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Now that the second season of the Oxford World's Classics Reading Group is drawing to a close, let's see how much you've learnt from reading Bram Stoker's Dracula. Test your knowledge of all things Vampire with our quiz.

The post How much do you know about Dracula?[quiz] appeared first on OUPblog.

Next week, 24 April 2015 marks the bicentenary of one of Britain’s great novelists, Anthony Trollope. He was an extremely prolific writer, producing 47 novels, as well as a great deal of non-fiction, in his lifetime. He also worked for the Post Office, and introduced the pillar box to Britain. So, do you think you know Anthony Trollope? Test your knowledge with our Trollope bicentenary quiz.

The post How well do you know Anthony Trollope? appeared first on OUPblog.

You're Watership Down!

by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.


Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

Ha! This is too funny. This is one of my husband's all-time favorite books, and one I really liked, too (though it's been about 20 years since I read it!). I'm glad my result was a book I've actually read! Though this doesn't describe me. I'm not big on confronting people. Unless it's actually offensive, I don't openly challenge people's way of thinking or the choices they make. That's not my place. If my own actions/words/poems, etc., occasionally make people rethink their own beliefs--great! So...what book are you? And is it accurate?

Apologies I seem to have been in non-blog mode this week. Haven't even read as many as usual, whereas I normally have a good trek through the blog universe at least, erm! well, once every two or three hours. I love reading all about your writing lives, successes, rejections etc, etc, etc.

One of the reasons for my bad bloginess (good grief, is that even a word) is I've hit a particularly tricky patch in The Poisoned Apple. I love the first three quarters, and I think all works well and flows smoothly and is well just plain fun... But the last chapters seem all 'tell' and a little bit flat so they are taking some serious rewriting. Plus if Ignacious bumps into one more tree I am plain going to have to knock him out myself or devise a very nasty end.

Haven't resubmitted 'Lucy Baxter' yet - still haven't come up with a suitable title change, but I will.

Completed another short story - The Old Hubert Place. A creepy tale where a man returns to his old neighbourhood and an urban legend is born. It's out there in submission land so fingers crossed and all that.