I’m delighted to be able to say that my fourth book will be published by Boydell Press later this year. I’ve just pressed ‘send’ on the final version of the manuscript – a huge relief after working on it intensively for over a year. I had to prise my fingers away from the computer keyboard this afternoon to stop myself embarking on yet another round of tweaking. Probably no-one but me would notice the changes, I suppose, but that doesn’t make it any easier to stop. And of course you always hope that someone, somewhere will notice and be pleased by some particular phrase (so, just like practising the piano really).

The book is another collection of thoughts on what it’s like to be a classical musician. It contains chapters on why I like this kind of music, what it’s like being a pianist, what ‘interpretation’ is, the custom of playing from memory, the challenges of keeping a chamber group together for a long time, the demands of daily practice, and the link between music and health. There are reflections on what it’s like being a classical musician in a world obsessed with other kinds of entertainment. There are other chapters too, but perhaps that’s enough for now.

The book is called ‘Sleeping in Temples‘. The reason for the title is explained in the last chapter. It’s due to be published in November – just in time for Christmas.