Welsh Books Council World Book Day Lecture.

Posted on February 14, 2015

invite

 

Please find attached to this posting an invitation to the Welsh Books Council World Book  Day Lecture.

I will be talking about 30 years of working in the publishing industry, how I started in my career and what I am working on.

I will read stories and show paintings.

I will also touch on what it is like to work in one of the only industries I know that takes its new, shining products and reduces their value by offering at a discount from day 1, that choses to work with bookclubs who demand so high a discount that the artist/writer’s royalty is reduced to pennies. I will talk about how when a book is championed by independent bookshops the industry then choose to sell large quantities at high discount to supermarkets like Tesco, Costco, undermining the same bookshops who led to the success of the book in the first place. I will talk about how when times are hard for publishing companies the easiest people not to pay are the creators of the products that are the bedrock of the industry.

I will talk about the absolute importance of the free access of all to books and literature and technology through a publicly funded and well staffed library service, in and out of school.

I promise it won’t be a rant.

I will attempt to be amusing without attempting to be a poor shadow of a stand up comedian.

Most of all I will try to be interesting.

And I will take along a prize for the most interesting question that is asked.

So, be there if you can ( you must email Menai as places are restricted, so please confirm your place and then if you can’t go let her know). And if you can’t come please share, tweet, link on facebook etc.

I will be reading an extract from Wild Swans and also talking about and reading from A Hole in the Sky.

See you there. It might be an interesting evening. I do hope so. And at the end of the day it is a wonderful venue.

 

4 responses to “Welsh Books Council World Book Day Lecture.”

  1. Shelagh Wolfie says:

    Thank you for your voice. In all its creativity, individuality and strength. I realise your blog is what it is, amazing, but not quite the story of a person coping with all that we cope with? It is the public domain but your books hold that other voice. Of love, of pain, of discovery and holding on. Of child like awe and wonder. Of the universal sense of magic!? That stories tell more than the words or illustrations.

    Stories allow us wonder. We are so connected to them, but also imagine within and beyond. I love what you create. Your blog is a window. Of felt, wrestled and won just enough. It is one of the best artist blogs.

    I also enjoy your quiet politics. You walk what you talk!

    My best friend has just had her fourth baby, Edith. The East of the Sun, West of the Moon is a perfect present for them both. She can read it whilst she is in that strange and overwhelming tidal place of new motherhood and her children can read it or have it read to them too. Who needs another babygro or toy when you can give that? Stories are for life.

    • Jackie says:

      Thank you. Yes, I remember that time of feeling outside of the world, more intimate with another human than at any time before or since. I have to write a book about just that time, very shortly. Strangely enough one I have already illustrated. Looking forward to meeting that new challenge.
      Thank you.

      • Shelagh Wolfie says:

        Have just had a Skype to Ireland with my 80 year old Mama, who is there through loss of another sibling. 7 dead now, 2 living. I read her the first chapter of East of the Sun, West of the Moon. And she loved it! I held up the illustrations for her to see. And told her the end?! Very poignant.

        You don’t necessarily have to post this. But being able to connect this book to a new born, a new mum, a sister who is 53 and an 80 year old Mum! Timeless….just wish I had the money to buy a copy for each. And I won’t do it through Amazon! Luckily I have a lovely independent bookshop in Hebden Bridge. The Book Case. Which helped my son to love books and even though we did the library fervently. Sometimes you need to own one! And this book is smallish, hand held and intimate, a joy to discover.

        • Jackie says:

          Have a look on abe.co.uk Shelagh. They have second hand copies on there. Don’t worry about buying them through there. And thank you for this lovely story. Wonderful. Love the idea of being read via skype to your mum.

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