Literary Prizes ...

I have often seen books advertised as "Winner of the XXX Prize" or "Nominated for the XXX-Prize" and wondered how they were selected and by whom. Since I began publishing my own work in fiction I have learned that publishers nominate books from their catalogues and, in theory, any publisher can nominate a book. Whether it actually gets accepted is another matter and whether it gets a mention depends on the rules for that prize, the selection committee's preferences and tastes and frequently whether or not the author is "known" and successful - or has the right connections.

I recently watched the pre-Booker Prize Dinner interviews on the BBC. It was eye-opening to say the very least and made me very aware that some of the Traditional Publishers - and perhaps the Book critics as well - have no interest in generating a wider audience. The statement that really got my attention was from one of the Judges, who is a senior member of the Prize committee and if I heard it right, a Commissioning Editor for one of the major publishers. In response to the interviewers comment that the "favourite" for the prize was a thick tome which was "barely readable" he stated "Readability is irrelevant. What matters is its literary value."

I confess I almost choked on my coffee. Surely for something to be a "literary contribution" it must be readable? Or has my editor got that wrong? No wonder I haven't been nominated for these awards ...

Listening to the rest of the interviews it emerged that many of the judges are looking for "social commentary" or "presenting a view of society" or even "a critical re-examining of history and institutions." Evidently the main criteria are that the book must, in some way, promote some view of society or the world which the judges and selectors wish to promote. That is interesting, since my editors have commented on this aspect as well, one remarking that my Harry Heron stories made some interesting comments on aspects of current and possibly future society.

Of one thing I think I may be very certain, I'm unlikely to see any of my efforts listed in the nominations!

Unique collection under threat ...

Once again the politicians in charge of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority are trying to destroy the Brigade's valuable and, quite possibly, unique museum. The museum occupies space in the building which was once the home and headquarters of Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, London's second professional Chief fire Officer. The collection contains valuable and irreplaceable photographs, paintings and equipment.

The problem is that the LFEPA wants to save money - so it chooses to break up, destroy and disperse this astonishing collection of equipment and memorablilia, some of which predates the formation of the London Fire Engine Establishment (Forerunner of the modern London Fire Brigade) by a couple of centuries.

This post is an appeal for help in saving the museum and the collection. I would appeal to all readers to at least read the petition and, if possible, to sign it. If you are in the UK, please consider writing to the MPs and Assembly Members named in the petition.  This collection is far to valuable to be left to the annual whims of a bunch of politicians who have no understanding of what they stand to destroy. This is the second time in two years that they are attempting to do this. They will save very little in closing the museum, it amounts to a single salary for the curator - all the other staffing comes from volunteers. Retired fire fighters and their friends who know the true value of the collection.

The problem is that not many people know where it is or how to gain access. To get some idea of where it is and what it offers, look at London Fire Brigade: Our Museum. The museum even has a Wikipedia entry, albeit a brief one. Surely a measure of the value of retaining it at all cost!

Even if you do not live in London but wish to help save the museum, please show your support and help this cause by writing to :

Boris Johnson
Mayor of London
Greater London Authority
City Hall
The Queen's walk
More LondonSE1 2AA

Brian Coleman and Navin Shah and Ed Butcher  and David Cartwright
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority ( LFEPA)169 Union Street
London SE10LL

Please send your letters to all four politicians. The more letters they get, the more likely we are to see them reconsider this stupidity.

Absence makes the heart ...

Hopefully, grow fonder. The Monk is away in Iran for a conference for the rest of the week. Provided no one goes on strike, no volcanoes blow their tubes inconveniently and Lufthansa maintains its schedules, he will be home again on Friday with lots to tell.

As we say in German then - Bis Freitag!

Migration ...

This late flock of Common Cranes passed overhead yesterday afternoon and Mausi managed to get a picture of them. Yesterday a flight of this size passed overhead at intervals of about 5 - 10 minutes, all heading in the same direction and all following the same flight path. As we are on the Approach Path for Frankfurt am Main airport, I hope Air Traffic is able to track them ...

Close-up images of the birds can be found at Photographers Direct.

Autumn is now definitely here. Temperatures have plunged in the last couple of days and it only barely got to 10*C today - though in the wind it fely colder. The birds obviously plan a much warmer winter location!

Good causes ...

I'd like to draw attention to a bit of a challenge raised in a comment yesterday and on a blog about a month ago. Check this post at "Not the six word novel" and then check out her other blog at  "The hundred poem challenge."

Jen suffers from a genetic disease likely to destroy her sight in the next few years. There is no treatment and no cure - at present. She has launched a challenge and an appeal to support the research into EEC Syndrome, which despite the initials, is nothing to do with the European Economic Community. It is in fact a genetic malfunction in a gene which controls the regeneration and renewal of the cornea. Transplants don't work, because the transplanted tissue is destroyed fairly rapidly by the malfunction.

An explanatory video can be found on The Hundred Poem Challenge along with a Donation Page. I would urge anyone reading this to at least visit the site and listen to the video. If you can, please support the appeal.

Migrants ...

Mausi and I have just watched the passing of several thousand migrating cranes. They make quite a racket "talking" to each other as they fly and the fascinating thing is how they all seem to be following a very narrow "flight path" and making use of updrafts off the mountain slopes around us at intervals to gain altitude.

From the direction they are taking I'm guessing their route will skirt the French Alpine region, then cross France into Spain and across the Strait of Gibraltar into Africa. I'd post a picture, but couldn't get one - as ever the camera was not handy and I didn't want to miss the show. The swallows vanished in early September, the geese flocks passed over us last Tuesday and now the cranes...

Guess that means we should prepare for winter ourselves - which is what Mausi and I have been doing in the garden.

Birthday

Today is the birthday of the Postulant, the Monk's eldest daughter. She arrived on Friday the 13th a while ago and makes her father very proud indeed. Tomorrow she collects the keys for her new home and will move house on Saturday.

Two significant milestones to celebrate!