INTERNal thoughts

Full-on Friday!

2010-07-16T16:18:00.000+01:00

Today's the day that we've all secretly been building up to. Every day has had its fair share of well-known names and sold out events but today has been particularly full of them. Our first substitution happened today as well: Lindsay Porter couldn't attend due to illness so Ian Mortimer stepped in last minute to talk about Medieval murders. Pretty much all the Barn events were fully booked and they've been one steward down so I stepped in for the Ian Mortimer talk, which I was very excited about and it didn't disappoint. I sat, captivated, willing the minutes to slow down as he spoke fluently and engagingly on the demise of Edward II, III and Richard II. By far my favourite event of the festival.

Next up for me, front of house duty for the Great Hall on arguably the busiest afternoon of the week - three consecutive sold out events -Antonia Fraser, Ian McEwan and Fraser, Foreman & Nicolson. Two down, one to go. Getting as many people in has, so far, progressed very smoothly, to everyone's delight: people are squishing and squashing and getting very cosy with their next-door neighbours! I've escaped the hall though, because it's stiflingly hot in there and, I hate to say it, Ian's books are rather more captivating than the unfolding event (but I believe a little bit of honesty when reviewing talks is appropriate).

I'd better leave it here as I'm needed back for FOH in quarter of an hour. Another thing to note: it's Jo's last day today so we all wave a big GOODBYE to her in a couple of hours :-( - I'll definitely miss her this weekend, It's been great to be an intern with her!

Sleeping in the rain

2010-07-14T19:04:00.000+01:00

So the rain arrived yesterday but really settled in today. I got caught in a downpour whilst cycling to the festival and spent the first few hours in the office barefoot as I tried, rather unsuccessfully, to dry my shoes and socks in the warm server room nearby. Unfortunately they hadn't really dried out by the time I had to go and sell extra books by Rosemary Bailey in the Waterstones tent after her event in the Barn.

As I was standing in the marquee, shivering in my hoody and waterproof, the heavens opened and torrents of water thundered down. We could have been standing underneath a waterfall it was so loud. It was the sort of rain that makes you giggle at the sheer force of it. People rushing from porch to porch look funny, huddled three to an umbrella, skipping over the ground as if they'll keep their shoes and hems drier that way, scarves blowing and newspapers scattered around being turned to mulch.

A quiet day in the box office, really. And then a quiet session stewarding in the Great Hall for Jon McGregor. Quiet because, whilst I sat leaning against the back wall I fell asleep for, I have to be honest, most of the session. Sorry Jon. I did wake up - with a little help from my fellow steward - just in time to be the roving mic and so avoiding a potentially embarrassing situation...

Van Rouge has closed up, the phones are silent and people are eating their dinner. I have half an hour before I have to be back on steward duty for Martin Bell who will be talking about the expenses scandal.

I think it's time to head off for another quick nap in the West Wing lounge - I don't think I'll be able to get away with a snooze in this session....aaand another downpour. Great.

Silent moment = holy moment

2010-07-13T16:23:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone and welcome to Tuesday's installment of festival news. This is brought to you in a rare moment of stillness in the box office and I'm slowly coming down from the adrenalin high of trying to fit as many people as possible into the Great Hall for Melvyn Bragg. [Ha, scrap that, I wrote that sentence about 45 minutes ago and haven't touched the keyboard since!]

Melvyn's talk was the most full I've seen so far. Generally people were very happy to squish together and make room - apart from one very difficult woman who refused to move along. Far from backing down, I got caught on a bit of a power trip and was determined to fit someone in next to her if it was the last thing I did! Having the support of audience members around her was encouraging and equally satisfying was a woman who came in to congratulate me on how I dealt with "that b****"! Hectic, but the kind of challenging fun that I like.

Time for a small round-up of talks that I've been to since the last update. Kate Adie, John Lanchester and James Long provided a hugely interesting talk about the banking crisis, it's causes and consequences. All three were knowledgeable, thought-provoking and sharp, with Kate Adie posing the sort of insightful and penetrating questions that took her to the top of journalism.

David James Smith spoke without notes for a good three quarters of an hour about his experiences researching and writing his book about the young Mandela. He dared to rub some of the polish off the great man's image, revealing a man whose passion and commitment to his ideals caused much discord and strife throughout his family life. Focusing more on Mandela's wives, children and grandchildren, this was an intriguing and fascinating talk, reminding us that everyone has shadows in their past.

The afternoon session finished with Jackie Kay reading extracts from her new book, Red Dust Road and taking questions from the audience. I can't remember the time I laughed so much. From her voice impersonations to relating how she fielded questions about her sex life from her just-met Nigerian birth father, she was warm, engaging, funny and open whilst discussing issues of identity and upbringing.

Today has been notable for another reason - the rain arrived and the vibe is a lot quieter outside than previous days. More notably, it has stopped for now - which is important when one is cycling home as yours truly is later on! Other than that, the box office continues. Kate's mum has supplied us with delicious chocolate fairy cakes which we are all enjoying very much, the bookings keep coming and bits of paper continue to fly everywhere. For now, peace has once again descended and I can feel a wave of fatigue starting to lap at the edges of my being. The next event is in forty minutes and the guests will be along soon enough to shake me back to life.

And the show goes on...

2010-07-12T13:10:00.000+01:00

Day four is underway at Dartington Hall and we've seen some fantastic talks already in the Great Hall and Barn Theatre.

Friday was lively under bright sunshine: although the festival didn't open until 12, the lawn was dotted with people relaxing in the deck chairs waiting and the office was bustling to say the least! I took a break from the heaving box office to head over to the launch party in the private gardens where wandering minstrels were entertaining Friends and special guests drinking local Sharpham wine. Before long, the queue for Joan Bakewell was snaking round the courtyard - everyone was eager for the 19th Ways with Words to get underway. Michael Dobbs, Roy Hattersley, Michael Bird, Alexander Maitland, Sue Shephard and Martin Amis completed the schedule for Friday. At 6.30, I left with my parents who had emerged, very impressed, from Roy Hattersley's talk for a birthday dinner; that's right, Launch Day was also known in the office as Fi's Birthday!

Saturday brought yet another job for me - stewarding. From my post on the balcony in the Great Hall I herded guests along rows, prevented them from traipsing through the writers' dining room and kept a watchful eye out over the audience whilst listening to the talks - which is an upside to dealing with folks who don't particularly want to "move along".

I was underwhelmed by Giles Coren, and disappointedly so. I love his writing but I'm in two minds about his book. I thought it didn't do him justice, falling into the commercial, turn-you-into-a-celeb-and-show-you-off category; I preferred it when I had to seek out his columns. As much as I enjoyed listening to him - his articulate wit and intelligence still shone through - I thought his talk lacked direction, instead meandering loosely around an image of Giles that has been constructed mainly on the basis of one incident and sculpted as such. As so often happens, but I felt Coren was above this.

PD James with Penelope Lively was a breath of fresh air. Intelligent, insightful and completely in touch with the modern world and open to progression. At almost ninety, this was all the more impressive - and welcome.

Surprisingly, my favourite event was the session on bereavement with Barbara Want and Blake Morrison. It was chaired impeccably by Joan Bakewell, who guided the discussion sensitively and involved the audience as much as possible. What followed was a powerful, moving session that I suspect was very cathartic for many of those who attended.

And so to Monday. I've just been to Soundart Radio studio for a chat with Rob and am about to head off to the Great Hall for a stewarding shift, where I'll get to see Kate Adie and John Lanchester talking about the economy, David James Smith on Mandela and Jackie Kay on identity. Fun stuff!

Hellooooo Dartington!

2010-07-08T15:17:00.000+01:00

With the return of Chloe and Videl last week and Rachel, a previous intern, this Monday, the office was feeling quite cosily chaotic. Squeezing past elbows, envelopes, booking forms, show cards, banners and on drastically reduced coffee breaks, the Ways with Words team has been a hive of activity for the last few days.

But that is nothing compared to now. This morning we didn't go to Droridge Farm but cycled (well, Flo and I did!) up the hill to Dartington Hall. Legs shaking and sweating slightly (it's quite a climb) we began to unpack Steve's car and shift the entire contents of the office to a corner of Dartington reception area. It's about a third of the size and with more boxes. We're all set up now and doing various tasks, some normal, some slightly irregular. We're still doing ticket orders and processing payments but, for example, this morning I spent an enjoyable half hour or so erecting a marquee with some very lovely guys from a sports event company. I then continued my handywoman tasks by ensuring that the deck chairs' screws were all tight enough. All in a days' work!

We're gearing up for the arrival of speakers. And as I write this, I can announce with great excitement that Michael Bird has arrived and is currently hanging out in reception. Slightly less exciting is the fact that a huge screen has just gone up in front of our area and so Michael is possibly the only person we'll see with ease....

Next task: press board, and Flo needs the computer to send some emails regarding our Turner prize winners Richard Long and Martin Creed, so I will sign off from here - but I promise to be back soon with more updates from the lively Ways office!

A bientot!

Off The Page - an extra event at Ways with Words!

2010-07-06T12:09:00.001+01:00

Sunday 18th July, 6.30pm, Signature Lounge.

Are you feeling inspired? Do you have words and ideas that need airing in public?

Off The Page is a quirky, relaxed, live literature event for anyone who wants to share their creativity. Submissions welcome from anyone and everyone! It can be anything: poetry, a play, monologue, short story, a song, many lines or one line, short or long. Perform it yourself or have someone else read it.

Join us in the Signature Lounge (formerly the Upper Gatehouse room) for some creative entertainment and a drink or two.

To submit your work, email office@wayswithwords.co.uk or pop into the box office at Dartington Hall from Friday 9th July.

Happiness is a chocolate covered waffle cone

2010-06-28T15:27:00.000+01:00

So my friend said, seconds before she dropped said cone with a wet thud onto the concrete of the ice cream parlour terrace in Cardiff this weekend.

No such misfortunes for us today, with several things to be happy and excited about this Monday morning. The festival has been drawing closer for a while now, but now it has dawned on us that it starts next week! Kate and Flo are having a nice afternoon out in Totnes creating window displays with show cards for all the speakers. Jo has been awarding bursaries and has almost got that finished. Kate's stewarding schedule seems to have ironed itself out and everything feels like it's coming together. And, say it quietly, *the sun is still here*.

If you're a fan of us on Facebook, you may well have seen the event listing for Off The Page.

Off The Page is a quirky and relaxed live literature event for anyone who wants to share their creativity. It can be poetry, a play, monologue, short story, a song, many lines or one line, short or long...anything goes - it doesn't matter if you've been writing for a long time, or consider yourself a casual scribbler.

Come along on Sunday 18th July at 6.30pm to the Upper Gatehouse room to have a few drinks and share your work - or listen to others'. Please submit your ideas and entries to office@wayswithwords.co.uk by 9th July. Soundart Radio online will be covering the event as well.

Everything is economics

2010-06-28T15:10:00.000+01:00

Tim Harford, economist, Financial Times columnist and author of Dear Undercover Economist is once again sharing his analytical, logical wisdom and sets out to explain why seemingly irrational and chaotic decisions and patterns of behaviour actually do adhere to reasoned, logical economics.

Appearing at the festival on Sunday 11th July, he'll be applying his reasoning to those trivial matters of love and happiness, explaining why economic theory might hold the key to explaining these rocky roads. Given that although comforting, a tub of Ben & Jerry's provides nothing but extra inches, I'd say this talk is definitely worth a listen.

For tickets, call the box office on 01803 867 373 or check out Tim's website for more info.

Ready.....PLAY.

2010-06-21T12:28:00.000+01:00

As I sit at my desk I can hear, from many corners of the country, whoops of delight and chattered excitement at the prospect of an alternative sporting event. The strawberries are red and plump, Pimms is sparkling, the lawns of SW19 are gleaming, fresh and green and young Laura Robson is playing on Centre Court. Hurray for Wimbledon!

This year Ways with Words has an especial interest in the event. Matt Harvey is the first Wimbledon Poet, and has already been busy down at the All England Club. His contributions, focusing on everything at Wimbledon from the food, the weather, the grass, the umpires, crowds, ball boys and girls and the players will be up on his Wimbledon blog at Wimblewords. His first poem, Grandest of Slams, is up there right now.

I think this is a fantastic addition to Wimbledon. So many people, whether they play tennis or not, enjoy watching Wimbledon and Matt will bring out all their various different experiences, in poetry, blogging and random performances at the queue line. His quirky, humourous style should fit perfectly with this most quintessential of British summer experiences, enhancing the tournament's wider appeal and ensuring it stays the Greatest of Slams.

We're looking forward to having Matt at the festival on Sunday 18th July for what promises to be a fantastic evening of poetry and anecdotes from the tournament.

Going back to the crux of the issue, though - who to win? Will Federer claim a 7th title? Will Nadal's hunger prove greater? He certainly looks the most in-form player, and possibly the most raring to go. How will Laura Robson fare on Centre against Jankovic - what a match for her, btw. I don't think she's a no-hoper, she can play fantastically when she wants to so let's hope we see her fine, fighting form and that she enjoys every minute of it. And of course, the annual question on everyone's lips - Will Andy Murray Win This Year? Maybe it's time for another office sweep stake....

In other news, we are steaming head on with publicity for lots of events. A piece of Richard Long's work will be appearing at Torre Abbey's TAMED exhibition, running from July 5th to August 31st. Check out local newspapers for coverage of the festival in the next few weeks.

Ticket sales are on a bit of a boost - chaos reigned briefly on Thursday morning after announcements and ticket allocations got a bit out of sync but the good ship recovered and all is now back to normal! I've been making friends at Totcom printers and am very excited about the colour flyers they are printing for me for the Martin Creed and Richard Long events. Thanks to Mac Pages my designer talents have taken on a rare sheen and I'm optimistic about the finished product!

So off we go into another week. Three left before the festival! The sun is shining and the rat that has been scurrying around the office is nowhere to be seen. All is good. And with that, I must go and stop procrastinating under the guise of blogging...

A bientot!

Fi x

Peace and quiet and celebrity-style nicknames.

2010-06-15T16:10:00.000+01:00

Well, actually, a little less than four weeks now! The phone lines have quietened down and we now have a limited number of tickets newly available for previously sold-out events.

We are learning how hard it is to pin people down! Editors and publicists seem fairly hard to get hold of and there's a lot of pinging and ponging back and forth on the phone. (This should be unsurprising to me having spent three years working in publishing, but there we go.) We're busy trying to get features written in various publications, interviews arranged and flyers created for different groups of people.

A particularly exciting development was learning that the Turner prize winning artist Richard Long, who is coming to Ways with Words on Sunday July 18th is also having a piece of his work exhibited at Torre Abbey from July 5th to August 31st. What's especially good is that my boyfriend's mother, who I'm currently living with whilst down in Devon, is responsible for organising the exhibition, so I'm optimistic about some good reciprocal publicity opportunities there.

I am the sole intern in the office today...Florence and Jo are delivering programmes and Kate has gone off to France for a couple of days. It's very quiet. Although having just said that, Jo-Flo have pulled into the drive. Jo-Flo. Now there is a nickname that I am going to make stick!

A Staff Excursion...

2010-06-10T15:45:00.001+01:00

Yesterday the WWW staff were lucky enough to see the Miracle Theatre Company's take on Romeo and Juliet in the grounds of Fingals Hotel, Dittisham. Placed at the front and surrounded by our extensive picnic we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

It was a fun production and the simple costumes and set were used to great effect. The cast of six played all the vital parts, using items of costume, stance and facial expression to convey which character they were playing. The set echoed the stage of the globe theatre with a curtained portico and Juliet's bedroom and the famous balcony scene were played very effectively on top of the portico. The script struck a balance between being true to the original and being accessible, with well-known passages fluently laced together with modern dialogue.

The rain held off and the evening became even more magical when stage lights were gradually introduced with the fading of the natural light. This fitted beautifully with the nature of the play: the sky grew darker with the subject matter! Birds provided the underscore, bats flitted above the stage and it was altogether a wonderful evening.

Florence

Newsround

2010-06-08T13:01:00.000+01:00

Well, it feels like it's been quite some time since I wrote anything up here. We interns have, for the majority of the last couple of weeks, been ploughing through the treachorous seas of phone, postal and internet bookings and scaling the dizzy heights of Mount PDQ (card payment processing). And, I'm happy to report, we seem to be emerging out the other side, approaching the summit, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Time to turn our attention on to other things. We've all had days out of the office distributing programmes to grateful recipients around the area with an intern you may remember from last year, Charlie. I myself went off to Plymouth for a fun-filled sunny day out, notable for the University of Plymouth's astounding confusion over the whereabouts of its English department...!

We're now focusing more on marketing and publicity and I'm really enjoying thinking of creative ways to promote our speakers. This is where you realise how easy basic marketing is with things like Facebook and Twitter, but it's also good to get involved with other sites and think about where and why you're promoting certain people in certain areas.

We've had a bit of a change in the office, too. Gemma is sadly no longer with us but Florence has arrived, fresh from end of year university exams! We also have Ellie, Kate's daughter who has been roped into helping out and she has been great, picking everything up really quickly and getting stuck in.

Kay and Steve are in France for one of their writing courses and Chloe and Videl (and Theo!) will be here as of Thursday: they have promised to get stuck into box office stuff - something I'm sure we will all hold them to!

That's all for now folks, check back soon for more news from Ways with Words!

Fi

More Tickets Available!

2010-06-04T09:43:00.000+01:00

Thought you'd missed out on Simon King, Shirley Williams and Melvyn Bragg? Think again!

We have a limited number of newly-available tickets for these events. Call the box office asap as they won't hang around for long - 01803 867 373.

Kiss Kiss!

2010-06-01T14:35:00.000+01:00

Isn't kissing great?! Lana Citron, author of A Compendium of Kisses, has written a quirky and fascinating book all about the science, history, social etiquette, symbolism and varied behaviour behind this most simple, yet complex of acts.

And on that note, did you know...

1) The first recorded kiss was traced to 1500 BC in India. Vedic scriptures mention people ‘sniffing’ with mouths and describing lovers ‘setting mouth to mouth’.
2) Using X as a ‘kiss’ sign goes back to when people signed their names with an X, followed by a kiss upon the letter to show sincerity. X was the Paleo Hebrew letter Tav, symbol of the Seal of Hashem representing truth, completeness and perfection. Rabbi Brasch, in his work on the history of sex links it to the symbol for two mouths kissing >-<.
3) Kissing was a sign of rank in Roman and Hellenic times. Equals would kiss mouth to mouth, an inferior would kiss an superior’s cheek. If there was a great difference in rank, the inferior would kiss the ground.
4) Although chimpanzees are known to give pecks on the lips, only humans and bonobos engage in kissing with tongues.
5) Public displays of affection have been banned in many places, Britain amongst them. In early 2009 ‘no kissing’ signs were introduced in Warrington Bank Station – to help ease congestion.
6) The International Scientific Forum states that greeting someone with a kiss on the cheek is more hygienic than shaking hands.
7) Other health benefits include: brain stimulation, boosting self-esteem, helps decrease blood pressure and cholesterol and sharing bacteria can aid your immune system. People who kiss regularly are less likely to suffer from stomach, bladder and blood infections.
8) An orphanage study found that infants who were rarely kissed or held died of a disease known as infant marasmus, which literally means ‘wasting away’.
9) Some parental habits in certain tribes are unusual. The Yanomami of Venezuela have been known to kiss or suck their baby sons’ penises to improve their moods.
10) A human embryo has a mouth and set of lips at six weeks old, or half an inch long.
11) Kissing burns, on average 2-6 calories per minute.
12) According to Alex Comfort, author of The Joy of Sex, “a good mouth kiss should leave it’s recipient breathless but not asphyxiated”.

Lana Citron will be at Ways with Words on Thursday 15th July at 9pm. Tickets £9 and available online or via the box office on 01803 867 373.

I like sunny Mondays

2010-05-24T16:11:00.000+01:00

They make heading back to work so much more enjoyable, especially when getting to work involves a glorious bike ride next to the river Dart along a beautiful cycle path! We are a skeleton crew in the office today, and all a little pink from exposure to the hot stuff this weekend! And already we've had exciting goings-on in the media for some of our Ways with Words stars!

Firstly, an adaptation of Martin Amis's Money started on BBC 2 last night. Perfect preparation for his talk on Friday 9th July. Catch it again on BBC iplayer

Secondly, Lucy Worsley spoke to Fi Glover on Saturday Live this weekend. Lucy will be at Dartington on Friday 16th July discussing the court of King George II at Kensington Palace and all the treachery, skullduggery and politics that went on there. Listen again to the BBC Radio 4 show here

Last, but by no means least, you may well have heard Dorothy Rowe on Start the Week with Andrew Marr this morning. Dorothy is speaking at two events at the festival. One will be discussing the notion of lying. The other will focus on, and be a forum to discuss ideas for taking charge of your life. Listen to her on Start the Week here

That's all for now folks!

F x

Ways with Words in Telegraph

2010-05-21T12:19:00.001+01:00

Watch out for the Telegraph tomorrow, Saturday 22nd May...they are running a big feature on Ways with Words! We're looking forward to all the publicity and expect the phone lines to continue to ring out through the office through the weekend and on into Monday morning.

Michael Holroyd once stated that the literary festival was dead - here he fights for the opposite corner. Read all about why Ways with Words ranks among his favourite festivals here

General booking has been manic to say the least! Several events have sold out, namely Shirley Williams, Ian McEwan and Simon King and others are running dangerously low, so if you want to see Melvyn Bragg, Anthony Emery, Robert Sackville-West, Martin Bell and Jeremy Hardy, you'd better be quick! No one is calling at the moment so take advantage of the free phone line....too late!

On your marks, get set....

2010-05-19T15:57:00.000+01:00

General booking opens online at 00.01 tonight so I hope you'll all be poised by your computers in order to take advantage of what will probably be the quietest period of booking! Events are selling fast but there is still time to nab a ticket for your favourite speaker or author - not to worry, festival Friends haven't taken all of them in the priority booking week - although let that be an incentive to subscribe next year!

We interns are being truly swamped with the amount of postal votes coming in daily, which is encouraging but needs many a cup of tea and a couple of custard creams (per hour) to keep going with the requisite energy.

Also on the agenda: getting the word out about our bursaries for students aged 17-25 to local schools and colleges, and organising the rota for the stewards who will be helping out at the festival.

And now I'm going to go and calm down after a phone conversation with a very grumpy woman who thought the best way to solve the confusing mess she'd made of her booking form was by shouting at me. A custard cream should do the trick.

Students go FREE at Ways with Words!!

2010-05-18T15:00:00.000+01:00

Calling all students! Are you:

Aged 17-25?
Passionate about books?
Intrigued by new ideas?
Fancy hearing and engaging with the likes of Giles Coren, Ian McEwan, Andrew Motion, Tracy Chevalier, Lynn Barber, Martin Bell and Brian Moore?
Feeling a bit poor?

If the answer to those questions is 'yes' you could be eligible to attend the festival for free on one of the bursaries that Ways with Words offers to young students each year.

To be considered, you will need to:

Have a lively interest in literature
Be allowed time off school/college during the period of the festival.
Be based in Devon and in full-time education
Be aged 17-25

For more information, contact Jo or Gemma on 01803 867373 or office@wayswithwords.co.uk, or download an application pack from our webite www.wayswithwords.co.uk

Get in touch, people!

Fi x

Back once again for 2010!

2010-05-17T11:49:00.004+01:00

Well, hello!

Internal Thoughts is back for Ways with Words 2010. A new programme of events, new speakers and four new interns to share with you their experiences of the run-up to Dartington. Here, we will share with you all the fun, chaos and mayhem involved in organising the ten-day festival, as well as keeping you up-to-date with the latest news and giving you a taste of things to come.

News in brief:

Friends of the Festival, alert! Priority booking is well underway with several events selling like hot cakes (Shirley Williams, Ian McEwan) and the boat trip with Kate Adie is already nearly sold out! General booking, and internet booking opens this Thursday 20th May.

Check us out on Facebook! New Twitter page to come soon!

As well as us interns, WWW has two new additions to the team: Kay's daughter Chloe, and her partner Videl Bar-Kar have joined us from the glamorous worlds of Channel 4 and classical music. Based in London, they bring their media and business experience to help ensure WWW stays innovative and fresh.

Well, that's all for now - I'm just going to play with a few blog settings and then head back to the sea of paper that is the box office table - and general bookings hasn't even opened yet!

Bye for now,

Fi

Martin Rowson - Comic Genius

2009-07-08T12:43:00.005+01:00

Check out the following site for a hilarious look at Martin Rowson's comic genius:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=martin+rowson&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=4YRUSriDC8mZjAfqztWSCQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4

Copy and paste the above into your search-engine.

Some cartoons may cause offence!

2009-07-06T16:15:00.002+01:00

OK, here are all the installments of our story plus the latest addition!
______________________________________________________

1. Once upon a time there was a midshipman known by the name of Lancelot "Lucky" Liddleton who resided in Liverpool when he was not on his travels. The astute reader will have more than gathered by now that the letter L is significant to Lance (as his better half Mrs Lydia Liddleton liked to refer to him) and that contrary to his middle moniker, life presented numerous problems whose origins appeared to stem from the twelfth letter in the alphabet...

2. Little did "Lucky" Lance Liddleton know, that his lack of luck came largely from his licentious lust of all things lady-like. Poor Lydia Liddleton, who so dearly loved Lance, that when he left Liverpool on his longboat "The Leviathan", she would languidly lie in loneliness laughing lamely at his leaving. But, our lying Lothario Lance, was sacked from the longboat for being lazy, and spent his time in Leicester looking for loose ladies, the loser. Whilst in Leicester late one July, Lucky Lance found himself facing legal action linking him to libelous loquacity. Our lowly, unlikeable Lance wondered what it was he had let slip...

3. Had he lied to a Lord? Leered at a Lady? He lurched back to his lodgings, lolled through he door, and lo! Lying in the lobby was a letter, light but lethal. The libel-claiming loon was about to let on! Was it a litigious lord? A la-di-da lady? Little by little he leaned and he looked and he learned…

Many moons, moaned M,
Have I mooched below L,
Whereas I am, in point of fact, master!
Why all things malevolent
March forth with M,
I am monstrous, and madden much faster!

Why else maggots and malice,
Manure, mould and mumps,
Why else mad cows, mosquitoes and mud?
Too long you’ve allowed
Lance by ‘L’ to be cowed
When in fact, as a letter, he’s dud!

So make up your mind –
Who will be your main man?
Move maturely, be manful, pick well.
But a word in your ear
(though the matter is clear)
Only manifest madmen choose L!

A massive, maroon M concluded the missive, and Lance was much moved. This was the mysterious mugger of his peace of mind! He was motionless on the mat. What should he do? Avoid melons and motorcars and men for the rest of his miserable life? Or Lydia, ladies and lunch? He was still lying lethargically and moaning morosely when suddenly -

4. Well, the question;
how to continue....
..stretched Lance's every sinew
What could he say..
..could he there stay?

So Leicester was to be replaced
for he thought an island was the place
to recover his guile
in a far and lonely isle!

The internet was checked
and his suitcase bedecked
with things for hot sunny days
A ticket was booked
and his passage looked
assured, far, and away

So he got to the airport
without any more thought
He searched for his flight
and all went to delight
Check-in was done
Baggage under a tonne
Seat belt strapped in
Just about to begin.......when,
there on the flight! A fright!.....

5. But enough about Lance for the moment - wouldn't you like to know more about Mrs Lydia Liddleton? Fed-up to the eye-teeth with her husband's disregard for her feelings, she was discovering her love for husband "Lucky" Lance Liddleton was on the wane. No more did she wish to succumb to lying languidly in ‘loneliness laughing lamely at his leaving’! Not for her any longer the inertia of sorrow as her husband cavorted round the globe on the bosom of a loose lady.
Ire fermenting in her head, Lydia is oblivious to the streets of Leicester as she storms down the avenue of broken dreams, but with a sudden, some would say inevitable, bump, she finds herself flat on her pert posterior, skirts bunched in her lap, as in front of her the magnificent Malcolm Muniche proffers his hand…

6. All that she could learn of him at first sight, through her tear-induced lippitude, was a marvellously moliminous moustache, bristling endearingly through her miasma of grief. Mrs Lydia Liddleton lowered her eyes, and accepted the hand, a hand that was moist and meaty, her own hand lithe and slender held lightly in his grasp. Finally, the meaningful meeting of eyes, lasting lingeringly before Lydia turned away for a second time.

7. She had known that the Abecedarian-Zealots would send such mystagogue into the midst of her lonely, lexiphanic life, and came quietly. But that in her head, silently cursed her luckless matrimony “What has that ludicrously logoleptic, labrose, liliputimous, Lancelot Liddleton said now?!”

Later that evening, she was lead, a little more languorously but still cursing her idiot-husband, into the Grand Chamber of the awful A-Z zealots...

What could they want from Her??

8. Passion propelled her past the onerous O into a place of plenty,plumetting past pride into p...p...p..p, no my lady, not prostitution, but positions portrayed in more purple prose than this story permits. So we'll pause a while to leave the good lady to enjoy her passionate embraces in privacy.

9. Peace,save perhaps for the prophecy of the patter of tiny pedated protruberances sired by Malcolm Muniche. Oh Malcolm, is paternity what you had in mind?

10. We have lingered on Lydia long and left Lucky Lance. Does the reader recall his attempted flight from M, motherland and his much-martyred marital mate? Does the reader recall the fright awaiting him on his flight? Well…
Lance was a seaman, and as such used to more basic onboard facilities. He’d never been on a state-of-the-art Getaway Airlines flight, and didn’t realise that, along with free cashews, undersized beverages and hot towels, Getaway Airlines provided top speed in-flight broadband. Lance was tickled pink and flicked on the screen with great gusto – but oh! The person before him – an individual of quite unparalleled taste and intelligence – had been reading the Ways With Words Interns’ blog!
Lance glanced, then gazed, then gaped. Oh, Lydia, Lydia! Lance lowered his eyes in shame. He was leaving the loveliest lady in Liverpool – and leaving her, moreover, to the malicious, malodorous Malcolm Muniche!
He jumped up, scattering complementary nuts and miniature bottles of tonic water. He charged down the aisles – not even hesitating for his hand luggage – and out the terminal doors into the drizzling afternoon. But to him it seemed like the sweetest sunshine, blessed and beautiful, for in it dwelt his lady love!
He pounded the pavements, heart pumping, praying that his perfect partner would be where he left her (if you remember - lying languidly in loneliness laughing lamely at his leaving…). Once more he lurched back to his lodgings, lolled through the door, and lo!

WINNER of the Prize Draw!

2009-07-06T12:28:00.005+01:00

All of the interns at Ways With Words are pleased to announce that the winner of a pair of Great Hall Day Tickets for Sunday 12th July is our Follower Anna Lewis!!

This prize entitles you, Anna, to two tickets which cover events #18-#23 inclusive.

This fantastic prize, worth over £70, is a wonderful opportunity for you to see and hear Michael Buerk, Christopher Potter, and Susie Boyt (amongst others) in action!

To organise collection please get in contact with Natalie at admin@wayswithwords.co.uk.

Again, congratulations!

BOOK REVIEW

2009-07-02T11:47:00.003+01:00

THE BOOK OF FIRES
BY JANE BORODALE

This novel develops in strength as you become embroiled in the character of the main protagonist. The amount of research that Jane Borodale has done is vital to the plot of the novel and increasingly becomes apparent as the heroine's education in pyrotechny advances.
Initially, the present tense internal monologue of the heroine is difficult to navigate and it is not until the character develops further that one is pulled into the narrative. Yet it is well-worth your patience and the twists the plot takes are not as straight-forward as you may suppose. Though I was slightly confused by the timeline of the heroine's pregnancy, I geniunely wanted her to succeed. I found myself avidly reading the final chapters, delighting in the outcome of this strong, resourceful, and intelligent female.

Natalie Intern x

BOOK REVIEW

2009-07-02T10:21:00.005+01:00

HOW TO PAINT A DEAD MAN
BY SARAH HALL

Spanning over forty years, Sarah Hall’s novel is a haunting puzzle that invites you to piece together the tangled lives’ of her four protagonists. Delving into art, humanity, loss, love and desire, Hall plays on the narrative style, illuminating each character’s life either through the medium of monologue, second person or third person, while also allowing a sense of omniscience to prevail.

The astute reader will swiftly perceive the connections as each “voice” reveals more and more, yet Hall will neither confirm nor deny your suspicions, especially towards the end, and one is left wanting confirmation, along with a sense of shock, even though redemption appears to be on the horizon.

Natalie Intern x

BOOK REVIEW

2009-07-01T15:05:00.012+01:00

MARCHING TO THE FAULT LINE - THE 1984 MINERS' STRIKE AND THE DEATH OF INDUSTRIAL BRITAIN
BY FRANCES BECKETT AND DAVID HENCKE

As a child of 1984 I cannot remember anything of the 1984 Miner's Strike but its legacy is something I have grown up with. The homeland I have lived my 25 years in has been largely bereft of the huge industries that dominated 20th century Britain. It is undeniable that the face of British industry has changed dramatically since the 1970/80's and now we are a country where services industries reign. The catalyst for this change appears to have been the Miner's Strike, a blow from which the trade union movement would never recover.

It's seems correct therefore, for Beckett and Hencke to approach their history of the 1984 strike with a nod to it's impact. Quite rightly though, they save this for the conclusion (bar a few hints) and they focus on narrating the strike. This was the main hook for me, learning about how and why the action progressed. How, whilst I was being born, men, women and children were practically starving in Great Britain (the same year as Band Aid).

Beckett and Hencke's research appears extensive and it seems they spoke to most of the major players in the saga as well as viewing government papers released under the Freedom of Information Act. However, the two major characters - or should I say caricatures - both declined to contribute their voice. This may have been an error - particularly on Scargill's part - as, while they both come across as determined, stubborn and seeking all out victory, it is Scargill who by not compromising essentially sped up the subsequent scheme of mine closures.

Whilst the narrative is intriguing and enlightening, it is in the conclusion where Beckett and Hencke get their message across best. During the narrative I was feeling seeing the stupidity of Scargill and the genius of the government, winning a battle that essentially irradicated the stress and strain nationalised industries and trade unions had brought to Britain over the previous generation, allowing Britain economy to move forward. But after the conclusion, in which Beckett and Hencke present the downsides to Thatcher's steadfastness, I was left lamenting a lost Britain. Where then; Mining communities were tight-knit and self-regulating; they are now desolated and drug addled. Where then, most of Britain's coal was domestically produced, providing jobs for Britons; now we still rely on coal to power our power stations but it is mostly imported.

This book is therefore a place for the uninitiated, like me, to learn about the ‘Civil War’ as they call it, that ended the way industry operated in Britain. But also it is a book for those who, despite knowing about the strike, want to know more.

by Charlie Intern x

The Inside View

2009-06-24T14:53:00.003+01:00

It's really hotting up here in the Ways With Words office, with the sun returned and the festival only sixteen days away. I am the latest addition to the intern family, and as a keen attendee of WWW have been having great fun experiencing it all from the inside. I get positively star-struck when I pick up the phone and find an author on the other end, and am holding out for Andrew Motion.

Tickets are still selling nicely, and I often find myself advising people on the standby queue for sold-out events. (Let's see if we can get the line past the Barn this year!) Nonetheless, I have been thrilled at how nice all the festival-goers have been, even when disappointed - you are not preparing me for the cruel world of business at all!

With regard to the festival double acts, I am sure Harvey & Hart are a successful duo of stand-up comedians, or possibly children's television presenters.

Ahh, how many kisses to sign off with? The norm so far has been anything between one and three...

Francesca Intern
xxxx

BLOGGERS UNITE!

2009-06-17T14:06:00.004+01:00

Dear Reader,

Please note our special offer that automatically enters any Follower of INTERNal Thoughts into a prize draw.

The prize draw will take place on Monday 6th July and will entitle one Follower to a pair of Great Hall day tickets for Sunday 12th July, allowing them entry into events #18-#23 inclusive.

This fantastic prize, worth over £70, is a wonderful opportunity to see and hear Michael Buerk, Christopher Potter, and Susie Boyt (amongst others) in action!

To be in with a chance of winning, sign up as a Follower and participate in our blog. Why not add a paragraph to our running short story which will be performed at Ways With Words on Saturday 18th July by roving performers from the Voice Cafe.

Good Luck!

All the best from the team at Ways With Words

Don't forget, you can download the full festival programme at http://www.wayswithwords.co.uk or ring the Box Office on 01803 867373 to request a free copy.

2for1 OFFERS

2009-06-17T12:12:00.008+01:00

Sitting here in the office, while outside the wind harasses the trees and the clouds rush over our den of efficiency, I thought I'd take the time to explain our special offers in more detail. 2 for 1 is obviously self-explanatory, but the variety of events that are on offer deserve an introduction.

On our opening night, Friday 10th July, there is the opportunity for yourself and a friend to come along and enjoy the 'comedy-infused, musically-enhanced, interactive poetry' of the Wondermentalist Cabaret. Hosted by Radio 4 Saturday Live's Matt Harvey, it features Jerri Hart, Liv Torc, and Nomad Shuffle, along with an array of other Ways With Words festival writers.

For poet enthusiasts there is also the opportunity to join us the following morning as Terry Gifford recounts his survey on the life and work of Ted Hughes. Gifford will not just be examining the poet's reputation as a major literary figure, but also his role as a serious environmentalist, appealing to those of you that are interested in ecological issues.

For all you budding writers out there I definitely recommend Jane Borodale and Sarah Hall, newly accomplished authors themselves, who will be discussing the genesis of their fiction on Sunday 12th July. Borodale, writer and artist, will be focusing on her first novel, ‘The Book of Fires’, while Sarah Hall will be recounting the influences for her fourth novel, ‘How to Paint a Dead Man’.

The Desmond Elliott Prize for New Writers also holds an explanatory title, but it prompts me to stress the importance this event has to any budding writer. On Wednesday 15th a member of this year’s judging panel will be discussing emerging fiction, of which YOU may be a part in the near future, as well as exploring the actual dynamics behind a literary award worth £10,000 that ‘enriches the careers of new fiction writers’.

Later in the evening there is Shakespeare on Toast for those interested in a revelational snack. Ben Crystal will ‘sweep the cobwebs from the bard, bring colour to the words and reveal how exciting, relevant and thrilling the writings can be for a modern audience’ – essential for all you students of English Literature.

Thursday 16th sees Rob Perks and Jamie Andrews from the British Library, along with the author Graham Swift, reflect on 120 years of writers’ lives, illustrated by the British Library’s rich collection of writers’ personal papers, sound recordings and in-depth oral history interviews with living authors – of which Graham Swift is himself a part.

Last, but by no means least, there is the chance to observe the award-winning political cartoonist Martin Rowson give an illustrated account of how he works in ‘Doing Damage from a Distance’. Containing strong language, this will appeal to all those with an inner political activist waiting to break out!

Another day in the office...

2009-06-08T16:53:00.002+01:00

With the blog running for well over a week now I thought perhaps I should take a turn at posting. Last week we were all making the most of Kay and Stephen's garden by basking in glorious sunshine. Today we were huddled around the fire trying to keep warm. Tomorrow I’m going to be traveling around Devon bringing our Ways With Words brochures to a bookshop near you! (I’m keeping my fingers crossed for dry weather).

The mayhem of the first two weeks seems a bit of a distant memory. The office feels very tranquil in comparison. We seem to be taking more tea and coffee breaks, and biscuits are leading the agenda. The addition of a pre-coffee-break coffee has also proven very popular.

The ticket sale count shows that we’re doing well with the sales, which is great news! And I’ve finally begun to read the book that I’ll be reviewing for you; Ben Crystal’s Shakespeare on Toast. It’s entertaining, light-hearted and interesting. There’s something to be said for being able to read a book about Shakespeare when you first wake up in the morning! It seems like a popular choice. A queue of people wanting to read it is forming behind me as I type.

I’ll be back with more soon, but right now it’s home time!

Bryony Intern xxx

Dartington Hall

2009-06-05T10:41:00.000+01:00

I am new to the area, and so I’ve been taking advantage of the (surprising) weather to do some exploring. Obviously my first trip had to be Dartington Hall itself (well, by way of the sweet shack at the Cider Press Centre…). My sister and I wound our way up the hill, past the picturesque church filled with wildflowers, and some local cricketers resplendent in their whites against the green. We entered the grounds through the gardens, stopping off at Dorothy Elmhirst’s folly to admire the view (and have some sweets), and then made our way to the sunken garden. It really is a breathtaking sight, standing at the top – it’s a long way down to the lawns and flowerbeds. The Medieval Hall is simple but very atmospheric – you can almost imagine King Arthur holding court within the whitewashed walls and high ceiling. Now that would be surprising – but all our various writers will be just as amazing!
Rachel Intern xx

Sunny Lunch Times...

2009-06-03T14:32:00.007+01:00

While the weather continues to be so fantastic we have all been making the most of it and having lunch outside. In our own private garden boudoir, we have a chance to relax while our skin soaks up the sun rays and nature joins in the festivities of our lunch. Relaxing on the grass, it also gives us an opportunity to delve into the books of our choice - mine transporting me to the 17th century of yesteryear as 'Agnes Trussel' journeys from rural Surrey to London. Don't worry though all you WWW festival goers, we have the phone handy and each take turns to answer your calls between munching our curds and whey.

Today I had to rescue Jimmy Cricket from a thirst-quenching glass of water! He jumped right into the glass and needed a little help to get out. We also have a regular visitor, Henry, the neighbour's dog, who weaves his way around us, nosing for tidbits and affection (he particularly likes Charlie's selection of sandwiches). One important aspect to look out for, however, is where one chooses to sit - yesterday I had the misfortune to sit in something that left a remarkable green pattern on my shorts, which unfortunately I did not notice until I was long gone from the office!

The bad news is this glorious English weather is not due to last to the weekend, yet I'm sure it will return in time for the Ways With Words festival!

Natalie Intern x

Phones and Double Trouble

2009-06-02T12:32:00.001+01:00

Here at Ways With Words over the last three weeks the phones have been ringing heavily. The lines opened for ticket bookings the day after we four interns started and they have only just quietened down this week.

Answering the phone has mostly been fun. A few disgruntled people who couldn’t get the tickets they wanted aside, most people have been happy and looking forward to the festival and been keen to indulge in a bit of banter that makes life all the more interesting.

One of my favourite points of banterage has been discussing the double acts at the festival. We have quite a few coming this year, particularly on Monday 13th July, and I’ve been fielding suggestions about what these people could do, together, if they wanted a career change.

I was put onto this by a frivolous conversation with a caller about how Lovelock & Gribbin (James Lovelock and John Gribbin) sound like a couple of Private Detectives from a 1930’s Hollywood film. So that got me thinking and then asking customers. Subsequently, I firmly believe Francis Beckett & David Hencke should setup an Accountancy firm, while Beckett & Hattersley are probably your local Solicitors.

Furthermore, Jane Borodale & Sarah Hall could quite easily lend their surnames to a demolition firm based near Sheffield, while I swear I have seen the names Perks, Andrews and Swift on an Estate Agents board out side someone’s house.

There are some double acts that we have not yet been able to place in new lines of employment however; Chisholm & Partridge, Harvey & Hart and the rather long but good sounding – Glendinning, Holroyd, Lively and O’Reilly. The latter one at least deserves a good suggestion, so I call on you readers to give us your suggestions.

Oh and one more thing. I’d like to congratulate everyone who has purchased Horatio Clare tickets. You boosted my chances of winning the office sweepstake no end. However, that spoilsport Ashdown went and sold out first, thus I am not £9 better off!

Charlie Intern xx

Introducing......

2009-06-01T12:47:00.005+01:00

Hello all readers and welcome to the beginning of our blog.

We, by way of introduction, are four interns working at Ways With Words for the 2009 Dartington festival. The four of us; Natalie, Rachel, Bryony and Charlie, will contribute to this blog, letting you know what’s happening in the Ways With Words office and looking ahead to the festival.

Also each of us will be reviewing a book in the run up to the festival. We will be choosing books by people speaking at the festival and will relay our verdicts here.
Watch out as well for a short story we will start which you can all add to.

So, I hope you are going to follow us towards and during Ways With Words 2009.

The Interns xx