Three links

I watched the recording of a Zoom conversation with Samantha Shannon, hosted by a Canadian independent bookshop. In it, she covers her two current series of books, but far more interesting to me is the discussion of the work involved in reissuing The Bone Season, ten years after it was first published, with heavy edits of the structure and content. This book — Shannon's debut — was written when she was 19 and published when she was 21, and she has apparently long been dissatisfied with it. She was given an opportunity that few authors are — to republish an 'anniversary edition' with the significant editorial changes that I mentioned. This has then necessitated lighter editing and subsequent reissuing of later books in the series (all of which will come out in May next year), meaning there are going to be two different versions of the first few books in the series existing simultaneously (and apparently confusing to read if you swap between the versions). I find the whole thing fascinating.

Watch on YouTube

The next literary livestream I'll mention is happening later this week — 7pm British summer time on Friday — and is a British Library-hosted conversation between Natalie Haynes and Susan Cooper (later to be joined by Simon McBurney and Robert MacFarlane, who adapted The Dark Is Rising as a radio play last year). You can book tickets to view the Zoom conversation on the British Library website.

Finally, snickfic is hosting a no-frills friending meme — follow the link to participate.