Mark My Words – July 2026
The Literary Consultancy 30th Anniversary
Dear Friends, New and Old,
I’m writing this month’s newsletter on the train from London back to Somerset; last night I went to the TLC 30th Anniversary Party. I really got to know the people at TLC during the lockdown periods, when writing was a lonelier pursuit than usual; their online support and gatherings became an invaluable survival mechanism.
They were also instrumental in enabling me to get Final Approach published; I used their ‘manuscript assessment’ service, which confirmed the validity of the book but showed ways I might improve it. Then I entered it into the TLC Pen Factor Pitch Prize and was shortlisted, which in itself made a stronger case to a potential publisher. The working title was Final Approach: My Book of Airports then; who knows, if the subtitle had been My Father and Other Turbulence maybe I’d have won!
Anyway, it was a lovely party, with the keynote guest being Kamila Shamsie, who was mightily impressive. I’m ashamed to say I’ve never read any of her books, an omission I must hastily put right. I think the nicest aspect of the evening was meeting the people behind the sometimes fuzzy images on the screen from our online gatherings – they were all as lovely as I would have liked them to be – hello Amelia and Jon, if you’re reading this!
My heartfelt thanks to Aki (pictured, with Final Approach on the screen behind her) and Joe at TLC – not just for last night but for all the support over the years. And… Happy Anniversary!
A Writer’s Life
If you read this regularly, you might have noticed that my writing life isn’t getting any calmer! In just the last few weeks, I’ve been to London (obviously), Exeter (twice!), the Donkey Sanctuary at Sidmouth, Stroud, where I’m pictured above with fellow Claret writer Steve Sheppard, Dorchester and other places. In some ways, I can’t believe the good fortune of this second life I’ve chanced upon, but I do have to remember – I am a pensioner! I just seem to have a difficulty in saying No, even to myself! So I am actually forcing myself to take a wee break for a week or two this month and have managed to decline a couple of opportunities. Hopefully, that decision won’t come back to haunt me, and people will still want me in the autumn!
On that note, I should report that I am NOT the Bard of Exeter. It was frankly a terrifying experience reading rather new and different material in front of one hundred people at the central library; I thought there would be a few familiar friendly faces, but there were none! I did okay, but I know I was not at my best and there were a few missteps. I think the result was all for the best; the joint winners (it was a tie) are brilliant, and will be able to commit more to the role than I could.
I didn’t have to sulk for long, though. Only a few days later I was back in Exeter at Word Kitchen at the Phoenix, where I picked up a copy of their Power of Place anthology. I knew my submission Cliff Point was in it, but I didn’t realise it was the opening piece! I’d already decided it was what I would read that evening, and I’m please to report it went down very well. You can support the great work that Word Kitchen do and buy the anthology here:
The Power of Place Anthology — Word Kitchen
Calendar of Events
Despite my plans for a quieter July, there are still a few imminent happenings. This Saturday (July 4th) I’ll be at the Frome Publishing Fair FROME PUBLISHING FAIR – Frome Festival where I had an excellent day last time I attended, so I’m hoping for a repeat performance.
After my break, I’ll be doing a spot at Word Kitchen again, this time at the Arvon Centre at Totleigh Barton in Devon. As I’ve mentioned before, in August I’ll be there for a writing retreat with the author Gwendoline Riley, so this will be a good opportunity for a recce.
Then at the beginning of August, possibly the most intriguing item on the itinerary is the Read With Yeovil 4th anniversary party, where I’ll be one of the panellists for their ‘Unreliable Narrators’ event! Facebook I think I have to make up two completely false stories about myself and recite one true anecdote – you can guess the rest!
EVENTS 2026
Sat 4th July
Frome Independent Publishing Fair
Sat 18th July
Word Kitchen, Arvon Centre, Totleigh Barton, Devon
Mon 3rd Aug
The Unreliable Narrator, Read with Yeovil
Weds 23rd September
Final Approach Event Westlands Centre Yeovil
Thurs 22nd October
Wild Words at Sandridge Barton Vineyard
Book Review – Some Dark God, by Cat Balaq
Every so often, I come across or share a platform with another writer who makes me wonder if I am worthy. Such a writer is Cat Balaq, whom I first encountered when we were both reading short stories at Fresh Fiction at The David Hall, South Petherton. Cat is best known as a poet, and more recently I encountered her at Dirty Laundry, Frome, where we were both on the same bill. I found the poems she read that night extremely powerful, so was very happy to receive a review copy of her latest poetry collection, Some Dark God.
Some writers write from the heart, some from the head, but Cat writes from the soul, and deep within it. Yes, there is a visceral depth in her poetry, but also rigour. She shows great self-knowledge and understands her own power; the threat and even the danger within it. Ceridwen, an enchantress in Welsh medieval legend, who is now regarded in the pagan world as goddess of poetry, inspiration and transformation, is a repeated theme in the collection, seemingly (to me at least) representing an elemental feminist response to patriarchal oppression. Common Toad brought to mind my own father, and the kind of toxic masculinity currently all too prevalent:
I once saw him eat a house,
opening wide a greedy mouth
what could we do but love him?
Bewilderingly, still under the weight, we
slept too, beneath a full moon.
As you can see, Cat has a wonderful power over the written word; I particularly love a line in Witch Fingers:
broodish with thumb buckles, tucks of knuckles
This is slim but weighty collection, where perhaps the shadows are the strongest shapes. The pages are full of knowledge and intellect, wrapped in a sinuous and often sensual weave. Dare to read it; these are words that will stay with you.
Some Dark God is available to preorder from V Press:
poetry & flash fiction that is very very: Bookshop
And Finally
All my books should be available through the usual channels; I’m always happy to sell you signed copies directly, please just ask. 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.
That’s all for now; you can view all my my work here.
markblackburn.co.uk 