12 Comments
User's avatar
jt's avatar

Another Great "Calling," Ma'am. And I agree with Alison. Great again!

Do You have to have the revision in by year-end? I hope You get *some* time to enjoy the holidays.

P.S. Zoe Williams? Pfffft.

Expand full comment
Michelle Styles's avatar

They will give me some time but it is in the Schedule for AUgust 2023 (cover art has been commissioned) and so it will be a quick turn around.

Zoe Williams was squashed. Royally. If you can listen to CNA, do. You will love it and find great heart from her words. I know I did. There are reasons why she is one of the greatest living novelists writing in the English language today.

Expand full comment
jt's avatar

TY for recommendation. The screen I saw said it only worked in the UK. But, really, i never listen to things. If there's no transcript, I just don't. That's why I dislike M Bari's podcast so much. (But I was *real* glad to "hear" her interview with Netanyahu, so there is that.)

I'm glad to hear that about Zoe Williams. Another pea-brain, is all I have to add. And I requested a couple books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie from the library. There was no backlog there. But I have a bit of a backlog on *my* bookshelf, so dunno when I'll get to them.

I can't tell You how glad I am to hear Your writer's block released, Michelle, after all the SoA crap. Silver lining, I guess, even from the darkest of clouds. I'm sure that's a load off Your shoulders. But, dag. I guess You just hafta get used-ta the lead times. August seems a long ways away, but that's just me too.

Expand full comment
Michelle Styles's avatar

And I have found a transcript for CNA's lecture: https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith2022/Reith_2022_Lecture1.pdf

You should find it interesting.

Expand full comment
jt's avatar

Ah! Rats! Will read in a bit. TYTY, Michelle, for going to trouble.

Expand full comment
jt's avatar

Ah again! That was one *Great* speech and Q & A session. I saved it so I can read it again.

Can't thank You enough, Michelle. Will try once more before I let You get back to writing or whatever You're doing this Sunday: TYTY, Ma'am!

Expand full comment
Michelle Styles's avatar

I too am hoping for a transcript -- it is so much easier just to read it. Maybe they will get it over in the US -- really worth 'listening' to.

And just in about Mermaids -- they are being investigated under the most serious sanctions by the Charity COmmission. There are reasons why Susi Green suddenly resigned last Friday. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/7366dbdc-723e-11ed-8a5b-f385de7508fe?shareToken=cc3af2e9afe9136501eafde8af9768ac

Expand full comment
jt's avatar

TYTY for link, Michelle.

And ah! The mystery behind Mermaids thickens. All I can "say" is that I hope they get what they deserve, however the chips may fall.

(I'd seen that about Green resigning someplace, but still don't understand what it was about.)

Expand full comment
Michelle Styles's avatar

Nobody knows why Green resigned the way she did. I assume they knew this was coming down.

This is their response: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/statement-on-charity-commission-inquiry/

Hard to believe safeguarding was their top priority given how that trustee had to resign and their digital person also had to leave after posting some unwise things on line.

Expand full comment
jt's avatar

Sorry for the delay, Ma'am. I knocked off early yesterday.

Only thing I have to "say" about Mermaid's response is hmmmph. And Sheesh!

I don't think I ever heard about the unwise things from their digital person. Had You mentioned that and I missed it?

(Important! Enjoy Your day, Michelle! :-)

Expand full comment
Alison Bull's avatar

Congratulations on getting manuscript done!

Expand full comment
Michelle Styles's avatar

i was pleased to get it done and in before the deadline.

I suffered greatly from writer's block starting in the Spring but really becoming terrible in the late summer and autumn. The SoA agm and me speaking up seemed to release it.

It is possibly as CNA said in her speech -- fear is the death of creativity

Expand full comment