Journalism: all current articles
Dog Rows
I make no apologies for once again writing about my dog, especially as this article has just paid for some of his astronomical vet's bills following a gastric incident caused by eating too much grass. Like all aristocrats, he has his eccentricities that cost the rest of us dear.
START YOUR OWN SALON - MSLEXIA
Many national newspapers have asked me, over the years, to write about the "salon" I organise for women novelists, and quite a few have run snippy items in their gossip columns about it when refused. However, Mslexia magazine, which was born a year earlier, seemed the right place to describe it, not least because I've never wanted to say who comes and who doesn't. I hope my piece inspires other women writers in other parts of the UK to start their own versions of the same.
Children's books of 2011
Every year I choose my Children's Books of the Year for The Times for ages 2-14. In previous years, I've had something like twice to three times as much space to cover these, and given more than a one-line description of each. It's heart-breaking to have to leave out so many when I know what a difference it can make to an author in terms of morale if not sales. But these are my choices. Other critics on other newspapers will pick up different titles. If you think any of these might suit your child or grandchild, look them up on amazon or browse in a local bookshop with this list.