The Star of the Show...

... at my reading yesterday was definitely the venue. The independent and charitably funded Bishopsgate Library is quite possibly the best place I've ever had the pleasure of reading in. As well as being a beautiful room, just look at that ceiling, it also hosts world famous collections on freethought, the labour movement and London. It felt a privilege to read in there, and with a great audience too. The questions thrown at Shaun and I varied from creating a 'realer world than the real world' in novel writing to thinking commercially in the writing process - and it ended up being the best possible discussion, one which certainly left me thinking until far too late for much sleep!

The library is open every day, although accesss to the collections needs to be arranged in advance. I really would recommend it - even if you're not normally in the area. It must be an inspiring place just to sit, read, work and write.