Mark My Words – October 2026
Oversharing?
Dear Friends, New and Old,
I’m writing this on what would have been my parents’ 71st wedding anniversary, should they both still have been alive. I never forget this date, as it’s the day before our own wedding anniversary (we reach thirty-three years tomorrow!). I only found out after my wife and I had booked it, but we both held our wedding receptions in the same venue; the National Liberal Club in Whitehall Place. I knew about it because I’d worked in the building and loved it; my father and his father had both been members. Do go in if you ever get the chance; it has the most amazing central spiral staircase.
It feels like quite a run of memorable dates, and not for a happy reason – August 10th, my mother dies; September 6th, anniversary of my father’s death; September 22nd, my mother’s funeral; September 24th my father’s birthday and now a week later their anniversary.
This has all got me thinking about how difficult it is to find the right balance when sharing personal material in the public domain. My wife is at one end of the spectrum and shares absolutely nothing; I have friends who post multiple times daily about every facet of their everyday lives. I would hope I’m at some respectable midpoint, but I do wonder sometimes if I share too much. I think it’s difficult when much of your published writing is autobiographical to find the right line. I do know that having shared my writing has not only benefitted me, but my work has also been cathartic for others. But I would never want to get to the point where I had to doubt whether I was sharing merely for the sake of content, or to gain attention or sympathy. I’d be really interested to know what others think about this, especially other writers!
Anyway, I won’t be saying anything about wedding anniversaries on social media, and I’ll share only with you and no wider one piece of good news – I just had my six-monthly prostate test, and I’m still all-clear! So on we go.
Back in Print
Well, I started the year with a good run of published stories, and I’m pleased to say I’m finishing the year in a similar way, with two more pieces in print in the next month or two. In fact, three pieces, strictly speaking, in two publications.
Firstly, Fresh Fiction, at whose events I’ve regularly read my work, are publishing an anthology of the stories that have been read at The David Hall, South Petherton. I have two stories included: The Wall, which was the runner-up in the Interact Ruth Rendell Short Story Prize, and Waiting in the Wings, a Bowie fan’s coming of age story. Launch details are below. From what I’ve already heard, it will be an excellent evening and a brilliant book.
Secondly, I’m back in the fantastic Friends on the Shelf – issue 14, which sadly will be the last. My piece Hung Jury is (surprise, surprise) about my recent experience doing jury service. It will be a shame to say goodbye to this excellent biannual journal of true-life stories; thank you Vick, Rachel and everyone else who’s made it such a great read over the last seven years. You will be sorely missed.
Calendar of Events
My mother’s funeral having passed, I’m trying to re-immerse myself in my writing activity and have some events to look forward to, without covering too much old ground or doing stuff for the sake of it. Sadly I didn’t feel well enough to do the Bracknell Book Fair just before the funeral or my talk at Westlands in Yeovil the day after it (Lynn and I both had the lurgy; fortunately I had improved enough for the big day but sadly Lynn had not), but it looks like I’ll be back at Oaklands Garden Centre before Christmas (tbc) and the lovely Westlands people have invited me back next year. So the calendar looks like this:
2026
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Friday 16th October 2026, 7.30pm
Silly Point Poetry, Long Sutton Village Hall
Sunday 1st November 2026
Fresh Fiction Anthology Launch, The David Hall, South Petherton
Saturday 21st November 2026
South Devon Book Festival, Totnes
Wednesday 26th May 2027
Final Approach Talk, Westlands Centre, Yeovil
Saturday 7th August 2027
Books on the Beach, Weymouth
And Finally…
It’s a short one this month due to the circumstances, but just a reminder that the hardback version of Final Approach is now available directly from me, as are the paperback and my Brian the Bear books Brian the Bear. All books can be signed and dedicated in whatever way you like.
If you do buy or read one of my books, please consider leaving a review on Bookstore UK/Goodreads/Amazon or wherever you can – it makes a massive difference.
In the meantime, if you want to reach me I’m at mark@markblackburn.co.uk. More of my work can be found on my website.
