Publicity-shy Penney wise to stay clear of literary party season

[Otto]

PEOPLE sometimes think that the literary world is a never-ending round
of drinks parties, long lunches and glitzy private functions. Well,
last week, they'd be spot on.
(...)
One person not in evidence was Stef Penney, the Edinburgh-born,
publicity-allergic winner of the Costa Award for her novel The
Tenderness Of Wolves, who famously didn't visit the country where her
book is set. Critics may have to schmooze, but authors have the luxury
of solitude. It's not a bad stratagem - witness JD Salinger and Thomas
Pynchon, whose fame hasn't been dented by their reclusive attitude. Ms
Penney has several film credits as writer and director to her name,
including a short, You Drive Me, which starred Anna Friel: the Costa
victory might interest producers, and allow her to finally visit
Canada as film set if not as setting. And well done to her publishers,
the recently formed Quercus. I expect my invitation imminently.
http://living.scotsman.com/books.cfm?id=222072007