My Sand Life, My Pebble Life: A memoir of a childhood and the sea

Description

My Sand Life, My Pebble Life is a new book focusing on one of poet Ian McMillan's great loves - the sea - and the places and memories that have shaped who he is today. Comprised of a series of perfectly crafted, evocative, funny and nostalgic essays, Ian revisits the coastal places that stamped themselves on his childhood: Cleethorpes, where a bird once landed on the seat next to him as the miniature railway chugged along, California in Suffolk where his Auntie accidentally put her hand through the window of a caravan and bled spectacularly, Minehead in Somerset where his dad kept stalling the car and the family limped across the map and took all day to get avery short distance, Broadford on the Isle of Skye where midges descended on Ian like an apocalyptic umbrella. This book will transport you from your everyday life to a coast rich in memories of childhood and times spent by the sea.

Ian McMillan is a poet, journalist, playwright and broadcaster. He's written comedy for radio and plays for the stage, and worked extensively in radio and television, currently presenting The Verb on Radio 3 and appearing as a regular on BBC's Coast, BBC Breakfast, Countryfile, Pick of the Week, Last Word and The Arts Show. With the Times Education Supplement describing him as 'the Shirley Bassey of performance poetry' and Andy Kershaw saying 'he's inching towards the status of a National Treasure', he's been a castaway on Desert Island Discs, poet in residence for The Academy of Urbanism and Barnsley FC, resident poet at English National Opera and UK Trade & Investment poet, Yorkshire TV's Investigative Poet and Humberside Police's Beat poet.

My Sand Life, My Pebble Life is a fine companion * John Hegley * a collection of heart-warming coastal tales from writer, playwright and broadcaster Ian McMillan...evokes a wonderful sense of nostalgia that's sure to transport you back to your own coastal experiences. * Coast Magazine * It's the grit in the shell that turns these memories into pearls... To describe these essays as 'poetic' seems almost redundant. There is a small cluster of poems...at the heart of the book, but the whole thing works at that level... McMillan's turn of phrase is as richly laconic as ever. -- Brian Morton * Times Literary Supplement * This heartwarming and sea-air-infused collection of coastal memories will instantly transport you back to childhoods spent at the seaside. * Countryman * a kaleidoscope of seaside memories * The Radio Times * Combines poignant snatches of personal history with a delightfully nostalgic celebration of the British seaside holiday. * Daily Mail * Poignant...this book is sure to bring a smile to your face * Towpath Talk * Quietly surreal ... McMillan's turn of phrase is as richly laconic as ever. * Times Literary Supplement * delivered in Ian's unmistakable homespun poetic fashion... My Sand Life, My Pebble Life transports the reader to coast around the country * Yorkshire Post * This delightful, warm companion will provide ideal holiday reading for many * Best of British magazine * Ian McMillan is brilliant at narrating life and capturing the moment * Big Issue in the North * delightful * Prospect * evocative * Choice Magazine * Charming...heart-warming...nostalgic * The Great Outdoors * Take a nostalgic trip with broadcaster, journalist and poet Ian McMillan as he brings his coastal memories to life with an abundance of rich memories... perceptive and funny. * The People's Friend *