Hello!
As most of you probably know, I’m now posting my new writing on Substack, but perhaps a few of you don’t, so I thought it worth a little update here. There have been LOADS of new things up there in the last few months, including this piece I wrote the other day about the Dorset Ooser and one of my favourite books of all time, this piece about 20th Century shopping centres and their architecture and sculptures, this journey through a little bit of my record collection, this piece about my mum’s art, this early winter compendium, these notes from Exmoor which aren’t really that much about Exmoor, and this piece called Root Canal. Nearly all of it is free but every paying subscription helps me write more. Also, I’m currently offering a free signed paperback of Villager with every annual subscription, so if you’re still subscribing via the old Paypal system on this site, it’s probably as good a time as any to swap over.
I’m very excited to be able to say that my second novel 1983 is now edited and being laid out, with the fantastic cover you can see above. The illustration is by Joe McLaren (who, with Mark Ecob of Unbound, also designed the covers for Help The Witch and Villager). The book comes out in summer 2024 and you can reserve a signed hardback here and contribute to the book’s funding in the process. There is also a small excerpt here.
I’ve been reading a string of fantastic books recently. Two notable favourites have been Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively and An Encyclopaedia Of Myself by Jonathan Meades.
The second vinyl run of Wallflower, the wonderful soundtrack to Villager, is very close to sold out. But as of the time of writing Norman Records still have a few signed bundles, including the book.
My first jobs for the New Year are to record the audiobook of Villager – so it can join the ones of 21st-Century Yokel, Ring The Hill and Help The Witch – and get further into the thick of novel three. Much as I am looking forward to aspects of Christmas, I’m looking forward more to it being over so I can get back fully immersed in the creative process.
Best wishes for the festive season and 2024, and thank you for supporting what I do for another year!
Tom
