Shira Geffen: Jellyfish A Screenplay

As some of you know, lately I have been also wearing the hat of publisher, busy publishing the screenplay to Shira Geffen and Etgar Keret's film, Jellyfish, in paperback. The book came out March 3rd and is available to buy from http//:www.bellaandregina.co.uk and also Amazon (UK/ US). It's slightly different to the 'film version' which makes it a fascinating companion piece and Shira wrote a beautiful new foreword for the book, reflecting on the inspirations behind the screenplay.

Shira came over to London from Tel Aviv, as a guest of the very kind Israeli Embassy here in the U.K, to promote the book March 6th, March 7th and March 8th. Here are some pictures of her at Jewish Book Week (with Linda Grant), Woolfson & Tay bookstore and The London Jewish Cultural Centre in association with Israeli House and Tzofim.

Jeffrey Eugenides The Marriage Plot

No book has me more excited right now than Jeffrey Eugenides' The Marriage Plot, due October 2011. There's a great Q&A with Eugenides on the FSG website:

http://www.fsgworkinprogress.com/2010/07/editor-author-jonathan-galassi-and-jeffrey-eugenides/

I was also interested to read in the Bookseller that Eugenides has also sold a short story collection, which I'm guessing will mop up 'Airmail', 'Baster' and all those other gems I've got in anthologies or yellowing back issues of the New Yorkers.

Springtime in Paddington

Maybe it was the hardcore winter, but Spring is really wowing me this year.

Beautiful blossom on George Street and stunning flowers on Sussex Gardens...

Cocomaya

When i collect my daughter from her school bus, it's hard not to get tempted to cross the street and go to Cocomaya on Connaught street for some of their delicious freshly made cakes. My daughter's obsessed with their lemon drizzle cake - who can blame her?

Nordic Bakery

Spending a lot of time laptop-ing in Nordic Bakery, the brewers of the finest cup of coffee in London. Despite their Nordic brand, the coffee is Spanish, from Barcelona and it's unbelievable. Mind you, it's also down to the way the staff at Nordic Bakery make it.

Back in London

Pretty skies here too. These from my living room window in Paddington Sunday afternoon/ Monday morning. Feverish jetlag. Drinking Yerba Mate.

My reading chair in L.A

Many times sitting in this chair reading, sunbathing, drinking Acai pulp, admiring the overhead telegraph wires and my in laws orange trees