In This Issue (March 2007)
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Table of contents
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Letters to the editor
Letter from the editor
Everyone’s favourite librarian, Nancy Pearl, says in her book Book Lust that although she isn’t a fan of horror, she does enjoy a good ghost story. ‘The best writers,’ says Nancy, ‘manage to draw horror out of the most innocent activities of ordinary life, so that you’re unaware of what awaits you until you’re sucked in beyond saving and compelled to read on until the last page.’ This month, regular contributor Derek Parker points us in the direction of those ‘best writers’ Nancy alludes to. Following up his recommendations will lead you to a smorgasbord of the creepiest, most hair-raising ghost stories and novels, ones that will have you glued to the page until your knuckles slowly whiten − possibly even your hair! Derek’s article (some of the authors he recommends will surprise you) starts on page 18.Still on the same theme, this month we run part 1 of a story that scared me to death when as a child I saw it televised many moons ago: ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ by WW Jacobs. It’s the ultimate ‘be careful what you wish for’ story, and it begins on page 50. The second, final part will appear in the April issue.
Rosamund Burton, our mind body spirit contributor, jumps on the ghostly bandwagon this month, but in a rather more tongue in cheek way, when she interviews the author of a new book inquiring into the possibility of life after death. Rosamund’s talk with Spook’s author Mary Roach appears on page 34.
Oddly enough, ghosts appear regularly in the fiction of this month’s main author profile, iconic Australian writer Tom Keneally. He believes firmly in the manifestations experienced by so many of his ancestors’ fellow Irishmen, as he explained to me when we talked. My interview with Tom begins on page14.
Nothing ghostly about Duncan Ball − although come to think of it his characters are a talking dog and a girl with an eye on the end of her finger, not exactly your everyday folk. gr publisher Rowena Cseh’s interview with this popular children’s author starts on page 20.
The final character you can meet in this issue – apart, of course, from Barry Jones and our featured reader – is another iconic Australian author, Phillip Knightley. Contributor Jennifer Somerville’s talk with him is on page 38.
This month sees the first of what will be a regular feature every other month this year: excerpts from Jane Gleeson-White’s book Classics: Books for life. The first, on page 22, is about Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.
So: things to give you goosebumps, and things to feed your mind! Hope you enjoy both.
If your letter is published, you will receive a MightyBright XtraFlex 2 LED Booklight vakued at $26.95! The wonderfully useful and stylish booklight has 2 LED lights on one head on a flexible arm. The manufaturer Arnott's of Australia (who's tagline is 'Not the biscuit co'), says the globes will never need replacing. |
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