dove Grey Reader and Fiction Bitch for starters. Scott Pack was interviewed on Radio 4 on the subject - apparently he was far more polite than many of us would have been. I'm sure there must be many more people outraged at this pompous snobbery.

Don't worry. If this is the sort of reaction coming from the establishment, it means they're running scared.

The days of the literary citrus fruits are numbered! Bring on the bloggerati!

Some of you are going to hate me!

I've switched to Beta.

I felt a little bullied into it by the constant reminders (felt more like doom-laden warnings) and it remains to be seen how it works out. In the end, I felt like I had no choice. Adapt - or suffer the consequences ...

Please let me know if you have any problems. I won't know what to do about them, of course, but at least I'll know!

Oh and Sharon - please don't hate me ...

This is what we're up against!

If you're feeling fragile about the chances of your baby making it in the big bad world of publishing, DON'T click this link.

If you want the truth about how the big guys sell books - go ahead and click it.

And then give thanks for the indie bookshops and pray they survive!

Definitely NOT a children's book ...

I have mixed feelings about doing reviews when you're promoting your own books. And even more if you're reviewing a book by someone you know. I mean, how likely is it that I'd slate a book written by a mate? (Actually, how likely is it that I'd write a savage review of almost anything, but that's beside the point and would justify a post all its own.)

But if I write a glowing review, will you believe it?

Sod it. I don't care. I'm going to write it anyway and hope you take it at face value.

The book I'm on about is The Three Bears by Derec Jones aka Skint. And the reason I'm reviewing it in spite of the above reservations, is that it provided the most unique reading experience I can recall ever having.

The unnamed narrator speaks directly to his reader in the most intimate and personal way, to the extent that, at times, it doesn't feel as though you're reading words on a page, but have made the leap into the author's head, bouncing along neurological pathways, following his seemingly random thoughts.

But they're not random of course. Although the narrative hops about in time and in and out of present tense (even when dealing with the past), this is clearly a journey with a beginning, middle and end. (Except in a clever twist even these boundaries are blurred - the end is also the beginning and vice versa.)

Derec's heady stream of consciousness and the immediacy of his voice, draws us into each decade so that the reader needs to make little effort to see, feel and taste each era. Every word is chosen with care - the man is also an accomplished poet, remember. There's profound humanity lurking in these pages; questions posed that some would prefer remain unasked; challenges to comfortably-held perceptions.

In an ideal world - one where book publishing wasn't driven by commerce and greed and narrow perceptions of genre - The Three Bears would be in every bookshop and translated into every language. It would probably never achieve mass market status, nor could it ever be mainstream, but I'm convinced there would be many people out there who would be inexorably drawn into this unique and compulsive reading experience, as I was.

Luckily, Derec had the vision and drive to ensure we had access to this and his other books. Go here to order them.

A special day

Happy birthday to my lovely dad!

Born 14/11/14 - work it out. Yep that's right - he's 92!

He lives alone in a 2nd floor flat, doing all his own shopping, cooking, cleaning etc. He also still goes twice a week to the local hospital - not as a patient, but as a volunteer in the A&E department!

Do you have any idea how proud I am of him??? He is absolute proof that, given reasonable health (that's crucial of course), age really is just a number.

Here's a pic of him at his brother's 95th birthday party a few months ago (!)
Dad's on the left.

Who are you?

I'm collecting new links faster than the leaves are falling from the trees.

Can't re- sist ... can't re-sist ...

This one re who blogs and why from Rashenbo is one I thought you'd enjoy ...