The brilliance of my other half

You sort of know (when you live with someone, and have lived with them for many years) everything, well, not absolutely everything - that sounds a bit surveillance system-esque - about them. But often you forget to admire the unique qualities of that person; too busy just wading through the stuff that makes up the average day, good and less good. 

Working more closely with Mark on our audiobook project over the last year has revealed anew just what an extraordinarily creative individual he is; not just the bread and cake maker, piano/cello/accordion player, academic, composer and teacher . . . It's his library of musical and artistic knowledge tucked away in the high, somewhat wrinkled forehead of his; the personal library that enabled him to come up with the pieces of music, and created/found sounds that he dropped into the story at just the right points, and in just the right amounts. I did put the odd bit of editing in, or suggestion of a different creaking door/bird call/whatever from time to time, but the conception and creation was all his from the atmospheric Londonia theme to the most subtle of nods to great historical composers.

Mark's Londonia suite of piano pieces are a beautiful hotchpotch of ragtime, honky tonk bar, wistful, resonant melodies, and upbeat romps. When we get a film deal . . . come on! we can dream! I do hope the persons responsible for creating the soundtrack will take an audio trip into the non AI and completely original world of Dr Lockett's music.

https://marklockett.com/

During our Londonia podcast - on Spotify or Youtube.

One of Mark's Londonia suite pieces - Fred being the owners of Fred's Threads recycled clothing emporium

And on with the next one...

So . . . I'm sure anyone who reads this blog will know that Londonia has been an ongoing project for many years; from the moment I climbed out of a swimming pool with the idea sloping about in my mind, to the novel being published by the marvellous Tartarus Press, to our audiobook version of the novel, finished after a year of hard work, and now launched. The audiobook can be found on Spotify/Findaway voices, and other platforms - Audible soon.

I'm going to put a review here for the audiobook. It's the first one - apparently you can only do stars on Spotify - bit odd . . .

The person reviewing is also a writer and writer workshop aficionado - Hazel Manuel.

Londonia audiobook review. February 2025

Wow, what an experience. These days audiobooks are my medium of choice for novels, and I listen to a lot of them.

I have to say that Londonia is so much more than a reading of the story. It is a fully immersive experience with original music, scene creations and vivid character portrayals.

The talent of Kate A Hardy and musician, Mark Lockett's performances brought so much to what is already a gripping and un-putdownable novel.

Post-apocalyptic London in 2072 is brought to life with refreshingly human characters, compelling in all their individuality, emotional depth and authenticity, who navigate a dangerous yet community spirited world. 

This is no clichéd, futuristic hero story, although we encounter much bravery in the most dire of situations. Here we experience along with 'Hoxton' her friends, animals and enemies, an intelligent, thrilling and heart-warming tale, all without resorting to tired tropes and stereotypes, so often present in dystopian novels.

The author doesn't shy away from the darkness and lawlessness of post-apocalyptic city life, but at the same time shows us how friendship, community and kindness must be at the heart of surviving in such a world.

I loved the fact that Hardy didn't feel the need to give us a predictable 'happy-ever-after' ending. Instead I was left with a deeply satisfying feeling that life in Londonia will continue in all its glorious chaos, and that there is always room for hope.

       Me reading in our very Londonia kitchen complete with wood stove-drying washing 

Currently we have a couple of possible leads into the film, world so that would be a nice development . . . After all those years of readers saying this would make brilliant screen material, it would be a happy conclusion for the Londonia world - or a continuing world as there are of course other related books.

The next audiobook project has to be decided. We might do a short story while we consider jumping into the vast time commitment of a whole narrated book. When we do jump it'll either be the follow up to Londonia - Smithi, or a time-travel tale called, the Panto Horse End, or possibly, The Hundred and Fifty-Eighth Book, a wry humoured, roller coaster of a story featuring Hamish who a reader described as a cross between Withail and a more loveable version of Bernard from Black books.

I would just like to say again a massive thanks to all the people who supported us on Kickstarter to get the audiobook done, and all the readers of my work over the years who have believed in it!

For more info on my other books, please check my website - I can't put a live link here but it's kateahardy.com

If you read the book or listen to the audiobook version, and enjoyed the Londonia experience, please leave a review/stars on the audiobook platform/ Goodreads/Amazon, etc. Thanks! 

                                                                   Bernard of Black Books

Yr average panto horse

Withnail (on the right, IF you don't know the film . . .

Launched!

Our audiobook of Londonia was launched today on Spotify's Finally voices - and other platforms. To celebrate a year's worth of work we held an event last evening in the salon of a beautiful C14th building in our local town, Saumur. Owner of said house is the most generous and relaxed human being - you just tell me when you want to do the event; I'll provide wine, and make tea. Just do what you like, move the furniture around, whatever . .  numbers of people? Up to you; I'm sure we can accommodate a good crowd, etc.

In fact nearly everyone turned up except someone who got stranded in Nantes, and a couple of flu-struck bods. It was a lovely evening. Mark played some of the Londonia pieces he had composed for the story; I did quite a few readings and tried out my accents, and people seemed to want more - a useful experiment!

Mark had made Jake the Prophet's ParkPlace pies, which were fantastic, and Hackrovia WTC cakes (Whatever is in The Cupboard, cakes). A great mix of nuts, dried fruit, flour and spices.

The last Londonia launch we held was back in 2021 in London when the hardback book came out. Interesting timing . . . the 13th March, literally a couple of days before lockdown. We had a good crowd with only a few, possibly sensible, people staying well clear, but there was a palpable feeling of angst about what was about to happen. This time was certainly more relaxing . . . 

What...really?

Things that you find when purging stuff for a house move. Yes, I allowed myself to be dressed in white acrylic lace, and a sugar pink satin gown when I normally would have been attired in jeans and an old tweed jacket, or striped trousers and winkle picker red boots, but it was respectively the late 70s and early eighties.

Me on the right both times, with perm and then shorter hair do, feeling like a total pillock. I can't recall much about the first wedding - my cousin Theresa's as the later pictures of the day show the level of alcohol imbibed; the second, a horrific event in a faux posh hotel which I think I blocked out of my mind. There's another picture of me in a lime green bridesmaid dress which I haven't come across yet . . . 

Londonia podcast. Episode 2

Mark Lockett - composer of the Londonia soundscape introduces the ouverture, or prologue of the audiobook.

As with the last episode, I can't create a direct link. Please copy and paste into your browser, or find the podcast on Spotify.

https://open.spotify.com/show/5N4RjF6NA9Ss0xsIwoCWpf?si=2feebeadfe8d4c71

Celebrating a year of work!

 

Londonia, the audiobook launches 3rd February 2025

We are holding an event to mark the end of a year's worth of work! Please come and share our celebration, and enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles. Live readings by Kate A Hardy (the author), and Londonia-inspired music by Mark Lockett, composer of the audiobook soundscape.

The event will be held in Justin Wescombe's beautiful house on Sunday 2nd Feb at 16:30 - 2 Montée du Fort, Saumur (just off Place St Pierre). Please note, there are stairs.

We hope you can be there!

RSVP to Kate (as numbers may be limited)

katehardy25@gmail.com  

Portable : 06 85 48 95 13

https://kateahardy.com

The Londonia podcast

Our podcast introducing behind the scenes work on the Londonia audiobook, interviews, and weekly sample chapters. Please click on link below. Actually . . . it's a bit more manual than that - in true Londonia style. Please copy and paste into your search engine.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1HC8jf5x0hTV0OLKh5iXvd?si=TOdEiArhSmOOgEA-TwDtCw

The whole audiobook will be launched on the 3rd of February on Spotify's Findaway Voices.