Monthly Archives: August 2013

The soft haze of mystery

Posted on August 29, 2013 by gabrielablandy

The summer Jake turned fourteen, he caught a sudden glimpse of his aunt undressing – a roundness of flesh in between her body and arm as she removed her bra. His head fogged up, but through his blood came a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction | Tagged , , , , | 46 Comments

The art of becoming an original writer in three days!

Posted on August 21, 2013 by gabrielablandy

We talk about that first ‘bite’ we get as a writer, the first punch of an idea. Something catches our eye – a painting, or a conversation between two people across the room. We watch. Suddenly we start to imagine … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Shockproof shit detector: the editor’s perspective

Posted on August 13, 2013 by gabrielablandy

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw a new kind of fiction, best exemplified by the short story collections of Raymond Carver. In 1981 his best-loved collection was published. ‘What We Talk About When We Talk About Love’ recorded the … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Balls, heartbreak and the real Jane Austen

Posted on August 5, 2013 by gabrielablandy

The fire throws its warmth across the room and one of the guests has stretched out on the sofa to sleep. Though Miss Bingley has a book in her lap her attention is on Darcy as he reads his own. … Continue reading →

Posted in Essay, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments