Things are getting more exciting now as we move towards the final stages of print. I'm away from home, and as a result had a quiet and lovely meeting with John from Unbound in Jaffe and Neale bookshop in Chipping Norton. I'd phoned ahead to ask them to order a book for me. I had stayed at Nicola Davies' house near Crickhowell a few days back and fallen in love, deeply and fiercely with this book ( below). Until now I have always found tellings of The Mabinogi a little inpenetrable. But this flows the words into the mind like warm mead. Gorgeous honeyed words that give space to the reader to grow images in the mind's eye.
I read the first few lines to John and Patrick (Mr Jaffe, or is it Mr Neale?) who then ordered a copy each. It sings to be read aloud, off the page.
Anyway, John and I spoke of the up-coming Unwinding, and what to do and how to try to make it visible in the noisy world of publishing, over coffee and cake. We spoke of festivals and radios and other books and authors ( much more interesting).
But this isn't really what I wanted to say. What I wanted to say was a thank you, for the support you've leant to this project. Almost there. By the time of apple blossom we should have a book, after the swallows have arrived, before the fox gloves are in full bloom. We are hoping to have copies for Hay time. If it wasn't for you this wouldn't be the book that it is.
So, let's see what happens next. Alison is in teh final stages of design. Meanwhile I am away to read by the fire. Struggling to keep myself from turning to the Fourth Branch of teh Mabinogi and the story of Blodeuwedd.
