Articles: The Arvon Foundation works with if:book and CompletelyNovel.com to create a unique anthology with a digital twist

PRESS RELEASE
11 JUNE 2010

Last night the “Free Word Centre”: hosted the launch of ‘All of These Things Are True and Not True’, an anthology made up of an unusual combination of new fiction, poetry and playwriting from nine writers who took part in the Jerwood/Arvon Mentoring Scheme.

Following a unique year of mentoring from Mimi Khalvati, Romesh Gunesekera and Colin Teevan, the mentees met to finalise the anthology in February 2010 and have since been working with if:book to create innovative digital samplers of the work. Using videos, animations and page-flips, the samplers capture the essence of the extracts and poems appearing in the anthology and make them come to life.

To engage with audiences online and off, Arvon has worked with CompletelyNovel.com to produce a print-on-demand paperback version of ’All these Things Are True and Not True and also make the book available to read and buy through the CompletelyNovel BookStreamer and website.

Following last night’s champagne reception the mentees performed part of their contributions to a captivated audience.
You can view the digital samplers on the if:book website (We’d definitely recommend that you take a look).

Writers in the anthology:

Poets – Carole Bromley, Maitreyabandhu, Thomas Yates
Playwrights – Hannah Silva, Gemma Langford, Claudine Toutoungi
Fiction – Sue Wilsea, Joanna Quinn, Tom Raphael Eaves

Photo of Gemma Langford (writer) and Anna Lewis (CompletelyNovel) by Philip Grey

NOTES

The Jerwood / Arvon mentoring scheme is designed to spot the writing talent of the future. The Jerwood charitable foundation has provided funding for Arvon to run an annual mentoring programme in 2009 and 2010.
Each year the scheme enables nine writers, all of whom have attended Arvon courses, to benefit from a year of mentoring by leading writers. The mentoring scheme covers three categories: fiction, poetry and playwriting, with a mentor appointed for each category.
Over the course of the year the mentees attend both a masterclass week and a writing retreat at one of Arvon’s writing houses. The mentees also benefit from regular contact with their appointed mentor throughout the year.
www.arvonfoundation.org

If:book is a think and do tank based in London that explores the potential of new media for creative readers and writers and the future of the book in the digital age.
if:book makes websites, digital books and reading experiences. They teach courses on new media and literature for writers, teachers, readers; produce research and evaluation reports; give talks; co-ordinate the ifsoflo network of literature organisations; host regular if:bookgroup salons; devise and run amazing projects for schools and elsewhere.
www.futureofthebook.org.uk

CompletelyNovel.com founded in 2008 by Oliver Brooks and Anna Lewis, is a social reading and publishing platform. CompletelyNovel links writers to online publishing tools and print-on-demand, to offer a slick and affordable self-publishing service. Readers can read thousands of books for free online, build up their own online library and support new writers by offering feedback and buying their books.
www.completelynovel.com