Wild Geese You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world… Continue reading “Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination…”
Author: Katherine Bassford
Hello, I'm Katherine. I'm a writer and illustrator living on the south coast, UK. www.katherinebassford.com
What I learned today: we only get one shot at this
I spent most of today at work researching quotes about nature for a book about the great outdoors. Copyright rules state that you can only quote from a source who has been dead for 70+ years. So I found myself in the strange position of finding a great quote and then looking up the author… Continue reading What I learned today: we only get one shot at this
Writing a book + ego issues + thank you
One of my biggest concerns about writing a book – the thing that made me break out in a cold sweat whenever I thought about it - was receiving dire reviews on Amazon. I know it’s not a very impressive thing to admit to. I wish I could say I am beyond such things. But… Continue reading Writing a book + ego issues + thank you
Magical Trees
Ah, I’ve just come back from a week in the Cotswolds. We stayed in a converted barn on a beautiful eco-friendly farm. Every night we sat on our balcony and watched the sun go down over the valley… When we woke in the morning, this was the only sound we heard… We walked through beautiful… Continue reading Magical Trees
April ’One Book a Month’: Feeling like a kid again
This month’s One Book a Month task was extremely arduous. I walked three minutes from my front door and went to Emsworth’s only bookshop Bookends. (It's a second hand bookshop but it’s an independent business and, like I said, it's the only bookshop in the village, so it counts!) One of the things I love most… Continue reading April ’One Book a Month’: Feeling like a kid again
Want to be more creative? Release your inner child
Do you know why I love spending time with my nieces and nephews (aside from the fact that I love them to bits and they give life-enhancing hugs?) It’s because if you spend time with children - watch them jump and dance and sing - pretty soon your inner child will be itching to join in too.… Continue reading Want to be more creative? Release your inner child
Interview with award-winning children’s author, Vanessa Curtis
I have just finished reading The Earth is Singing. ?*@X&!!*£*&^#”??!!! [this is the sound of my brain imploding]. Seriously, it’s so good, I had an out of body experience and found myself walking to the computer and writing my first ever review on Amazon. You know how some books eek their way into your cells… Continue reading Interview with award-winning children’s author, Vanessa Curtis
March ‘One Book a Month’: The smallest bookshop in the UK
The great thing about supporting local bookshops is that you discover hidden gems right on your doorstep. Yesterday I visited the smallest village bookstore in the UK as part of my ‘One Book a Month' campaign. Hayling Island Bookshop is just a few minutes’ drive along the coast from me but I’d never come across it… Continue reading March ‘One Book a Month’: The smallest bookshop in the UK
Bestsellerdom at last!
OK, I am going to milk this for all its worth. You are about to witness a historic moment; the very first time that the words ‘bestseller’ and ‘Katherine Bassford’ are uttered within the same sentence! Yup. Remember that extract from Oh Sugar! that was published in the Daily Express a few weeks ago? Well,… Continue reading Bestsellerdom at last!
Why I am allergic to most ‘how to’ books on writing
I have an admission to make: ‘how to’ writing books make me feel a bit queasy. You know the ‘classics’ you’re supposed to read? The ones that talk about grammar and style, and how to psychoanalyse your characters to within an inch of their lives? I have tried to read them. But two chapters in… Continue reading Why I am allergic to most ‘how to’ books on writing
Katherine Bassford 