Under the fingernails

The book is already seated at the desk when I enter my office. Papers and books are strewn over every surface.…

Adventures with the book

The book is unwell. It sends its best wishes to all readers who have been asking after it. It may…

‘I’m going away for a bit.’ ‘Can I come?’ says the book. ‘I was hoping to leave you at home,’…

‘Wake up!’ The book is shaking me by the shoulder. It is very dark, no sign of light at the…

‘People are talking you know.’ It is mid-afternoon and I have crashed out for a nap. The book has come…

I wrote a book with my coat I wrote with the coat of my childhood and I wrote with…

‘Did you miss me?’ ‘It was only a couple of days.’ ‘Yes, but did you miss me?’ ‘Barely two days.’…

I am minding my own business, gazing out of the window, when the book appears. It looks as though it…

‘I think we’re done,’ the book says. ‘Are you leaving?’ ‘I think so, yes.’ ‘So you’re going then?’ ‘Yes. I…

‘Have you thought about acting?’ ‘I’m sorry?’ ‘Acting. You’re good enough. Bit of training and you’d be away.’ ‘What?’ ‘Or…

The book has been working at my desk, which means it looks as though I have been burgled. ‘I can’t…

I have given myself the afternoon off. I have sat for hours in good faith at my desk, all in…

I am watching a particularly bleak episode of Wallander when the book pops its head round the door. It stands…

‘You don’t have to do this you know.’ The book has appeared out of nowhere, while my back was turned…

I have not left the house in days. I can hear the book pacing around upstairs, but neither of us…

It has been a long day. Arriving home late and wanting nothing more than a bath and an early night,…

The book has vanished. I don’t mean left the house, or popped out to see a friend. I mean vanished.…

I have made the book a peace offering. I snuck out while it was sleeping, found my way back to…