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Mozart’s birthday (etc)

Mozart’s birthday (etc)

Today, January 27, is Mozart's birthday. 269 years since he was born! His is the only 'composer birthday' I regularly remember, I suppose because he is still my favourite composer despite stiff competition from about 25 others. I remember his birthday for its own sake...

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‘One of the best books of 2012’

‘One of the best books of 2012’

My book 'Out of Silence', in the Japanese translation by Noriko Ogawa, has just been chosen by 'Chopin' magazine in Japan as one of the best books of 2012. It's been such a pleasure to correspond with my various Japanese editors and readers, some of whom have sent me...

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More Japanese reviews

More Japanese reviews

More reviews of my book 'Out of Silence', translated into Japanese by Noriko Ogawa, have arrived from Tokyo. I must say these Japanese reviews are absolutely my favourites so far. Their flavour suggests Noriko was right when she said that Japanese people would be on...

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‘Ongaku no tomo’ book review

The Japanese music magazine 'Ongaku no tomo' (Friends of Music) has published this review of my book 'Out of Silence', translated by Noriko Ogawa. The delightful translation of the review is by a friend in Japan: 'Susan Tomes sets a high values on encounters with...

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My first Japanese reviews

Noriko Ogawa, who translated my book 'Out of Silence' into Japanese, reports that the first reviews have started appearing in Japan. To our great delight the book is one of three chosen this week by the Nikkei Shinbun (Financial Times of Japan) as "Connoisseurs'...

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Noriko’s translation arrives

Noriko’s translation arrives

Last night I saw the Japanese edition (published by Shunjusha) of my book 'Out of Silence' for the first time. Its translator, the concert pianist Noriko Ogawa, flew back from Tokyo yesterday and very nobly came straight from the airport to visit me, bringing me a...

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Negative reviews

On this morning's 'A Point of View' on Radio 4, Adam Gopnik shared some amusing thoughts about how authors deal with negative reviews. He described how many authors write fierce late-night responses and reubuttals, which they're usually dissuaded from sending. He...

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‘Out of Silence’ comes out in Japanese

‘Out of Silence’ comes out in Japanese

Today in Tokyo, the first copies of Noriko Ogawa's translation of my book 'Out of Silence' roll off the press. The cover (see photo) is much the same as the British edition's, but my name appears in Japanese, with Noriko's name alongside it as translator. I feel...

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My youngest reader

My youngest reader

Noriko Ogawa has finished translating my book 'Out of Silence' into Japanese, after more than a year's work. As Noriko zooms about the world, she and her editor in Tokyo have been corresponding about the precise choice of words and the appropriate tone, and I have...

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My Japanese colleagues

My Japanese colleagues

Over New Year I have been corresponding quite a bit with pianist Noriko Ogawa, who has almost finished translating my book 'Out of Silence' into Japanese. Though I am really looking forward to the Japanese edition, due out in spring, I am rather sorry that the stream...

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Boydell’s widget

'A widget?' I hear you ask. No, I didn't know either. But it seems that a widget is a clever little package of information, in this case about my book 'Out of Silence'. Its publisher, Boydell Press, is embracing widgets as a new kind of promotional material. If you...

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At the Rye Festival

At the Rye Festival

Usually I take part in music festivals, so to be invited to a Literary Festival is an exciting change. Yesterday I was at the Rye Festival talking about music and musicians. In between readings and bits of talk, I played little piano pieces. I'd been given one of...

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Duets on Woman’s Hour

Duets on Woman’s Hour

Noriko Ogawa arrived back safely from Japan, and here we are playing piano duets for Woman's Hour. We're also talking about my book 'Out of Silence' which Noriko is translating into Japanese. The broadcast is on Tuesday 29 March sometime between 10 and 11am, and you...

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