New Writing North newsletter

I entered the Saga Magazine great ghost story competition today and wondered if any of my followers have entered too?

Here is the latest New Writing North newsletter with details of upcoming Festivals and author events:

The Listening Post

Read Regional 2014 Venues throughout the North East and Yorkshire: May 2014 New Writing North’s literary tour of libraries in the North East and Yorkshire continues during May, when authors from the region will be travelling to libraries to meet readers, talk about their work, and sign copies of their books. Rebecca Muddiman will be in Moor Allerton Library in Manchester on 6 May, Cara Brennan in Harrogate Library on 10 May, and Sarah Stovell in Hull Central Library on 21 May, with other events in libraries near you. To find a library hosting a Read Regional event near you, go to www.readregional.com. Most events are free, but some libraries do charge a small entry fee. Hexham Book Festival Various venues, Hexham: 24 April-8 May The annual Hexham Book Festival returned on 24 April and is now in full swing with an exciting programme of authors and events. With talks and readings with novelists, food writers, explorers, financial experts, and short story specialists, there’s sure to be something for every taste. For a full programme and to book tickets, see www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk. And don’t forget the festival’s special offer: If you book three tickets, you get a fourth ticket free. For details, call the book office on 01434 652477. Darlington Literary Festival Various venues, Darlington: 1-31 May Part of the second Darlington Arts Festival, the Darlington Literary Festival is running literary events at Café Create and other venues, featuring writing workshops and readings. These include a retrospective on Robert Tressell’s The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists, a crime-writing master class with John Dean, and Raunchy Reads and Serious Sermons: A Geordie Library in the 18th Century with Northumbria University. Find out more at www.darlingtonforculture.org/literature-festival/#. WOW Fest 2014 Various venues, Liverpool: 1 May-1 June Writing on the Wall brings together writers, artists and commentators including Irvine Welsh, Owen Jones, Liz Carr, Seumas Milne, Helen Walsh, Phill Jupitus, Luke Harding, Marai Larasi, Levi Tafari and Niall Griffiths, to explore old soldiers and campaigners, modern-day conflicts, war abroad and, thirty years on from the miners’ strike, The Enemy Within. To find out more and to book see www.writingonthewall.org.uk/list-of-events.html. Library Lates: Criminal Minds Gateshead Central Library: Friday 1 May, 7.30pm Take a trip through crime fiction, from police procedurals to legal thrillers, in the latest edition of this popular after-hours event. Tickets: £3. Book at www.gateshead.gov.uk/whatson. The Text Festival Various venues, Bury: 2 May-July The Text Festival in Bury is an internationally recognised event investigating contemporary language art (poetry, text art, sound and media text, live art). It specialises in experiments, in new experiences, in performances and exhibitions that mix artforms in ground-breaking combinations that challenge traditional language art boundaries and offer artists a forum for dialogue and exchange of ideas. The festival launches on 2 May with a special event at Bury Art Museum at 7pm. For more information, see www.textfestival.com. Warrington Litfest Pyramid Arts Centre, Warrington: Saturday 3 May, 10am-6pm The festival features sessions in flash fiction, erotic writings, blogging, book sculptures and e-publishing. Lovers of literature can also look forward to talks by local writers including Helen Walsh and author and illustrator Curtis Jobling. Tickets: £15/£12 full day £9/£7.50 half day. For more information see www.pyramidparrhall.com/whats-on/event/litfest-weekender/. Stephanie Butland: Surrounded by Water Waterstones Morpeth: 3 May, 12pm-2pm / Waterstones Newcastle: 10 May, 12pm-2pm / Waterstones Sunderland: 17 May, 12pm-2pm The tragic death of a respected police officer turns his wife's life upside down. However, maybe his death wasn't as straightforwardly heroic as it seemed and the end of his life is only the start of her getting to know him. Local writer Stephanie Butland will be signing copies of her novel, Surrounded by Water, in store, and if you can't make it just call the store and they can get a copy signed for you. Crime Saturday Lit & Phil, Newcastle: Saturday 3 May, 2pm An estimated 45% of the books borrowed from the Lit & Phil fall into the category of crime fiction. Fascination with the subject seems to be not only ongoing but continually branching out into new areas. Crime Saturday features panels of experts discussing their particular area of crime fiction, from Aly Monroe and John Lawton on historical crime, to Mari Hannah and MJ McGrath on women in fiction, as well as Icelandic crime writer Ragnar Jonasson discussing his Dark Iceland series. To book tickets or find out more go to www.litandphil.org.uk/events.shtml. Ian Gillard: The Tale of Mary Ann Cotton Stockton Central Library: Tuesday 6 May, 6.30pm Retired scenes of crime officer Ian Gillard puts the first female serial killer under the spotlight as he examines her life, crimes, trial and execution. Tickets: £3. Call 01642 528130 or any Stockton Borough Library to book a place. For more information email claire.pratt@stockton.gov.uk. Fleur Adcock & Neil Curry The Daffodil Hotel, Grasmere: Tuesday 6 May, 7.30pm Poets Fleur Adcock, whose new collection, Glass Wings, explores childhood and family history, and Neil Curry, who will be launching his new collection, Some Letters Never Sent, kick off a series of contemporary poetry readings at the Daffodil Hotel. Tickets: £7 in advance, £9 on the door. To find out more and to book tickets go to https://wordsworth.org.uk/attend-events/2014/05/06/poetry-reading-fleur-adcock-amp-neil-curry.html. Barry Stone: Winston and the Canny Lass St Nicholas’s Cathedral, Newcastle: Wednesday 7 May, 6.30pm Following the success of Barry Stone’s Barking at Winston, the next novel in the Winston Tails quartet is Winston and the Canny Lass, published by Berry Press. All welcome at this special launch event. Wigan and Leigh Words Festival Various venues: 12-24 May An annual affair which is a celebration of literature, poetry and theatre across Wigan. A wide range of events to excite and inspire, from food-themed poetry to crime, thrillers, murder, monologues, comedy, theatre, strange history, medieval mystery and even some monsters thrown in for good measure! To find out more about the festival and to book go to www.wlct.org/words. Sabrina Ghayour: Persiana Tea & Tipple, Corbridge: Tuesday 13 May, 7pm Sabrina Ghayour talks about her sumptuous new book, Persiana, a celebration of the food and flavours from the regions around the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean. The book features 100 recipes for modern and accessible Middle Eastern dishes. Tickets: £5, include a complimentary glass of wine or soft drink and tasty samples from the book. Call Forum Books for more information on 01434 632931. Sheffield Lyric Festival Sheffield University: 14-17 May Each May the festival brings some of the UK’s most renowned and respected writers, broadcasters, academics, and performers to the university, as well as showcasing the talent of faculty students and staff. This year’s line-up includes Agnes Lehoczky, Simon Armitage, Benjamin Zephaniah, Sinead Morrissey and Patience Agbabi. To book tickets and find out more about the events see www.sheffield.ac.uk/lyric/2014. Journey from the North: The Story and Stories of Storm Jameson City Library, Newcastle: Wednesday 14 May, 5.30pm Find out about Whitby-born novelist Storm Jameson (1891-1986) in this talk by Katherine Cooper, who will be discussing the impact of the author’s strong sense of Northern identity and the influence this had on her novels and her political activism. In particular, it will look at how her sense of regional identity influenced her abandonment of pacifism and her reception as a novelist in London. Tickets free. To find out more and to book, click here.  Malorie Blackman in conversation with Jackie Kay Northern Stage, Newcastle: Thursday 15 May, 7.15pm Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman, author of the multi-award-winning Noughts and Crosses series, Boys Don't Cry, and Noble Conflict, talks to poet and novelist Jackie Kay. Tickets: £6/£4 (concs)/£2 (Newcastle University students). For more information, see www.ncl.ac.uk/ncla/events/item/malorie-blackman-in-conversation-with-jackie-kay. Michael Schmidt: The Novel: A Biography International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester: Thursday 15 May, 6.30pm Quoting from the letters, diaries, reviews, and essays of novelists and drawing on their biographies, Michael Schmidt’s The Novel: A Biography (Harvard) invites us into the creative dialogues between authors and between books, and suggests how these dialogues have shaped the development of the novel in English. Tickets free. For more information and and to book see www.anthonyburgess.org/visiting-us/whats-on?Month=5&Year=2014. Free as a Bard The Jam Jar Cinema, Whitley Bay: Sunday 18 May, 7.30pm This popular spoken word and music evening features poets David Bateman, Jenni Pascoe and music from Renata and Trev. And celebrate organiser Peter Mortimer’s recent success in The Journal Culture Awards! Tickets: £5. The last Free as a Bard night sold out so buy in advance from Jam Jar to avoid disappointment. For more information visit www.jamjarcinema.com. Samantha Ellis: How to be a Heroine West Lane Baptist Centre, Haworth: Saturday 31 May, 2pm On a pilgrimage to Top Withens, Samantha Ellis found herself arguing with her best friend about which heroine was best: Jane Eyre or Cathy Earnshaw. She realised that all her life she’d been trying to be Cathy when she should have been trying to be Jane. So she decided to look again at her heroines – the girls, women, books that had shaped her ideas of the world and how to live. Join Samantha as she discusses her new book which explores the role of heroines, and our favourite books, in all our lives – and how they change over time, for better or worse, just as we do. Tickets: £5. To find out more about the event or book tickets see www.bronte.org.uk/whats-on/140/samantha-ellis-how-to-be-a-heroine/142. Crime Story Northumbria University: 31 May-1 June New Writing North and Northumbria University invite crime writers (aspiring or established) and readers to Crime Story – a weekend of discussion and workshops focusing on a fictional crime and how it weaves its way through the criminal justice system from investigation to sentencing. Throughout the weekend, criminologists and forensic scientists will give insights into how labs work, experts in policing will talk you through scene of the crime procedure, and journalists will discuss the moral responsibility of reporting on heinous crimes. There will also be prize-winning crime writers at the festival who will talk about how to incorporate the forensic facts into fiction. To find out more about Crime Story, and to book your place, go to www.crimestory.co.uk. Deadline for June’s Listening Post The next edition of The Listening Post covering June's literature events will go out in late May. If you have events that you would like to submit for inclusion, send your information by 20 May to tammy@newwritingnorth.com. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is correct at the time of going to press, things do change, frequently at the last minute and very often without our knowledge. New Writing North news Lisa Matthews appointed Creative Case poet in residence REDACT, the partnership between New Writing North and poet Lisa Matthews, has been successful in its Arts Council application for a Creative Case residency. Lisa, a poet with dyslexia, will spend her residency experimenting with SpLD assistive software to create new poetry, and develop workshop techniques. Towards the end of her residency she will lead a poetry workshop with six non-dyslexic poets. Her own unique insight will result in new approaches to writing poetry and new poems, which will be presented on a project website alongside participants’ reflections. REDACT is a Creative Case NORTH residency. Creative Case NORTH is a programme of sector-led activity exploring the creative case for diversity, developed by a consortium of arts and cultural organisations convened by Arts Council England from across the North area, including: Creative Case NORTH Partners ARC Stockton, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Contact Theatre, GemArts, STAY, ZENDEH; Creative Case NORTH Critical Friends: Alchemy, Art House, Mind The Gap, Open Clasp, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. Read Regional rolls out through May New Writing North’s literary tour of libraries in the North East and Yorkshire continues during May. Authors from the region will be travelling to libraries to meet readers, talk about their work, and sign copies of their books. Rebecca Muddiman will be at Moor Allerton Library on 6 May, Cara Brennan at Harrogate Library on 10 May, and Sarah Stovell at Hull Central Library on 21 May, with lots of other events in libraries near you. To find a library hosting a Read Regional event near you, go to www.readregional.com. Most events are free, but some libraries do charge a small entry fee. Writing Women at Hexham Book Festival Poet, writer and parent Carolyn Jess-Cooke invites children’s writer and illustrator Debi Gliori and poet Kathryn Simmonds to join her at the Queen’s Hall on 6 May to talk about ‘Writing Motherhood’ and how having a baby can impact on a woman’s creative life. Carolyn will also be launching her new poetry collection, Boom, that same evening. Or take a look at a female writer’s life from another perspective on 2 May with Penelope Lively, who has arrived in old age ‘with surprise’ and now looks back on the 20th century through the prism of a life lived in company with a cat, two ammonites and a pair of American ducks. Other female writers at the festival include Nadine Dorries talking about her book The Four Streets on 3 May, a fascinating look at The Mystery of Princess Louise with Dickens’ great-great-great granddaughter Lucinda Hawksley on 3 May and events with Jenny Uglow, Tracy Chevalier, Katherine Grant and more. Not to forget local crime writer and Polari prize-winner Mari Hannah, who will be chairing a crime evening with MR Hall and William Ryan on 5 May. And don't forget the the festival's special offer: If you book three tickets to events, you get the fourth ticket free. For details, call the book office on 01434 652477. Verb New Voices Sound Off Find out what Verb New Voices winners Louise Fazackerley, John Hamilton May and Matt Miller have been up in the last few weeks on their shared blog. So far it involves new websites, visits to Scotland and deadlines. Follow them at http://bbcnewvoices.wordpress.com as they talk about the opportunities, experiences and doubts of being a New Voice for the BBC. Join New Writing North: Young people’s programme manager New Writing North is seeking a temporary member of staff to cover our young people’s programme manager’s maternity leave. The young people’s programme manager performs a key role within New Writing North, encompassing the promotion and delivery of the Cuckoo Young Writers programme, supporting our work in schools, and developing and delivering projects with young people. Initially the contract will be for six months with the possibility of an extension depending on the current postholder’s maternity arrangements. For full details and to apply, see www.newwritingnorth.com. Forensic Narratives with Louise Ridley The last two Forensic Narratives have introduced you to some of the writers taking part in Crime Story, our weekend of discussion and workshops for fans and writers of crime fiction. But what about the science side of things? That’s where Louise Ridley of Northumbria University comes in. Louise is a senior lecturer in criminology and part of the steering committee that came up with the idea for Crime Story. Along with Guardian writer Erwin James, she will be leading one of the Sunday breakout sessions. Find out more about her here. Crime Story takes place at Northumbria University over the weekend of 31 May-1 June. Book your tickets now at www.crimestory.co.uk. People Alfie Crow’s Rant in double nomination Congratulations to Moth Publishing author Alfie Crow, whose novel Rant is up for both an eDunnit and Goldborough Last Laugh Award at Bristol's Crimefest. Alfie was one of four winners of the inaugural Northern Crime Competition and we'll all have our fingers crossed for him in the New Writing North office. In the North Arts Fundraising Fellowship Programme 2014/15 Recruitment for the Arts Fundraising Fellowship Programme 2014/15 is now open, both for fellows and for host organisations. The 12-month programme equips graduates and early career professionals with the skills and experience to make a dynamic contribution to the arts as development and fundraising professionals. There will be five fellowships available in the North of England. The fellowship year will be accredited by the University of Leeds. Deadline for applications from host organisations: 16 May/deadline for applications from fellows: 13 June. See http://artsfundraising.org.uk/arts-fundraising-fellowships-year-two-recruitment/ for more information. Jobs Durham University: Lecturer in creative writing Durham University is looking for outstanding candidates to join the Department of English Studies as a lecturer in creative writing and English. Applicants should have a strong publication record, a research profile that complements the department, and be able to contribute significantly to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. Closing date for applications: 12 May. For details see www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIO114/lecturer-in-english-and-creative-writing/. We Do Creativity Ltd, Holmfirth: Programme and events coordinator/project manager Two part-time posts are currently available at We Do Creativity Ltd. They are looking for a programme and events coordinator to work on two flagship projects for the older generation: @home and Culture Club. They also need an experienced project manager to work on @home, an individual who has an experience of working with older people and working in partnership with the health and care sector. For more information and to apply visit www.wedocreativity.co.uk/opportunities.php. ARC, Stockton: REACH audience development coordinator REACH is an ACE-funded project designed to increase the amount and quality of theatre touring the North East. ARC is looking for an audience development coordinator to support the delivery of the marketing and audience development activity. This is a key part of the project. Closing date for applications: 9 May. To find out more about this and other roles at ARC see http://arconline.co.uk/get-involved/working-at-arc. The Bluecoat, Liverpool: Participation coordinator The oldest arts centre in Britain is looking for five individuals to work in its new engagement and resource units. Successful candidates will have good communication and organisational skills and experience facilitating high quality creative activities. For more information and an application pack see www.thebluecoat.org.uk/content/about-jobs. University of East Anglia: Chair in creative writing (poetry) The School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia is looking for a chair in creative writing to lead the poetry strand of the UEA creative writing programme. The successful candidate will be an established poet and committed teacher, and interested in developing dialogue with other creative writers and with specialists in criticism and poetics. Closing date for applications: 16 May. See www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIO053/chair-in-creative-writing-poetry/ to find out more about the role. University of Cambridge: Judith E Wilson poetry fellow The University of Cambridge is looking for a practising poet to join the Faculty of English. The fellow will reside in Cambridge and run workshops and readings, as well as pursuing their own projects. The university is looking for a poet with a strong record as a writer, with evidence of published work and the ability to support students’ creative activity. Closing date for applications: 8 May. For more information, see www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIO231/judith-ewilson-poetry-fellow/. Workshops and classes The Northern Writers Group The Black Bull, Blaydon: Monday 12 May, 6.30pm The Northern Writers Group meets once a month between 6.30pm and 8.30pm at the Black Bull pub, Blaydon. Come along and share poetry and prose in an atmosphere of constructive support. For more information, contact Carmel on 0771 213 0720. All new members welcome. Writing for stage and screen: Introduction to scriptwriting The Health Warehouse Cafe, Darlington: Tuesday 27 May, 4pm-6pm If you would love to write the next big blockbuster, pen a long-running TV series or see your writing performed in London’s West End, but don’t know where to start, this introductory workshop will point you in the right direction. Cost: £6. To book contact traceyiceton@hotmail.co.uk or call 07773 797817. Fact or fiction: Writing historical novels The Health Warehouse Cafe, Darlington: Thursday 29 May, 4pm-6pm Do stories from the past fascinate you? Do you think fact more interesting that fiction? Do you aspire to write a gripping real-life story? If so this workshop will help you focus your ideas and guide you through the pitfalls and pleasures of writing historical fiction. Cost: £6. To book contact traceyiceton@hotmail.co.uk or call 07773 797817. Gosforth writers’ group call for members Gosforth Writers meets fortnightly on Monday evenings at 8pm in Balmoral Terrace, Gosforth. The group is free and open to everyone, but is best suited to writers with some experience and/or training who have achieved, or are working towards publication. Members are asked to circulate a sample of their work, by email, in advance. Meetings will then focus on structured feedback. The meetings may also include occasional writing exercises. If you are interested in joining, email gosforthwriters@hotmail.com.