Open the champagne. Buy the book.

Interview on The Strand: BBC World Service

In February the new book will be out in the UK.

Then there is the Guardian Masterclass weekend with half a dozen other writers 4-5 February in London. On the 19th February we hope to start a new project in the Hornsey Library in North London. A series of two workshops over two Sundays where we will create a House of stories. Places are limited but all interested writers welcome. See House of Stories   for more details.

Dickens House

Last week I went to the newly refurbished Broadcasting House to record my essay on Dickens — The Orphan Eye –  for Radio 3′s series that kicks off the BBC’s Dickens Season. Although you go through the same reception area as before, the inside of the building has changed since I was last there. Glad to see, between the new minimalist decor, a few bookshelves and several stacks of books lining the corridors to studio 58. Fortified with a BBC decaf mocha, I read trying not to rustle the pages. The result, an essay on Dickens and writing and a ghost or two, will be broadcast on Tuesday 20 December at 1045 pm. The other essayists in the series are: Tessa Hadley, A L Kennedy, Alexander McCall Smith and Justin Cartwright . Read more …

Today a parcel arrived. Inside, the first sight …

first sight of The Prisoner of Paradise

photo by Yemisi Blake

My last book was published three years ago. A small book of three stories printed as a limited edition. Then, when I least expected it I heard Granta wanted to reissue my first three books. So while waiting for my next publication, not one but three come along at once. Everything in threes.

Publication day 1 September 2011.

photo by Yemisi Blake

]]> http://romeshg2.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/happy-day/feed/ 0 romeshg First book 3 books http://romeshg2.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/proof-pages/ http://romeshg2.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/proof-pages/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:23:15 +0000 Romesh Gunesekera http://romeshg2.wordpress.com/?p=74 Continue reading →]]> The proof pages came from Bloomsbury on 6 August. Postman didn’t knock. Instead he left the parcel by the recycling bin. Luckily I found it before the collection the next day!

Yesterday, after three weeks of midsummer madness, I had to take the pages in. In a rush, after a misunderstanding of what goes where and what will be printed when. But wait, one more last edit. Page 332 is just not right. Thought about it all along the Piccadilly Line. Stopped at a park bench in Russell Square and inserted: he had a poem. Each line translated from language to language …  

 Okay, that’ll do. Photo op.

Then, on to Bedford Square: Bloomsbury’s new offices.

A square but a circle. This is where I had my first salaried job, back in the late  70s. A small firm in Bloomsbury Street. I remember the red post box. Posting my poems off with hope and SAEs to magazines, north and south, before going through another red door into work. Months later, they’d all come back.

This time no postman but, with luck, the words will soon be printed.

Monkfish Moon

Today the new editions of my first three books arrived from Granta. Beautiful new covers in a series of three: Monkfish Moon, Reef and The Sandglass. Each a world of its own, and yet linked. They should be available in the shops next month. Delighted!

The Sandglass

Reef