Johanna Ward

Johanna Ward is the very gifted photographer that took the cover photo for the book and my headshot. Here's a little plug for the book and her photography skills in "quickie", Wardour Publishing's design newsletter.

Amazon delivers!

Hello! I have been reliably informed that Amazon is despatching my book to those who have pre-ordered today, so if you have ordered through them you should be receiving it soon! Go Amazon! Although - for the sake of parity and to support small presses, please do also look at the book on http://www.inpressbooks.co.uk/i019510.aspx.

Angela Carter; a true inspiration

Angela Carter is one of my favourite writers - outstandingly creative, a powerful writer and completely unafraid of subversion. I have always been interested in her work with mythic themes and the way she reappropriated them with a feminist slant. The world is the poorer for having lost her, already 16 years ago. I wonder what she would have made of the state of things now.

My favourite Carter novel is The Passion of New Eve, a blistering journey into the construction of gender and sexuality. In terms of body modification it also makes me think in some way of the work of "Carnal Artist" Orlan (www.orlan.net) , who I recently heard giving a talk at Central School of Speech and Drama. I've also been reading about Marina Abramovic who I find fascinating... more on her another time.

First contact

I got my first sight of the book yesterday in all its glory as my review copies arrived in the post. I kind of wanted to involve the postman in the exciting moment of opening the box and jumping up and down shouting "it's here! it's here!" but he probably has enough trauma in his life without sudden shocks from overexcited poets.

The book looks amazing. The cover photo that covers back and front, taken by my very good friend and excellent photographer Johanna Ward, has come out beautifully. It's strange and wonderful to see your work as an entity of its own, in a cover of its own and with a price and ISBN of its own too.

I celebrated with champagne and loved ones.

First publicity for the book

Hello and welcome to The Fast Heat of Beauty blog! Very happy to see you. I thought I'd start off proceedings with a very nice interview and photo of me in The Croydon Advertiser last week, though I do have to stress that the babies are absolutely nothing to do with me. Because someone did ask.