Fifteen years after it appeared in print, we republish Nick Barlay’s first novel as an ebook for the Amazon Kindle.

To read an excerpt, visit the author’s site www.nickbarlay.com.

This novel about obsessive love is one that will haunt you. It is a tour-de-force of passion and longing. If you love the romances of Jean Rhys, this is a novel for you because it’s about a woman who loves too much and man who would like to, but hasn’t learned how.

No Angel Hotel has a striking new cover, designed by Line of Sight in Toronto. This new, completely revised edition is available in paperback and as an eBook.

‘Anne Aylor’s first novel is a finely crafted and moving exploration of the youthful pain and the lasting passion of love. She tells the tale of Elkie, a working-class girl from Northern Ireland and her affair with a sophisticated intellectual, Ivan, “like Count Vronsky with dark hair”. Ivan’s interest is casual and self-indulgent, but Elkie, misunderstanding and in love, wants to go off with him. In a moment of frustration, Ivan agrees. What follows is a series of drab rented rooms, brief visits, a fading hope of marriage, a dozen years of nothing but occasional postcards, and then a final, fateful postcard.’ —WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD

A punchy 2-minute video remix using only the sounds of an energetic dance workout. Inspired by dance novel The Double Happiness Company, this film was created by Eclectic Method in NYC.

If you haven’t read the book, you can order a copy, or get it on your UK Kindle or priced in US$.

There is no frigate like a book, to take us lands away.
Emily Dickinson

Our first author interviewed about The Double Happiness Company, a great book club read.

‘Anne’s writing demonstrates her powers of observation. Dialogue throughout is pitch perfect, and gives Anne some of her pithy chapter headings: “Weirdnik in a tutu”, “Fatso goes Nutzoid”. A keen eye selected the well-chosen period detail: Tangee lipstick, beaded curtains, black-bottom pie, the Frontier coffee shop full of stuffed animals, a velvet picture of Jackie O. All in all, this book is a delight. Read, and enjoy.’ Annemarie Neary, writer, ZenAzzurian and a Bridport prizewinner in 2009

‘I cannot thank you enough, Anne, for last night. What a privilege it was for me to be offered the stage to give a testament of my experience of you. You have no idea how honoured I feel to be associated with someone like you, whose vision, creative power, focus, dedication and graciousness I have drunk like water from a rare wellspring.’ Eugene Skeef, South African percussionist, composer, poet & cultural activist

‘Amazing night last night – just wanted to say WOW. Congratulations and big thanks for having such a great party!‘ Elise Valmorbida of Word Design (left)

‘It was a truly wonderful launch. The readings whetted my appetite for the book, which I began on the way home. I’m hooked! The story can’t fail to draw people in. I thought the venue was fantastic – that marvellous balcony which meant we could all see and hear the speakers. And the music was a lovely touch – again very rare. And delicious food, and, you Anne, looking so glamourous, with your great whoosh of magnificent burnished hair. I wish you and the book every possible success. Black Swan, move out of the way – you’re going to be surpassed!‘ Wendy Perriam, author of 16 novels (most recently Broken Places) & 7 short story collections

‘I am so so soooo happy to have been at the event with your and your dear friends. A beautiful experience! I thank you and the universe for letting us meet. Muchas gracias por tu libro, Anne. Y por tus palabras, un abrazo, un beso.’ Bel Bellvehi Negre of the Bel and Sammy Duet, Figueres, Spain

‘A brilliant book launch. The readings were great, the speeches were great. It felt like BareBone Books had existed for ages, it was such a confident event. It was really good to see your work come to fruition and be celebrated.’ Andrea Michell, Bravura Films

‘Congratulations on a fantastic launch last night!‘ Claire Richman, Senior Account Manager, Midas PR

‘Looked like a very successful night, even to a bibliophobe like me! Best wishes to Anne for the book. Judging by the queue to get it signed yesterday, it’s a winner.’ Robin Beste

‘I wanted to thank you both for including me in this very special event. I felt very honoured to be part of it.’ Nikki Redmond, actor

Sammy Arderiu, Bel Vellvehi Negre, Eugene Skeef

Keirion Carroll, Kim Martelle, Anne Aylor

After three days without reading, talk becomes flavourless.
Chinese proverb

Willy the Shake

In this chapter of DHC, our debut publication, Katie Rivers, a ballet-mad teenager from a small town in New Mexico, comes face to face with the fierce Madame Feodorova. This demanding teacher has produced dozens of professional dancers, dazzling Katie who’s only studied with a cotton farmer.

This new recording of Chapter 4 features Madeleine Potter who has appeared in many films, including The Bostonians, The White Countess and The Golden Bowl. ‘Acrobat of God’ was directed by Tom Platten of Gilt & Grime. Recording engineer: Nico Bentley

At the time, I was producing a film for BBC Arena about the role of artists in war. My new production company needed a name and Barebone Films was born. When setting up this press, I decided to resurrect the name, christened after the man who gave his surname to the Barebone’s Parliament of the English Commonwealth of 1653.

Welcome to BBB. And don’t worry. We’re a lot friendlier than our brimstone-eyed namesake!

Before he retired from the stage, he trained with many illustrious teachers, including Valentina Pereyaslavec, Vera Volkova, Stanley Williams, Erik Bruhn and Rosella Hightower. To read an interview with Finis on his journey from Hawaii to Broadway, click here.

Finis was chosen to coach the boys cast in the lead role in the Chicago production of Billy Elliot after the show’s choreographer, Peter Darling, and director, Stephen Daldry, saw Finis’ impressive teaching methods. To see him at work with the three Billys, click here.

This is what Finis said about The Double Happiness Company: ‘This is a wonderful book! It’s true-to-life and captures the thoughts and feelings of a dancer struggling with her family and career, past and present. And, as good dancing does, it will stir your memories and lift you up.’

Her stage play, Children of the Dust, won a playwrighting award and was staged by the Soho Theatre and the Theatre Warehouse, Croydon (director: Terry Johnson). Her recent play, The Trainer, had a rehearsed reading in May 2009 at the Hackney Empire with Corin Redgrave, Tim Pigott-Smith, Roger Lloyd Pack and Janie Dee (director: Tom Platten).

She is the founder of Anne Aylor Creative Writing Courses which offers workshops in the UK and abroad. Anne has danced with the Oakland Ballet, worked in the Big Apple at the Salvation Army Trade Department, sold brass and wind music of the 17th and 18th centuries and practiced as an acupuncturist. Several years ago she gave up needles to concentrate on writing. She loves to teach because it doesn’t involve high maths or high heels.

Honoured as a Trailblazer by the Edinburgh International Film Festival (2007), she is the producer of award-winning indie film Saxon, released in 2009.

This transplanted Italian-Australian is also a brilliant novelist whose published works include Matilde Waltzing, The Book of Happy Endings, The TV President and The Winding Stick.

She teaches beginners and intermediate writing courses at the University of the Arts in London.

Photo courtesy of Steve Mullins.

Christian Holder

He appeared as guest solo dancer with San Francisco Opera from 1979 – 1981 and in ’81 choreographed their production of The Merry Widow with Dame Joan Sutherland. He performed in the 50th anniversity of the Chicago Joffrey Ballet’s production of Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella as one of the Ugly Sisters (pictured below with Gary Chryst).

Christian has choreographed and designed costumes for the Joffrey Ballet, Washington Ballet, Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, Ballet Théâtre de Bordeaux and American Ballet Theater. He has taught ballet for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, ABT’s open class, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, Ballet Arts Minnesota and Broadway Dance Center.

In 2001 Christian choreographed the San Francisco Opera’s production of Aida. To read his article in Dance Magazine celebrating the Joffrey Ballet’s 2006 golden anniversary, click here.

At BBB we are grateful that Christian was willing to read the 375-page typescript of a stranger and give The Double Happiness Company his endorsement.

BBB

Rosanna joined the Joffrey Ballet shortly after her arrival in the US from her native Italy, before moving to American Ballet Theatre. She spent 11 years at ABT, dancing the classics and working with many of the most acclaimed choreographers of the last century, including George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Alvin Ailey, Anthony Tudor, Agnes de Mille, Frederick Ashton, José Limón and Leonide Massine. After leaving American Ballet Theater, she joined the faculty of the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College where she is a tenured professor. She is also a faculty member of ABT’s Summer Intensive Program.

In 1984 she worked with the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre and the National Institute of the Arts in Taiwan and also taught at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She received a SUNY Research Foundation Grant to travel to the former USSR to develop methods for adapting Russian classical training for American dancers. In 1995 she was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Chile to give seminars and master classes. In recent years, Rosanna has choreographed, staged productions and taught master classes for the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. She has also consulted as an educator and ballet mistress with dance companies in the Philippines, Australia, Italy, South America and China.

This is what Rosanna had to say about BBB‘s first book: ‘Katie Rivers is a heroine for anyone who’s ever had a real dream. Coming from the most unlikely of places, the wastelands of the New Mexico desert, this ballerina in training pursues her destiny with a passion that is both admirable and reckless. This sweeping family saga, set against the background of the Vietnam War, takes the reader from the rural Southwest to the New York City of Katie’s dreams and back again, as a young girl and her family strive for resolution and confront their special demons. The Double Happiness Company is a wonderful story and a cautionary tale that will stay with readers long after they have set this compelling book down.’

In this TED talk the writer, Amy Tan talks about the mysterious process of writing. Some of the topics she covers in this 20-minute talk are how uncertainly is good, how Buddhist fishermen rationalise their occupation (‘saving fish from drowning’) and how Chinese ghosts have informed her writing. She is the author of novels such as The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God’s Wife and The Bonesetter’s Daughter.

Books are something Charles is fiercely passionate about. He has been kind enough to let me pick his brains about this publishing lark. He also writes a smashing blog. Click here for an interview with him.

Hats off to Steve Mullins who took the picture.

In theatres and music halls, limelight used to be the primary focus of lighting on stage. Followspots used a block of lime which was heated until it became incandescent. Limelight is also, of course, a 1952 film written, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. His co-star was Claire Bloom. In the dance sequences, Bloom was doubled by the New York City Ballet ballerina, Melissa Hayden.