Latest Book from Cartwheels Collective Publishing!

And today the new proof copy of 'Not What One Was - A Brief History of the Concept of Justice' arrived! Cartwheels Collective Publishing's latest book with all the required changes, including a red cover instead of blue, and looking good! It should be printed and ready for sale by mid-March. And excitingly, after all the hard work and heartache of agonizing page number layout and font size alterations, the nightmare of Contents page number switches and all the rest that goes with the printing process, we have our first pre-order, having only announced the book a couple of hours ago on Facebook!

There's been a lot of tough administrative stuff lately, and never mind printer-stress, some negative scene things on the work front, as well as more financial worries, so this is all the more heartening and cheering for our tiny editorial team of two at C.C. Publishing!

The new book is a project I'm really proud of. 'A Brief History of Justice' by Matthew Hammond, is a brilliant series of 67 short snappy essays, charting the history of the concept of justice in bite sized pieces from Plato to pretty much the present day. As illustrations/practical examples, the essays take each week's news from last year (and some of the year before) and show how they're influenced by philosophical ideas. It's a completely unique take on both current events, the political landscape, and how the media presents us with the news! Think Roland Barthes' seminal book of popular essays on pop culture 'Mythologies' combined with the lyricism of Walter Benjamin's terrific 'Illuminations' and then mix them with a dash of Pierre Bourdieu's iconoclastic 'On Television' with a dollop of the wonderfully perceptive Michel Foucault, and you may have some idea of what the book's like. It's a great book to 'dip into' as each essay is short, and a fantastic bargain at £9 for a 426 page paperback plus 50p P&P.

The author is an inspirational lecturer, storyteller and stand up philosopher, who has lectured in universities and cafe bars, delivered papers at many academic conferences and performed at many festivals. The essays are taken from his 'Rants of the Week' essays on the Cartwheels Collective website, so if you want to check them out, go to;

http://www.cartwheels-collective.co.uk/Ping_Pongs.html

It will soon be available to order from the Webshop at;

http://www.cartwheels-collective.co.uk/Web_Shop.html

(alternatively e-mail me at; bulletin-editor@blueyonder.co.uk)

The Fencing Philosophers & Poi Poetry

Oh wow! So much seems to happen at the moment. On Sunday I performed in a couple of slots for the 'Cabaret Theatrique' at the new Bike Shed Theatre with fellow performer Deor. Our first set was trying out our new 'Fencing Philosophers' act, where we clash swords (literally!) delivering philosophical aphorisms, maxims, propositions and bon mots in the characters of two C17th contemporaries - the philosopher Benedict de Spinoza (described by Gilles Deleuze as 'the Christ of Philosophers') and the extremely and wittily cynical Duc de La Rochefoucauld. It was the first time we'd shot it past an audience, and they seemed to like it with lots of laughter and applause. The next slot was another recent idea of ours - that of Poi Poetry, as I delivered a fast rhyming piece with tight rhythm, plus fast moving poi twirling. No tricks, just speed (I'll work up to the former!). The space is just a great new venue for the city. The decor of white stage plus pillars, and ice cube style lighting of the bar counter, then red walls and fairylights with comfy sofas and leather squares for the bar - well done to everyone involved for all their hard work in making it such a great space!

Gathering Momentum

It's been all go - the nightmare of proofing or at least having another proof read of, Cartwheels Collective Publishing's latest book, a Brief History of Justice, has been continuing, as author and printer negotiate what went wrong with the galley proofs. As I've observed in previous blog entries, no one publishes a book without being crazy or at best prepared to deal with a lot of stress. So another morning has been spent changing the layout and font of the main text, which in turn necessitates changing all the page numbers...for some 67 chapters...plus the prelims...and then noticing with horror that the last chapter doesn't seem to have been proofed at all! so of course, it has to be done too...Never mind finding those places where a word has been put into 'find and replace', and of course the computer has found a word within a word - say 'rent' in 'apparently' and changed them all regardless so you get a word like 'appatornly' as it takes out the said rent and replaces it with a 'torn' just to use an example. Printing a book is a nightmare, and printing a philosophy book, with all its complex use of language and names of philosophers and philosophical terms, (even in an accessible book of short essays!) is doubly so. Expect a deal of shouting and wondering how your co-editor could possibly have missed this or that.

The answer is of course you/they did. Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason' or J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' spent years, decades indeed before all the typos were gone - a single work, especially over three hundred pages or four hundred pages long will suffer from such mistakes until printed more than once, possibly more than several reprints. It's far too big a task for anyone with three jobs, or for two people with three jobs, to ever get right first time. But the thing is that it is getting done.

Despite (as I've also written before) the easy bit being the writing, the printing being the nightmare, and the actual selling the real hard work, I'm looking forward to seeing a shiny new book by the press ready for sale.

Days Out of Time

Just returned from Bath and Bristol, and a packed weekend. Not long after a brilliant warm-up night at the Storyclub, on Wednesday, on the Sunday, we storytellers were performing as part of Awen Publications' and Icepax Productions' Garden of Awen cabaret night at the Chapel Arts Centre in Bath. The event was beautifully decorated and the venue a really nice one. Unlike many religious buildings converted to other uses, it had intimacy and wasn't draughty. The stage area was quite high, and a nice size. Black and a few white circular bistro tables with upholstered chairs filled the rest of the space, with a bar at the back. Candles were lit on the tables which made play of the mirror-like surfaces, and the house lights were globes on the walls above, shedding a soft indirect glow.

The stage was a vision in red panels which glowed with the lighting rig changes, adorned in red roses for the love theme, with bird cages like Cocteau-style aerial scribbles, all surreal and hanging at different heights behind which were remarkably effective. The evening was excellent with a good turn out, great turns from the likes of Kevan Manwaring (of Awen) who was launching his latest book of poetry, and Saravian a very fine singer/songwriter who sang hauntingly of the theme. The lighting turned the backdrop from crimson to magenta, darkened the background to make everything vivid... Our own couple of sets seemed to go down well, and we had brought plenty of red fabric and pink organza for the theme!

By 2am, I was ready to collapse, having caught up with the ever-hospitable Kevan, renewed contact with two other members of Fire Springs storytellers who I had not seen in too long, had a quick look round beautiful Bath, lugged prop and book boxes to and from town and van, and all in suspense (more of that in a moment). The next day, up early and onward to Bristol, to meet a philosopher friend in the Arnolfini - the perfect place for it, and much catching up was also done! Before finally returning to base, tired but full of good coffee, and a succession of images and conversations...

I had hardly put down the boxes, when I got a call. I had applied, not without concerns as to how possible it would be with 3 jobs, one of which being Spoken/Written with all its attendant commitments, plus another two newsletters to research! - for the post of Apples & Snakes S.W. co-ordinator. The interview had been before the weekend, involving a panel of questioners and a presentation. The decision was to come on the Monday, and so while I was equally divided about concerns for giving the fullest attention to this or that role at any one time, the news came. In a way the best of all outcomes - Spoken/Written and my own role in the scene, the work that it and I as editor do were called 'inspiring' but I was not going to be called on to attempt to juggle four roles, and possibly (and agonizingly) pass on the editorship (of Spoken/Written), even temporarily to another, nor to leave key administrative tasks for the Collective to the others (who had expressed mixed emotions about possible changes).

I felt that perhaps an opportunity of another kind had opened up - a mental space to take with even more seriousness the three tasks which are already mine. And it had clarified the areas on which I (as many artists) need to expand and work to better hone - those of marketing, fundraising, and turning key relationships with the likes of promoters to better account.

I had already learnt so much just from the process of writing such an application, a presentation, answering key questions put by those involved in a large arts organization, perhaps most rewardingly, calling on those I admire or have worked with to give testimonials in favour of the skills I offered...and debriefing with another artist who had applied for the same post. So the whole thing felt worth having done.

And after a weekend of architecture, events and catching up with friends to take my mind from the suspense or uncertainty, it was ended. Another extraordinary weekend. Big thanks must go to Kevan, fellow performers, Will, and Chris, Jon, Dave, and Clive of the Storyclub, Kirsty and Anthony, all those who have made Spoken/Written what it is from readers, subscribers, donors or the Arts Council, and finally to A&S for a most interesting experience.

Starting with a Bang!

What a New Year it's been already! From Spoken/Written having it's funding secured for another six months, to a book FINALLY coming out (after a wait of years) with a chapter in it that I (with my proof reader hat on) had proofed at least three times in different formats, and so felt almost as precious about as if I had written it myself! To having a story published in a really excellent online PDF magazine, 20x20 magazine, and another online publication too. All in the space of a week - it really took some of the bite out of the freezing temperatures, having to miss the Storyclub due to going out in the evening making a cough (that was bad before Christmas and came back directly afterward) worsen, and made up for the fact that the pipes on the bathroom had completely frozen...(don't ask!).

The book which had the chapter I'd proofed was a philosophical reader entitled 'Deleuze and the Fold: A Critical Reader', essays on modern French philosopher Gilles Deleuze's textured and complex book, 'The Fold: Leibniz & the Baroque'. And so the first time I'd proofed it, it was as a paper to be delivered at a conference. This meant of course that I could leave in some speech elements, rather than be heavy on the grammar. The second time was when it was requested for publication, when it had to have all the formality of a written text, plus a full bibliography. The third time was when (having seemed as if it would never get published) having changed editors, the new editors sent it back with comments in Dutch...I eventually figured out what they must mean (being standardized in boxes and hence from the programme itself) by the context...And so at last it's out and I've actually held a copy in my hands! What a relief. It's so good to have it exist in 3D at last! Check out the links below if interested to see what sort of book it was. The chapter I proofed was the last one.

20x20 magazine is a beautifully laid out PDF magazine, and the artwork in black and white is stunning. It had an architectural quality that I really liked and (for the first time ever!) my own story was put next to images I thought were wonderful and also actually complemented the text! The other work was all of a very high standard and all in all, I was really impressed. The previous issues online had made me think it looked a really interesting project with high quality work, but I was amazed how the theme of this issue ('Harmonia Mundi') had attracted such an interlocked body of work. It seemed to me almost as if most of the contributors had discussed beforehand what they were sending, and so it all fitted together as harmoniously as the title suggested! I've rarely been so favourably impressed by the whole of a magazine before - not just the poems, or the fiction, or the artwork or the photography, or the cross-artform 2D works or the lay out or the juxtapositions of work, the way each piece is placed on the page, but virtually everything. I can't recommend 20x20 too highly, (and not just because I'm privileged to be published in this issue!) but because it really IS a work of art. All tribute to the editors, Giovanna Paterno and Francesca Ricci.

All this and workshops and gigs being confirmed and requested - and that despite the weather and remains of hangovers!

Here's a raised glass to the rest of the month, I hope it brings you something long-awaited.

Check out;

Deleuze and the Fold: A Critical Reader

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0230552870/ref=dp_olp_1

20x20 magazine

http://www.20x20magazine.com/

A Happy New Year!

Good news! The Arts Council have granted Spoken/Written Bulletin S.W. and related newsletters six months funding. To say that I'm relieved would be an understatement. This project is not only about keeping Spoken/Written afloat in a swiftly-changing period for the literature scene and its organizations, nor only about expanding Spoken/Written, but also covers research into two sibling newsletters - one for performance arts (theatre, dance, music etc.) and one for visual arts (sculpture, painting, 2 and 3D art, textiles, crafts, photography, video art etc.). Why? Because one of Spoken/Written's original models were the Arts Council's previous three newsletters under those rough headings. And a very fine service they all provided.

It's wonderful to be able to report such positive news, and this success is a tribute not only to the service itself, but to all those subscribers who paid their fees, donated money or sent in testimonials. This is your triumph as much as it is the Editor's. Thank you. The Bulletin and I could not have done it without your help. The word gratitude seems too small, but the cup that holds it is overflowing.....A Very Happy and a Prosperous New Year to you all. Bless you!

Big Thanks to Spoken/Written's Contributors

Spoken/Written and I should know by mid-January whether it has six months grace or not. This is just a quick post to say a HUGE THANKS to those subscribers who have sent in money either by cheque or via PayPal - it means that due to their efforts - check out the Roll of Honour to see who these wonderful folks are! - Spoken/Written has earned 10% of a year's funding by purely voluntary contributions alone. A big achievement, and obviously completely due to these subscribers being willing to support it.

Spoken/Written currently has 86 fans on Facebook. Which also (considering I realize that many subscribers have little internet access, either using only e-mail, or using the web sporadically or in a limited way, and that many have no net access at all, but are passed printed copies in writing circles and groups!) is a good thing and reflects something of just how much support Spoken/Written has.

In a stressful and sometimes oppressive time of waiting, it has been incredibly heartening and often moving, to receive these concrete proofs of how much Spoken/Written is useful to people, and how much it is valued by those whom it serves. Your Editor is immensely grateful. I wish you all a really Happy New Year.

Please keep your fingers firmly crossed for Spoken/Written - and why not make it your new year's resolution to pay a sub fee if you haven't already?

To see the Roll of Honour of those who have made the step to support the Bulletin, check out;

http://www.cartwheels-collective.co.uk/spoken_written_bulletin_Legion.html

To become a Friend of the Bulletin on Facebook, check out;

http://www.facebook.com/pages/spoken-written-bulletin/92213832105?ref=ts