With lovely Sylvia Vetta in the Summertown Wine Cafe.
I first met Sylvia last year at an event I did for the Oxford Literary Festival Fringe, a writer’s workshop at Blackwells (where most of the lit fest fringe events run). Sylvia is a local journalist and the former owner of The Jam Factory, an antiques centre that had cult status in Oxford for most of my years here, but which closed a few years ago when the neighbourhood was yuppified.
Sylvia writes the monthly ‘Castaway’ article in the Oxford Times limited edition magazine, a glossy special. She interviews local authors, artists, businesspeople, academics etc, through questioning them about their favourite art, antiquarian books and antiques.
And in June, Sylvia’s article will feature me!
(Updated: the Castaway interview is now available on the interviews page.)
I don’t think of myself as an art lover, or collector of antiques etc. Frankly I’m too broke, what with the exorbitant cost of visiting all the foreign lands to research Joshua, as well as my exotically foreign family. (I’m referring to the ones who live in Australia and Switzerland by choice, not the Mexicans…)
Luckily Sylvia allows you any object you desire, since it’s mere fantasy. Even the Elgin Marbles, if I wanted them, hah take that, British Museum! In fact, I did lust after one object in the BM…
When the article is published I’ll let you know. The interview, which we did in the Summertown Wine cafe, is accompanied by images from a photoshoot that is yet to be arranged. I’ve asked to be photographed in an huge leather-upholstered Jakobsen Egg chair in St Catz, reading an Uncle Scrooge McDuck comic.
MG Harris at the Kennington Free Literary festival
If you’re Oxfordshire-based and would like the chance to see me or other local authors talk in a mini literary festival, Sylvia also runs the Kennington Free Literary festival in Kennington, Oxon, on Saturday 24th April. Tickets are free, with a £2 booking charge if you want to guarantee a seat. But even booking is free for children – so come on down to listen to the MG Harris author talk!
3 replies on “Castaway!”
I’ve really enjoyed discovering your blog. I found it whilst looking for web links to the Jam Factory in Oxford.
I’m the current ‘guardian’ (paying tenant) of the historical ‘Frank Cooper’s Marmalade Factory’ which has an inherent magical quality to it and indeed has achieved ‘cult status’ for many of it’s inhabitants. We feel very fortunate to be looking after it.
I am interested by the comments about the Jam Factory’s surrounding area becoming ‘yuppified’ and I’d love to invite you and Sylvia to visit us sometime. I’d really enjoy meeting you both. I’ve heard many interesting tales of the old antiques centre and I’m sure you could shed light on some of the history of the space in which we work!
Kind regards,
Andrew Norton
hey, i want to see the article and even though i am not oxfordshire based, i would like to see you give a talk.
will you ever do another arg?
(P.S. i know you have found out my real name but could you not tell anyone cause i like being anonomous)
thanks,
NROoperative
Andrew, thanks very much for the comment. It would be fun to revisit the Jam factory! I’ll ask Sylvia…