'Later, when she could no longer understand his words - and he suspected that she no longer remembered who he was - he sent her picture postcards of animals and members of the Royal Family instead.' Moving detail from Ann Kennedy Smith's essay on Larkin & his mother, Eva.

I really recommend Jude Cook's Substack. This month's essay was typically moving and full of fascinating 1970s detail.

I really like the sound of 'Murder by the Book' - an exhibition on twentieth century crime fiction at Cambridge University Library: lib.cam.ac.uk/murderbythebook. As with so many interesting Cambridge-related things, I learned of this via Ann Kennedy Smith's excellent newsletter.

📢 Exciting news! Lucy Cavendish College's 2024 #FictionPrize longlist is here! 📚
16 brilliant debut #novels – could your next favourite read be on the list?
Congratulations to the authors! Find out more ⬇️
lucy.cam.ac.uk/news/fiction-p…
Peters Fraser+Dunlop

They’re here!! 🎉🎉

So so many congratulations to all the shortlistees! #JhalakPrize24

Absolutely fascinating! I love the period details and images in Ann Kennedy Smith's piece on female cyclists, 'Psychos' and cycling in the late-Victorian age.

📚 Get ready for a literary feast at MK Lit Fest 2024! Join us on April 6th at Central MK Library for talks with Emma Claire Sweeney, Edward Hogan, Catherine Menon, Irenosen Okojie, and Naomi Wood. Tickets going fast! Available here: mklitfest.org/thinking-writi…

The SI Leeds Lit Prize is open for entries until 13 May. It's for 'unpublished fiction, and is open to published and unpublished women writers of colour, over the age of 18,  and who are resident in the UK.' Entering in the inaugural year was a great experience for me. Good luck!

Supernatural girl power 🧙‍♀️

Author Emily Midorikawa talks about Victorian women who could supposedly contact the dead and who inspires her this #WomensHistoryMonth

#KayBurley SS

In Women's History month, it was great to talk with Kay Burley on @skynews about fascinating & inspiring women of the past, including some of those who feature in my latest book, Out of the Shadows: Six Visionary Victorian Women in Search of a Public Voice.

'Her vital presence was connected to happy memories of his childhood garden ... and the close attention to plants and flowers that she taught him.'  Ann Kennedy Smith on the much overlooked Susanna Wedgwood Darwin.
tinyurl.com/489fr8hm

Thank you to everyone who came along to my Senate House Library event yesterday evening, organised by the Pascal TheatreCo NW1. It was great to be able to share some of Georgina Weldon's remarkable life story with the audience.

Currently a £200 discount on the Jonathan Ruppin Writers' Studio's 5-day writing retreat, in Paris this May. Run by literary agent Jonathan Ruppin & author Emma Claire Sweeney - two hugely knowledgeable & supportive tutors: ruppinagency.com/paris/

Spreading the word about this wonderful prize. Sending in my entry in its inaugural year led to so many good things that I could not have predicted and really boosted my confidence as a then unpublished author. If you're eligible, do give it a go. Good luck!

Honoured to be giving this talk next week at London's Senate House Library, a place where I completed much of the early research for my book Out of the Shadows: Six Visionary Victorian Women in Search of a Public Voice. It's free, but booking in advance is essential.

Anyone who wants to learn more about City, University of London Novel Studio course, register free here for the open evening and chance to chat to course tutor R Lattin-Rawstrone crm.student-crm.com/events/public_…

Still a limited no of tickets available for my Senate House Library talk on Thurs 14 March. I'll be discussing Victorian Spiritualist, campaigner & celebrity Georgina Weldon. It's free but booking is essential: pascal-theatre.com/project/women-… PascalTheatreCompany (Scroll down for my event.)

Such a great line-up!

Emily Midorikawa, a Writers' Studio mentor & author of OUT OF THE SHADOWS: Six Visionary Victorian Women in Search of a Public Voice, is giving a talk Senate House Library. 14 March, 6pm. We'll be there. Join us?

🆘Ford Madox Ford letters sought!

Do you hold letters from or to Ford, or about him? Or know their whereabouts? If so, the editors of the multi-volume Collected Letters of Ford Madox Ford (Oxford University Press) would love to hear from you. [email protected] & [email protected]