The Happy Shopper
Lie of the Land, is the unputdownable fourth novel from Kerry Hadley-Pryce, published by Salt Publishing in January 2025. Set in the Black Country, featuring characters - who are like you and your friends, but see and hear things you and your friends, I hope, don't. I'm out my mind about the book, and put in mind of a quote from a friend's literary agent about one of his 'redemption' pieces. Was it dark? "Imagine if the book were a black canvas," his agent said "the story painted in heavy black brushstrokes..."
We're fortunate that Kerry, with a professional reputation to protect, has stuck around Outsideleft all Week... You know Outsideleft has been hanging on in there for 20 years, with our thumbprints on the web. Not even all over it, sadly. But, here still. In our early days - the writer with the unimpressed (former) agent above, devised a joyful series for underfunded consumers like me, The Happy Shopper. It ran for about 40 episodes and featured artists as diverse as 'A Girl Like You' hitmaker, Edwyn Collins, television tastemaker, Brini Maxwell, the culture jamming Girl Talk and last month, author, musician and DJ, Shaun Hand. We're all over the shop. We're celebrating OL and celebrating Kerry Hadley- Pryce's new novel by once again reviving the Happy Shopper #41: Kerry Hadley-Pryce.
1) What was the last electrical appliance you bought?
An airfryer. Don't judge me. I buckled under outside pressure. Frankly, though, I'm not impressed. Everything tastes weirdly space-age. I'm probably doing something wrong but seriously, is this what all the fuss is about?
2) How many shoes do you own?
By 'shoes', I'm counting boots and trainers, but not Crocs. Crocs are not shoes. So the answer is twenty-seven. It really should be twenty-five, which I'd feel better about, because I need to throw out two pairs of worn out DMs, but I just can't.
3) Thinking about only what you are wearing now and including your watch, jewellery and glasses if you wear them, how much would it cost me to get dressed up just like you? And where would I have to go to get the look?
For the clothes, you'd have to go to the Salvo Shop near Bondi Junction, Australia for the combats and the T-shirt, both of which cost $9 each. I wear a Withings Watch that tracks all my vitals. I got it from JB Hi-Fi in Cairns, Australia for £599 and it's the most annoying thing I'm wearing now.
4) What are you going to be eating for dinner tonight?
Ah, now, I'm a boringly healthy eater, so watch out: I'm flash frying (*not* air frying) a salmon fillet with onions, mushrooms and sundried tomatoes. There'll be spinach leaves, rocket, tomatoes, avocado and red cabbage with a drizzle of humus and a couple of fat olives. See, I told you...
5) What is the most amount you have ever spent on a bottle of wine or other alcoholic beverage and when and where was it?
I don't drink, it makes me instantly ill, but when I did drink, the most expensive thing was a single glass of champagne for £30 a few years ago at The Savoy, London. I sipped it.
6) What and where is your favourite shop?
I have a new favourite, it's 'Jumble' in Stourbridge. They're calling it a 'vintage shop' but basically it's a second hand shop hidden up an alley in town full of all kinds of junk.
7) How do you get around town?
On foot. I do have a car, but it's an all-electric Mini and fully charged can only go for 100 miles at a time before I have to charge it again. I'm a bit disorganised about that.
8) Where is your favourite place to holiday?
Shetland, because it's far away and extremely odd. No trees. And the weather is unpredictable -- and I like peculiarity of the journey there: ferries are weird.
Tomorrow we say farewell to KHP Week with 3 Big Questions for Kerry Hadley-Pryce, it will indeed be big
Essential Information
KERRY HADLEY-PRYCE WEEK at OUTSIDELEFT
1. Introducing KHP...
2. Excerpt from Lie of the Land
3. Brutalist is the multi storey car park in Stourbridge
4. The Canal
5. Welcome to the Walking Week
6. The Happy Shopper (#41)
Main image from the Instagram account of Jumble Vintage in Stourbridge
Kerry at Salt Publishing is here
Kerry is appearing at the Bear Bookshop in Bearwood on January 25th at 6pm, info here
And at the Wolverhampton LitFest with R.M. Francis, info here