Waiting for Godden: Mrs Death Misses Death: Highlights of 2021 and first shows of 2022 announced!

MRS DEATH MISSES DEATH

Salena Godden

This intoxicating, life-affirming, fire-starter of a novel publishes in paperback on 20 January 2022 with a brand new look and a beautiful deep lapis-blue design and soft-touch cover. Shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Book Prize, nominated for the People’s Book Prize and also included in the Bad Form Books of the Year 2021 and Guardian Best Fiction of 2021

Archive | A selection of MDMD 2021 highlights:

I want to end this year by sharing a selection of 2021 highlights, I share these as an archive of happy memories of the year we launched my debut novel. I share this with huge love and thanks to you all. Not every show or reading I did this year was recorded and saved so I cannot share and archive all highlights: For example I would love to share the amazing conversation I had with Evie Wyld at Brighton Festival, my first post-lockdown and first time away from home with that lovely introduction from my friend Lemn Sissay. I would also like to have recorded the show I did at Charleston - it was my first full Mrs Death solo show - and I am remembering now the beautiful night we all had at that magical house in midsummer this year. And then there was the good times down town at The Social with Heidi James and Octavia Bright and Baxter Dury. And the amazing Wigtown Book Festival and Push The Boat Out Poetry festivals in Scotland too. I was up in Scotland with Mrs Death three times in 2021! I really do love Scotland. And my time in Ireland too. So here's to more of this behaviour and these travels in 2022. Thank you!

I have so much to be grateful for. It has been a challenging time inside and out. I'm so proud of my friends and family - I see you healing and growing, making waves, making art and music and publishing books in the roaring 2020s, all during a global pandemic and in lockdown, whilst bombarded by uncertainties and navigating health issues and death and acknowledging a global mourning and eco grief. Shout out to every single capable soul and every bold heart ... what a time to be alive!

Thank you if you were at any of my shows in person or if you supported us online or tuned in on the radio. I have appreciated all your conversations and thank you for the good memories and all the connections I made this year, with book bloggers and book lovers, death workers and the death positive movement. Thank you for acknowledging this time and space, this universal loss and grief and hurt. Thank you for your powerful empathy. Thank you for your big and open hearts. Thank you for being kind. Thank you for every letter and message of support and every instagram post and tweet, for every review and blog, every booking and every gig - from our funny lockdown zoom gigs in our pyjamas at home to the first tentative live events and readings at book and poetry festivals. Thanks for inviting me on your podcasts and radio shows too.

I will never forget this year. 2021 was a tough year. It was a tough year to publish a debut novel. It was a tough year to publish a book about life and death. However looking back over the last 12 months and as I sit here writing this blog post and picking some highlights to make this archive and as I look back at these magic moments we shared, you all make my heart glad, in a year of fear and uncertainty, mourning and horror, so many of you remained so calm and clear, so beautiful and creative, colourful, inspiring, courageous and resilient. I see you and thank you. Onwards and upwards comrades. Have a beautiful restful festive season, merry Christmas times and happy holidays. Stay safe! Thank you my lovelies xxsg

'Red Tower'

Mrs Death Misses Death

performed at Gordon Burn Prize ceremony

as part of Durham Book Festival

'I know a lot of dead people now'

Mrs Death Misses Death

performed on Life & Rhymes, Sky Arts

Bringing Death to Life:

in conversation with Paula Akpan

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Author profile & interview with John Siddique

- with 3 pieces of new writing