Jayne Joso

ICON Magazine Review

2011-09-19T13:09:00.001+01:00

Click here to read Agata Pyzik's in-depth discussion of Jayne Joso's latest novel Perfect Architect in Icon Magazine issue 099

ICON Magazine 099

Perfect Architect

Jayne Joso at Chester Literature Festival VENUE: Wesley Centre St John's Street, Chester CH1 1DA DATE: 26th October 2011

2011-09-18T21:51:00.003+01:00

To Book...

Jayne Joso at Ace Stories July 2011

2011-07-01T12:52:00.001+01:00

Ace Stories Brighton kicks off its new season of authors and musicians....
check out all upcoming events here!

Storytails Audio Excerpt - Jayne Joso - Perfect Architect

2011-06-05T08:20:00.001+01:00

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Breaking into Building Sites in Search of a Novel

2011-05-03T21:47:00.003+01:00

Here is some of what I did in order to write Perfect Architect, the rough cut...

(Bear in mind that I started work on this project long before my first novel was published – and over the years it took to put this book together there have been a fair number of adventures... involving what some might call ‘downright bad behaviour’... )

I broke into building sites to see how places were being put together. How else could I see the bare bones of a building?—Over time, and quite accidentally, I became more curious and also ambitious. One of these sites was the wonderful Jewish Museum in Berlin designed by Daniel Libeskind. Perhaps my most ambitious break-in!—It’s really wonderful to see a building as it begins to take shape, morphing, growing, finding its place, settling into or challenging a landscape, it’s something rather special, and certainly very difficult to imagine once the build is over. I felt I had to seize the moment sometimes.

What other mischief was involved? Quite a lot...

I attended lectures in courses I wasn’t signed up for, and a few that I was. At times I couldn’t easily get to meet an architect I was interested in (I’m not famous, I had few connections, and, at the time, was still an unpublished novelist), so I went to all kinds of lengths to gain access to some of the more high profile architects, including once gatecrashing a very exclusive party held in Libeskind’s honour. (Perhaps I should hang my head in shame but I don’t, and if I’m honest, it was a whole lot of fun). In this particular case, I wanted the chance to see Libeskind close up. I’d read his work, read about his work, and seen him lecture, but I wondered what he was like in a different atmosphere - less the architect, less the teacher, more of the guy, the man off duty, the relaxed version with a glass of something nice to hand.—At the party, trembling at the thought of someone checking the guest list (no press passes had been issued so I couldn’t pretend to have been there for a paper, and as there were only about thirty guests I could so easily have been caught out), I downed a glass of champagne, took a deep breath, circled the room again trying to choose my moment, and when the last person moved away from him, I snuck in. I told him I liked his work, I told him I had broken into the building site to check it out from the inside, to see it close up, kinda feel its pulse. He chuckled warmly, he thought it was cool. He asked me what I thought of it.

This book started its life somewhere, for sure, but I’m not entirely certain where. Maybe Japan, for that’s the place that has had the biggest impact on challenging how I see buildings, how I look at them, how I think about them. It’s also a place where I met some wonderful architects, students of architecture, and interior designers – a broad range of nationalities too. But what’s important is that in amongst a whole raft of experiences, I fell in love with the possibilities of architecture, and I wanted to include and celebrate that in my writing.
I started work on this book long before my first novel was published. I came back and worked on it some more after Soothing Music for Stray Cats was finding its way, and I can’t imagine ever having quite that much fun working on a novel ever again. For whatever else comes, I guess I have to act like a grown up now and ask people formally for permission, as a writer, to meet who I need to meet, to see what I need to see, but I’m so very glad I had the chance to be bad.

I still cannot quite square how I manage to be too shy at times to ask permission and yet am bold enough at others simply just to walk right in, but so it is.

So that’s a small taste of what went on in the background, the research, the groundwork, so to speak (I can’t tell you everything... ) for Perfect Architect - a novel about houses, architects, a whole lot of love, oh... and hand-carved penguins.

I’m going to read from it and answer questions at the Big Green Bookshop (Wood Green, London) very soon... 12 May! come along, we’ll have wine, it’s free.

JAPAN DISASTER BENEFIT gig! Brixton April 3rd!

2011-03-22T14:28:00.000Z

JAPAN DISASTER BENEFIT
...On sale Friday 25th March, 9.00am. Japan Disaster Benefit in aid of the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal. Featuring live performances from Beady Eye, The Coral, Graham Coxon, Paul Weller & Primal Scream. O2 Academy Brixton April 3rd.

Make some moves and part with some dosh for a damn good cause...

Architecture Today features Perfect Architect!

2011-03-05T00:31:00.004Z

ARCHITECTURE TODAY magazine features architecture inspired novel Perfect Architect...

Houses, architects, translucent concrete, hand-carved penguins...

Perfect Architect will be published on May 2011, but is available for pre-order ...

Cathi Unsworth and Jayne Joso at Ladyfest 10

2010-09-21T14:19:00.016+01:00

Cathi Unsworth and Jayne Joso at Ladyfest 10 - The Horatia, Holloway Road, London N7 Friday 12 November, 6.30pm

Celebrating ten years of Ladyfest, the festival that celebrates the creative spirit and talents of women via music and the arts - Jayne Joso, author of the People's Book Prize 2010-shortlisted SOOTHING MUSIC FOR STRAY CATS,

and Cathi Unsworth, author of the critically acclaimed BAD PENNY BLUES will be reading their work. Full Ladyfest line-up and tickets for all the events over the weekend of 12-14 November available from the Ladyfest10 now!
Cathi Unsworh and Jayne Joso - Friday Nov 12th, THE HORATIA 92-104 HOLLOWAY ROAD LONDON N7 8JE 6.30pm

More information and updates on the brilliant For Books' Sake website HERE. TICKETS for Jayne and Cathi...

Jayne Joso writes for US micro-magazine Abe's Penny

2010-09-10T01:18:00.004+01:00

The poem 'Desire' by Jayne Joso is published this month by US micro-magazine, Abe's Penny . It will be published in 4 parts and is a response to the work of photographer and filmmaker Omar Gámez and stills taken from his work entitled 'Costa da Caparica'.

Abe's Penny's Poetry Postcards...
The 4 linked images are published on postcards, the linked text appears on the other side; and these are mailed out 1 per week creating a small set by the end of that month's issue. The idea is that busy folk receive poetry or fiction in their mail box and have time to read it before they leave the house, or even between the mailbox and the front door.

Abe's Penny featured in THE NEW YORKER

Copyright Laws - Great Britain and Germany

2010-08-27T15:51:00.009+01:00

'No Copyright Law' The Real Reason for Germany's Industrial Expansion?'
Read this - it’s fascinating and highly provocative – for did Germany ‘experience rapid industrial expansion in the 19th century due to an absence of copyright law’? and was the establishment of copyright law in Great Britain in 1710 responsible for stifling knowledge and progress? If further interested, read also: 'The Statute of Anne' which is now seen as the origin of copyright law.

Soothing Music for Stray Cats - shortlisted for People's Book Prize 2010!

2010-07-22T00:32:00.005+01:00

The Award ceremony for the People's Book Prize was held at The Stationers' & Newspaper Makers' Company Stationers Hall, London... and it was lovely! There were 3 categories: children’s fiction, non-fiction, and fiction, and I can proudly announce that ‘Soothing Music for Stray Cats’ made the shortlist of 6, so I want to say the most enormous thanks to all the lovely folk who voted... and I want to post details of some of the other finalists and their books soon, so check back... but this is in haste as I run to the Welsh hills for some rest. Thanks everyone... very very muchly xxx

Bowler Hats and Underpants!

2010-05-10T01:20:00.024+01:00

The Sohemian Society presents: Jayne Joso and actor Terence Frisch reading from:
'Soothing Music for Stray Cats' May 19th, 7.30pm"It was Friday night, the city was starting to buzz, and even this far out, you could still sense the beginnings of it, or the ‘outer-ripples’ so to speak, it was as though I could almost feel its pulse beneath my feet, the trains there rumbling underground, rattling the earth around them—Manor House tube station—I’d arrived. I climbed down the steps to its exotic, subterranean world of shaking trains in dilapidated, low tiled tunnels...."

"...and tomorrow - like a right pair of sods, we’d… we’d do London! Set off down that Jermyn Street, pick up some shirts, or head down Saville Row, and we’d get measured up all proper, get suited and booted, the tailored treatment, and then we’d run riot just the two of us through Trafalgar square..."
...come as you are, or feel free to be suited and booted, the tailored treatment

Jayne Joso honoured by The Welsh Academy for her contribution to the Literature of Wales

2009-11-10T17:53:00.011Z

Jayne Joso recently honoured by The Welsh Academy for her contribution to the Literature of Wales ...

Hurrah ! What fun!

..stay calm... drink tea!

Joso Tickets SOLD OUT !!

2009-10-17T10:42:00.006+01:00

Shell Chester Literature Festival 2009 !
Jayne Joso - Tickets SOLD OUT !
Book also sold out at event venue but available online! And through books stores...
The Times Literary Supplement - Ian Thomson

'SOOTHING MUSIC FOR STRAY CATS, may emerge as one of the great, eccentric London novels.'
Joe Moran, Author & Guardian Contributor
‘Soothing Music for Stray Cats marks the debut of a distinctive voice in contemporary British fiction.’
Robert J. Burdock, robaroundbooks.com

‘Jayne Joso is an extraordinary writer of fiction. The way Joso draws the reader into the story through the wholly unique and charismatic voice of her main character, Mark, is nothing short of genius.’
Emma Rae, Planet Magazine
‘reminiscent of Holden Caulfield’s voice in J.D.Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye… a generous and engaging novel which embraces the extremes of human experience so thoughtfully and yet so lightly.’

Natalie Haynes, Author, Comedian

‘An unexpected and moving story about the redemption of misfits and the consolation of strangers.’

Joso is an extraordinary writer of fiction

2009-10-01T01:08:00.012+01:00

"The way Joso draws the reader into the story through the wholly unique and charismatic voice of her main character, Mark is nothing short of genius. It’s very rare I engage with a main character so empathetically but in Joso’s I’m so in touch with the man that I swear I can almost feel him breathing..."

Robert J. Burdock
robaroundbooks.com

Festival!

2009-08-22T10:25:00.031+01:00

Shell Chester Literature Festival: Jayne Joso Author Event 16 OCTOBER 2009 - 1.00pm
Now Booking! details below ~
'Soothing Music for Stray Cats' is influenced by songwriters from
Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen to Noel Gallagher and Richard Ashcroft. Mark is preoccupied by the thought that listening to the wrong music can lead to wrong thinking and maybe wrong ways of living. So develops the idea of listening to music and reading books that soothe the soul.
''Soothing Music for Stray Cats may emerge as one of the great, eccentric London novels.'' Times Literary Supplement
'SOOTHING MUSIC FOR ST RAY CATS marks the debut of a distinctive voice in contemporary British fiction.' Joe Moran
An unexpected and moving story about the redemption of misfits and the consolation of strangers' Natalie Haynes

'SOOTHING MUSIC FOR STRAY CATS is a richly comic debut novel of youthful dreams and adult despair...it is reminiscent of Holden Caulfield's voice in J.D.Salinger's Catcher in the Rye...a generous and engaging novel which embraces the extremes of human experience so thoughtfully and yet so lightly.' Emma Rae
Author talk, reading and meet the author Q&A with Jayne Joso

Ticket details: £5 Includes Tea and Cakes
Contact Details: Oddfellows 20 Lower Bridge St., Chester, Cheshire CH1 1RS Click here or Tel: 01244 405605 Fax: 01244 405601
Also appearing at

Shell Chester Literature Festival:
A few highlights:
Carol Ann Duffy - Poet Laureate October 5th
Kate Atkinson October 16th
Sir Richard Eyre, former Artistic director of the National Theatre 'Talking Theatre' October 17th
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall October 18th
but there are many more... so check out the site

How do you Feel? by Jayne Joso

2009-08-01T00:45:00.014+01:00

How do you Feel? is my first Children’s Picture Book, a poetic look at feelings, 'happy feelings' mostly, ah, and quite right too as it is aimed at young folk of approximately four years. Published by Benesse in Japan, it was a blissful journey away from grown up things. Happy, happy, happy ! :- D

Jayne Joso and Mez Packer

2009-07-23T00:33:00.000+01:00

...read recently at the Big Green Bookshop, in London's Wood Green. Great venue, great folk showed up, and the TimeOut listing was much appreciated. Wine, books... the 'Big Green' has it all going on (with a strong list of bookish events, for folk of all ages - there's a link under Links! check them out - big on Children's events too). -A grand night.