Dear readers,
I’m back again! (‘I’ being Emma, a Valley Press intern for July, just in case you missed our previous post.) Despite last week’s prediction that you would all be hearing from Rebecca this week, it was decided that since I was all-too-enthusiastic about writing this last week, I would once again be manning the blog-post deck today!
Straight on with the exciting stuff: Nora Chassler's launch took place last week, and Jamie live-streamed it so that all those who couldn’t be there could still get a glimpse of the action. It was as a result of this experimental video capture that a wave of jazz music descended on the office today – if anything, I can certainly say that the video makes for some soothing background noise!
Despite the streaming being in an experimental stage, one thing that Jamie was particularly excited about was taking a question from an internet viewer, and asking it to Nora during the live Q&A. Very futuristic stuff. Word of warning: you will be able to hear the delightful jazz music and the hum of the audience as clear as a bell – but you’ll definitely need to turn your speakers up to maximum volume to hear Nora’s contemplative words! (Oh, and skipping to three minutes in is also essential, unless you fancy watching Jamie’s camera-placement / fiddling / keeping-the-wireless-signal-intact endeavours.)
In related news, the hardback version of Chassler’s idiosyncratic musings is available now – signed and numbered. Only 100 copies will ever be printed, so don’t wait to get your hands on a coveted copy! These sought-after editions are normally £20, but they have been reduced to £15, when the discount code MADAME is applied (you lucky lot!)
Onto the third and final piece of news about Nora: world-famous author Paul Auster is coming to Edinburgh, and Nora will be interviewing him on stage in front of a possible 1200 people... yikes! Auster’s writing thought-provokingly combines absurdism and existentialism with the search for personal meaning – his work is permeated with themes which present some common ground with Nora’s original writing. Join Auster and Chassler at King’s Theatre on 14th August for this significant event to delve into his life and work.
Onto other marvellous matters: James Condon and a team of hyper-talented and creative individuals have fashioned a video, which is definitely one to check out if you want to be charmed by a coalescence of quirky animations and a montage of poems from the Valley Press Anthology of Yorkshire Poetry. If that doesn’t have you on the edge of your seats, all set to purchase a copy, I don’t know what will! The anthology officially launches on 1st August in York – take a glimpse at last week’s post for more details.
On a slightly deeper note: friends, fellow writers, neighbours and colleagues of Helen Cadbury are working to create a memorial to the inspiring author, poet and activist. A 'Friends of Helen Cadbury' group have joined up with the 'Friends of Glen Gardens' with the mutual ambition of raising funds for a poetry bench in a landscaped area, aspiring for this to be “a lasting memorial to our much-missed indefatigable friend.” Any donations would be deeply appreciated.
On a personal note, I have learnt so much during my time with Valley Press. It’s been a whirlwind of adventures: gaining new literary knowledge, reading up-and-coming unpublished literature, typesetting, embarking on numerous trips to the post office, and watching a certain staff member fall off their chair – it’s safe to say my Valley Press experience has been one-of-a-kind. So it’s over and out from me (I can assure you this time!) as I dally unwillingly out of the Valley Press office for the last time. But just before I sign off, I would like to thank both Jamie and Jo so much for having me. That’s all for today, thank you all for reading!
All the best,
Emma Goff-Leggett
Valley Press Intern
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