I'm in America both travelling and working. I was invited by Hollins University, Virginia, to be a writer in residence for their Creative Writing Course. When I looked at a map, I saw that Virginia was next door to North Carolina, where I have friends, so planned my trip round that. Then I thought well, as I'm in America, why not look up a writer colleague in New Mexico. Uma Krishnaswami is, like me, of Asian Indian origin, and, like me, a writer of children's books. She and I have never met - except through our contact over the internet - but when I suggested I call by, she enthusiastically invited me to stay, and immediately arranged for me to give a talk for her writer's group, and sign books at a book shop in Albuquerque.
After Albuquerque, I fly to Los Angeles, see my son, and have a meeting with the Hollywood Producer, Scott Rudin - or at least with his minnions. Scott Rudin has bought the option on my book Coram Boy and, one of these days, we may see a film. Don't hold your breath. These things can take years. I've just heard that the ten year-long struggle to get one of my other books, The Wheel of Surya, made into a film, is another step nearer to happening. They have two actors on board, Tim Spall and Jimmi Mistry - and the writer, director, John Hay, is looking for a "name" to play Dora Chadwick. Any suggestions?
But my trip began at Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina.
I couldn't believe North Carolina - it was south enough to be considered "the south," and suddenly, all those songs I used to know like "Lindy Lou," all came alive. There was the mocking bird, and the huge magnolia tree, and there was the steaming heat absolutly cloying with the perfume of mimosa, gardenia, lilies, magnolia and the pine trees. And at night, there were the fireflies, the cicadas and the tree frogs. It was intoxicating. The first set of friends were all musical. and so our days were filled with music. Aliyah, aged seventeen is now such an accomplished pianist, already playing rachmaninoff concertos, while her ten year old brother, Brenden, has made the most extraordinary progress in barely a year, on the cello - well enough to be playing simple Bach pieces and extracts from Star Wars. I was an eager accompanist! So it was all too sublime for words. Then I shifted over to my other friend, Cameron. He lives so tucked away among the huge tall pines and oaks that, when you turn down his track, you suddenly feel way deep into the wilderness. In fact, at the top of the track you are actually in the middle of a wooded suburbia, with plenty of homes around. His is a long wooden structure, divided in an almost Japanese way, with thin wooden walls separating the various rooms and cleverly, affording surprising privacy. His main long living room manages to easily contain a huge black concert grand, once belonging to Van Cliburn, a famous American pianist of about thirty years ago. I think it is one of the most beautiful sounding pianos I have ever played.
We should have set off the next day for Virginia, but Cameron's schedule went haywire - and anyway - the rains started, and we would have been faced reaching his land, where we were due to camp overnight, in torrential rain. So we stayed on one more night in his place, which didn't matter to me in the slightest, as I love it there, then the next day we set off via his garage. By this time the wind was swirling and the clouds gathering, and someone said we could hit a hurricane. I chatted with the mechanic, and asked him what one did if you ran into a hurricane or tornado. He said head for the trees and find the smallest tree, lie flat on your stomach and hang on. Apparently, its the big trees which get swept away like matchsticks.
We didn't need to do that, but drove into the Blue Ridge Mountains, in and out of squalls and sometimes lashing rain, until at last, we reached Boone, near the border with Virginia. Trotting down a lane was THE VIRGINIAN - on a beautiful golden horse with a blonde mane and long tail, with his cowboy hat and checked shirt. All he lacked was the cigarette! I can't tell you how idyllic this plateau was. Once he had a farm which a maniac arsonist burnt to the ground - now all that remains are a sentinel of hemlock trees, wild rose, apple and cherry, and grassland falling away down to a creek - and all in the surround of the Appalachians. In a break in the rain, we walked his land, got caught in another downpour, sheltered in a rhododendron grove, got drenched to the skin anyway - but it doesn't matter when its 80 degrees whatever - and headed back to his camper van. He leaves it there permanently, as he visits the land about every two weeks - which is wise, as sinister neighbours look covetously at it; try to graze their cattle or horses, and put up fences! I hope he fuflils his dream to rebuild the house. Another break in the rain, enabled us to sit out wrapped in Mexican blankets, sipping wine, and watching one hell of a display by the fireflies which encircled us with an incredible light show, and even the stars found a way of breaking through the clouds to watch.
Cameron delieverd me safely to Hollins the next day.
Hollins, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a private University - well heeled, dating back to the 1880s - with the typical clap board and brick buildings, with their compulsary pillars and Greek porticos, sweeping lawns and beautiful trees. I gave an introductory talk, took two seminars, and spent the rest of the time in one to one tutorials with the students on their Creative Writing Course. I've been reading student work solidly since I arrived - some really good, and managing to do some of my own! I have a lovely fully self-contained guest house apartment - and so - all in all - I'm on Cloud Nine.
Everyone is immensely kind and hospitable. You never pass anyone without saying "Hi!" I had invitations to parties and dinners - not least on the 4th of July, when I was taken to Thomas Jefferson's retreat near Lynchburg, about 40 minutes from Hollins. There I experienced a wonderful homey, All American 4 July celebration, which reminded me a bit of a village fete. Later, back on the campus we had a celebration barbequq followed by fireworks. Since then,I've been to Jefferson's main house, Monticello" near Charlottesville, high in the mountains with views across the Blue Ridge. What a lovely place; full of beatiful trees and gardens. He was a great gardener, and pioneered grafting plants and trees - as well as drafting and writing America's Declaration of Independence in 1776!
There has been torrential rain, the creek which runs through the campus flooded its banks and briefly overwhelmed the bridge, but then, to everone's relief, subsided. Today is brilliant sunshine, and we're hopeful the rain has gone for the moment. Elsewhere has been horrendous, as you may have heard. Flood in the east and forest fires in Arizona. America is more concerned with global warming than our media might suggest. Bush doesn't speak for everyone by any means. We think we're "greener" - but though they use unbelievable amounts of energy - they are really thinking about it state by state - even if their Governement doesn't seem to co-operate with the rest of the world. Their problems are on such a different scale, it's hard to understand. Where they've reached now, they did in ignorance, and become so dependent on their energy use, it's impossible to see what they can do. This is a huge country with vast temperature extremes. With it being 90 to 100 degrees outside, and we only function because of air conditioning, they would have to re-design all their buildings (back to sort of the British or Spanish colonial styles of the past) if they were to be able to survive without AC. But it's true. In the little flat they've put me in, I have a VAST washing and drying machine, the AC roars day and night (thankfully!!) the fridge is huge; it's hard to shop for small quantities of anything, and you can't get anywhere without a car. I'm a virtual prisoner on this campus, dependent on others if I run out of milk. But - they've got wind farms sprouting in California, the TV advertises the latest "green" cars, and I get a real sense that they are recognising how serious everything is getting. There's an advertisement on TV I've seen on and off. A variety of people and children ask questions about global warming. Basically - "What are we doing about it?" and then there's a web site they send you to, to answer the questions.