91Èȱ¬

Who better to give us advice during these difficult times than Celia Jesson, Repressed Housewife? Comedian Jo Neary is back with some inspirational extracts from Celia's diary about how she's been coping. 

In Carys Bray’s timely new novel huge global events are having a devastating impact on private lives. ‘When the Lights Go Out’ is about a husband and wife torn apart by the spectre of climate change. Carys explains how the book illustrates the small domestic comforts we turn to at times of crisis, such as cooking and gardening. Carys is also the author of the novels 'A Song For Issy Bradley' and 'The Museum of You'.

Food and Family is also at the heart of the latest in our series of short dramas, produced in conjunction with the 91Èȱ¬ Writer’s Room on the theme of ‘renewal’. ‘Avocado Fried Rice is the story of a daughter trying to perfect a family recipe in order connect with her mother and her Chinese heritage. Avocado Fried Rice is written and performed by Alissa Anne Jeun Yi, and also features Fenfen Huang and Joe Belham. It was produced and directed by Lorna Newman.

The poet Jacqueline Saphra has challenged herself to write a sonnet a day during the lockdown. Jacqueline explains how the often the starting point will be the news headlines, but that the best poems take her by surprise. Jacqueline is also the author of the TS Eliot shortlisted ‘All My Mad Mothers’, and her latest collection is ‘Dad, Remember you are Dead’ – both published by Nine Arches.