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EVENTS Had the best US author tour possible for Guantanamo Boy. Details and photos at facebook.com/GuantanamoBoy. Met fascinating librarians, booksellers, educators, students, publishers, human rights activists and dedicated readers. My voice is a small one but my intention to highlight injustice without giving rise to hostility, means every time someone finishes this book, it becomes more difficult to agree with people who justify the use of torture. Come on, Obama, the tenth anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Prison, is getting closer: January 11th 2012. No more excuses. Close it down! Tweet 4th November 2011 Beyond thrilled to hear The Glass Collector has been long listed for the 2012 CILIP Carnegie Medal. 9th September 2011 Guantanamo Boy is Shortlisted for the Muslim Writers Award, in the Published Children’s Book category. Muslim Writers Award Totally honoured to be up for this award (GB’S eleventh nomination so far!) especially as it comes from an organisation I admire and know. The event is being held at The Globe Theatre in November - a place I haven’t visited since the idea for the book sparked to life at a benefit gig for Reprieve in 2006. 8th September 2011 Things are getting frantic leading up the US author tour of Guantanamo Boy, mainly because I’m two thirds of the way through my latest YA novel which I keep discarding to deal with the exciting happenings across the pond where some great reviews and blogs are coming in: Albert Whitman Wish I had some training in answering questions though, because afterwards I always regret something; often forgetting a vital piece of information or crucial point. Being put on the spot is, I guess, a good learning experience but I could kick myself for not being as quick as the interviewer and only registering the perfect reply once the thing’s over. On the other hand, writers mostly spend their time talking to themselves while living in a delusional reality, at least I do, so what can anyone expect when we land back in the world of form and matter and appear distracted by the simplest comment. Of course, a deeper worry is wondering how well I held up a mirror to the insanity of Guantanamo Bay where one hundred and seventy two detainees remain incarcerated for years on end without the promise of a hearing, let alone the opportunity to live in freedom. Yes, I wrote a story. Just a story. Still, the truth behind the fiction carries a responsibility to stay focused and not waffle or stray too far from the point, and the point is this: no one - under any circumstances - is entitled - or has the right - to harm anyone else. |
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