Feeling SO inspired for my ‘ Conversation with the authors’ at TAL 2018

HOW come? Because – I’ve just finished reading Lydia Syson’s book ‘Mr Peacock’s Possessions’ – one of the two books I’ll be talking about with their authors, as part of the fabulous TAL – Thame Arts & Literature festival. LINK HERE

What can I say? Just WOW! The tantalizing description ‘An intimate, intense, beautifully realised novel of possession, power and the liberating loss of innocence’ really gives scant clue to the emotional, poetic, historically illuminating adventure that this book carries you into – with a climax so nerve-wracking and thrilling, that I had to stop and breathe before reading the final pages.

Author: Lydia Syson

Obviously I want you to buy a ticket and come along to Thame library on Friday, October 19, at 10.30am, but REALLY – you have 12 days to scoot along to the Book House in Thame, buy a copy and read Lydia Syson’s book ‘Mr Peacock’s Possessions’ for yourself and I can assure you, that once you’ve left the volcanic (in every sense of the word) ‘Monday Island’ in the middle of the Pacific, and your pulse has returned to it’s familiar rythm, you’ll be so glad you did.

Frederica Bell, left, and some of the family (ancestors of Lydia’s husband whose story inspired the novel) outside a vegetable shed, Raoul Island. 1908. PHOTO: REF: PA1-Q-135-13-2. ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY

And now, I’m about to start my second interviewee’s book, The Story Keeper, by Anna Mazzola, ‘…..a sizzling, period novel of folk tales, disappearances and injustice set on the Isle of Skye’ ( Hmmmm – another island; there’s a theme emerging here).  I’ll let you know how I get on. In the meantime, nip on over to the TAL website  where you’ll find a huge variety of books, talks and other arts and literature goodies to take part in. But hurry – many are sold out and tickets for others running out fast. But, you know, just go for something you might otherwise have chosen and you never know, you just might enjoy a new author, find a new interest or at the very least, experience something unexpected. Hence TAL’s motto: Participate – Enjoy – Inspire

Can’t wait. See you there!

Sonja Francis