A writers' lunch in Bath to discuss a terrific new venture by novelist, Susie Barrett. Her online publishing venture, Writersreadersdirect.com, launches next month. New and established writers will upload work for a fee. Readers download for between one and three pounds, most of which goes to the author.
The site has huge potential. So many people have stories to tell. This is an opportunity for them to do so, with Susie vetting uploads to ensure a level of competence that will keep readers coming back. A number of well known writers are already offering work - a lot of it under pen names to prevent problems with their existing publishers - and Susie has procured a well received but unsold novel by a first-timer, to kick off.
In the glorious Sunday sunshine we sat high up on a hill overlooking the city, drinking Prosecco on Clare Reddaway's terrace and considering issues around content, commitment and copyright. Later we sat down to chicken and salad and talked about books, about computer hacking, about plot over characterisation and.... Jaws. Nicola Davies, the zoologist and children's writer, captivated us with her evocation of marine life, showing how the increasing demand for Shark's Fin Soup by China's growing middle classes is changing fish stocks and behaviours forever.
She also told us the best way to escape Polar Bears. They're the only mammals that instinctively hunt humans and run extremely fast. But... they overheat at around 300 yards. "You need to strip while you're running," she advised. "Bears don't understand clothing and stop to inspect discarded items, thinking it must be skin or a limb. That buys you time to put a greater space between you." We contemplated the outcome over strawberries and cream, agreeing that it is probably better to die naked in snow that ripped apart by a bear.
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