Books HITLIST THE BEST BOOKS, COMICS & EVENTS

21 Revolutions In these ‘Readings by Women Writers’, the likes of Denise Mina (pictured), Elizabeth Reeder and Anne Donovan discuss their inspirations as part of the 21st anniversary celebrations of the Glasgow Women’s Library. CCA, Glasgow, Wed 26 Sep.

E B A C C M N N O M A E

John Hegley In Peace, Love and Potatoes, the bard of Luton delivers lyrical nuggets about the aforementioned topics plus, probably, dogs and spectacles. Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh, Fri 12 Oct.

Kathleen Jamie Hot on the heels of her latest nature offering, Sightlines, the Fife-based writer launches The Overload, a collection of poems about repair and restitution. Word Power Bookshop, Edinburgh, Thu 11 Oct. Kevin Powers The canon of Iraq War-related fictions is burgeoned by this devastating corker from a debutant who was deep in the heart of battle. See review, page 46. Sceptre.

Peter F Hamilton & Iain M Banks Do all sci-fi writers need a middle initial? Answering that question and other, better ones are the author of Great North Road and the erstwhile initial-free Mr Banks. Waterstones, Edinburgh, Wed 10 Oct. Liz Lochhead In the Scottish Writers’ Centre second ‘In Process’ event, the poet, novelist and playwright (of, among other works, Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off) tells us how she goes about crafting her words. CCA, Glasgow, Thu 27 Sep.

Wigtown Book Festival The National Book Town welcomes the usual array of literary stars and household names for its annual book bash. See preview, page 48. Various venues, Wigtown, Fri 28 Sep–Sun 7 Oct.

Peter Hook A whistlestop tour from the bass man as he pushes his new book, Unknown Pleasures, an insider’s look at the darkly hypnotic world of Joy Division. Waterstones, Glasgow & Edinburgh, Tue 9 Oct.

Portobello Book Festival A fine event run by Portobello Library as the likes of Christopher Brookmyre, Lari Don and James Robertson are drawn away from the city centre. Various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 5–Sun 7 Oct.

Howard Jacobson A penetrating and humorous analysis of the way we live now, in particular looking at the fate of literature as technology holds its sinister sway. See review, page 46. Bloomsbury.

list.co.uk/books

FirstWrites INTRODUCING DEBUT AUTHORS

Emma Straub has a go at this issue’s debut author Q&A. Her first book is the tale of a young actress making her way in 1930s Hollywood

Give us five words to describe Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures? That’s easy: Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures! Name one author who should be more famous than they are now and why?

Kate Christensen her novels are smart and wicked and full of deliciousness. Start with The Great Man. What was the first book you read? Some very early favourites were the George and Martha books by James Marshall.

What was the last book you read? That was Megan Abbott’s novel Dare Me about some psychotic high school cheerleaders.

Which book makes you cry?

Oh, everything makes me cry. I cried reading my friend Julie Klam’s new book, Friendkeeping. I cried reading Stuart Nadler’s Wise Men. I’ll probably cry reading these interview questions. I am a huge softie. Which book makes you laugh? I just read a book by Raymond Kennedy called Ride a Cockhorse, and I laughed out loud on the subway, which actually frightens people more in New York City than crying does. True fact.

What plans do you have for book number two? I’ve just sold book two here in America, a novel about a family on vacation in Mallorca. After Laura Lamont, I wanted to write something funny, something contemporary. Stay tuned! Should be out in 2014. (Interview by Brian Donaldson) Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures is published by Picador on Thu 11 Oct. See list.co.uk for more of this interview.

20 Sep–18 Oct 2012 THE LIST 45