Hardest scene?

Q. What was your hardest scene to write?

A. From a forthcoming novel: The Battle of Orgreave considered as a descent into Hell after Botticelli…

Read the whole interview here!

It was a great pleasure (virtually, at least) to visit the Tregolls Lodge Book Club in Truro, Cornwall, a few months back. Book groups and book clubs are important to their members, to authors, and to the book industry more widely. It’s always a great pleasure to hear that a book club has been reading one of my novels, and even sometimes to get feedback from them, or – more rarely – an invitation to visit. This one had been in the diary for a while, so it was great to finally meet. Thanks all for your hospitality and great chat! Howard and Jeannie who run the book club also publish a monthly newsletter compilation of interviews with visiting authors, which since we’ve been in touch I have read with interest (and always learn something from other writers). Then it was my turn.

This interview was published in Tregolls 1 October newsletter last year. I’ve been meaning to share it… The interview was actually done the year before that in June ’23, when we were first in contact, but most of the answers still hold – except very sadly my answer to the question about mascot/avatar/spirit animal): beloved Popsy is no longer with us.

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European Poetry Festival

On Thursday 19 June I’m delighted to be taking part in the European Poetry Festival 2025. Make a date for your diaries: Thurs 19 June!

I’ll be presenting a new improvised collaboration with musician and composer Benedict Taylor, as part of Flanders Poetry Night. Three Flemish poets visit London to present brand new collaborations made with British counterparts, just for this special night of ‘Camarade’ collaborative poetry. Celebrating the remarkable contemporary Flemish literary scene and exploring both literary and experimental poetry, this event is held in the beautiful environs of Flanders House, in the heart of London.

The event will open with solo readings by Lies Gallez, Tijl Nuyts and Astrid Haerens, followed by new collaborations featuring: Tony White and Benedict Taylor, Lies Gallez and Mischa Foster Poole, Astrid Haerens and Mark Waldron, Tijl Nuyts and James Wilkes, Elif Duygu and Eleanor Wilders. Flanders house, 1A Cavendish Square. London. W1G 0LD – Free, but booking essential. More info and tickets…

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CLOSES TODAY!

It’s the last day of the special extended run of ‘Thirty-one Years of Piece of Paper Press: artists’ books, artworks and ephemera, 1994–2025’ at the brilliant Matt’s Gallery, London. Originally scheduled to run until 23 March, the show was extended for a further month, but must end today Friday 25 April!

So it’s your last chance to see/touch/read rare artists’ books, artworks and ephemera from Ian Bourn, Pavel Büchler, Peter Bunting, Barbara Campbell, Mikey Cuddihy, Stevie Deas, Joolz Denby, Tim Etchells, Stephanie Fawbert, Rose Frain, Jane Gifford, Bruce Gilchrist, Halford + Beard, M John Harrison, David Hayden, Christopher Hewitt, Steven Hull, Sharon Kivland, Liliane Lijn, Elizabeth Magill, Andrea Mason, Penny McCarthy, Susana Medina, Katharine Meynell, Michael Moorcock, Andrew Mottershead, Courttia Newland, James Pyman, Borivoj Radaković, Sheena Rose, Pete Smith, Gordana Stanišić, Selina Thompson, Suzanne Treister, Alison Turnbull, Joanna Walsh, and more.

And your very last chance to get one of the handful of remaining numbered sets of the beautiful new artists’ books by Andrew Mottershead (POPP.046) and Katie Cuddon (POPP.047) which were published in association with Matt’s Gallery as part of the show.

Best, then, to head to the exhibition running at Matt’s Gallery in Vauxhall . . . Comprising two vitrines’ worth of display copies, proof copies, correspondence, and related miscellanea, it could offer inspiration to anyone who wishes to experiment with their own variations on this ‘simple, miniature and archaic’ format. (The TLS)

Matt’s Gallery, 6 Charles Clowes Walk, London SW11 7AN. 12-6pm today Friday 25 April 2025 only!

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‘One of the best London novels you’ll ever get to read’

That’s what the author and critic Toby Litt said about my 2003 novel Foxy-T in the Herald on Sunday.

You can read much more press for Foxy-T here, including reviews and coverage by Michael Moorcock, Boyd Tonkin, Roy Moxham, 3am Magazine, et al…

Foxy-T is currently out of print in all formats, but there are a few ‘good’ and ‘very good’ condition second-hand copies of the paperback for sale out there for under a tenner!

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Buy Fountain from Matt’s Gallery!

BTW if you want to read my last novel The Fountain in the Forest right now, before the follow-up comes out later this year, you can also buy the paperback direct from the legendary Matt’s Gallery – either in person during opening hours or via the shop on the gallery website!

You can read what people said about the novel on my ‘Press’ page…

The exhibition at Matt’s Gallery in Nine Elms, ‘Thirty-one Years of Piece of Paper Press’, ends its extended run next week on 25 April. New opening times Weds–Fridays 12–6pm (excluding Good Friday).

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Up the Junction…

‘THE BIG READ II: A Dagger of Crime Writers’ at The Bread & Roses Theatre, featuring Heidi Amsinck, Julie Anderson, Alice Castle, Anne Coates, Victoria Dowd, Jennie Ensor, Ivy Ngeow, Tony White, and Diana Wilkinson. Join us for an atmospheric afternoon of crime fiction. This event brings together crime writers reading gripping excerpts from their novels—live, raw, and unfiltered. Expect thrilling storytelling, dark twists, and literary intrigue, all in the intimate setting of one of London’s best fringe venues. The Bread & Roses Theatre, 68 Clapham Manor Street, London SW4 6DZ, 2–4pm. FREE, booking recommended!

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SoA day of action – Thursday 3 April

Today Thursday 3 April is a day of action against Meta, organised by the Society of Authors in the UK.

The SoA is organising a day of protest against Meta following revelations of pirated books being used to train their large language models.

On Thursday 3 April, we are planning a day of action to protest against Meta’s alleged theft of copyright-protected works and to showcase the strength of feeling amongst creators.

Find out more and download your own posters and graphics like this one…

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POPP at Matt’s Gallery extended to Fri 25 April

UPDATE from Matt’s Gallery — it was just confirmed on Friday that the archival display ‘Thirty-one Years of Piece of Paper Press: artists’ books, artworks and ephemera, 1994-2025’ is still available for viewing until Friday 25 April.

New times are Weds–Fridays 12-6pm (excluding Good Friday 18/04) or by appointment, until Friday 25 April inclusive.

Photo: Brett Dee

Then it all goes back into its archive boxes until who knows when!

So if you’ve been meaning to get down to Nine Elms but didn’t already, do come and see the show and get one of the last few numbered sets of these two beautiful new artists’ books by Katie Cuddon and Andrew Mottershead — while very-limited stocks last…

And you can still see/touch/read rare artists’ books, artworks and ephemera from Ian Bourn, Pavel Büchler, Peter Bunting, Barbara Campbell, Mikey Cuddihy, Stevie Deas, Joolz Denby, Tim Etchells, Stephanie Fawbert, Rose Frain, Jane Gifford, Bruce Gilchrist, Halford + Beard, M John Harrison, David Hayden, Christopher Hewitt, Steven Hull, Sharon Kivland. Liliane Lijn, Elizabeth Magill, Andrea Mason, Penny McCarthy, Susana Medina, Katharine Meynell, Michael Moorcock, Andrew Mottershead, Courttia Newland, James Pyman, Borivoj Radaković, Sheena Rose, Pete Smith, Gordana Stanišić, Selina Thompson, Suzanne Treister, Alison Turnbull, Joanna Walsh, and more.

I’m very grateful to Robin and the great team at Matt’s Gallery for this incredible support, which means I can also now complete the work I started back in January, of cataloguing the archive to date — thanks all ;)

Best, then, to head to the exhibition running at Matt’s Gallery in Vauxhall . . . Comprising two vitrines’ worth of display copies, proof copies, correspondence, and related miscellanea, it could offer inspiration to anyone who wishes to experiment with their own variations on this ‘simple, miniature and archaic’ format. (TLS)

Matt’s Gallery, 6 Charles Clowes Walk, London SW11 7AN. Open Weds-Fri, 12-6pm, or by appointment, to 25 April 2025.

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Last chance to see POPP show, closes Sunday!

It’s your last chance to see the Piece of Paper Press archival display at Matt’s Gallery, in Nine Elms, London! The show is open 12-6pm until Sunday 23 March, and features work by artists and writers including Ian Bourn, Pavel Büchler, Peter Bunting, Barbara Campbell, Mikey Cuddihy, Stevie Deas, Joolz Denby, Tim Etchells, Stephanie Fawbert, Rose Frain, Jane Gifford, Bruce Gilchrist, Halford + Beard, M John Harrison, David Hayden, Christopher Hewitt, Steven Hull, Sharon Kivland, Liliane Lijn, Elizabeth Magill, Andrea Mason, Penny McCarthy, Susana Medina, Katharine Meynell, Michael Moorcock, Andrew Mottershead, Courttia Newland, James Pyman, Borivoj Radaković, Sheena Rose, Pete Smith, Gordana Stanišić, Selina Thompson, Suzanne Treister, Alison Turnbull, and Joanna Walsh.

This weekend is also your last chance to see the brilliant ‘No Dimensions’ by Katie Cuddon, which runs concurrently in the main gallery.

One gallery visitor yesterday said that both shows complement one another, that they both felt somehow ‘undone’. This was high praise indeed – thank you!

Here’s what The TLS said:

‘Best, then, to head to the exhibition running at Matt’s Gallery in Vauxhall . . . Comprising two vitrines’ worth of display copies, proof copies, correspondence, and related miscellanea, it could offer inspiration to anyone who wishes to experiment with their own variations on this “simple, miniature and archaic” format…’

The response from gallery visitors, too, whether the many student groups, passers-by, gallery goers, readers, or artists’ book enthusiasts has been incredible – with many people spending an hour or more reading, thinking, chatting… Thanks all!

This weekend is also your last chance to get these two beautiful new artists’ books by Katie Cuddon, and Andrew Mottershead, which are free to gallery visitors as a numbered set, while stocks last.

I’ve been privileged to have been able to spend time in the gallery, where I’ve been invigilating every other Sunday – using this opportunity to catalogue the archive. I’ll be there again this Sunday 23 March, the last day of the show.

Matt’s Gallery, 6 Charles Clowes Walk, London SW11 7AN. Open Weds-Sun, 12-6pm, to 23 March.

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Visit ‘Thirty-one Years of Piece of Paper Press’ at Matt’s Gallery (to 23 March 2025)

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POPP in the TLS today

I’m delighted that the current exhibition at Matt’s Gallery, London, ‘Thirty-one Years of Piece of Paper Press: artists’ books, artworks and ephemera, 1994–2025’, gets a great write-up in this week’s Times Literary Supplement (a.k.a. The TLS).

‘Best, then, to head to the exhibition running at Matt’s Gallery in Vauxhall . . . Comprising two vitrines’ worth of display copies, proof copies, correspondence, and related miscellanea, it could offer inspiration to anyone who wishes to experiment with their own variations on this “simple, miniature and archaic” format.’ (TLS)

Matt’s Gallery, 6 Charles Clowes Walk, London SW11 7AN. Open Weds-Sun, 12-6pm, to 23 March.

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Visit ‘Thirty-one Years of Piece of Paper Press’ at Matt’s Gallery (to 23 March 2025)

Buy The Fountain in the Forest (Faber, 2018)…

NEW: to receive occasional book news and invites to forthcoming events and launches, sign up for my *new improved* newsletter…