Clearly Beautiful

Josh Barwick, 05/25/12

Dancer, Northern Ballet

Saturday is the 'big day' - our documentary is being broadcast on BBC2 - and I have to say I am starting to get a tad nervous. It seems so long ago that we went through the whole filming process, and soon there it will be right across the United Kingdom.

Theodora Clarke, 05/26/12

Lecturer and commentator

This weekend marks the start of Russian art week in London. Despite the double-dip recession in the UK the Russian market has remained buoyant. Most of the major auction houses are hosting sales of Russian paintings, icons, Fabergé and works of art.

Martin Middlebrook, 05/27/12

International photojournalist and writer

I think I may have been living in a war zone for too long, and it is taking its toll. Before Christmas I was talking with a friend who had been working in regions of conflict exclusively for 10 years and he described that there are something like 59 symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and he exhibited 43 of them.

Robin Jarossi, 05/28/12

Television, crime fiction

Best-selling thriller author Lee Child says fans of his fictional hero Jack Reacher should suspend their anger at Tom Cruise having been cast as the tall and strapping man of action. Cruise has been filming the first Reacher movie, One Shot, which is due for release in December and is based on the ninth book in British author Child's hugely successful series of novels.

Reno Charlton, 05/28/12

Author and copywriter

Whilst the big publishing houses have all the resources they need to publicise the authors they have on their books, indie authors have to do all this by themselves, drawing on various tools and resources to help them along the way.

Crane.tv, 05/25/12

Premium Video Magazine

Painter of Silence, Georgina Harding's third novel -- recently shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction -- is set...

Mark Solomon, 05/24/12

Author, Cab Driver

I suppose deep down I am a bit of a philosopher, and have always enjoyed hearing or reading inspirational words of wisdom, but had never thought of asking any of my passengers for advice, that was, until now!

Evelyne Politanoff, 05/24/12

Publisher, Trouvaillesdujour

Caroline Kelsey, 05/23/12

Full time media sales assistant, part-time fashion and beauty blogger

We can thank D.H. Lawrence and Penguin for not only the having the confidence to publish Lady Chatterley's Lover but for fighting the battle to prevent this book from being banned. So why are we still embarrassed to be seen reading novels that are, shall we say, risqué?! And why, are we defining such novels as 'risqué' when in fact sex is perfectly natural?

Hank Bordowitz, 05/23/12

Author

This year marks the Stones 50th Anniversary. While Keith Richards said that there probably wouldn't be a 50th anniversary tour, tickets have allegedly gone on sale for a September 1 show in Berlin. In that same spirit, LIFE books has come out with a book on the Stones.

Martha Lane Fox, 05/23/12

Martha is the UK Digital Champion and founder of the Race Online 2012 Campaign she also Co-Founded Lastminute.com and LuckyVoice and sits on the boards of M&S, Channel 4 and MyDeco.com

In 2009 I was asked to be one of the Orange Prize for Fiction judges. I loved it. Although my boyfriend groaned every time I opened another book, I revelled in it.

B.J. Epstein, 05/22/12

Lecturer in literature and translation, University of East Anglia

But many view children's literature as beneath them. If it's not for 'grownups', it's not worthwhile. But, wait, here's a sneaky little problem: what about all the 'grownups' who read and enjoy Rowling's work and other children's books? Shouldn't we explore why these works appeals to adults who are apparently supposed to know better?

Gina Beck, 05/21/12

Theatre actress Wicked the Musical

Magic and animals seem to have been the major themes of my favourite books whilst growing up, and luckily I can find both in Oz! But there was another witch that whet my appetite for magic at an early age, and she is Mildred Hubble, the main character in Jill Murphy's series 'The Worst Witch'.

Eric Kaufmann, 05/21/12

Professor of Politics at Birkbeck, University of London, and author

In rising middle-class neighbourhoods of London, an author-journalist friend notices a pronounced dwindling of 'creative' types among parents comparing his older son's class to that of his young daughter.