‘I am so geared up about observing. I see all the little details of everything.’ Scarlett Thomas, page 46

Special features

AGENDA 9 Girls aloud Co-founder Kate Mosse on the landmark Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, a decade on.

FEATURES 16 Have poems, will travel Itinerant Poetry Librarian Sara Wingate Gray takes us on a most unusual journey. 19 A commercial novel break Why did novelist Lesley Lokko trade in her architect’s tools for a writer’s pen? The passion, she says, is all. 22 The great domestic dust-up Writer Zoe Lambert on the errant attempts to ‘domesticate’ women authors.

INTERVIEW 46 Scarlett Thomas Novelist Scarlett Thomas talks to Danuta Kean.

contents

ISSUE 36 JANFEBMAR 2008

Here’s to a great 2008

Welcome to our first issue of 2008! We are delighted to have Kate Mosse’s exclusive take on the Orange Prize she co-founded more than ten years ago. A look back on the initial inspirations, as well as an assessment of its successful sponsorship deal, Mosse’s Agenda

provides an interesting insider’s look at a now firmly-established literary prize. In other features, grassroots maverick Sara Wingate Gray gives us a free visitor’s pass to her mobile poetry library; architectturned-author Lesley Lokko describes falling in love with the written word via 70s blockbusters; and Zoe Lambert tackles the infamous domestic literary issue – and comes up trumps. ‘Elementary particles, my dear,’ may very well be an apt tagline for writer Scarlett Thomas who boldly dabbles in everything from time travel to virtual reality to quantum physics in her latest novel (but stays firmly grounded for her Mslexia interview with Danuta Kean). Elsewhere, new crime writer Elena Forbes describes the joy of penning crime fiction; we explore the glossy magazine world of home interiors in the Lowdown; and offer up some hopefully helpful New Year’s writing resolutions for your year ahead. Featured writers’ revelations include Tess Gerritsen as an avowed Egyptophile, Lorraine Mariner’s weakness for handymen and Kate Grenville’s stream-ofconsciousness writing process. Also, Debbie Taylor dissects Jacqueline Wilson’s Kiss in her latest lesson on How to Write a Bestseller. Finally, we know everyone and their sister has a book club, but we still want one of our own! To find out more about it and how to participate, visit the News pages, and keep an eye out on our website for further information. Daneet Steffens, Editor

In every issue 4 STARTERS Letters, Curious Incidents, Submission Guidelines, News 13 GUIDELINES Diary of a literary agent The joy of…writing crime fiction The lowdown on home interiors magazines 10 top tips: New year’s writing resolutions Money matters: Budget breaks 25 INSPIRATIONS Bernardine Evaristo: Mslexia’s peripatetic writing tutor on Imagery and the imagination Kate Grenville’s first draft Making a poem: Lorraine Mariner talks to Kate Clanchy Tess Gerritsen’s bottom drawer Write your self with Roselle Angwin; Keep going with Bekki Hill 31 NEW WRITING Guest Editor Stella Duffy introduces her selection of prose and poetry on the theme ‘Gloves.’ 49 BOOKS Book reviews including: How to write a bestseller: Kiss Literary landmarks: Possession Independent press profile: Salt Publishing Writer’s bookshelf by Erica James 55 INFO Opportunities: competitions, submissions, retreats, grants Out and About: events and workshops 66 AND FINALLY Tamasin Day-Lewis’ bedside table

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