Isla's mother, Clare, reviewer of this parish, ‘volunteered’ her daughter as a reviewer for Saving June by Hannah Harrington, a book on which I eulogised a few posts back - and on which Clare initially demurred.   Clare first: “I’m attaching Isla’s (Age 15) view...

  With readers like Sheila life feels that little more special!   "I have to say one of my best decisions was taking out a subscription to newBOOKSmag [as it then was] many years ago.  I am constantly pleasantly surprised at all the new books (from writers I have never view...

The following greetings from Canada allow me to at least keep my New Year’s resolution to blog more regularly (well, at least for the first week of 2012).   “Hello Guy, Happy New Year! Regarding Elsbeth's queries about reading gratification during tough times: For myself, I view...

Even in this crazy run up to Christmas, when we all have more to do than is good for us it's incredible how supportive our reviewers are.   Alison has just put out a quick question in her weekly newsletter asking, How worthwhile is our index in the magazine of reviews added to the website? view...

That's Ms Hicken, Hampshire's Literature Development Officer and Ms Greenaway, Events and Development Officer at Gosport Discovery Centre to give them their full titles. But last Thursday, Angela had devised the quiz and she and Sarah had promoted the evening, bringing together around 50 women view...

Damian Kelleher, a good friend of our sister magazine - tBkmag for pre-teen readers - was on Radio 4's Front Row last night. Damian has 'deep background' in children's books and was talking about his pick of the titles available for this Christmas. And up popped VIII by Harriet - HM - Castor which view...

Just thought I'd share this with you   Dear Guy, I have just completed what I believe to be my fiftieth review and feel that now might be an appropriate time to retire. Although my son has given me an iPad which I am still struggling to learn how to use, it more often than not defeats me view...

The whole point of publicity is to raise awareness before an event. Obvious, yes? So it’s just as well I’m not claiming to be a publicist as it’s only when author Nina Bell sent me the following thank you note that I’ve thought to mention last Saturday’s view...

I was saddened to hear that Diana Norman has died aged 77, although slightly nonplussed that the BBC website felt they had to identify her as 'Barry Norman's novelist wife'! Diana was one of the guests at the first Readers Weekend I organised back in 2002 and a speaker at a Guildford Book Festival view...

These are difficult times for the world of libraries and our many friends therein. Thank heavens the great and the good seem to be galvanising some kind of mass reaction.   Ten days ago Philip Pullman gave an impassioned speech in Oxfordshire where the current plan is to close 20 of the view...

At times the last 10 years have felt like a drunken shuffle - three forward, two back. Too often, meetings with publishers and the great plans we’ve hatched have evaporated before the caffeine hit faded. At least it’s not two forward and three back but it has to be said the book view...