Litopia

Writing On Rails

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:24:26 +0100

The tsunami of advice and self-help books courses, seminars and retreats is one of the few boom areas in the publishing business at the moment - each time an editor is made redundant, they either become an agent, or set themselves up as book doctors. Dave Bartram finds all this onanistic self-regard deeply disturbing (are you an 8-point arc girl or a hero's journey boy?). But can you really achieve truth in your writing when you're following a formula? We're lucky to be joined this week by mega-selling YA author Cathy Hopkins, whose personal experience sheds valuable light on this complex subject. Graham Marks is here too - an accomplished YA author himself, and also a veteran publishing industry commentator too. With Donna Ballman adding her incisive legal mind and Eve Harvey conducting full-body scans in the chatroom, you're in for a great evening!

The Devil & Google Are Raging Inside Me

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 05:00:15 +0100

The e-book is barely with us, yet already it's threatening to undermine the whole publishing edifice. The news that Britain's WH Smith and Amazon are apparently getting into a price war (Dan Brown at £2.78 from Smiths; Stieg Larsson at £2.68 from Amazon) is bad news for everyone - but particularly writers. "Cheaper is not better", says marketing guru Jamie Mollart. "Making something cheaper only makes something cheaper!" It's a terrific discussion - make sure you listen - and tell your publisher to listen, too!

Back With A Bang!

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:52:33 +0100

Our Summer break's over and we're back with a bang tonight - with panellists that include the writers' therapist Dr. Susan O'Doherty from New York, award-winning author and broadcaster Philippa Ballantine from New Zealand, writer and marketing guru Jamie Mollart from England and writer, bookseller and one-woman multi-functional device Eve Harvey live and direct from Edinburgh where the Festival is in full swing.

Summer Reads Special

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 17:44:44 +0100

Litopia After Dark is on its annual summer holiday - we’ll be back live on air on Friday 13th August (superstitious? nous?) but until then, please enjoy this special show that Peter, Eve and Dave have put together featuring a wide range of summer reading suggestions for you. We hope you’re having a terrific summer (if you’re in the northern hemisphere!) and very much look forward to being back with you again...

Don't Let The Editor Touch My Chode!

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 07:32:42 +0100

It's our last Litopia After Dark before our summer break - we'll be back live and kicking on Friday 13th of August, do join us in the chatroom to celebrate - and we're certainly going out with an all-star bang!

Open House

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:10:14 +0100

One hour before last week's Litopia After Dark started, we opened up the lines to anyone who wanted to call in and chat - it was so successful that we're going to do this regularly. Here's the recording of our first OPEN HOUSE - featuring a chat with David Bridger, whose first book is published next week, and some great questions to Peter. To call in, you need the free program Skype, and preferably a headset microphone connected to your computer. But even if you don't have a microphone, you can still take part in the chatroom. Lines are open from 7pm UK time / 2pm EST.
So... join Peter and other Litopians in the next Open House next week!

Does This Book Make My Butt Look Fat?

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:00:11 +0100

"Fiction is dead", proclaims Lee Siegel in the New York Observer. Fiction is now a profession - not a vocation - and that simple fact means that fiction is now culturally irrelevant. In what Siegel calls the Golden Age of fiction - the period immediately after WWII – books such as From Here To Eternity, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Naked and the Dead were not only commercial fiction: they were also massive best sellers that spoke to people’s everyday experience of life. Such books do not exist today. On tonight's show, Cath Murphy asks whether Siegel is right - and if so – how do we breathe life into the corpse of fiction writing?

I Love You More Than My iPod!

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:43:49 +0100

Writers are inherently sensitive people: part of a continuum that at its furthermost extremity finds not just intense creativity but also florid psychosis. So is writing a disorder, then - a maladaptation to the "real" world? Alternatively, are "normal" people (i.e. non-writers) essentially lacking in sensitivity and only dimly conscious of the intensity of their surroundings? That's Dave Bartram's thesis this week, and we're lucky enough to have Dr. Susan O'Doherty on the panel tonight (Dr. Sue is the writers' therapist) to get stuck into a fascinating discussion.

To E Or Not To E?

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 09:17:14 +0100

How green is your e-book? How much do you care about the environmental impact of the words you read... or about the sweatshop workers who assembled your shiny new iPad? Tonight's special guest is Raz Godelnik from Eco-Libris - the organization that encourages readers to do something to make the world greener - and he's got some surprising facts about the relative impact of e-readers compared to paper books.

Think Yourself to Death

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 09:48:13 +0100

Is the internet a concrete realization of Jung's collective unconscious? Dave Bartram believes it is, and tonight advances the argument that viral advertising on the net is effective precisely because of this deep psychic connection to the gestalt consciousness. Indeed, it's a show full of Big Ideas this evening - be careful you don't think yourself to death (which coincidentally happens to be one of the titles in tonight's Commissioning Meeting). Publishing business legend Martyn Daniels is back to explode some myths about the much-lamented halcyon days of the Net Book Agreement - an era when book prices were set by publishers and price competition was banned by law. Some say those days are about to return with the advent of the so-called "Agency Agreement" - pshaw, says Martyn - poppycock!

One K Short Of A Dick

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 10:48:09 +0100

Some new faces on tonight's show - and a surprisingly good turnout in the chatroom (maybe seeking solace from England's dire performance at the World Cup, taking place at the same time as our broadcast). Polymath and science writer Brian Clegg is here to compare notes about the iPad - does this mean that all those other e-readers are now dead? Cath Murphy is checking in from Norway to pose a delicate question: is the "novel" part of "graphic novels" really merited? Newcomer Peter McGrath calls us from the English coastal town of Whitby - in whose public library Bram Stoker first discovered the name "Dracula"... And Dave Bartram is here to speak eloquently about inchoate thought. Why don't you join us live in the chatroom for next week's show - the football alternative is likely to be insufferable. We kick off at 8pm UK / 3pm EST every Friday

Reading, Not Drowning

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:56:00 +0100

The nature of reading is changing, and there is much uncertainty about the implications for writers and the publishing industry. Book sales are in general long-term decline, yet some areas (young adult fiction, for example) are growing. Perhaps onscreen reading is on the rise at the expense of printed books? Or possibly, as one of our chatroom stalwarts points out, Marshall McLuhan's prediction that we are becoming a less literate and more visual society is happening with frightening rapidity? Here to discuss this essential topic tonight are Graham Marks, Dave Bartram, Eve Harvey (our rapporteur from the chatroom) and Donna Ballman. And next time, why not you, too - we'd love to have you as a special guest in the chatroom! It kicks off at 8pm UK / 3pm EST every Friday here.

Siberian Education

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 20:13:14 +0100

Meet Nicolai Lilin - the last of a small and tight-knit community of what he terms 'honest criminals'. Deported to a remote part of Russia by Stalin, the 'Urkas' are an insular, fraternity: distrustful of outsiders and violently opposed to any authority. A huge bestseller in Nicolai's current home country, Italy, Siberian Education is an extraordinary snapshot of a world that no longer exists - part Siberian hunter-gatherer, part Mafia, and wholly unique. Nicolai's story is truly extraordinary, and we're honored to present it as the first show in our new Radio Litopia series, Between The Lines with Peter Cox.

The New Age Of Self-Publishing

Sat, 5 Jun 2010 15:49:50 +0100

Publishing is bifurcating. Until recently, an author only had one option - the traditional and often prolonged publishing route, which involved getting an agent, and then doing a deal with a publisher. But now, an alternative publishing model is emerging, pioneered by the likes of Scott Sigler and Joe Konrath, both of whom have featured on our shows recently. But are such people exceptional outliers? Leaving the hype aside from outfits such as Scribd, Lulu and other vanity / self-publishing houses, just how realistic is it for most authors to consider this route to market? Tonight, our business guru Martyn Daniels ("The Martyn" as we like to call him) takes a beady-eyed view of this increasingly interesting option... and we end up trying to define what the heck is a book, in any case... It's Bilderberg Week, so it's only right and proper that our own international woman of mystery Emma Shortt should be on the show - just don't tell anyone else, or we'll have to kill you. And with Dave Bartram (who anagrams to "Am Adverb Art") and our legal egret Donna Ballman - what else could you wish for? Actually, you'd probably want Eve Harvey reporting from the chatroom - which is exactly what we've got!

Back To Betamax

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 11:32:24 +0100

This week's Debriefer takes a beady-eyed, legal-eyed look at the emerging world of e-book formats and the related contractual issues they raise... what's a poor author to do? Plus the usual transatlantic banter between Donna and Peter as they thrash out the business that is book!

We Are All Misfits

Sun, 30 May 2010 05:34:22 +0100

Here's a rather striking paradox to kick off your 3-day weekend. Given how readily people will stigmatize others - even members of their own family - for perceived deviance from a given societal norm, why is it that the most compelling and popular characters in films and books are huge misfits? Why do we like fictional misfits but, as a society, revile them in real life? It's an issue worthy of the combined intelligence of Dave Bartram, who poses the question, Dr. Susan O'Doherty, who analyzes it, David Bridger, who reframes it, and Amanda Lees, who gives it a darn good talking to.

MUSE Issue One

Mon, 24 May 2010 03:56:38 +0100

Here it is - the very first issue of Litopia's own e-zine - MUSE. To read you copy, simply click on the file link in the same way as you'd play it if it were a regular podcast. MUSE is a pdf file, meaning that all types of computers can display it properly. You will almost certainly have a pdf reader already installed on your computer. But if not, click on this link to download one: http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/ We hope you enjoy MUSE - don't forget to leave us some feedback inside the Colony!

Joe Does It Again

Sun, 23 May 2010 08:45:00 +0100

Our favorite iconoclastic author Joe Konrath is having fun shaking up the publishing business again (listen to him on Litopia After Dark here) with his recent Amazon deal... Joe's got all the bases covered now, why does he need publishers any more (or agents, Peter adds...)? Also in this week's Debriefer... How the agency model may fall afoul of UK’s anti-competition laws (yes, you heard it here first some weeks ago)... and a so-called literary agent turns out to be a conman. Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox. Got an inside tip for us? Then send it to debriefer [AT] litopia.eu

Dances With Smurfs

Sat, 22 May 2010 20:26:01 +0100

The British government has a creative solution to the growing unemployment problem: their Job Centers are offering unemployed women jobs on X-rated websites. Female applicants are told they can earn up to £700 ($1000) a week if they have explicit phone conversations with customers. Since Litopia After Dark is nothing if not an equal-opportunity arena, we're giving our very own Dave Bartram an opportunity tonight to run his very own male, seriously hirsute and a bit grumpy chat line... the result is, well, oddly stimulating. Our special guest tonight is Simon Flynn, managing director of highly-respect indie British publisher Icon Books. Together with marketing whizz Jamie Mollart and high-flying author and lawyer Donna Ballman, tonight's show is our usual blend of seriously cutting-edge thought and flippantly blunt-edge humor... we think you'll like it!

Heed Your MUSE!

Thu, 20 May 2010 13:01:09 +0100

Something very special will shortly be happening to those listeners who subscribe to our shows using iTunes or other podcatcher software (such as the Zune). The first issue of Litopia new ezine, MUSE, will appear, as if by magic, in your feed on Monday! In this special show, Litopia's John Quirk and Jamie Mollart talk to Peter about the magazine itself - how it started - and what ambitious plans they have for it. With big-name contributions from the likes of Lee Child, Bernard Cornwell, RJ Ellory, international YA success MG Harris and Charlaine Harris, MUSE's first issue makes gripping reading! And if you don't subscribe to our shows in iTunes - don't worry, there will be a link in the Colony's main menu for a free download.

I Slipped On A Stream Of Consciousness

Sat, 8 May 2010 11:25:40 +0100

Litopia After Dark is officially an election-free zone... not! What - you didn't think we'd pass up such a golden opportunity to deflate our leaders and betters, did you? Labour, Conservative or Lib Dem, we'll skewer them all tonight. Plus - award-winning social media whiz Jamie Mollart reinvents publishing - are you paying attention, Random House? - there's a whole lot to learn from Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights. Special guest Graham Marks, an expert in the children's/YA publishing area, is reading the zeitgeist tealeaves and Donna Ballman gets into seminar mode with the importance of "watchers" in story. With Dave Bartram making a welcome return and Eve Harvey corralling a time-warped chatroom, it's just what you need after a long night on the hustings.

800.001

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:24:14 +0100

According to recently uncovered documents, one in five librarians has engaged in sexual trysts among the stacks, and 51% of them are willing to pose nude for money. That's the headline news from this week's Debriefer... and if that doesn't get people flocking back to the libraries, then nothing will! Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox. Got an inside tip for us? Then send it to debriefer [AT] litopia.eu

Cognitive Theory For Breakfast

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:08:43 +0100

Why do we read fiction? Why do we care so passionately about nonexistent characters? And what underlying mental processes are activated when we read? Professor Lisa Zunshine, Bush-Holbrook professor of English at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, aims to answer fundamental questions such as these: she's at the forefront of this pioneering and cross-disciplinary fusion of cognitive science and literature... and she's one of our two special guests tonight. Another pioneer in quite a different field is bestselling author J. A. Konrath. He's blazing a trail doing what many publishers can only dream of - actually making serious money by selling eBooks. After five hundred rejections for nine unpublished novels, his tenth book, Whiskey Sour, was picked up by Hyperion in 2003. But that was just the beginning for Joe - he now makes over $100,000 a year from his Kindle sales alone. And this evening, Joe has a radical message for publishers and authors everywhere - ignore it at your peril! Our regular panelists Eve Harvey and Donna Ballman complete an internationally stellar line-up for you... and not forgetting Lord Bare's bulletin's from a so-sharp-they-might-cut-themselves chatroom... it's a classic show!

In a Beautiful Pea Green Boat

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:07:02 +0100

Time for catch up with John Quirk - the writer from the Isle of Man (a small island 32 miles long & 14 miles wide in the Irish sea) who is taking his first steps with his own publishing business Nemesis Publishing - a type of venture that more and more writers will be flirting with in the future. Press day beckons - John's received his first submissions... and there's a giant pumpkin involved, too!

A Matter of Life & Death

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:45:16 +0100

"The must-read of the year," says acclaimed crime writer Val McDermid, "probably of the decade." High praise indeed for Sue Armstrong's A Matter of Life and Death. Today we're talking to Sue about her new book that profiles some of the world's most eminent and pioneering pathologists. This is a hidden world, yet one we will all inevitably encounter at some time in our lives, for pathology lies at the cornerstone of modern medicine. It is pathologists who are responsible for recognising new diseases such as AIDS, SARS or Bird Flu, and for diagnosing which cancer a patient is suffering from. And it is pathologists who must explain the cause of death at the autopsy table. A Matter of Life and Death tells fascinating stories of mysterious illnesses and miraculous scientific breakthroughs. But it is also crammed full of extraordinary characters - from the forensic anthropologist with his own Body Farm in Tennessee to the doctor who had a lung and heart transplant and ended up using her own lungs for research.

The Debriefer: A Degree in Vampirism

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:01:38 +0100

Where can you get a degree in Vampire Literature? Why is big publishing acting to put little bookstores out of business? Why has a respected publisher suddenly started to threaten its most ardent readers? And what is the meaning of life? All these questions, apart from the last one, will be audibly answered in this week's Debriefer! Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox. Got an inside tip for us? Then send it to debriefer [AT] litopia.eu

The Agent Vs. The Amazon Women on the Moon

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:05:23 +0100

First came the fireball - searing its way through the Midwestern skies, turning night into day and scaring the bejesus out of the simple-minded but fundamentally good folk of Garrison Keillor country. Then came the volcano - spewing its pagan Icelandic filth and obscenity into our delicate lungs and our precious jet engines, like some latter-day Ragnarok - and screwing up publishers' travel plans for the London Book Fair. And then... to top it off - came tonight's enhanced-oestrogen edition of Litopia After Dark! What a week! Tonight's guest are Eve Harvey, Donna Ballman, Dr. Susan O'Doherty and Cath Murphy - and with a chat room approaching boiling point - it's an eruptive show!

The Writer Exciter: Affected But Unsolicited

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:06:19 +0100

Eve Harvey is back to add impact to your syntax... to cut your buzz... and to tantalize you with this week's cliffhanger. Write to Eve here: writerexciter[AT]litopia.eu

The Debriefer: The Fake John Grisham

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:21:22 +0100

Stan Lee... Simon Singh... and the fake John Grisham... all brought to you naked and unadorned in this week's Debriefer, as we once more report from that strange place in spacetime where publishing and the law converge... Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox. Got an inside tip for us? Then send it to debriefer [AT] litopia.eu

The Hero's Journey In Wet Socks

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:23:18 +0100

In an era when everyone is talking about “the death of the humanities,", cognitive approaches to literature just may be the Next Big Thing that rescues college literature departments from the institutional death of a thousand cuts. What does this mean? Well, sticking readers into an MRI machine and observing how their brain changes in response to the passages they're reading... that's one example of a cognitive psychologist's approach to demystifying the writing process. Getting to the root of people’s fascination with fiction and fantasy is like “mapping wonderland” one researcher believes. So - great idea? Or Orwellian nightmare? Listen to the show and decide for yourself. Litopia's man with the golden Tweet is our special guest tonight - Jamie Mollart - and together with regulars Eve Harvey, Donna Ballman and Dave Bartram - and David Bridger reporting from an superheated chat room - it's an incendiary show!

Six Months in Sudan

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 19:53:58 +0100

In 2007, James Maskalyk, newly recruited by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), set out for the contested border town of Abyei, Sudan. An emergency physician drawn to the ravaged parts of the world, Maskalyk spent six months treating malnourished children, coping with a measles epidemic, watching for war, and struggling to meet overwhelming needs with few resources. What he saw, he blogged... so successfully that soon, a book deal came looking for him. That's how the international bestseller Six Months in Sudan began. It is the story of the doctors, nurses, and countless volunteers who leave their homes behind to ease the suffering of others, and it is the story of the people of Abyei, who endure its hardship because it is the only home they have. In today's extended program, James shares with us some of his experiences, wisdom and hopes for the future - inspiring listening indeed.

Lord Mandelsauron Upsets Everyone Again

Sat, 3 Apr 2010 15:40:32 +0100

In Parliament's dying days, the UK's Digital Economy Bill will be pushed into law next week - without a full Parliamentary debate, and without most people fully understanding the sweeping measures it contains (e.g. disconnection without trial for people who are suspected of downloading copyright material). Rushed legislation is bad legislation, explains Martyn Daniels on this week's show. Novelist Amanda Lees makes a welcome return to ask, why is there so much misery in "quality" literature? There seems to be a widespread belief among publishers that "depressing" somehow equals "worthy", Amanda believes - and that anything light-hearted or even vaguely entertaining must be consigned to the "light and fluffy" pile. Have we completely forgotten that a book can, God forbid, be entertaining? That one of the most basic human needs is for a damn good story? Together with regulars Donna Ballman and Dave Bartram - and Eve Harvey reporting from the chat room - it's a broth of a show!

Introducing Radio Litopia

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:03:50 +0000

Last night's abandoned Litopia After Dark (only the second time in our two year history) demonstrates the saying: "I.T. happens". However, yesterday's loss is today's gain as we take this opportunity to produce a specially-extended Saturday edition of Litopia Daily, entirely dedicated to answering your questions about the imminent launch of Radio Litopia... what's in it for you? Lots!

The Writer Exciter: Possessive Apostrophes & Other Relationship Problems

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:55:48 +0000

This week's show (or weeks' show?) is all about relationship problems - what do you do when an apostrophe simply gets too possessive? It could all end in tears; but luckily for us, agony grammarian Eve Harvey is here to talk some plain common sense! Plus our regular features Word of the Week and the Buzz Cut.

The Debriefer: Girl, You’re No Madonna

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:49:01 +0000

David Baldacci... Lindsay Lohan... and the entire nation of France... all grist to The Debriefer's mill as we once again report from that strange place in spacetime where publishing and the law converge...

In Memoriam Sid Fleischman

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:12:40 +0000

To celebrate the life of Newbery Medal-winning author Sid Fleischman, we are re-broadcasting his interview with Donna Ballman that we first aired some two years ago. Sid was an inspiration for many authors. In addition to writing children's books, he worked for the Children's Television Workshop, and also penned numerous screenplays, including Blood Alley (with John Wayne), The Whipping Boy (with George C. Scott) and many others based on his own novels. He was the father of Newbery Medal-winning writer and poet Paul Fleischman - the only father and son pair to receive Newbery awards.

Yeastiality And Your Rising Platform

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:20:03 +0000

How far do authors have to go to promote themselves on today's web? Have we pulled the curtain back too far? Does knowing more about an author help to build their readership - or does it detract from the reading experience? That's the theme of special guest New Zealander Philippa Ballantine tonight. And Canadian Geoff North has a modest proposition for you to consider - why don't agents and writers cooperate with each other at an earlier stage, rather than insisting on sight of a full manuscript before giving it consideration? With with regulars Donna Ballman and Dave Bartram - and Eve Harvey reporting from the chat room - it's a Marmite of a show!

The Writer Exciter: Relative Pronouns

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:34:06 +0000

Relative pronouns are who, whom, which, whose, and that. The two that cause the most trouble are that and which... do you know the difference? In this show, Eve reveals a foolproof method of always knowing which one to use! Plus our regular features Word of the Week and the Buzz Cut. Etymological ecstasy! Write to Eve here: writerexciter[AT]litopia.eu

The Debriefer: Dark Side of the Oscars

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:14:42 +0000

Was JK Rowling snubbed by this year's Oscars - or vice versa? And the dark side of the movie industry's awards ceremony is... big ticket litigation! Where there's a hit, there's a writ...

Are These Bollocks Necessary?

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:33:12 +0000

If you frown on bad language, you're going to hate tonight's show: it richly merits its explicit tag in iTunes this week. So don't say we didn't warn you! "Why do people not mind reading about rape, vivisection, murder, and genocide" asks our special guest Mur Lafferty, "but throw an eff in there and they're writing you an angry letter!" So is swearing the sign of an unimaginative mind? Is it "necessary" for writers to sometimes use bad language? Listen - and decide!

The Debriefer: Shouting Fire in a Crowded Theater

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 20:39:24 +0000

Threatening the president... online newspapers... and giraffe attacks... all part of the rich tapestry that is today's Debriefer. To what extent should you be allowed to shout fire in a crowded theater? The phrase refers to a famous Supreme Court case that explored the limits of First Amendment protection of free speech. What do you think? Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox.

Yes, We're Talking About Twilight & Harry Potter Again

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 11:15:49 +0000

Could our literary culture be shaping our genetic inheritance? A startling idea; but in this week's show, special guest Dr. Susan O'Doherty discusses surprising new evidence suggesting that that the accelerating pace of cultural change may be redefining our genetic identity. Does this mean that people who grow up reading romantic novels are more likely to select certain types of spouses? Listen and find out! With social media whiz Jamie Mollart on the panel, as well as our regulars Donna Ballman and Dave Bartram, its a class act all round. And Geoff North provides regular updates from the all-impoirtant chatroom - so you won''t miss even the tiniest morsel of witty goodness!

A Date With Nemesis

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:32:13 +0000

It's time for another chat with John Quirk - the writer from the Isle of Man (a small island 32 miles long & 14 miles wide in the Irish sea) who is taking his first steps with his own publishing business - a venture more and more writers will be flirting with in the future. How is Nemesis Publishing doing - and how is John finding the transition from writer to publisher?

The Debriefer: Inside The Subduction Zone

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:15:44 +0000

Don't like that snippy book review you got? No problem! Sue the bastards(in France) for criminal libel! Or maybe you've just been sued for libel in the infamous British courts? Easy! Simply move to Arizona! Today's DEBRIEFER with Donna Ballman works the wrinkles, inside and out, to bring you the latest from the subduction zone where ice-cold publishing meets the molten magma of the law. Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox.

When Titanic Floats and Ice Sinks

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:26:48 +0000

It's a welcome return tonight for New York publisher Philip Turner, whose lustrous credits include works by Barack Obama, Senator George Mitchell, the bestseller IBM and the Holocaust – and the massively controversial book by Ambassador Joseph Wilson, The Politics of Truth. A year ago, Philip was a top-ranking corporate publisher - today, he runs his own editorial services business... suggesting that as "big publishing" contracts, the turmoil can generate opportunities as well as adversity. So can the "creative destruction" that's currently cutting a swathe through the traditional publishing business have its positive side? Philip certainly thinks so. Our other panellists tonight are Donna Ballman, Dave Bartram and John Quirk. Eve Harvey provides regular updates from the all-impoirtant chatroom - so you won''t miss even the tiniest morsel of witty goodness!

Advice for the Lovelorn

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:12:06 +0000

To split, or not to split...that is the question on this edition of The Writer Exciter. Should an adverb get in the way of true grammatical perfection? There are so many reasons to stay together... and yet, parting opens up so many new options. It seems that the split infinitive may have been given a raw deal over the years, so Eve Harvey and Peter Cox discuss whether it truly deserves it. Not only is there relationship advice for verbs, there is also a Buzz Cut to be effluented over, a Wow Word supplied by one of our wonderful listeners and a Cliffhanger for you to ponder. Write to Eve here: writerexciter[AT]litopia.eu

The Writer Exciter: Affairs of the Colon

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:56:15 +0000

Do you know your colon from your semicolon? Its not just a matter of comma vs full stop, you know. Eve Harvey delves into the inner workings of all things colonic... and Peter Cox listens with horror. Also, the Word of the Week is provided by our first listener contribution, the Buzz Cut is given to a very, very big word with Germanic origins and we give the answer to the Cliffhanger from last weeks show. All this and much more... if you can stomach it! Write to Eve here: writerexciter[AT]litopia.eu

The Debriefer: Billionaire Fireman Cowboy with a Heart of Gold

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:37:24 +0000

What do women really want? Harlequin publishers really do appear to know, and it usually involves a terribly scarred man with a compelling physical presence, blazing with an internal fire women long to be scorched by. Jeez! Also - we mock the NFL, and praise - thats right, praise - a certain publisher for being fair. Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox. Got an inside tip for us? Then send it to debriefer [AT] litopia.eu

I Was A Teenage Plagarist

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:28:02 +0000

Another fast-paced, witty & thought-provoking show tonight – with panellists Martyn Daniels, Eve Harvey, Donna Ballman and Dave Bartram, how could it be otherwise? Donna is outraged by a brazen-faced teenage plagiarist from Germany; when other writers have been discovered copying from their peers, they face ignominy – but not 17 year-old Helene Hegemann who is currently the darling of the German literary scene. “Theres no such thing as originality”, claims Ms. Hegemann. The hussy. Martyn is pondering the “other model” of publishing – will the Writers Revolutionary Party succeed? Eve is wondering why Harry Potter knock-off Percy Jackson hasnt inspired fans in the same way as the original… and Dave is contemplating the void between idea and execution. Also, a pelican bites an Aussie in the bum.

Introducing The Writer Exciter

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:31:54 +0000

Say hello to Eve Harvey in her new incarnation - the Writer Exciter. Every week, we aim to add impact to your syntax, and glamour to your grammar! Featuring the Writing Rules (you bend em, we mend em), the Buzz Cut (in which high-concept meets the vernacular), the Word of the Week and the Diabolical Cliffhanger! Write to Eve here: writerexciter[AT]litopia.eu

The First Modern Poem

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:26:40 +0000

What would you consider to be the first modern poem? There can never be a definitive answer, but in todays extended Litopia Daily, were going to hear John Simopoulos, Dean of Degrees at St Catherines College, Oxford, both discuss and read from one of the most remarkable poems ever written...

The Debriefer: Shock Treatment

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:07:42 +0000

Watch your buttons... Macmillan have a change of heart over their e-book royalties... and why reluctant child readers should study graphic serial killer books that are full of bad language... shock the little darlings into reading, eh? Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox. Got an inside tip for us? Then send it to debriefer [AT] litopia.eu

Writing Drunk and Banging For Nickels

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:48:29 +0000

After bartenders, writers are more likely to die from cirrhosis of the liver than any other profession. Drugs of all kind have been intimately, and often destructively, involved in the writing process: the list of great writers who have died from alcohol abuse includes such luminaries as Raymond Chandler, John Cheever, Tennessee Williams, Dylan Thomas, Dorothy Parker, Truman Capote, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and of course Ernest Hemingway. What is it about the writing process - or perhaps about writers - that makes a chemical crutch so appealing, and so deadly? Perhaps some drugs might even assist creative writing (pace Huxleys "The Doors of Perception")? Thats regular panellist Dave Bartrams topic this week - and a fascinating debate ensues. Our special guests tonight are famed library campaigner and author Alan Gibbons, and Litopian Cath Murphy (all the way from Norway, where people clamber into their deep freezes to warm up). Its even been cold in Florida - where Donna Ballmans iguanas have been dropping like flies!

The Debriefer - Ruperts Our Hero!

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:04:39 +0000

Rupert Murdoch, John Edwards, and a dash of John Grisham... all grist to the Debriefers mill this week. Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox. Got an inside tip for us? Then send it to debriefer [AT] litopia.eu

Word Wars for Fun and Profit

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 20:10:59 +0000

Youd think it was hard enough just being a writer, wouldnt you? However, an increasing number of writers are voluntarily choosing to make their lives even tougher - by choosing to vanquish their own, personal, real-life nemesis. Could your writing improve with a nemesis? Listen to Philippa Ballantine, one of our star guests tonight, and decide. Its all ashes and sackcloth tonight as our other star guest, Graham Marks, takes writers to task for being lazy. Well, not all writers - just a few prosperous ones, such as Elmore Leonard - maybe he needs a nemesis? With regular panellist Dave Bartram addressing authenticity in writing, and Donna Ballman foreseeing a resurgence of interest in sci fi and fantasy among young readers - weve got all your bases covered this week!

Book Launch: Zero Moment by MG Harris

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:59:59 +0000

Its launch time! Scholastic Childrens Books are publishing the latest book in the bestselling childrens series The Joshua Files: Zero Moment by novelist - and Litopian - MG Harris... and were all invited to the bash. In fact, one dedicated Litopian has journeyed all the way from Germany just to be at the event! So grab your VIP invitation and lets cross the velvet rope to a chilled glass of bubbly and some very special cake... as Litopia Daily goes on location courtesy of the wonderful staff of Blackwells in Oxford, where some very keen young fans are eagerly waiting to grill the author...

The Debriefer: Amazon Attacks Big Mac

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:11:04 +0000

From the hush-hush world of the publishing insider... with the scandals and scuttlebutt – the rumours and rumbles – the leaks and lowdowns... its time fror your Monday-morning dose of The Debriefers insight, analysis and fun. Presented by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox. Got an inside tip for us? Then send it to debriefer [AT] litopia.eu

Will The iPad Save Publishing?

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:32:53 +0000

In what is arguably the most significant week in publishing this decade - maybe even this century - were giving Apples newly launched iPad a rigorous examination - and coming to a surprising verdict - in this weeks edition of Litopia After Dark. Will Steve Jobs multi-function e-reader succeed in changing our lives in the same way as Gutenbergs movable type did in the 15th century? The stakes could hardly be higher. The iPad is almost certainly his enduring legacy to the world - and his personal bid for historical immortality. Many in the publishing industry itself are fervently hoping that this new type of product - a "device of the third category" as Jobs calls it - will rescue the business from extinction. Will they be proved right - or wrong? Weve got a terrific panel to discuss this and other topics tonight - Simon Flynn, managing director of Icon Books, is our voice from the business itself, and of course theres Donna Ballman (whose new book The Writers Guide to the Courtroom is just out) and Dave Bartram to inject reality and wit in equal measure. Also on the panel tonight is John Quirk, whose own newly-formed publishing business is being tracked on Litopia Daily.

Nemesis Is Coming

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:24:32 +0000

Do you know where the Isle of Man is? Its a small island (32 miles long, 14 miles wide) in the Irish sea, about half way between Britain and Ireland. Not part of the United Kingdom, nor even part of the European Union, it has a curious relationship with the UK, having its own parliament and government, but dependent on the UK for foreign relations and defence. It has a population of just 80,000 people. Litopias own John Quirk, a regular voice on Litopia After Dark, is a Manx man born and bred, and in this edition of Litopia Daily, he tells us about his plans to set up a publishing business on his home island. Johns first book, The Manx Connection, was published in November 2007. And his follow-up, The Manx Giant, has just been published. Well be following Johns progress with at Nemesis Publishing every month or two, so join us to see how he copes with the triumphs and challenges of a running a small press.

Introducing The Debriefer

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:38:15 +0000

From the hush-hush world of the publishing insider -on the QT and totally off the record... with the scandals and scuttlebutt – the rumours and rumbles – the leaks and lowdowns... were delighted to present you with THE DEBRIEFER! Brought to you every Monday morning by Donna Ballman and Peter Cox. Got an inside tip for us? Then send it to debriefer [AT] litopia.eu

Celebrity Iguana Rehab

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:50:24 +0000

Is online book piracy a good or bad thing for authors? Whichever it is - can we really do anything about it? And what its got to do with Cory Doctorows sperm count (quite a lot, actually). Our special guest tonight is author and podcasting diva Mur Lafferty, and she fits right into the dystopia that is Litopia After Dark with frightening ease. Seeing her and raising her one are our veteran panellists Donna Ballman from Florida, Dave Bartram from the west of England and Eve Harvey from bonnie Edinburgh.

Back To Work

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 18:02:43 +0000

Right! Rip the decorations down, shape up and lets get serious. Party times over (but it was a good one, wasnt it?). Its a new year and arguably a new decade – were all business tonight on Litopia After Dark, sorting out the troubles of the publishing business, telling you which predictions for this decade are worth listening to, and warning you about the latest cunning ruses to part authors from their hard-earned royalties. As always, were vastly international, with Donna Ballman from Florida, Martyn Daniels and Dave Bartram from the UK, and newcomer Rob Daniel all the way from Western Australia.

Scott Sigler, Superstar

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:25:51 +0000

Scott Sigler is widely acknowledged to be the first New York Times best-selling novelist to have used the new medium of podcasting to build a large online following by giving away his self-recorded audiobooks as free, serialized podcasts. His loyal fans, who named themselves “Junkies,” have downloaded over seven million individual episodes of his stories and interact daily with Scott and each other in the social media space. Scott has his feet firmly planted in both “traditional” publishing as well as new media. Crown Publishing (a division of Random House) publish his hardcover thrillers INFECTED and CONTAGIOUS (his next hardcover is ANCESTOR, due out May 4, 2010). But Scott is also the founder of Dark Overlord Media, a publisher specializing in high-end, limited edition hardcovers for authors who have successfully embraced social media to build their readership. Scotts novel THE ROOKIE is Dark Overlords flagship product. This engrossing interview with Scott concludes our series of discussions with authors who podcast, and is also Litopia Dailys last podcast of 2009. Well be back on Monday, January 11th, and Litopia After Dark will be back on Friday January the 8th – do join us live in the chatroom!

Roses And Chocolate

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:42:55 +0000

Erotic science fiction author Nobilis Reed is the latest fascinating subject in our continuing probing of the emerging world of writers who are successfully using the new medium of podcasting to enhance their work and build their audience. Nobilis not only podcasts his own work but also accepts submissions from other authors – see his site here. How does "giving it all away for free" work as a business model? And why does the “professional” publishing world still continue to look down on indie-publishing? Another great and stimulating (ahem!) interview. Our series concludes tomorrow with an unmissable one-on-one session with the author who has used podcasting to catapult himself into the New York Times bestseller lists – the legendary Scott Sigler.

A Christmas Carol For Authors

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:12:44 +0000

Just for subscribers to our feed (this isnt on the website)... the full rendering of Mr. Andrew Gillmans Twelve Days of Christmas!

The Fruitful Kiwi

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:20:39 +0000

Today were going down under – New Zealand, to be precise – to chat with award-winning author and podcaster Philippa Ballantine. Her father introduced her to fantasy and science fiction at an early age by thinking Lord of the Rings was a suitable bedtime story. After devouring his library, she decided that shed have to give writing a go, and at thirteen completed her first novel. Books have now taken over her life completely, and in common with our other featured authors this week, Philippa is a pioneer of the author/podcaster route to market: a highly successful route in her case, because shes just landed a two-book deal with Ace Books!

The Man In The Hat

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:39:26 +0000

J. Daniel Sawyer is todays subject in our continuing series of conversations with authors who have branched out into the exciting new medium of podcasting. A man of wide accomplishments – inter alia hes an authority on Open Source media production, he writes for LinuxJournal, pens occasional popular philosophy articles and does voice work on other authors podcasts – but its his science fiction and fantasy writing combined with his audio engineers expertise that produces high-quality podcasts such as Predestination, Free Will and many more besides. Dan has garnered six Parsec nominations for excellence in Speculative Fiction podcasting, and is a deep-thinking pioneer of this new medium who well be watching with great interest in the future.

Exploring The Murverse

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:48:52 +0000

Mur (pronounced as in gold and frankincense) Lafferty is todays destination in our continuing voyage to explore the exciting new worlds of authors who podcast their own work. Shes the host and co-editor of Pseudopod, a horror podcast, and also hosts the podcasts Geek Fu Action Grip and I Should Be Writing – the latter won a Parsec award in 2007 and a Podcast Peer Award in 2008. In fall 2007 she podcasted her first full length novel: Playing for Keeps, which won the 2008 Parsec Award for Best Novel, was published by Swarm Press and reached the number one position in Science Fiction on Amazon.com. Mur has written 15 role-playing games, a textbook on podcasting, Tricks of the Podcasting Masters, and several magazines. She will be the host and producer for the forthcoming official Tor.com story podcast, featuring some of the best short stories published today.

Podcast That Book!

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:58:23 +0000

The idea of authors podcasting their own books is one of the most exciting recent developments in writing and publishing, and were delighted to bring you today an in-depth interview with the man who started in all – writer and podcaster Tee Morris. Tee began his writing career in 2002 with the award-nominated historical epic fantasy, MOREVI: The Chronicles of Rafe & Askana. In 2004, his title Billibub Baddings and The Case of The Singing Sword, a spoof of both the Fantasy and Hard-Boiled Detective novel, received an Honorable Mention for ForeWord Magazines Book of the Year award, and was a finalist for the Independent Publishers Best Science Fiction and Fantasy. In 2005, came up with the idea of podcasting a novel in order to promote its sequel. MOREVI went on to become the first book podcast in its entirety and was nominated for a 2006 Parsec for Best Podcast Fiction. Podcasting MOREVI also led to the founding of Podiobooks.com and the premiere of Legacy of MOREVI: Book One of the Arathellean Wars (a finalist for ForeWord Magazines Best Science Fiction of 2005). He has, since then, podcasted The Case of The Singing Sword which won a Parsec Award for Best Audio Drama, MOREVI: Remastered, and a host of other podcasts at imaginethatstudios.com and teemorris.com. Podcasting introduced Tee to Social Media, and Social Media introduced Tees writing to an even larger audience. With his success in podcasting, Tee penned both Podcasting for Dummies (with Chuck Tomasi and Evo Terra) and Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies (with Evo Terra and Ryan Williams). In July of 2009, he released his third Social Media-related title, All a Twitter, from Que Publishing, and then in October Sams Teach Yourself Twitter in Ten Minutes. Adding to both books is the ten minutes companion podcast, Bird House Rules, at http://birdhouserules.com. Tee is the most enthusiastic advocate for author podcasting youll meet; this comprehensive interview kicks off Litopia dailys week of talking to successful podcasting authors – we hope it inspires you!

The Party To End All Parties!

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:53:59 +0000

No matter how many Christmas parties you may go to over the festive season, one thing is certain – youll never encounter anything quite as spectacular as Litopia After Darks annual bash. Featuring Donna Ballman, Dave Bartram, Eve Harvey, Emma Shortt and John Quirk, this is the global party to end all parties. Weve loved having you along this year, and were already looking forward to 2010… but for the moment – its party time, folks!

All The Kings Men

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:15:18 +0000

Heres a quick quiz for you – who said this? "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." If you guessed Humpty Dumpty, give yourself a point – if you said "Random House", get a bonus point! The fact is that Random House has taken a Humpty Dumpty-like approach to defining what a “book” is; in a letter just sent to agents, they are claiming that a “book” means pretty much whatever they want it to mean. So, by claiming that a “book” really means an “e-book”, they are arguing that contracts signed decades before the e-book was invented give them e-book rights, as well. Humpty would be proud of their logic. Also on todays Write Report with Donna Ballman were reporting on moves to finally reform Englands disgraceful libel laws, and the CIAs venture-capital division (yes, another surreal concept, but its true) invests in technology that can track everything you do on Twitter, blogs, online forums, and YouTube – and gets sued by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Thats the final Write Report of the year – Donna Ballman will be back next year in an exciting new format, and do join us tonight… for carol-singing on Litopia After Dark! Talk about surreal…

A Sense of Community

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:30:41 +0000

Podcasting is proving to be a fun and potentially exciting new medium for authors; capable of reaching new readers and building a fan base in ways that traditional publishing has never considered. In our third session with Cliff Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answer Man, were asking the “whats next?” question – once your podcast is up and running, how can you use it to develop your reader community? Next week, well be talking to several authors who have been successful pioneers in this new medium: what has their experience been, and what lessons have they learnt from it?

Not Just For Geeks

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:20:57 +0000

Cliff Ravenscraft is the “Podcast Answer Man” - a full-time podcaster, he produces 24 different podcast series, and also acts as a consultant to others taking their first steps in this new medium. Today, were talking to Cliff about budgets, equipment, and all the practical things you need to think about before you start your own show (yesterday we discussed the benefits of podcasting to authors). Just how much of a “techie” do you have to be?

You Should Be Podcasting!

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:43:47 +0000

So whats podcasting all about, then? And most importantly should you as an author be doing it? For the next three days, Litopia Daily is talking to Cliff Ravenscraft – the “Podcast Answer Man”. Cliff is a podcast consultant (he can help to get you online and broadcasting) and he produces no less than 24 different podcast series, including the highly popular Weekly Lost Podcast for fans of the television series. Cliffs passion for podcasting is infectious, and he walks his talk – he left his “normal” job two years ago to podcast full time!

Orson Welles Frozen Peas

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:41:39 +0000

Peter was a guest on the Geek News Central 24-hour marathon podcast over the weekend – you can see (and hear) his segment here (starts at 28 minutes) – and support the cause here. Some exciting news today about the shape of things to come – Litopia Daily wants you in the new year! And we end with a seasonal treat - Orson Welles on frozen peas. Bliss!

18 Holes

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:03:24 +0000

The highly popular “Dr. Sue” (Dr. Susan ODoherty, the writers therapist) is our special guest for the years penultimate LITOPIA AFTER DARK – next weeks show is our Xmas Party, so expect lots of fun, but not necessarily much common sense – for that, youll have to make tonights show last until the new year! With veteran panelists Donna Ballman, Dave Bartram and Eve Harvey its a cracking end to a great year for us – and, we hope, for you too!

Sarkozy, Je Taime!

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:07:12 +0000

The years penultimate WRITE REPORT with Donna Ballman is here… with news of the outcome of the “Twilight” plagiarism lawsuit (the judge had some tough words)… Amazon has been accused of underpaying its workers… and by the way, are they going to open high-street stores in the UK?... and hold on to your chapeaux, mes vieux… this may be the first and only time in history that Peter wholeheartedly agrees with French president Sarkozy… about Google!

Salmagundi, We Hardly Knew Ye

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:11:31 +0000

Today is the last-ever Eves Salmagundi Club… there are tears and a few laughs, too… and were going out with a Nicola Morgan-inspired bang… Eves fans need not fret – shell be back in the new year with a brand new format!

Analyzing Anakin Skywalker

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 11:32:14 +0000

Day three of our non-stop, all-week orgy of Eves Salmagundi Club! Does one of your characters needs psychotherapy - or do you wonder what goes on behind the closed doors of the therapists office? Or maybe youre just looking for the psychological motivation behind a really great villain, or wish you could ask a real clinician your psychology questions? Well, Eves got just the website for you!

Me & You & Mary Sue

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:56:53 +0000

Do you know what a “Mary Sue” character is? In todays Eves Salmagundi Club, were investigating this strange phenomenon that owes its origin to fan fiction, but has now gone thoroughly mainstream with the Twilight sagas. And heres your Mary Sue Generator, and the worlds longest test for Mary Sue characteristics.

Fetishizing Agents

Sun, 6 Dec 2009 21:07:10 +0000

From Monday to Thursday this week were having an orgy of Eves Salmagundi Clubs… thats right, one every day! Why? Well, the truth is that Litopia Daily is changing… in a good way. Our plans are not yet quite ready to be made public, but rest assured that Eve will still be with us, its just the program format that will be changing. But were getting ahead of ourselves… today, were looking at “7 Reasons Agents Stop Reading Your First Chapter” allegedly) and another agent flogs herself off on E-Bay… hard times, or what?

The Contextual Wrap

Sat, 5 Dec 2009 04:56:33 +0000

With panellists from Norway, England, Florida and India, tonights show is the most geographically-diverse weve ever had – and as we approach our one hundredth episode, we can modestly congratulate ourselves on being the worlds oldest, biggest and some would say best show for readers and writers. But theres no time for laurel-resting. Martyn Daniels introduces a couple of new concepts to our global audience this evening: the snippet era and the contextual wrap. Our newcomer from Norway is Cath Murphy, who wants to know whether teenagers really are addicted to reading rubbish - and if so, should we care? Donna Ballmans spotted an extraordinary conflict of interest by no less an august institution than the Washington Post – a bit of a come-down for the folk who brought you Watergate – and Dave Bartram believes that YouTube may be the ultimate de-sensitization tool. So much brain-stimulating goodness this evening, its hard to see how we can pack it into one 60-minute show!

The 36-Hour Day

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:49:17 +0000

Youll have to forgive Peter his little gaffes tonight: last night was the evening of the Golden Twits Awards in which Litopia triumphed... hes been up a long time! Fortunately, tonights redoubtable and stout-hearted panel are more than capable of running the show without his intervention. From the Isle of Man theres writer John Quirk; from Englands West Country theres Dave Bartram; from an undisclosed location theres international woman of mystery Emma Shortt; and from the azure Bahamas theres Litopias own Donna Ballman.

Litopia Wins!

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:36:23 +0000

Last night, Litopia won the very first Golden Twit Award for Writing. We are immensely proud of our Chief Twitterer, Jamie Mollart, for masterminding our success. Follow the evening as it develops on todays extended show. And of course, lots more inside the Colony!

The Devils Bargain

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:23:36 +0000

Before we continue with todays exploration into writing and writers – guided by the terrifying genius that was William S. Burroughs – we should tell you that tomorrows show will be a relay of tonights big event - the Golden Twits Award, in which Litopia has been shortlisted in three categories… were so excited!

Bad By Nature

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:32:04 +0000

Its our second day of hearing directly from some of the most successful and acclaimed writers of the 20th century: did you guess who todays subject is? Heres another clue: In 1939, he deliberately severed the last joint of his left little finger, right at the knuckle, to impress a man with whom he was infatuated.

Are Writers Flaky?

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:12:30 +0000

One of the reasons that writers are, as a whole, having a hard time at the moment is that theyre flaky – they make bad economic decisions because they get bored quickly; they trust people they shouldnt; and they go with their guts rather than with their brains. True? Or a caricature? Todays Eves Salmagundi Club looks at the truth – or otherwise – of one bloggers assertion about writers finances. And Peter gives a few options for spreading your risks.

Straight To The Top

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

This week, were doing something rather different on Litopia Daily... Peter will be examining some of the most successful authors of the past century, and asking – what can we learn from their successes? Today, its two top British women authors – one is the best-selling writer of all time, the author is merely No. 5 on the list (just behind Shakespeare)... any guesses?

The Naked Name of Love

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:39:18 +0000

Jesuit-shaman sex on the eastern steppes of Mongolia. It may sound like an aberration from The Commissioning Meeting (see below) but no, its a real book, and a promising candidate for this years Bad Sex Award. This years finalists include Paul Theroux, Nick Cave, Philip Roth and Amos Oz. But what is it about sex that makes it so exquisitely difficult (we didnt say hard) for writers to write about? Tonight, our bold panel fearlessly takes the bull by the horns. Joining Donna Ballman from Florida is Dave Bartram from Englands West Country, Eve Harvey from Edinburgh and our very special guest, author and publishing trade maven, Graham Marks.

The Velvet Rope

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:04:33 +0000

Valerie Plame Wilson - a former CIA agent whose unmasking led to the conviction of former Vice President Dick Cheneys top aide has lost an appeal to declassify parts of her memoir. The only winner in this case appears to be her publisher, Simon & Schuster – who will publish the selfsame Dick Cheneys memoirs in 2011. Google and two author and publisher organizations have submitted a new version of a legal settlement that would allow Google to distribute millions of digital books online. And an author who rented a hip New York nightclub to host her book launch is suing the club for $1 billion – because it allegedly wouldnt allow most of her guests to come in (because of the color of their skin, she says). All these and more on todays WRITE REPORT with Donna Ballman.

Someones Impersonating Me!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:03:00 +0000

A really good question for Peter today about authors names – what happens if you discover that theres another author out there with exactly the same name? And... Peter wants to ask you a question about book clubs... did you ever belong to one? And whatever happened to them? The answer could be more important than you might think... If you have questions for Peter, simply post them in the Colony.

Question Time

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:27:46 +0000

Its an impressively long Question Time for Peter today – nearly half an hour of accumulated questions from authors covering a wide variety of topics. Are two books better than one when it comes to writing a proposal? Whats an agent thinking when they request the full manuscript? Should you try out your big new idea in a short story contest? What are MP3 rights - and how can you protect them? All these and more today!

Crushed Dreams

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:15:09 +0000

Do editors know that they hold authors dreams in their hands? An anonymous blogger, who purports to be a childrens book editor, believes that authors should toughen up. “When you receive a rejection letter and feel your dreams being crushed”, she says, “BE AWARE: its YOU crushing your dreams.” True? Or just heartless ranting? Eves Salmagundi Club also examines the quest for perfection – is it really necessary for that covering letter+synopsis+sample to be word-perfect before it goes out? Nicola Morgans blog has some good advice to offer. And – oh yes – Stephen Fry is still following Eve – should she be concerned?

The Audacity of Narcissism

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:13:35 +0000

To promote her new book – for which shes been reportedly paid anything up to $11m – the former vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has taken to Twittering. But not in the way that lesser mortals use the social media site: by following others and being followed in equal measure. No - Ms. Palin has 16,000 followers – of which shes followed back precisely no-one. This is arrogance of the first order, and a gross breach of online netiquette according to Litopias own social media whizz, Jamie Mollart. “Its the most flagrant misuse of a social media site I have ever seen”, he says, “I hope it bites her on the arse.” And it just may do. Other narcissists on tonights agenda include Polish author Krystian Bala, convicted of directing the murder of his estranged wifes lover – and then writing a book about it – and the British author and exhibitionist Julie Myerson, whose “cruel, selfish and manipulative” tome “The Lost Child” has crossed the Atlantic and is now available for American voyeurs to relish. Joining Jamie on tongihts glittering panel are Donna Ballman (Florida), Dave Bartram (Englands storm-ridden West Country) and a most welcome return to Canadian author Mary W. Walters.

Technology Giveth And Taketh Away

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:31:21 +0000

A federal judge has taken the rare step of ordering an author to remove from his website thousands of documents that were allegedly stolen from the Council on American-Islamic Relations – what implications does this have for non-fiction writers? Amazons Kindle will not allow you to back up your electronic books on to any other device – which means that if your Kindle packs up, or if Amazon moves on to another technical standard, youre screwed. And Malaysian authorities have confiscated more than 15,000 Bibles in recent months because they referred to "God" as "Allah. All this and more in todays Write Report with Donna Ballman.

Blood & Editing

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:05:01 +0000

Is the standard of editing in publishing getting better? Peter believes that, despite suspicions to the contrary, it may actually be improving. And are there any areas of a manuscript that an editor should never be allowed to infiltrate? Editing can be (and usually is) a positive and necessary process for every writer, but there are still horror stories of inept or spiteful editors: what are the warning signs?

Adapt Or Die

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:21:17 +0000

The great publishing houses of the past face an enormous challenge today: adapt to the new publishing reality or perish. In todays Daily, Peter looks at one of the huge issues that may well sink some household names – the question of cultural change within the company itself.

The Joy Of Rejection

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 06:57:09 +0000

Imagine this. You have a letter of acceptance in your hand, and one of rejection... which one are you going to brood over? If youre like most writers, youll take the rejection to heart, while discounting the positive news. There seems to be something about human nature that focuses on the sting of rejection while negating the good stuff. But why? With Dr. Susan ODoherty on tonights illustrious panel, were probing the hidden depths of the human psyche to find out the evolutionary basis for our fear of rejection – maybe theres a good reason for it, after all? Joining Dr. Sue (New York) are of Donna Ballman (Florida), Dave Bartram (Englands West Country) and – yes, shes back! – our own Eve Harvey (Edinburgh). Truly, a rare and renowned international panel for your delight and edification.

The Wrong Palin

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 19:29:49 +0000

Chris Christie, the new Republican Governor Elect of New Jersey, has been called out as a copyright thief – by Monty Python. Scholastic tells an author to rewrite books to exclude a gay couple if she wants to be included in their book fairs. And After indie booksellers announce plans to buy their books at Amazon and Wal-Mart (its cheaper than buying from the publishers), the big guys limit the amount of books purchasers can buy. Which just goes to show, you should never announce your evil plans! All this and more in todays Write Report with Donna Ballman. And Donnas own book The Writers Guide to the Courtroom will be out in a few days – if youre a writer who ever references the law, buy one now!

Writers As Slaves

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:22:16 +0000

Peter gives a brief update on current developments in the Colony; when will all the construction work end? And then, he tackles a subject thats looming large on the writing horizon – the way in which writers are increasingly being used as slave labor. Maybe writers are their own worst enemy?

Live From The Canarian Islands

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 11:31:15 +0000

Eves Salmagundi Club comes to us live and direct from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, where its an impressive 90 degrees (London is shivering in damp grey mist). But doesnt the eternal sunshine of paradise get a bit boring eventually? Not if youve brought some holiday reading! Eve and Richard gives us a run-down of the books theyve consumed to date.

Party Pooping Potter

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:27:26 +0000

Did Harry Potters lawyers (alright, Warner Bros lawyers) act way too heavy-handedly when they recently acted to suppress a Harry Potter-style house party in London? Press reports suggested they acted like party poopers – but on todays Write Report with Donna Ballman, we look at the evidence and conclude rather differently. Also, there are at last moves in the ponderously slow English legal system to reform our appallingly anachronistic criminal libel laws - about 900 years too late - and UK personality (famous for her boobs) Jordan causes a riot at a book signing. We should be so lucky. And take note: Donnas own book The Writers Guide to the Courtroom will be out in a few days – if youre a writer who ever references the law, buy one now!

Noddy Experiences Relativistic Effects

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:46:30 +0000

Its our Halloween show, and the most horrifying item on tonights agenda is unfortunately all too corporeal: one publisher has summarily announced their new e-book royalty rate will be a meagre 20% - not of the retail price, but of the net amount received. Truly gruesome. Apart from that, were looking at book titles –how choosing the right one can land you in the bestseller lists. Then theres the increasingly spooky Large Hadron Collider – are people in the future trying to send us a message? The latest bout of political correctness gone bonkers sees the quintessentially English Fentimans Traditional Victorian Lemonade investigated by the US drugs Gestapo. The success of the True Blood tv series is a lesson to us all. Why should books have a sell-by date (hint: they shouldnt, but publishers behave as if they do). And Noddy – what the hecks going on with him, then? Our beautiful and talented panel tonight consists of business guru and Litopia Star Columnist Martyn Daniels, Emma Shortt from the Colony dazzles us all with her debut appearance, advertising legend Jamie Mollert dispenses some shrewd authorial promotional advice, and Dave Bartrams second Commissioning Meeting victory in two weeks suggests that hes really a secret publisher in disguise.

Its Not Who You Know, Its Who Who You Know Knows

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:18:27 +0000

Mondays Eves Salmagundi Club features an insightful straw poll that sheds some light on the myth (or is it?) that its incredibly hard to get a book published without having prior connections within the industry. Does cold querying work in this day and age? Find out!

Love Me Like A Reptile

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:22:19 +0000

When love is not madness, it is not love” wrote the C17th Spanish dramatist Pedro Calderón de la Barca – although he might easily been referring to tonights Litopia After Dark, in which we learn of the amour fou of one Professor Arthur David Horn, late of Yale and Colorado State and an esteemed expert in the somewhat arid subject of biological anthropology. Chancing one day to fall in love with a metaphysical healer, Professor Horns eyes were suddenly opened to the reality that surrounded him: a world in which shape-shifting reptilians control our civilization through the secretive leaders known as the Illuminati. Truly, love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise. And yet more folly on tonights show. The latest health and safety threat to British local councils employees is unsafe biscuit consumption: fortunately some councils now offer supervised tea breaks “for safety reasons”. The BBCs childrens channel, CBeebies, has decided to change the endings of some popular nursery rhymes, making the more politically correct and less disturbing for the little darlings. And Madonna, well, shes always good for an eccentricity or three. Our wise and circumspect panel tonight displays no such flummery, comprised as it is of Donna Ballman, Graham Marks, Dave Bartram and David Bridger. Topics covered and links include: * The ‘Miss Plastic beauty pageant in Hungary * A book price war has started between the discount giants: authors will suffer * Litopians prepare for this years NaNoWriMo, but one person wont be doing it again * Why everythings including Heidi Montag/Pratt is going supersize

Oh No, its SuperInjunction!

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:05:45 +0100

Fridays WRITE REPORT with Donna Ballman continues to monitor the fallout from the infamous Trafigura case: the Swiss multinational sought and obtained an injunction in Britains notoriously libel-friendly courts that effectively prevented the media from reporting the proceedings of the Houses of Parliament! Maybe its time to bring a little democracy back to the country that claims to have invented it...? In California, a Los Angeles judge has refused an injunction against Chris Rocks latest film, Good Hair. Documentary filmmaker Regina Kimbell sued Rock and the producers, claiming the comedian stole the idea for the film from her own work, My Nappy Roots. And the latest target in the FTCs crosshairs is... bloggers!

A Reality Check Concerning The E-Book

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:54:12 +0100

The noise inside the publishing industry about the e-book is almost deafening. Its close to accepted wisdom amongst many publishers that the e-book is set to replace the “traditional” book as the dominant means of publishing – sooner rather than later. Yet, with so many unresolved issues concerning this new medium, is this a sensible assumption? Even more importantly, what do “ordinary” book buyers really think? Today, Peter does something that perhaps more people in publishing business ought to do – he goes onto the streets and simply asks people what they think. This show is essential listening for anyone involved in the publishing business – please spread the word.

Our Great Leap Forwards

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:38:39 +0100

Peters is here today to report on the latest developments inside the Colony: its all change as the new Litopia website has been unveiled, and inevitably, there are some teething problems. Listen to get up-to-date with the latest news about our biggest leap forward yet...

Raining on Your Own Parade

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:56:16 +0100

What sort of impression should you give to your agent or publisher – and does it matter? Eves eye has been caught by the sorry story of a writer who spent three years writing her book, another year trying to find an agent, and finally – just when all seemed perfect… disaster struck! But whose fault was it?

Pigs Might Fly

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:17:50 +0100

You would be excused for being heartily sick and tired of hearing about the Google Book Settlement, but... pay attention for another few minutes this morning, if you dont mind – this is important, and it will probably affect you. Also in todays Write Report with Donna Ballman, were talking about the libel suit that was filed a few months ago in London against Random House, publisher of “The Billionaires Vinegar… and a new survey (dont you just hate that phrase?) claims that piracy may actually be good for e-book sales… Gadzooks! What was that? Ah, a flying pig!

A Thousand Words

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:50:28 +0100

If its true that a picture is worth a thousand words (and the case has not been conclusively proven either for or against) then what are we to make of the current Flash Fiction contest in the Colony that invites writers to concoct a story evoked purely by one black and white photo? In todays Eves Salmagundi Club, we look at other sites that seek to similar inspire authors with visual hints – and also, were having quite a bit of fun with a sweet little site that the OUP have just unleashed.

Dead Authors Society

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 06:55:00 +0100

Things have come to a pretty pass when publishers prefer to issue the minor works of dead authors rather the contemporary work of living writers. But thats whats happening in todays muddled publishing scene: the barrel is being scraped so hard theres hardly any of it left. David Foster Wallace, Nabokov, William Styron, Graham Greene, Carl Jung and Kurt Vonnegut are all due for creative evisceration over the coming months as estate and editors consider what they can patch together from their respective literary cast-offs: even Mark Twain, Ralph Ellison and Donald E. Westlake are being thus disembowelled. And as for Michael Crichton – someone had the bright idea of raiding that particular dead authors laptop for any remaining dregs – the results will be synthesised into an adventure novel about pirates in 17th-century Jamaica and a techno-thriller that HarperCollins will publish in 2010. Is this right? Particularly when the author concerned has expressly indicated that they do not want such works to be posthumously published? Thats just one of the gnarly issues our forthright panel grapples with tonight – consisting of Donna Ballman, Eve Harvey, Dave Bartram and special guest from New York writers therapist Dr. Susan ODoherty. Topics covered and links include: * How a Swedish man discovered a 15cm penis tattoo on his leg * We draft a suitable speech for poor Guy Richie to win Madonna back * “Fromage a trois” - why intertextuality is a dreadful and fearful thing * Are you in the viral loop? Good, neither are we * The Kindle is now available to buy in the UK – whatever

Winnie The Pee

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:22:39 +0100

Life gets stranger, doesnt it? And it seems that few areas are more bizarre than the publishing world. In this weeks WRITE REPORT with Donna Ballman. The FTC plans to require online book reviewers (bloggers... that means you!) to disclose whether they have received free books from publishers and will be treated as “endorsers”. The BookLocker.com lawsuit against Amazons restrictive print-on-demand policy gains some traction under US anti-trust laws. The estate of James Joyce estate has been ordered to pays an author $240,000 to settle a lawsuit establishing fair use rights (its called "copyright misuse" and it may have positive implications for other authors). And after 18 years of dueling lawsuits, courtroom clashes and allegations of impropriety, Walt Disney Co. finally can close the storybook on its battle with the family that holds lucrative rights to Winnie the Pooh. or should that bee Winnie the Pee?

Should You Have Sex With Your Editor?

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 11:40:50 +0100

David Letterman did it. So did Elliot Spitzer, Bill OReilly and scores of others (yes, it happens in the UK to, but their antiquated libel laws are often used to conceal the sordid facts). So – does it happen in publishing? And – if youre an author, should you ever consider sleeping with your editor to advance your manuscript? Todays show offers advice and insights!

The Best Opening Lines Ever

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 20:21:36 +0100

On todays Eves Salmagundi Club were looking at opening lines. How important are they really – can they make the difference between a hit and a miss? Is “Call me Ishmael” really the best opening line of any novel (the editors of American Book Review think so). Peter and Eve discuss what works and what doesnt, and reveal their own favorites – whats yours?

Smells Like Books

Sat, 3 Oct 2009 20:54:52 +0100

The first live LITOPIA AFTER DARK of the season returns with the massively diverse smorgasbord of ingredients that youve come to expect and, we hope, love! Our vintage panel comprises Donna Ballman, Eve Harvey, Dave Bartram and special panellist and business guru Martyn Daniels. Topics covered and links include: * What can todays publishing business learn from the long-standing success of Dr. Johnsons Dictionary? * Scotland is full of dangerous natives who speak an incomprehensible language – say 13th century Viking travel guides * Marathon into Snickers, the Dust Brothers into the Chemical Brothers… but how will they re-brand the book? * E-bay halts a highly profitable granny auction * How can writers escape from the tyranny of process? * And why are writers crappy conversationalists? * UK public libraries are under threat from politicians visions * Super Thursday sees 800 books published on a single day

Face-To-Face: This Time Its Personal!

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:40:56 +0100

Londons Poetry Café was never more vibrantly electric this summer than when it hosted our first two live Litopia After Darks: Face-To-Face. And tonight, were delighted to bring you – complete, unedited but by no means virgo intacta – the second and most ebullient show. The format is a little different to the usual LAD mixture – and none the worse for that, you may think. Panellists tonight were Eve Harvey, Richard Howse, Donna Ballman and Amanda Lees. Peter attempted to keep some semblance of order (and failed miserably), and we were delighted to be joined on air by Andrew Gillman, the genius who normally exercises his Svengali-like influence behind the scenes, polishing, prodding and generally raising the production values to the high level we currently enjoy. Many, many thanks to all the above for making this such a great evening – and a huge “thank-you” to our loyal audience, both those who came along in person, and everyone who listens online – we couldnt do it without you!

Writers of the World, Unite!

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 10:49:32 +0100

Time for our weekly review of the important news from the wild and wacky world of publishing... courtesy of Donna Ballmans WRITE REPORT. Today, were considering how the Society of Authors intends to take “for urgent collective action” against the cuts in author advances, which reports suggest are being slashed by as much as 70%. Were exploring the mysteriously fascinating world of art forgery with news this week that Mexican prosecutors are investigating allegations of wholesale forgery of the worlds of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo – thousands of works are said to be involved. And will the Patriot Act be amended to make it less intrusive of citizens book reading habits?

Pardon Us While We Change

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 10:43:00 +0100

The new Litopia website will soon be unveiled, and its the biggest leap forwards weve ever had in our seven-year history of being the best writing community on the net. In todays daily, peter explains some of the things that have been happening behind the scenes, and what you can expect to see from October 16th.

Tolkien - Would He Be Published Today?

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:35:06 +0100

Peters holiday reading included a long-overdue reading of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. While doing so, a dangerous thought occurred... would such an epic story of good versus evil be published today? Listen to the show to find out!

Submit Or Hunker Down?

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:15:50 +0100

Were back! Peters returned from his seaside vacation, and Eve (whose Salmagundi Club kicks off the week) is engrossed by a discussion in the Colony that runs as follows: “Again and again Im hearing that publishers and agents are very, very nervous of taking on anyone, particularly new writers, in these precarious financial times. So are we wasting our submissions by sending them in at the moment? Might it be better to hunker down and write another book (or two) and save them to submit when times are better (if ever)?” A big question, and lots of good advice in todays show.

Isolarion - James Attlee

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:16:38 +0100

Today theres another chance to hear the entire interview with author James Attlee about his stunning new book "Isolarion". An initially modest idea - not much more than a walk down a road in the author s home town of Oxford - it has been widely praised as a bravura display of writing talent. This revealing discussion explains how such an unusual book is conceived, written and sold.

Cryptomnesia

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:17:34 +0100

Both Mark Twain and Helen Keller suffered from cryptomnesia. At various times of the lives, they presented work they clearly believed was original, and were subsequently mortified to then be accused of appropriating others work. It seems unlikely that either of them, or George Harrison, or any number of other celebrated creative figures with much to lose would have purposely copied easily-traced material and tried to pass it off as their own. Yet that is what they did... cryptomnesia! Thats just one of our fascinating topics tonight... others include why publishers arent better at predicting which books will sell… With more and more book sales happening online how have our buying triggers changed? And does this mean that as buyers we will no longer judge a book by its cover at all? Also… maybe the best way to write is not to write… a touch of zen can sometimes work wonders! Clinical psychologist Dr. Susan ODoherty is back on the panel tonight, together with advertising guru Jamie Mollert, and leading lawyer & author of the forthcoming Writers Guide to the Courtroom, Donna Ballman... and from Englands West Country, the master of the fromage á trois - its Dave Bartram.

Exclusive Show Just For iTunes Listeners!

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:53:18 +0100

Please listen to this show if youre one of our valued iTunes listeners - it contains important information affecting our shows over the next two weeks.

The Land of Lost Kindles

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:36:18 +0100

Its a busy Write Report today with Donna - What happens to your library if your Kindle is lost? (The answer is that thieves apparently get to keep it!)... A Portuguese judge bans a new book that says Madeleine McCann is dead - how can they do that? And - restrain yourselves, folks - its back to Amazon again, who are now facing the legal fallout ensuing from that "1984" debacle... Donna herself will be reappearing in just a few hours on Litopia After Dark, and Peters off for a two-week break!

Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, Sugar Street - Mahfouz

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Its our last discussion for a while with John Simopoulos and again, were focusing on our series entitled Books That Matter. Galsworthy and Proust? Not worthy to hold a candle to todays featured author, Mahfouz - says John. Naguib Mahfouz was an Egyptian novelist who won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature, and is regarded as one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature. The trilogy of books - Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, Sugar Street - are collectively titled the Cairo Trilogy, an immense monumental work of 1,500 pages or so - "and every character in them is repulsive," says John, "but do read it - if youve got the stomach for it!".

The First Trilogy - Joyce Cary

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 17:22:32 +0100

John Simopoulos is back today with another in our series of Books That Matter to tell us about an author who John knew personally: Joyce Cary. "By the end of his life", wrote Brad Leithauser in the New York Review of Books, "Carys confident and fluent books received a critical and popular success, yet the path to this success was wearisomely tortuous. Cary was approaching forty-five when his first novel, Aissa Saved, appeared in 1932. More than two decades of literary floundering, of false starts and punctured enthusiasms, were required before Cary saw one of his many attempted novels published—to poor reviews and poorer sales." A tragic story in some ways, but one which John gives great human dimension. "A gentleman rider through life", says John.

If on a Winters Night a Traveller - Italo Calvino

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 10:34:08 +0100

The bestselling childrens author MG Harris is our guest today in our Books That Matter series; her choice is a book by one of Italys finest postwar writers, Italo Calvinos If on a Winters Night a Traveller. “I can think of no finer writer to have beside me while Italy explodes, Britain burns, while the world ends”, said Salman Rushdie.

The Way We Used To Be

Mon, 7 Sep 2009 10:42:24 +0100

Happy Labor Day to all our American listeners! Todays Eves Salmagundi Club kicks back a little and looks at the the way the publishing industry used to be - when London and New York were the centers of the publishing world... and when publishing itself was at the center of the cultural lives of our nations. Sic transit gloria mundi...

Googazon

Sat, 5 Sep 2009 06:24:40 +0100

Its another inimitable blend of the profound and the profoundly peculiar this evening: only on Litopia After Dark can we move transcendentally from the works of John Berger to the World Gravy-Wrestling Championships without missing a beat. Our very own publishing business guru Martyn Daniels is back with us tonight – Martyn is one of the few people to grasp whats really going on in the publishing business at the moment - and whats more, he can explain it clearly, too! And thats one of the key subjects tonight: are publishing conglomerates a thing of the past? Or is more consolidation necessary for publishing to compete against the likes of Google, Amazon, Sony, Apple? As Richard Howse puts it (as only Richard can) "Baboos Jumbalia takes on the Amazoogle eMasterbator!". Dont worry - youll understand perfectly when you listen. Also on the panel tonight - from Florida, leading lawyer and author of the forthcoming Writers Guide to the Courtroom Donna Ballman... and from Englands West Country, the master of the fromage á trois - (remember last week?) its Dave Bartram.

Say It Aint True, Tintin

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 19:20:02 +0100

A Congolese accountant is to launch a lawsuit in France against Tintin for racism... the New York Times plays fast and loose with embargoes... the Google deadline is upon us... and how can authors earn more money from publishers? Its an action-packed Write Report today with Donna - who will also be reappearing in just a few hours on Litopia After Dark...

No Name - Wilkie Collins

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 20:29:51 +0100

John Simopoulos is back today with another in our occasional series of Books That Matter to propose that you spend a little time with "No Name" by English novelist, playwright, and author - Wilkie Collins. Written in the early 1860s, between "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone", "No Name" was rejected as immoral by critics of its time; but is today regarded as a novel of outstanding social insight, showing Wilkie Collins at the height of his powers. "One of the best books written in the 19th century", says John.

If This Is a Man - Primo Levi

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 13:41:40 +0100

Another in our occasional series of Books That Matter today, courtesy of Oxford don John Simopoulos. "If This Is a Man" by Primo Levi tells of his own experience of the Holocaust. "His tone throughout the memoir is dry-eyed and understated", wrote the Sunday Telegraph, "he makes few references to himself, and they are rarely flattering. But by the end of this short book one is left with a monument to human dignity."

Stop Thief!

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:53:09 +0100

How can you stop people stealing your great ideas? Thats the sujet-du-jour for todays Eves Salmagundi Club.

The Multi-Branded Victorian Cliche Book Swap Shop

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:11:45 +0100

Its author branding that gets the limelight tonight – one of the hottest topics in publishing at the moment, but what does it really mean? Can an author really be a brand – and how do you go about creating one for yourself? Luckily, weve got marketing guru Jamie Mollart on hand to supply some answers and sage advice – dont miss it! Also on the panel tonight- from Florida, leading lawyer and author of the forthcoming Writers Guide to the Courtroom Donna Ballman... from Edinburgh Litopias own Salmagundist, Eve Harvey... and from Englands West Country, the master of the fromage á trois - he created it live on air, folks - its Dave Bartram.

Fighting Dirty

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:08:55 +0100

A blogger who described a model as a “skank”, an “old hag” and a “psychotic lying whore” plans to sue Google for $18 million after they were forced to reveal her identity following a court order. On todays Write Report with Donna, were looking at the complexities of this case – and the extremely nasty person whose violent actions precipitated the whole thing. Also today - the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act looks as if it will not actually devastate the childrens/YA publishing sector (another bullet dodged)… and the two-headed monster that is Google decides to impose punishing fines on publishers who fail to deliver books on time… bad Google, bad!

Dave Bartram – Books That Matter

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:50:43 +0100

We continue our occasional series entitled Books That Matter with a guest who will be more familiar to regular Litopia After Dark listeners – Dave Bartram. Dave has picked a book that is “possibly a perfect book” – First Light by Peter Ackroyd. Its a fictional meditation on the nature of history, the problem of time and the true qualities of the English landscape.

Chika Unigwe

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:11:50 +0100

We continue our conversation with Chika Unigwe, fresh from yesterdays appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival (it was sold-out!). Her new book - On Black Sisters Street has just been published, and we want to know about her personal journey that began in Enugu, Nigeria. What made her start writing - and what might she do next? Its a truly inspiring story.

On Black Sisters Street

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:05:33 +0100

Were proud today to feature Litopia colonist Chika Unigwes new book - On Black Sisters Street. Chika herself is appearing today at the Edinburgh International Book Festival – the event is sold out! – so if you dont get to hear her there… you can hear her here! An award-winning short story writer, Chika was born in Enugu, Nigeria, and now lives in Belgium with her husband and four children. On Black Sisters Street is her second novel, but the first to be published internationally in English. Her publisher Jonathan Cape describes it as ‘a moving story of the illusion of the West through African eyes, and its annihilation but calls it ‘a story of courage, of unity and of hope. American rights have been sold to Random House, and its already been published in Italian and Dutch. Chika used Litopia as a sounding board for the first draft of the novel. ‘I received some constructive criticism from members which was a big help when it came to revising the manuscript, explained Chika. ‘Now its finally about to be published, it feels a little like childbirth; the baby Ive been carrying is about to see the light of day and I can show it off!

Books That Writers Must Read

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:21:37 +0100

Theres a debate going on inside the Colony at the moment: can you learn writing from a book? Theres certainly no shortage of how-to books, seminars, courses and even holidays... pay the money, and youll become a bestselling author! But how useful are these products really? In todays Eves Salmagundi Club, were looking at the how-to-write book – whats good, whats not, and how should you use them to hone your skills.

Zom-pocalypse!

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:56:21 +0100

George W. Bush, Roy Orbison and Darth Vader all have in common? Why are cops in one North American city arresting zombies? And why are researchers from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University compiling a report on how to deal with a zombie invasion? Answers to these pressing conundrums and much more besides on tonights show. Why does billionaire Steve Forbes pay his employees to go out and buy his new (and apparently not very good) book? Why dont we change the spelling rules to make English more logical? And why is writing such darn hard work? You see – we just cant stop asking questions! Here to supply some of the answers tonight are – cue the bagpipes – Eve Harvey, queen of the Athens of the North, and childrens author / publishing expert Graham Marks, whos also been hanging out this week at the worlds largest literary festival in Edinburgh. Add to that our regular panelists Dave Bartram and Donna Ballman and youve got yourself one mean hours worth of litertainment… use it responsibly.

My FaceBook is Your Fortune

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:42:13 +0100

You know that lawsuit - the one filed against Oprah Winfrey, claiming a trillion dollars for alleged plagiarism? Its been thrown out of court - probably even before Oprah even knew she was being sued! In todays Write Report with Donna, were covering this non-event, together with the furore over Yales banning of images of Muhammad in book theyre publishing (or not)… and this weeks mega-plagiarism allegation – it concerns the book about FaceBook ( the FaceBook bookbook?). Ben Mezrichs "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook" has reportedly earned him a $1.5m advance – but claims by another author, Aaron Greenspan, thatthere are “numerous similarities in word choice, event sequencing and writing style” between his book and Mezrichs tale could slash that sum. A case for m‘learned friends, perhaps?

Publetariat - The Next Wave in Publishing

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:27:01 +0100

April Hamilton, founder of the indie author website Publetariat (the pioneering online news hub and community) continues yesterdays fascinating discussion about the future of publishing - and in particular, where the indie author fits into the equation. How will "big" corporate publishing interface with the new wave of indie books? Essential listening!

The Indie Author Revolution

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:00:37 +0100

Our special guest today is April Hamilton, founder of the website Publetariat, the pioneering online news hub and community for indie authors and small imprints. But what exactly is an “indie author” – and why are they the next big thing on the web? April explains all.

All The Fun of the Fair

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:22:13 +0100

The worlds largest public celebration of the written word has just kicked off - the Edinburgh International Book Festival is open from now until the end of the month, with over 700 events packed into two weeks and many of the worlds big-name authors in attendance. Our own Eve Harvey is a regular at the festival, and so todays Eves Salmagundi Club aims to give you a bit of background and some visitors tips. But if you cant make it, dont despair – Eve will be popping in and out, and taking her recorder with her! As we mention in todays show, we were lucky enough to interview the festivals guest director a couple of weeks ago – if you missed it, do listen to Richard Holloway talk about his latest book here.

Zombies, Sea Monsters & Mummies

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:00:06 +0100

Its a truly vintage show tonight: far better entertainment than anything youll find on the box these format-ridden days. With a panel that encompasses marketing guru Jamie Mollart, Litoons creator Richard Howse, our regular panelists Dave Bartram and Donna Ballman... well, youd expect nothing less than effortless brilliance. Oh, and did we mention that Günther makes a last-minute and rather scary appearance? Its a bit like that moment in The Exorcist when Linda Blairs head spins round… sans the pea soup.

Oh! Oprah!

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:06:06 +0100

Oprah Gail Winfrey... the richest African American of the 20th century... the most philanthropic African American of all time... and the worlds first black billionaire. And now – the first woman to be hit with a TRILLION dollar lawsuit – for alleged plagiarism. In todays Write Report with Donna, we take a look behind the scenes of this latest and most amazing nexus where publishing meets big-ticket litigation.

Writing For Chick-Lit & Lad-Lit

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:41:51 +0100

Were dealing with another question arising from the Colony today – an authors manuscript in this genre has just received its first rejection –what can they learn from this? And how should they go about re-shaping the manuscript for future submissions? Although Peter had a big evening out last night, he tries his best to give some useful advice...

The Green, Green Shoots of Tome

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:57:53 +0100

Are there any “green shoots” of economic revival in the publishing industry? Thats the topic for todays Ask the Agent, as Peter takes us inside the industry for his view of the current zeitgeist.

And So, My Fellow Litopians...

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:01:00 +0100

Eves Salmagundi Club continues for an unprecedented second day, as we carry on our discussion of what Litopia can offer the aspiring writer. And by the way - isnt Eve looking good these days?

What Have You Done For Me Lately, Litopia?

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:54:28 +0100

A post inside the Colony prompts todays Eves Salmagundi Club - unusually introspective, because instead of looking at other writing-related websites on the net, were examining our own. What is the point of communities such as ours? Some interesting background on the Colony, and ways people use it to their benefit. Continues tomorrow.

Secrets of the Slushpile

Sat, 8 Aug 2009 10:51:02 +0100

Its no secret that the slushpile is a repository of all thats bad about writing – a temporary resting place for the kind of material that furnishes agents and publishers with endless smug jokes at all those cocktail parties they go to. Except – it isnt. Tonight, we hear from industry insider Joanna Swainson, making her first appearance on the show, whose job it is to read the slushpile. And she explodes a lot of myths! Making a welcome return is writer and clinical psychologist Susan ODoherty. Dr. Sue is the author of Getting Unstuck Without Coming Unglued: A Womans Guide to Unblocking Creativity and tonight, shes looking at writers and alcohol – whats the connection? Donna Ballman tonight is here too, asking why episodic fiction used to be popular but now appears to be a dying art form. And our other regular panelist, Dave Bartram, believes that social networking sites may be affecting our ability to make meaningful relationships – could our society be nearing a vital tipping point? Dave makes a strong case. All this - together with lashings of Harriet Harman, todger-gluing (you may not want to know, but you‘re going to know), how to embarrass your kids off the internet and a touching online tribute to John Hughes, the director who gave a voice to the 80s generation.

Vampires Get Sued, Too

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 20:00:37 +0100

Stephenie Meyer has joined that elite group of authors: along with JK Rowling and Dan Brown, her hit books are now ready targets for lawsuits. In Donnas Write Report today, we consider the strengths and weaknesses of the recent claim against Stephenie for plagiarism. Will it get to court? We cant say yet, but were sure of one thing: the lawyers will be rubbing their hands. In other stories, a new petition seeks the removal of DRM and the associated ability to control Kindle books purchased from Amazon, and increasingly numbers of publishers are using authors missed deadlines to renegotiate, or even cancel, contracts. The moral – be punctual!

To Be Alive Is An Extraordinary Gift

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 10:25:15 +0100

Strong religionists... weak religionists... after religionists... which one are you? “Religion is one of our most extraordinary creations; we can learn much about ourselves by interrogating it” believes Richard Holloway, formerly Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. This is our last day with Richard, who must now be frantically busy being guest director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. “To be alive at all is an extraordinary gift”, he says. “Its a bit daft to use the one life youre given to trample on the lives of others.” Richard has been challenging people all his life to examine how they live theirs – the paperback of his most recent book, “Between The Monster and the Saint”, is on sale now - if you enjoyed your time with Richard this week, buy it!

Born Asking Questions

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 09:31:29 +0100

“We are capable of extraordinary cruelty”, says Richard Holloway, director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival and our guest this week on Litopia Daily. “Torture has come back in our day - the things we thought had been once outlawed have now been done in the name of our nation.” Most of us, of course, are neither monsters nor saints – we occupy the morally shifting middle ground, the area that Richard explores in his latest book, “Between The Monster and the Saint. A prolific writer in addition to all his other duties, Richard is a self-confessed workaholic – so how does he go about his writing? And – why does he believe that more of us should concentrate on playing, and less on controlling others? A fascinating and insightful discussion - part three airs tomorrow.

Live Your Life Forwards, Understand it Backwards

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 19:25:47 +0100

“All institutions like their functionaries to put institutional loyalty as their highest value”. So says our special guest this week, the guest director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Richard Holloway. Originally a working class boy from the West of Scotland, Richard rose to occupy many distinguished positions. He has been Professor of Divinity at Gresham College in the City of London, a member of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, a member of the Broadcasting Standards Commission and hes currently chair of the Scottish Arts Council. But it was as Bishop of Edinburgh and then Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church that attracted most controversy. “I resigned on Halloween”, says Richard. “Ive never found it very easy not saying what I think…. the problem with being a bishop is that youre not suppose to speak your mind.” Richard certainly speaks his mind in his latest book, “Between The Monster and the Saint”, and hes our guest here all week!

Yank!

Sun, 2 Aug 2009 22:12:33 +0100

The widespread concern over authors involvement with their jacket cover design – or rather, with their lack of involvement – continues to reverberate round the ‘net. On todays Eves Salmagundi Club, we take the debate a stage further, and look at a terrific website that really raises the bar as far as many YA book covers are concerned. Conceived as a prank, many of the cover designs on 100 Scope Notes (it seems to be run by a librarian – arent they simply the best!) are actually rather good – and frequently equal to many adult trade titles. Publishers – take note - raise your game!

Mind Your Manners

Sat, 1 Aug 2009 11:12:38 +0100

Welcome, dear friends, to our weekly literary soirée! Were worried about manners this evening - not the Emily Post variety, although heaven knows we need em, but the trap that all creative souls can easily fall in to: becoming mannered, repetitive, creatively vacant. Its the trailer for the new Tim Burton film “Alice in Wonderland” that sets Dave Bartram off musing in this direction. “Something is beginning to bother me,” says Dave. “There is a point where style becomes manner - a set bunch of tricks and stylistic flourishes rather than true creativity. To me Tim Burton is looking increasingly mannered and less accessible and interesting as a result.” John Quirk is setting out on an epic voyage this week: over the next couple of years, he intends to read every one of the worlds 113 greatest books. It will certainly change him – well insist he keeps his satnav on during the journey and well be following closely and with great interest. Donna Ballman tonight pursues the question of how much input ought authors to have on their books design, particularly the cover. And were delighted to welcome back our publishing business guru Martyn Daniels – a kind of literary Donald Trump crossed with Alan Sugar – whos dissection author royalties in the digital era. “Its a dogs dinner”, says Martyn.

Duchess The Poodle Bites Borders

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:52:13 +0100

Time for our weekly news round-up – dominated by Marshmallow the Bear and Duchess the Poodle, both pseudonyms for blogging employees of Borders. Theyre here to tell you what “makebooks” are. But should they be allowed to? Shouldnt an employer be allowed to prevent staff from blogging critically about their business? Also, were looking at a big-stakes lawsuit that could scupper the chances of “The Hobbit” being filmed, and the Google Books Settlement raises some surprising issues that touch upon readers privacy. All brought to you courtesy of our wonderful Donna Ballman and The Write Report.

Traders Tales 8: He Gave Me All He Had

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:46:07 +0100

Today is our last audience with actor and raconteur Trader Faulkner. He looks back at authors who have influenced his life, in particular a fortuitous meeting with Marguerite Steen, and we end just as we started… Books mentioned in this show are: * Marguerite Steen, "Matador" & "The Sun is My Undoing" * Joseph Conrad “Twixt Land and Sea Tales: A Smile of Fortune, The Secret Sharer and Freya of the Seven Isles” * John Barrymore "The Life And Times Of John Barrymore - Goodnight Sweet Prince" * Alejo Carpentier "Lost Steps" * Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa "The Leopard: Revised and with New Material"

Traders Tales 7: Dont Let It Happen Again....

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:24:55 +0100

Sic Gloria Transit Mundi... a wheel comes off a bicycle; the King of Spain decorates Trader with the Order of Merit; and Trader becomes obsessed with Federico García Lorca, the Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director who was murdered at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War by the Nationalists. Trader meets Lorcas last surviving close friend Pepin Bello, and Lorcas brother and sister... Salvador Dali and Luis Buñuel make brief appearances.

Traders Tales 6: You Dance Like A Horse

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:36:10 +0100

"When I dance badly, I dance better than anybody in the world, but when I dance well - I dance like Jesus Christ!” So said one of the greatest-ever exponents of flamenco, Antonio Gades, to Trader Faulkner - and he was right. Traders love of flamenco see him share the stage with Gades at the London Coliseum, and leads to a moment on the beach with Picasso. “Darling,” said Antonio to Trader ruefully, “you dance like a horse.” Seeing how deflated Trader was, he quickly added: “a race horse, darling – not a cart horse!”

Author or Victim?

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:17:51 +0100

The age-old struggle between author and publisher over the books cover design gets a new, and disturbing, twist in todays Eves Salmagundi Club. Reports Publishers Weekly: “Bloggers are making ... charges against Bloomsbury Childrens Books, which put a white girl with long, straight tresses on the jacket of a novel about an African-American tomboy with short, ‘nappy hair. Phrases like ‘that poor author and ‘thats just wrong are showing up in comments sections online, in the escalating flap over Justine Larbalestiers Liar, which hits shelves September 28.” Another example of unthinking racism? Or simply an example of a rather media-hungry author? Were not so sure the entire, unexpurgated truth has yet been heard.

Kill That Adverb! Love That Trope!

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:40:57 +0100

Its not surprising that writers often argue about words, but the sheer animosity that adverbs can sometimes provoke would shock even the most hardened WWF fan. Tonight on LITOPIA AFTER DARK were looking at adverbs (words that modify any other part of speech, e.g. quickly, amazingly, often) and ask why it is that so many writers – Stephen King is one – hate them with a vengeance. Were also looking at literary tropes – common patterns, themes, motifs in literature – often the building-blocks of story, but also capable of being over-used and cliché-ridden if not handled judiciously by the skilled writer. And just in case youre thinking were getting awfully highbrow this evening, were also turning our attention to Gordon Browns iPod, Berlusconis sex tapes, and theres a nob gag at the end. Something for everyone, then! Tonights coruscating panel comprises our regulars Dave Bartram and Donna Ballman; theres a more-than-welcome return from childrens author and publishing trade commentator Graham Marks, and making his debut is round-the-world sailor and paranormal romance writer David Bridger.

Could Google Be The Zodiac Killer?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:07:27 +0100

Trader Faulkners adventures though the cultural landscape of the 20th century continue next week - but today, its time for Donnas WRITE REPORT – your weekly round-up of all the news you need to know about the book business. The international ramifications of the Google book settlement are starting to surface: East Africans authors are alarmed… Japanese authors are equally concerned… and the EU is to consult authors and publishers about their fears. In the UK, it appears that even mathematicians are becoming fearful that the draconian and antiquated libel laws can be used to stifle genuine debate; meanwhile, the campaign for UK libel law reform continues to grow apace. We turn to the States for our last story this week: yet another candidate has emerged as the true identity of the infamous Zodiac serial killer: forbidden from speaking for decades by lawyer-client privilege, an attorney now claims that his deceased client (a merchant seaman) was really the killer. We wonder if hell get a book deal…

Traders Tales 5: A very Convincing Murderer

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:15:06 +0100

"So I went back and got into my garbage bin..." An amazing confession today, in our continuing and engrossing audience with actor Trader Faulkner, about the electrifying encounter early one morning when Trader came close to bumping off Sir Laurence Olivier. With a supporting cast of Vivian Leigh and Dorothy Tutin, this has to be one of the most star-studded crime passionels manqués in recent theatrical history… and testimony to the two-timing Oliviers quick thinking…

Traders Tales 4: Flamingo Dancing

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:44:01 +0100

We pick up Trader Faulkners story today with his first explosive encounter with Iberic culture – specifically, and the dynamism, energy and power of flamenco. And “Little Ronald” gets straightened out by the Jesuits...

F For Fake

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:39:14 +0100

Is it ever acceptable to fake it? Thats the sujet du jour in todays Eves Salmagundi Club. Whether its fake tans or authors who fake it (yes, there is a connection...) we have stern words for both. Some authors accused of plagiarism (for example, young Kaavya Viswanathan and her half million dollar advance) seem to be more heavily tarred than others, such as Doris Kearns Goodwin).

Günther Und Wunderboner

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:58:10 +0100

HAVE you ever experienced that eerie feeling of a thought popping into your head as if from nowhere, with no clue as to why you had that particular idea at that particular time? Apparently, your brain operates on the edge of chaos, and every now and again it suddenly and unpredictably lurches into a blizzard of noise. Scientists believe that these near-chaotic states may be crucial to our creativity. And tonight, our panel considers just how much writers owe to that state of chaos – and whether we ought to go out of our way to bring more chaos into our lives, in the interests of becoming better writers. Just one of the many intriguing topics to discuss on tonights thought-provoking show, featuring an old-school panel that comprises Donna Ballman, Dave Bartram, Eve Harvey and Richard Howse. Topics covered and links include: * Members of a Saudi family are trying to sue a genie for theft and harassment * A British police force is spending $15,000 to teach its officers to stop moaning * Is internal chaos the same as external chaos? * The Wunderboner * Agents open bookstore - do they need second jobs to pay the bills? * Authors dont need Facebook friends * Credit crunch cuts authors advances * Terry Deary accuses Philip Pullman and other childrens authors of being pompous * Are Australians protecting publishing or cheating customers?|

Not Safe For Schools

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:27:38 +0100

Its Friday, so it must be time for Donnas WRITE REPORT... Trader Faulkner will be back with us next week, continuing his epic encounters with the greats of the 20th century – but today, were getting up to speed with all the news that matters... including recent research into the way that authors cope (or more likely, dont cope) with all those rejection letters... a formerly self-published author lands a publishing deal with Simon and Schuster (he published himself on the Kindle)… and authors are up in arms protesting new and draconian plans to “vet” them before being declared suitable to visit schools.

Traders Tales 3: The Kids Getting All The Gravy

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Three letters: one to Laurence Olivier, one to impresario Binkie Beaumont, one to famed director Peter Brook. On such slender threads our fate often depends. And one of them hits its target. Almost overnight, Trader finds himself replacing Richard Burton on Broadway, being directed by Sir John Gielgud! But... the green eye is not far away, and Laurence Harvey is far from happy… More compelling listening from raconteur Trader Faulkner.

Traders Tales 2: Leaving Ceramic Flats

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:21:13 +0100

"Mrs. Faulkner - Ronnies trying to get Rhondas knickers off...!" So begins the second part of Trader Faulkners odyssey: a journey that took him from Ceramic Flats, Manly, all the way to the London stage and then Broadway, by courtesy of Peter Finch, Tyrone Guthrie, John Gielgud and John Mills... amongst many others. More compelling listening from the legendary raconteur.

Litopia Presents: Traders Tales

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:01:52 +0100

traderFor the next two weeks, we are proud to present for your holiday enjoyment – TRADERS TALES...recollections from a life in the arts as recounted by Trader Faulkner. A world-class raconteur, Trader will thrill you... shock you... delight you but (mostly) have you in stitches as you follow his career from Ceramic Flats, Australia to the London stage, Broadway and beyond. On the way, youll meet many of the greats of the 20th century - Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Vivien Leigh, Peter Finch, Picasso, Noel Coward… the list is endless, and the entertainment is beyond compare. Download the entire series onto you iPod and take us away with you, wherever you go! Happy holidays!