I fell down a mountain (no, really) and other dramatic plot points
Plus, the latest news, opportunities, help, chat & more for authors and journalists
My dear wordsmiths,
No gatekeeping here - I really did fall down a mountain. My glib mention last week that I might ever-so delicately land on my well padded backside during my ski trip came truer then I would have ideally liked. It turns out that in the years since I last skied with bravery and skill - I’ve forgotten how. Well, not entirely, but a complete whiteout situation on a blue to red run gave me a justifiable terror of skiing off the edge. It was like I had manifested the possibility by accident. So, exactly one week ago today, I went down like a sack of potatoes.
I didn’t go completely off the edge of the mountain in frozen Austria but it was pretty damn close. The Tyrolean trauma, during a near whiteout, saw me turn, slide sideways down a steep section of invisible ice, cross my skies, deck it, hit my head so hard I was nearly sick (I was wearing a helmet thank goodness) and twisted my knee so hard I thought I’d broken my leg. This was all just metres from the netting serving as a warning of a large drop. I was actually with an instructor at the time - a lovely young girl who looked more traumatised than me.
Luckily, it quickly became clear I was still alive, the leg was not broken and I was not entirely concussed. But not before I had to be taxied down the remaining run on the back of sort of skidoo wotsit which the driver glibly jettisoned off the edge of a nearby ledge at speed. I was terrified - there’s no harness - you have to hold on. So I would hard not recommend a ski crash as an experience, though you are welcome to the story inspo/comedy visual it provides as I’m also well aware it could have been a lot worse.
I’ve just remembered this newsletter is supposed to be about writing and journalism so I’ll point out I was in Austria on a press trip to write about stunning Innsbruck as a guest of the local tourist board. And it was stunning - something as I got to appreciate at a slower place as I limped around while my journalistic colleagues zoomed about merrily for the remainder of the trip.
The itinerary was not all skiing anyway as we even got to visit Swarovski World - think Willy Wonka’s factory but for crystals. It was incredible - they have the original necklace from Titanic filming and Katie Perry’s bejewelled music video outfit. There was also tobogganing available in Innsbruck (I passed) and I visited an igloo hotel and the top of a ski jump - though didn’t stay the night or actually do an Eddie the Eagle (it was the same spot he jumped from). I also ate magnificently and met some great people.
Anyway, long story short - I’ve done my knee in (all small violin-ing welcome) and sunburned my face and eaten more strudel than intended. It was glorious experience anyway even if I’m now facing the consequences of my injury (which X-rays have now confirmed as a MCL/Cruciate ligament tear, light ankle sprain and fast recovering whiplash) and I’ve already hobbled up a stage to present a prize at the Lancashire Tourism Awards in my flat boots (the steps..). My lovely former BBC Radio colleague John ‘Gilly’ Gillmore, who was hosting the event, found it quite amusing.
But I want to just register a huge thanks to Austria trip hosts Jane Shepherd (MBE no less) at Shepherd PR who led the trip and was marvellous with the injured soldier (me) and also to her colleague Hannah. Travel feature incoming..
In other consequences there is no new author Q&A this week. Not due to a shortage of volunteers, more an organisational challenge on my part. I’m sure you’ll let me off as I’m injured (insert violin concerto here). But I do have lot of lovely opportunities for all of you. And an update on the book podcast BOOKY POD - it’s coming very soon and all recorded but just a few pickups and edits before we get a launch date - can’t wait. You can listen to the trailer on all good podcast platforms now..
I’d also like to thank those who have contacted me following the release of the Channel 5 documentary on Nicola Bulley in which I featured. I’m pleased to be associated with the programme, as the ITN team who produced it promised integrity and delivered, although I have to admit I was a little trepidatious about its release. I’ll not be commenting further but you can catch up with the documentary on My5. Rest in peace Nikki.
News, events and opportunities for writers and journalists:
OPPORTUNITY | Salford Authors: The University of Salford is launching a new project called Salford Authors in February, to identify and raise the visibility of Salford Authors, with a week of in-person and online events called Love your Salford Authors week. The week, which runs from 12 to 16 of February, kicks off with a free, in-person launch event on Wednesday 14 February, with staff, students and the public all invited.
NEWS | Celebrity Books: Love or hate them, celebrity books are here to stay. But a study has revealed the highest-rated celebrity books, according to readers, and Prince Harry’s Spare is not one of them. The research, conducted by QR experts QR Code Generator, analyzed each title’s Goodreads and Amazon ratings to see which celebs’ top-selling books - released over the last three years - were the best-received by fans. They include:
Paul McCartney’s The Lyrics: 1956 to Present has proved to be the best-received celebrity book, with a near-perfect reader rating of 4.75 out of 5
Will Smith’s book Will is better than Worthy by spouse Jada Pinkett Smith, with 14% higher ratings – despite her many revelations
Beyond the Story: 10 Year Record of BTS by BTS and Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson are placed second and third respectively
Taking fourth place is Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller with a rating of 4.64 out of five, and in fifth is Finding Me by Viola Davis with 4.63.
EVENT & COMPETITION | Derby Book Festival & Flash Fiction competition: To be held from 29th February until 4th March, Derby Book Festival is back with a wide range of opportunities taking place all across the city centre. This year's list of authors includes Simon McDonald, Michael Greaney, Peter Apps, Laura Adlington, Joanne Burn, Stef Penney, Sophie Elmhirst and Jonathan Wilson. Plus, academic speakers from the University of Derby's CivicLAB and events for children.
Derby Book Festival is also launching this year's Fifty Word Flash Fiction Writing Competition with the theme 'Spring'. Enter as many pieces as you like to one of three age categories (including children and young people) for the chance to win a £50 book voucher, publication and more. The deadline is 19th February at 9 pm.
WRITING COMPETITION | Sapere Books Writing Competition: Open to debut and unpublished writers as well as established writers and ghost-writers. To enter you must write a a full synopsis (no more than 2000 words) and draft the first three chapters based on one of the briefs outlined on their website. The prize is a contract for a five book series and deadline for entries is May 31.
JOURNALIST GRADUATE TRAINEE SCHEMES | List via Journo Resources : The excellent Journo Resources has pulled together. complete list of journalist graduate trainee schemes. Head over there for all the month by month details, which are continually updated.
That’s it for this week, I need to be fed grapes as I rest my aching knee (if only). Don’t forget if you want to take part in the Q&A please get in touch or comment - I’d love to have you. If not already please subscribe, like and share - thanks so much. Nicola x