Isn’t it a wonder how we can have worldwide conversations with friends new and old without leaving our chairs, roll as they might?  One such conversation is about to begin next week as the very talented Tania Hershman begins a worldwide, “virtual” tour to promote her new short story collection, The White Road. Tania is a British writer living in Jerusalem, and her tour will take her to Botswana, Britain, New Zealand and onward.  I’m quite chuffed to have been asked to host one leg of this tour.  My post will take place on 18 November, but it all begins on 28 October at the blog of Clare Dudman.  I urge you to follow her along on her adventure.  It’s a wonderful collection and Tania is a quite fascinating person.  Her publisher, Salt, has created the site, Cyclone, which will act as your tour guide, buying your tickets, carrying your bags so to speak.  It’s all very clever and very well done, I must say.

So what does John Cusack have to do with any of this?  Nothing except that I read the other day that he is in London now filming a new movie, and I think he should know that the main character in my novel, Tangled Roots, was written with his voice in my head! I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t jump at the chance to make the film, so if any of you out there in virtual reality know him and how I might get a copy of the book to him, do let me know ;^)  [that’s a “smirking smiley” according to my handy chart of emoticons].  Here’s a little taster from one of my favourite movies, Grosse Point Blank. You’ll see what I mean: