Hexham Book Festival 22 April - 2 May 2013

Just received the details of the Hexham Book Festival, from the New Writing North newsletter, that I thought would interest my followers:

Hexham Book Festival Hexham, Northumberland: Monday 22 April-Thursday 2 May Hexham Book Festival, the jewel in the literary crown of Northumberland, once again plays host to a fabulous mix of authors including Claire Tomalin, Ed Stourton, John Hegley, Joe Simpson and Edwina Currie. This year’s programme features thought-provoking events on themes including the environment and climate change to crime and punishment, complemented by a range of lighter-hearted events for all ages and tastes. For tickets and details of all events, go to www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk or call 01434 652 477.

Iron Press’ Root anthology launch Tea & Tipple Cafe, Market Place, Corbridge: Wednesday 3 April, 7pm Forum Books and Iron Press present a launch event for the Root anthology with readings by Costa Short Story Award winner Avril Joy and Northumberland poet Beda Higgins. Free entry, no booking required. For full details about Root and further readings across the region, see www.ironpress.co.uk.

Meet Julia Donaldson Seven Stories, Newcastle: Thursday 4 April, 12pm Meet Julia Donaldson, current Children’s Laureate and award-winning author of Room on the Broom, Squash and a Squeeze and The Gruffalo. Join Julia for an hour of storytelling and a whole lot of fun. Followed by a free public book signing at 1.45pm. Tickets: £3 per person in addition to admission fee from www.sevenstories.org.uk.

Jazz Words: Larkin’s Jazz and Christine Tobin’s Sailing to Byzantium The Sage Gateshead: Sunday 7 April, 2pm A two-part show hosted by Alyn Shipton with Ian Smith and Christine Tobin, plus special guest Sean O’Brien as part of Gateshead International Jazz Festival 2013. The event will look at the long established relationship between jazz and poetry and how this is expressed through interpretations of works originally by two great poets, Philip Larkin and WB Yeats. Tickets: £13.50 with Jazz Festival Pass from www.thesagegateshead.org/gijf13.

Catherine Graham & Sheree Mack Morden Tower, Newcastle: Tuesday 9 April, 7.30pm Tyneside poet Catherine Graham reads from her first full collection Things I Will Put In My Mother’s Pocket (Indigo Dreams Publishing), while Sheree will read from her most recent collections. Free event, no booking required.

Radikal Words Northern Stage, Newcastle: Wednesday 10 April, 7.30pm Radikal Words presents a night of the world’s best performance poets. Join poets Jean Binta Breeze, Tony Walsh, Andy Croft and Jenni Pascoe with music from Bridie Jackson and the Arbour, all hosted by Jeff Price. Tickets £7.50 on the door.

Mari Hannah book tour Across the North East from 11 April Northumberland crime writer Mari Hannah sees her third novel in the Kate Daniels series, Deadly Deceit, published on 11 April, and will be doing readings and signings across the North East throughout the month, including in Newcastle, Stockton, Hexham and South Shields. She’s also appearing at Hexham Book Festival on 28 April. You can get full details of where you can catch Mari and get a copy of the new book at www.marihannah.com.

Heartwood: A Feast of Poetry with Linda France Shepherds Dene, Riding Mill, Northumberland: Saturday 13 April, 6.30pm Join poet Linda France for dinner and a poetry reading. Linda will read a selection of poems from Heartwood, created in collaboration with artist Kim Lewis. She will also give a taste of her work in progress, looking at botanic gardens in this country and abroad. Tickets: £20 from 01434 682212 or julie@shepherdsdene.co.uk.

Bob Beagrie: workshop and reading NeST Gallery, Barnard Castle: Sunday 14 April, 4pm (workshop) & 5pm (reading) Teesside poet Bob Beagrie leads a workshop on poetry, and performs a selection of his work. Workshop: £5, reading: free. Workshop places are limited and must be booked in advance on barnardcastlenest@gmail.com or call 01833 695172.

Degna Stone & Ric Hool Lit & Phil, Newcastle: Wednesday 17 April, 7pm Red Squirrel Press invites you to the joint launch of Degna Stone’s latest pamphlet, Record and Play, and Cullercoats-born Ric Hool’s collection, Selected Poems. Free event. To reserve a ticket, email library@litandphil.org.uk.

Read Regional: Michael Stewart & Cassandra Parkin Bishop Auckland Town Hall: Wednesday 17 April, 2.30pm Meet authors Michael Stewart, whose debut novel King Crow was a recommended read for World Book Night 2012, and Cassandra Parkin, whose short story collection New World Fairy Tales won the 2011 Scott Prize. Free event, no booking required. For more information, see www.readregional.com.

Read Regional: Mari Hannah & Russ Litten Stockton Central Library: Wednesday 17 April, 6.30pm Two North East writers talk about and read from their novels: The Murder Wall by Mari Hannah and Scream If You Want To Go Faster by Russ Litten. Tickets: £2. Contact Claire Pratt on 01642 528044 for more details. For more information, see www.readregional.com.

Tishani Doshi & Priscila Uppal Culture Lab, Newcastle University: Monday 22 April, 7.15pm Tishani Doshi is an award-winning poet and dancer of Welsh-Gujarati descent. Her second poetry collection, Everything Begins Elsewhere, was published by Bloodaxe Books in 2012. She will be joined by Priscila Uppal, a Canadian poet and fiction writer. Her first UK poetry selection, Successful Tragedies: Poems 1998-2010, draws on six collections of poetry published in Canada. Tickets: £6/£4/£2. For more details and to book, see www.ncl.ac.uk/ncla.

World Book Night Celebration Berwick Library: Tuesday 23 April, 7.30pm- 9pm A celebration of the written word, with contributions from some of Northumberland’s local authors, with readings from poet Anne Ryland, and novelists Bea Davenport and Barbara Morris. The Berwick Youth Theatre Group will perform from their forthcoming production of His Dark Materials: part 2 by Phillip Pullman. Free event, all welcome. Contact Berwick Library on 01289 334051 or berwicklibrary@northumberland.gov.uk.

World Book Night Celebration: Agatha Christie and Art Deco Thornaby Central Library: Tuesday 23 April, 7.15pm Join Stockton Library Service to celebrate World Book Night in style and be transported back in time to the 1930s with History Wardrobe. Free World Book Night book for all (while stocks last). Admission: £7. Contact Claire Pratt on 01642 528044 for more details.

Fickling Lecture on Developments in Children’s Literature Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle University: Thursday 25 April, 5.30pm The title of this year’s lecture is A Promise to Malala: Children’s Literature and Education for All with Sarah Brown, writer and charity campaigner. Education for All strives to get the 61 million children who are missing out on an education into school, and to reach the 200+ million more in need of education and learning. This lecture will make children’s literature the starting point for the basis of good learning and personal development. Free event, no booking is required. All spaces allocated on a first-come first-served basis.