The next book out is now on press in Verona: the first volume of Mersey Minis – a delightful five volume series of little books (postcard-sized, 128pp) that will be published this year – Liverpool 800th anniversary. This is what the editor, Deborah Mulhearn, has to say about them:
"Bursting with brilliant writing inspired by Liverpool and the River Mersey, LANDING includes writers ranging from the extremely famous to the completely unknown, from well-loved novelists to young arrivals, from poets and princes to maidservants. What they have in common is Liverpool. Some of the writers were born in the city, others are strangers passing through, or experiencing their first footfall in Europe. But they have all visited or lived in (and in one notable exception merely dreamed about) Liverpool, and, luckily for us, committed their impressions to paper.
"The notion of bringing all this amazing output together into one series was irresistible. It seemed a simple enough idea, but as I started digging deeper, I was awed by the sheer volume and variety of people who had recorded their time in Liverpool. There was enough material for a shelf full of books, and how to select and present it all became the challenge. Landing is about first impressions, new encounters, beginnings, meetings and openings particular to Liverpool. They are funny, fascinating, touching, churlish, bemused, sad, or downright surreal, but all memorable accounts of this singular city and the often quixotic experiences it offers.
The first volume will be launched on Friday 27 April, at the wonderful new BBC building in Liverpool and will be in the shops the following morning – as well, of course, as online at www.loveliverpoolbooks (hit the link to 'lovely Liverpool books' opposite).
Hurrah!
