Not really. But I wanted to make sure everyone knows that for today and tomorrow I’m reducing my annual subscription fee by a further £15 and sending out signed paperbacks of Villager and Notebook to everyone who takes it out, wherever they happen to be on the planet, whatever the postage costs (I’ll email you for your address once I get notification of your subscription). Many months back, when the hills and forests were huggable and green, my partner Ellie and I headed up to Hembury Woods, on Dartmoor - one of the places that inspired the landscape in Villager - to make a three minute film about the book: me wearing a cheap car boot sale hat and reading a little excerpt from it in the voice of one of its non-human characters then talking briefly about what can be found within it (the book, not the hat). Because we both have brains like overfilled colanders, until the other day we’d both forgotten about it, but having stumbled on it I thought it might be nice to post it here for people who are intrigued to know more about the book and the place it came from.
FWIW I have a request in to my regional library to purchase more of your books. They will also be putting “Villager” in a separate, highly visible display of books recommended by local authors. Next stop, getting more prominent display at bookstores. Hoping this will temporarily make up for not going annual until the budget looks rosier.
My budget won't quite stretch to an annual subscription, but it managed a copy of Villager from Blackwell's....I'm very much looking forward to its arrival. :)
Great heading bait and lure to read. Love the Indian menu typo stories, laughed out loud, love the magic from the soil beneath our feet. Great writing. And performative readings. Must try sometime.
I have (almost) finished Villager, and I don't want it to be over. I may end up just starting from the beginning again, on some kind of folklore loop, so I can notice more of the threads that link everything together.
Thank you for your delightful oddness (this is a Compliment, with a capital C).
I really enjoyed your reading of passages from this book in that beautiful setting. And the humor comes out even better in your voice. Just finished the first chapter and I’m hooked.
FWIW I have a request in to my regional library to purchase more of your books. They will also be putting “Villager” in a separate, highly visible display of books recommended by local authors. Next stop, getting more prominent display at bookstores. Hoping this will temporarily make up for not going annual until the budget looks rosier.
“doesn’t fit into any conventional genre and the idea of it might not be easy for some to get their heads around“
Nothing original does. Art is about leaping, landing unknown.
My budget won't quite stretch to an annual subscription, but it managed a copy of Villager from Blackwell's....I'm very much looking forward to its arrival. :)
Great heading bait and lure to read. Love the Indian menu typo stories, laughed out loud, love the magic from the soil beneath our feet. Great writing. And performative readings. Must try sometime.
You bastard, and I know I'm not alone in that thought.
FORNICATION. Without pictures? Fool me once. Twice if you're lucky.
But, if you ever post a note with FREE DRUGS, know right now that I won't open it.
And I read Villager. It was brilliant. But after clicking the bait, I am not going to tell anyone.
Geddit? Nobody will EVER know that I read your book. Because I'm not a complete dickhead.
HA! Didn't see that coming, did you?
You writers, thinking you're so clever. Well, I ain't falling for it. Way two smart four that nonsense.
Hang on, gotta go open an email.
Bloke named Ian, just sent me some sex and drugs and rock-n-roll.
See? The real deal. All my brain and body needs...
Great to see the face with the voice! I'll be buying the book. I wonder, do you have plans for an audio version?
Looking forward to reading Villager. It sounds wonderful!
I have (almost) finished Villager, and I don't want it to be over. I may end up just starting from the beginning again, on some kind of folklore loop, so I can notice more of the threads that link everything together.
Thank you for your delightful oddness (this is a Compliment, with a capital C).
Its a great story Tom, and even better to see you reading it dead pan. I devoured the book without pause and look forward to the new one.
My God, this is good.
Just read , The Good The Bad and the Furry ❤️ I also have the notebook and 21st century yokel in my queue.
Bloody wonderful and I would read about your cats all day long.
Nice to see the birth places of "The Village"
Good grief. Every sentence is a masterpiece! What the heck. What fun! What a ride. Thank you!
I really enjoyed your reading of passages from this book in that beautiful setting. And the humor comes out even better in your voice. Just finished the first chapter and I’m hooked.
I also did not subscribe (yet) but I did buy the book!
I had forgotten how very brilliant the writing was! Glad you are proud of it, you should be!👏👏👏