Month: October 2010

From reading Hell to reading Heaven…

Ros Barber
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Poetry South East 2010 Launch Reading - Ros Barber

Last Friday’s reading at The New Venture Theatre was something special.  It was a very strong bill for starters – in Brighton and the surrounding area (I’m including Hove, Lewes, Seaford) we are blessed with an extraordinary amount of poetic talent, as the launched volume, Poetry South East 2010, testifies.  And giving a reading (or performance, depending on venue and audience) is one of those things I enjoy beyond pretty much any other part of being a writer. Including even writing itself.  But Friday was spectacularly good, enjoyable beyond pretty much any other reading I’ve given, with the exception of a couple of big-audience events I’ve done (I really like 200-750 people, when they’re warm).

I love that sense of connecting with people, sharing something meaningful with them. I love that the more I do it, the easier it is, so that now I only have to breathe deeply, let go of any tiny flutter of fear that might surface as I am being introduced, relax completely and connect with the words.  The work is already done – the words are written, I only have to speak them, one human being to another, just as I am.    And something happens on stage. A magic.  That thing performers go back and back for.

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What I Learned From Audrey Niffenegger

Ros Barber
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During my PhD I read only books directly or indirectly related to it (mostly the numerous biographies of Marlowe and Shakespeare, and their complete works but also items like Bruce Lipton’s ‘The Biology of Belief’).  I continued buying contemporary fiction, however, and built up a considerable stack of books I would read once it was all over.  The very first of one of these to find it into my less-than-manicured paws just over a month ago was The Time Travellers Wife, and like a considerable portion of five million readers the world over, I was blown away.

Thus I couldn’t pass up a chance to see Ms Niffenegger when she recently visited my home town, courtesy of my excellent local bookstore City Books, to speak about her latest creation.

Here’s what I learned:

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Putting it together

Ros Barber
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So here it is, my new website.  A more dynamic beasty than my old one, less cluttered, and with a nice view out of the window. Completely unlike my study, in other words.

Perhaps you liked some of the bits and pieces on the old one. I know a lot of people enjoyed listening to the audio files there. But much like my old Toyota Previa, it was getting very tired and crotchety, not working properly, and the friend who built it for me is now too busy and famous to be bothering with fixing css templates (the website obviously, not the Previa). Luckily, I remembered that I used to work in IT and built myself a new one in just a few hours with the help of WordPress (and Adobe Photoshop).  Indeed, I couldn’t leave it alone until it was complete-ish, so I am updating this message (which was previously an ‘under construction’ message) at 2.20am. I believe it’s time for bed.

If you’re in Brighton, come and see me read at the New Venture Theatre next Friday 22nd. Details and tickets here.

Otherwise, come back and visit from time to time.  I will be corresponding with the world more regularly now that my PhD is handed in.