Last Wednesday afternoon Mike Troubled Diva had an idea pop into his head: to put together and have published a book showcasing the finest writing from around the British blogosphere- all proceeds to go to Comic Relief. The catch? Red Nose Day was only nine days away. Surely this was an undertaking beyond the powers even of the self-styled 'Fairy Godmother of British Blogging'?
Well, it was a close-run thing... but with just minutes to spare for the deadline, the lovingly-presented volume- entitled 'Shaggy Blog Stories- a collection of amusing tales from the UK Blogosphere' - hit the virtual shelves of publishers lulu.com in the early hours of this morning.
One hundred and one posts (it was going to be a hundred but there was a late entry just too damn fine to turn down) have been selected for publication. Some of the contributors will be instantly recognisable to any connoisseur of British blog-writing, while others are less well-known or newer faces; the overall selection reflects the overriding policy of Mike's hastily-assembled editorial team, which was to focus not on the profile of the blogger, but the quality of the individual post that the blogger had submitted to the project.
One hundred and one bite-sized treats from the cream of the blogosphere, then- including, in at number 34, one from these very pages. Which one? Well you will just have to buy the book to find out, won't you (a clue: I picked it out, in a great hurry, from the 'Best of Crinklybee' thing down there on the sidebar). But don't hang about! Not only is this project being tirelessly promoted by bloggers the length and breadth of the UK and beyond, but Mike has been interviewed on BBC Radio 5, no less (it was at 2AM in the morning, but all the same...) - and further coverage in the mainstream media looks sure to follow as Red Nose Day swings into action.
Shaggy Blog Stories! Shaggy Blog Stories! What more could you want? Get your copy while stocks last.....
I hope it was the militant vegetables one. That is one of my earliest memories of crinklybee.
Boooo, I am not in the book. But then, as I tried to find a post to submit, I realised none of mine were particularly side-splitting, especially for people who don't know me. Oh well. Might get the book anyway.
Posted by: MQ | March 16, 2007 at 01:36 PM
bleeding bleeders Jonathan, you are famous! Congratulations. I am dead proud of you. I wonder if they picked you because they know you have comically bendy ankes...
Posted by: abby | March 16, 2007 at 08:31 PM
Eeeh I know, it's good innit? I am quite dissappointed not to have been asked for any autographs on my way to the internet cafe this afternoon- but fair play to the people of Longsight for allowing me to continue to cycle among them undisturbed despite this sudden unaccustomed celebrity.
My comically bendy ankles, meanwhile, have featured in enough posts to be almost as famous as me... but the post which will grace the pages of 'Shaggy Blog Stories' is, indeed, Militant Vegetables (I know I said you all had to buy the book to find out but since MQ guessed so quickly we should give credit that is due). You do still all have to go and buy the book though...
Posted by: jonathan | March 17, 2007 at 04:38 PM