Polly Samson and David Gilmour Discussion at Irish Book Festival

The Kindness by Polly Samson

The Kindness by Polly Samson

Writer Polly Samson, who is married to the voice and guitar of Pink Floyd David Gilmour, has a new book out in the UK next week called The Kindness. This is her fourth book following the successful Perfect Lives book of short stories in 2010.

The Independent described the new book as a “gorgeously chilling novel about grief and betrayal.”

Your humble narrator is looking forward to both reading this new book, but also one particular discussion with David and Polly in Ireland this June where they will be discussing their work together.

Polly Samson & David Gilmour Discussion

To support the launch of the book, Polly Samson and David Gilmour will be at the Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas 2015 where the pair, in their first joint artistic event together, will discuss their songwriting partnership for Pink Floyd and David Gilmour’s solo work.

Borris House Ireland Book Festival

Borris House Ireland Book Festival

The event takes place in Ireland at a beautiful property, Borris House, which is one of the most spectacular houses in Ireland, and sits at the foot of the Blackstairs Mountains, on the banks of the River Barrow, in the small village of Borris in the hinterland of South County Carlow.

Polly Samson and Husband David Gilmour

Polly Samson and Husband David Gilmour

Polly Samson wrote lyrics for Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell and the song Louder than Words from Pink Floyd’s final studio album The Endless River.

She also wrote on David Gilmour’s 2006 solo album On an Island and is working on David’s 2015 new album which is currently untitled.

David will of course be touring the new album starting in Croatia in September 2015.

Polly’s new book has been written during some pretty hard times over the past few years including the death of her father who was given an incorrect dosage of medication in hospital, she lost her journalist friend Cassandra Jardine to lung cancer and her son Charlie Gilmour, whose father is English poet Heathcote Williams, was imprisoned for going on the rampage in London which included him being on the bonnet of Prince Charles’ car and climbing up the Cenotaph war memorial in central London. Youth! Amongst all of this, she has written her book and you can read more about it on her website.

A Busy Gilmour Household

David Gilmour playing a saw with a bow

David Gilmour playing a saw with a bow [Pic: Polly Samson 2015]

Polly has her own artistic events going on this year and there will be much discussion in the Gilmour household in Brighton about it I am sure – she is not letting David Gilmour dominate discussions at the dining room table about his new album and tour!

That said, she appears to have ceded a little and bought David a saw and a bow for his 69th birthday! She’s good, Polly. I wonder if it will make an appearance on the tour later this year?

Get A Signed Copy of The Kindness

Polly Samson

Polly Samson [Pic: Linda Nylind]

The Kindness is published in hardback on 12th March in the UK and on 5th May in Australia. Publication date in the USA is 21st July.

You can get a copy of the book signed by Polly Samson with a dedication too.

You can get tickets for the Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas – currently on sale are three day passes.

  • Read more about the Festival of Writing.
  • Read excellent interview in The Guardian about the new book with lots of background story.
  • The Independent have a great list of books to look out for in 2015 including Polly’s new one.
  • Look at the literary events Polly Samson will be attending over the coming months (RHS of David Gilmour’s website).
  • Polly is active on her Twitter feed; see her website also.

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