New Writing North newsletter

Just found out this morning that my entry has not made it into the next round of the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition but I am hoping that one of my followers may have.  Do get in touch and let me know, I love hearing from my followers.

Talking of followers, I thought you may be interested in seeing the latest New Writing North newsletter:

March 2014 The Listening Post

Jane Smiley in conversation with Debbie Taylor Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle: Sunday 9 March, 2.30pm Award-winning novelist Jane Smiley comes to the Tyneside Cinema in a rare UK appearance for an exclusive Q&A, brought to you by New Writing North and Mslexia. Smiley will discuss her fascinating writing career with Debbie Taylor, editor of Mslexia magazine, before introducing a screening of A Thousand Acres, based on her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Jessica Lange. Jane Smiley’s other novels include Horse Heaven (shortlisted for the Orange Prize) and most recently, Private Life. She has also written non-fiction including Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel and contributed to numerous magazines and newspapers. Tickets: £10/£8. To book, go to www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/films/view/a-thousand-acres-plus-jane-smiley-qa. Teesside New Writing Festival 2014 Middlesbrough Theatre: 3-8 March Four brand new plays, four North East writers, and an exclusive preview of a new piece of work by Middlesbrough writer Ishy Din. Tickets: £7 per show/£25 for the week. For more information and to book call 01642 815181 or go to www.middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk.         Forensic narratives with Ann Cleeves When New Writing North needed to commission a crime for Crime Story, our weekend of discussion and workshops for fans and writers of crime fiction, we turned immediately to best-selling author Ann Cleeves. The creator of the enormously successful Vera Stanhope series and the Shetland Quartet, both of which have been adapted for major TV series, Ann is known for her technical accuracy, working with forensic professionals to make sure that every crime scene can stand up to scrutiny. Ahead of Crime Story, we caught up with Ann to talk about how she approaches the forensic narrative. To find out more about Crime Story, and to book your place, go to www.crimestory.co.uk. Early bird rates are available for a limited time only. Explore the art of the interview On Friday 21 March [i’ll be your mirror] in association with New Writing North is holding the first in a series of free workshops exploring the art of conversation. In this first session, titled Interviewing is just talking, isn’t it? What could be easier? Caroline Beck and Gary Malkin offer artists, writers and practitioners of different backgrounds practical advice and insights into creative and effective speaking and listening, specifically through the process of interview. Caroline Beck has been interviewing professionally for over 20 years, as a BBC radio producer, feature writer and chair at literary festivals both here and abroad. Gary Malkin is the producer of BALTIC’s audio and video material, using interviews with national and international artists to create interpretative films and podcasts. This first event takes place at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, 21 March from 2pm. Places are limited so to book yours RSVP to ibymirror@gmail.com by 11 April. Susan Elliot Wright shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year Susan Elliot Wright’s debut novel, The Things We Never Said, has been shortlisted in the Contemporary Romantic Novel category in the Romantic Novel of the Year Award presented by the Romantic Novelists’ Association. The winners of the shortlist categories for the Romantic Novel of the Year and the winner of the RoNA Rose Award for shorter fiction will be announced during a ceremony at London’s Gladstone Library on 17 March, with the awards presented by Darcey Bussell. Meanwhile, Susan is continuing to appear in libraries across the North as part of New Writing North’s Read Regional programme. Catch up with her, and other great authors such as Gavin Extence, Celia Bryce and Melvin Burgess, in Darlington, Gateshead, Bradford, Hull and just about everywhere in-between. For event listings and information about all the authors and their books, see www.readregional.com. Jane Smiley: Pulitzer Prize-winning author comes to Tyneside New Writing North and Mslexia hope you’ll join them at an event with Jane Smiley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres, at Newcastle’s Tyneside Cinema on Sunday 9 March. To book tickets to the event go to www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/films/view/a-thousand-acres-plus-jane-smiley-qa. Hexham Book Festival announces 2014 programme Hexham Book Festival returns from 24 April-8 May with a star-studded line-up, including Jeremy Hardy, Penelope Lively, Ian Rankin, Tracy Chevalier and Kirsty Wark. Globetrot with a fearless explorer; hear politicians turned novelists and biographers; listen to crime writers mashing it up, philosophers arguing about food and foodies arguing about philosophy, economists arguing about who’s to blame for the mess we’re in, an iconic potter, historians bringing up the bodies, poets reflecting on the Northumberland landscape and feminists calling for men to become converts. All this and badgers, birds and Henry ‘Blowers’ Blofeld. For more information and a full programme, see www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk.         Tyne Theatre Royal, Newcastle: 4-8 March, 7.30pm Michael Chaplin’s play, Tyne, dramatises extracts from Michael’s own book Tyne View, published by New Writing North. The play ties the scenes together with stories from some great North East writers, such as Tom Hadaway, Julia Darling, Alan Plater and Sid Chaplin. Using music, story and images it maps the epic history, atmosphere and soul of the river, using stories gathered from the people Michael met walking the tidal length of the river in 2011 when he was writer in residence at the Port of Tyne. During the run, a limited number of copies of Tyne View will be on sale in the New Writing North shop for just £15 plus £1.50 P&P. Celia Bryce: First Thursday Room G.13, Percy Building, Newcastle University: Thursday 6 March, 1pm Celia Bryce writes short fiction as well as novels for young adults. Born in Jarrow, Celia trained in nursing but gave up bedpans for writing and singing. Her first novel for children, Anthem for Jackson Dawes, is set on a children’s cancer ward. It has been nominated for a number of awards including the Carnegie Medal. First Thursday readings are free to attend, no need to book in advance. Nick Sharratt: Socks Waterstones, Durham: Thursday 6 March, 4.30pm Join author and illustrator Nick Sharratt at Durham’s Waterstones where he'll be reading from his hilariously silly picture book, Socks, and there will be a chance to make some sock puppets. For further details call 0191 383 1488 or visit the Waterstones website. Divine Installation: A reading to celebrate women and engineering Innovation Centre Lecture Theatre, University of Teesside: Thursday 6 March, 4.30pm Locomotion Museum, Shildon: Wednesday 19 March, 1.30pm In 2012 Durham-based writer Julie Ward was commissioned to write a response to engineering as part of Arts Council England’s Cultural Olympiad programme which accompanied Ed Carter’s Flowmill on the Tyne. The result was Divine Installation, an unashamedly feminist response which has subsequently been broadcast by Basic FM. The story will receive two more outings as part of Durham Women Rising’s Festival. For more information see http://durhamwomenrising.wordpress.com/events/. Would Enid Tweet? Blyton in the 21st century Seven Stories, Newcastle: Sunday 9 March, 2pm Enid Blyton had a powerful relationship with her publisher and had a strong brand before other authors. Now publishers expect authors to use social media and visit schools and festivals. Is this the right approach for everyone? How would Enid have taken advantage of modern branding opportunities? Join authors Helen Limon and Lucy Coats to discuss these issues and more. Tickets: £5/£3 for annual pass holders, no additional admission fee required. Find out more at www.sevenstories.org.uk. Michael Chaplin: Writing The Great War Room G.05, Percy Building, Newcastle University: Thursday 13 March, 5.30pm Newcastle playwright and screenwriter Michael Chaplin is one of the lead writers on Tommies, an ambitious four-year drama project for Radio 4 that will tell the stories of a group of characters on the front and at home during the First World War. In this talk, he describes the process of shaping the series and the challenges of using a veritable mountain of historical sources to create plays that do justice to the real experience of the trenches. Tickets are free and can be booked via the webstore at http://webstore.ncl.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=2&catid=206&prodid=273. Gwyneth Lewis: Bloodaxe Poetry Lectures: Quantum Poetics Room G.05, Percy Building, Newcastle University: 19 March, 5.30pm/20 March, 5.30pm/26 March, 5.30pm Gwyneth Lewis’s lectures explore the connection linking form and politics with the content of poetry while exploring how each of these changes our understanding of time. She argues that the poet steers a path between making music and making sense – not at the level of the line, but in the deep structures of meaning which are poetry’s terrain. The accuracy of what they say is just as important as its expression, both for their own well-being and for its worth to the reader. Taken together, her lectures begin to posit not the science in poetry but a science of the artform. Tickets are free and can be booked at www.ncl.ac.uk/ncla/events/item/gwyneth-lewis-quantum-poetics-bloodaxe-poetry-lectures. York Literature Festival Various York venues: 20-31 March York Literature Festival began in 2007, and has grown  steadily since then. Guests this year include Germaine Greer, Alan Johnson, Andrew Motion and Roger McGough. For more information and to book, see www.yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk. World Poetry Day: Colette Bryce, Zaffar Kunial, Ahren Warner: Poetics of the Archive Room G.05, Percy Building, Newcastle University: Friday 21 March, 7.15pm Join Leverhulme poet in residence Colette Bryce, poetry editor of Poetry London Ahren Warner and Wordsworth Trust poet in residence and Northern Writers’ Award winner Zaffar Kunial for World Poetry Day. Tickets are free and can be booked at www.ncl.ac.uk/ncla/events/item/world-poetry-day-colette-bryce-zaffar-kunial-ahren-warner-poetics-of-the-archive. Sara Park Memorial Short Story Competition Lit & Phil, Newcastle: Monday 24 March, 7pm Red Squirrel Press invites you to the launch of the short story pamphlet anthology of the winning and highly commended short stories. Free admission, all welcome. For more information email Sheila Wakefield at editor@redsquirrelpress.com or visit www.redsquirrelpress.com. Brian Alderson: Looking at Children’s Books Robinson Library, Newcastle University: Wednesday 26 March, 5.30pm Using original artwork, manuscripts and correspondence from Seven Stories, Brian Alderson offers a unique insight into the development of British children’s literature in the 20th century. Admission free but booking required. For more information, see www.sevenstories.org.uk/whats-on/events/119209/looking-at-picture-books-part-4. Gwyneth Lewis Culture Lab, Newcastle University: Thursday 27 March, 7.15pm Gwyneth Lewis was Wales’s National Poet from 2005-06, the first writer to be given the Welsh laureateship. She has published eight books of poetry in Welsh and English. Her latest book is Sparrow Tree, which won the Roland Mathias Poetry Award 2012. Tickets: £6/£4 (concs)/£2 (Newcastle University students). To book or for more information, see www.ncl.ac.uk/ncla/events/item/gwyneth-lewis. In the North New Teesside drama festival spotlights local talent The New Writing Festival at Middlesbrough Theatre from 3-8 March features four brand new plays from four North East writers. Audiences at this new festival produced by theatre company Less is More will be able to see That Gay Play by David Tuffnell, String by Allison Davies, One Way Street by Jonny Bussell and A Slice of Life by Olivia Brady. There is also a festival exclusive with the first performance of a work in progress of a new piece of work by Middlesbrough writer Ishy Din, whose play Snookered toured in 2012, taking in the Traverse Edinburgh and a four-week run at the Bush Theatre, London. For more information and to book call 01642 815181 or go to www.middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk. Click here to download a festival programme. Writer wanted for ‘impromptu musical’ As part of Bridging the Gap, a multi-venue scheme to support the making of new theatre in the North East, multi-disciplinary performance and film producer Encounter is looking for a writer with interest in fictional narrative, direct address and (unpolished) song for Choir, ‘an impromptu musical’ that looks at modern notions of community and individualism. Please submit your expression of interest with an example of writing to jennifer@encounterproductions.org by 7 March. Working Culture Residency offers free Newcastle desk space A participatory project by artist Alexia Mellor in partnership with The NewBridge Project, WCR explores the current working climate of the UK culture sector. Whether you are an artist, administrator, local officer, or freelancer, Working Culture Residency is excited to welcome you to their hot desk studio setting in Newcastle city centre. Spaces are completely free and available on a regular or one-time basis Tuesdays-Fridays, 10am-6pm, from 1 March- 30 April. For more information and to reserve a space, email workingcultureresidency@gmail.com. Celebrate Blucher bicentenary in poetry and prose North East writer Keith Armstrong is working on a new publication commissioned by North Tyneside Council and is looking for some poetry and prose on the theme of George Stephenson in Killingworth, with particular reference to his steam engine, Blucher, which he built in 1814. You can contact Keith at k.armstrong643@btinternet.com. The deadline is end of March with publication is planned for July. Northern theatre makers wanted to join The Lowry’s Spring Showcase In partnership with Cheshire Rural Touring, Spot On and Lancashire’s Rural Touring Network, The Lowry Studio is looking for expressions of interest from companies in the Greater North with experience of touring and new stories to tell in interesting ways – whatever that might mean. The successful applicant(s) will receive mentoring, introductions to the rural touring network, a cash investment and access to professional development opportunities. To apply email Claire Symonds at claire.symonds@thelowry.com about your work to date, why this is the right opportunity for you and a description of your project by 10 March. The Dorothy Wordsworth Festival of Women’s Poetry The third Dorothy Wordsworth Festival of Women’s Poetry, run in association with Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, will run a three-day showcase of women’s poetry in Grasmere from 11-13 April. There will be readings from Sujata Bhatt, Rita Ann Higgins and Carol Ann Duffy, panel discussions with TS Eliot Prize winner Sinead Morrissey, Rebecca Goss and Carolyn Jess-Cooke, and talks about women’s poetry in the First World War and their lives through their letters. To book call 015394 3554 or book online at www.wordsworth.org.uk. Opportunities Young Writers by the Lake Theatre by the Lake in Keswick is looking for young playwrights aged between 14-25 for the Festival of Youth in February 2015. To enter all you need is a short play (no longer than 20 minutes and suitable for a maximum of eight performers) on the theme of ‘Swings and Roundabouts’. The winners will be mentored by a professional theatre maker, get two tickets to Theatre by the Lake’s production of The Comedy of Errors, and have their play staged by the Theatre by the Lake’s Youth Theatre. If you need a few hints about playwriting, www.theatrebythelake.com will be posting writing tips during the course of the competition. Closing date is 18 April at 5pm. Send a copy of your play, along with your age, address and telephone number, to participation@theatrebythelake.com. The John Betjeman Poetry Competition for Young People The John Betjeman Poetry Competition for Young People is looking for poems on a sense of ‘place’ from children aged 10-13. The first prize is £1,000 (£500 to the winner and £500 to the English department of their school) as well as four Eurostar tickets. £50 book tokens are awarded to commended entrants. This year’s judges are National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke, and the founder of Gifford Circus, Nell Gifford. The competition is free to enter and closes on 31 July. See www.betjemanpoetrycompetition.com for details and an online entry form. Jobs Corridor8: Editorial researcher Corridor8, the annual international journal of contemporary visual arts and writing based in the North of England, is looking for an editor/researcher to deliver international research and development work between Manchester and Seoul for publication to coincide with the Asia Triennial 2014. Closing date: 5 March. For more information see www.artsjobs.org.uk/index.php?id=25&ne_post_id=120803. The Reader Organisation: Communications coordinator The role will require the candidate to devise and deliver regional and national media campaigns, support the delivery of the Reader Organisation’s work through the creation of appropriate materials and supporting other members of staff, as well as maintaining a detailed analysis of the stakeholders, both internal and external. Deadline for submissions: 7 March. For more information, see www.thereader.org.uk. Edge Hill University: Lecturer/senior lecturer in creative writing The University of Edge Hill is home to a well-established creative writing section, in which students gain experience in all the major literary genres. This is an opportunity for a professional writer with substantial experience in higher education to join this growing department. You will be able to contribute to both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, with an established specialism in poetry. Deadline for applications: 5 March. For an online application form and full job description, see www.edgehill.ac.uk/jobs. West Yorkshire Playhouse: Senior marketing and audience development officer West Yorkshire Playhouse is looking for an experienced marketing officer to plan and deliver marketing campaigns and work with the arts development and education teams. They will need a rigorous approach to integrated campaign planning and management, combined with the ability to react creatively to sales figures. Deadline for applications: 17 March. Apply at www.wyp.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/job-opportunities. Encounter: Arts marketing and administration assistant internship Multi-disciplinary performance and film producer Encounter is seeking a bright, creative, reliable and self-motivated individual for a two-month part-time internship. The role will include day to day administrative tasks, marketing/PR, assisting with casting, overseeing and executing mailings and overseeing of social media. Deadline: 7 March. For more information see http://encounterproductions.org/Jobs-and-Opportunities. Miscellany Still time to join the Writing Squad Do you write? The Writing Squad is looking for writers aged between 16-21 who live, work or study in the North of England to join a free writer-development programme. To apply visit www.writingsquad.com/join-the-squad/. Final deadline for applications: 30 March. Special offers for New Writing North newsletter subscribers Refugee Boy at Northern Stage Friday 21 & Saturday 22 March New Writing North subscribers can get tickets to see Lemn Sissay’s adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah’s novel for just £10 (normally £24). Book online at www.northernstage.co.uk and use the code ‘NWNOffer’ or call the box office on 0191 230 5151 and quote ‘NWNOffer’. Alem is 14, in London with his father on the best holiday he has ever had. Then he awakes to find himself alone in an unfamiliar country. As a violent civil war rages at home, his Ethopian father and Eritrean mother make the decision to leave him in London. For more information, see www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/refugee-boy.     Deadline for April’s Listening Post The next edition of The Listening Post covering April's literature events will go out in late March. If you have events that you would like to submit for inclusion, send your information by 20 March 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.

Gravity film review

In honour of all things Oscar-related, I thought I would share my review of the seven-times Oscar winning movie Gravity.

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón this movie is an epic survival story and Alfonso certainly deserves the Oscar for Best Achievement in Directing.  It is a tense and beautifully executed thriller with stunning visual effects (*see below for Oscars won in visual effects and other categories).  He was last behind the camera for the excellent Children of Men (2006) which was nominated for three Academy Awards and I hope he doesn't leave it as long for his next film.

IMDB says: A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.



Sandra Bullock  (The Blind Side, Speed) was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in A Leading Role for her portrayal of brilliant medical engineer Dr Ryan Stone and it is not hard to see why.  She leads the film with emotional depth and has you rooting for her character throughout, despite not being given much backstory, you are taken on her journey from scared pessimist, to determined survivor right along with her. 

Stone is on her first mission and suffering from space sickness when disaster, in the form of Russian satellite space debris, strikes and she and talkative Kowalski are left stranded in space with only each other to cling to. 



George Clooney  (Up In the Air, The Descendants) is Matt Kowalski, veteran astronaut in command on his final mission and apart from the voice talents of Ed Harris (A Beautiful Mind, The Abyss), Orto Ignatiussen (Aningaaq, Ikingut), Phaldut Sharma (Children of Men, EastEnders), Amy Warren (Human Potential, Rebel Without a Pulse) and Basha Savage (World War Z, Agatha Christie's Marple), they are the only two developed characters, but it doesn't matter in a film of this visual mastery.

*The other Oscars the film took away were Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score, Best Achievement in Sound Editing, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing and Best Achievement in Visual Effects.

The film also won the Golden Globe for Best Director - Motion Picture, BAFTAs for Best British Film, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film, the David Lean Award for Directors and the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music, amongst others.

Tagline: Don't let go.                                                                 8.5/10

Though the tagline could easily have been stolen from Alien: In Space No-one Can Hear You Scream

Cleckheaton Writers Group 3 March 2014

Another productive meeting of the CWG this evening where A, P, D, myself and N were in attendance, V, L and J having passed on their apologies.

We started with a discussion on where we were all at with our Works in Progress (WIP).  N revealed that he has written more of his third story in the trilogy, A and I have both been editing out WIPs and D has written an extra scene to the one she shared for workshop this evening.

We started with N's work and his first story RBS.  A loved that it was dark, but felt that when the character talks about 'spending his money on alcohol and stupid stuff' that what the stupid stuff is  should be explained.  I felt that the story was powerful, sad and a poignant portrait of modernity.  D agreed that it was poignant and moving, but she'd like to see more showing rather than telling, perhaps in flashbacks.

N's second piece PIDH was an experimental story.  A felt that the story and the blog did not quite work and that the story was quite a concept that deserved a novel.  I agreed, in that like A I did enjoy the blog part too, but felt that the base of the blog post story should be changed to something different, so that the bigger story arc could be left to grow into a novel.  I suggested a stalker angle as the beginning of the blog posts built up an expectation in the reader that this would happen.  D was impressed at the female POV and we both felt it was a very convincing character.  She also loved the big brother premise and felt it was strong and sinister, though believed that a journalist would never reveal their source or publish a blog post about the piece before publishing the story for their job, nor give away details of witnessing a death as the killer would now know who they were and where they live.

N promised that he would send the third story in the trilogy to the members once he has finished it and is intrigued by the idea of lengthening his premise and altering the blog post story into a stalker angle piece.

D's piece was a scene from her new children's novel TG and P felt that there was a lot of dialogue and too many exclamation points.  D agreed that she would edit these out as it was a first draft and A shared the anecdote that Stephen King advises that one exclamation point should be used in any work.  A felt that it was a good first draft and was pleased that this was not the beginning to the story.  D revealed that it was after the first few character-establishing chapters and that she had written it in a non-linear fashion.  N felt it was reminiscent of Five Children and It and D felt it was influenced by E Nesbit as she read and loved that as a child.  A wondered if the characters of Robert and Marion were a nod to Robin and Marian and D agreed that it is based on her version of the Legend as she wants the reader to ask themselves this question.  I felt it had echoes of Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies and suggested a slight line change involving a leg cramp.  P revealed that the scene she read made her want to find out more and that it had similarities to the film Time Bandits.

P and D had a difference of opinion about Scrivener and it will be interesting to see what all the members make of it if they try the free trial.

There was not enough time for the timed writing session and the slots for the feedback sessions are available for any member who wishes to share their work at the next meeting.

The next meeting will take place on Monday 17 March 2014 at 6-8pm in Cleckheaton Library.  New members always welcome and meetings fortnightly thereafter.

Competition information, deadlines 31 March - 14 July 2014

Now that we are in to March, I thought I would have a look at how I did for my writing goals for February.  I am still keeping to my writing resolutions and have entered four competitions, written two new pieces and edited the first three chapters of my current WIP.

Talking of competitions, thanks to my fellow blogger Displacement Activity for the following information:

Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize 2014     This competition is for unpublished novels written by women writers. Women writers over 21 years old with a novel - in any genre - may submit their work to the competition. The closing date is 12st March 2014. There's a first prize of £1,000. More details are here.      Jane Austen Short Story Award 2014   This returning short story competition looks for fiction inspired by Jane Austen's work. Stories of between 2,000 and 2,500 words on the theme "a character from one of Jane Austen's novels" may be entered. Entries may be in any genre, may be set in any time period and be of any genre, though children's fiction isn't to be submitted.  The closing date for entries is 31st March 2014. There's a £750 first prize, plus runners up awards. The top three writers all also win a week's writing retreat at Chawton House Library. Winning and shortlisted stores will also be anthologised. More details may be found here. There's an entry form here.          The Henshaw March Short Story Competition   This short story is open to previously-unpublished short fiction of up to 2,000 words. The closing date is 31st March 2014. There's a £100 first prize plus a range of runners-up awards. More details may be found here.        AM Heath Criminal Lines crime novel competition London literary agents AM Heath have announced details of a new novel competition for crime fiction writers. Criminal Lines asks for the first 15,000 words (plus an 800-word synopsis) of any kind of crime, suspense or thriller novel.  Entrants should be unagented and previously unpublished, and should have not submitted their competition manuscript to AM Heath before. Submissions are open until 5th May 2014. There's a £1000 first prize on offer. More details may be found here.       The HG Wells Short Story Competition 2014     Stories of between 1,500 and 5,000 words are called for on the theme of "fortune". The competition closes 14th July 2014. Winning and short-listed stories will be collected into a print anthology. The grand prize is £250 and there's a also a £1,000 prize for the best entrant from a young (19 and under) writer. Full details are on the HG Wells short story competition website.

West Midlands Readers' Network Around the World in 80 Books event, 29 March 2014

Thanks to my fellow blogger Blog About Writing for the following information:

Around the World in 80 Books

 

When:

March 29, 2014 all-day

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Where:

Studio @ Library of Birmingham
Centenary Square
Birmingham,West Midlands
UK

Cost:

£15.00

Join us for a very special readers’ day, featuring Girl With a Pearl Earring writer Tracy Chevalier, and Richard and Judy Book Club best-seller Beatrice Colin, along with a feast of other exciting writers and reading from across the world.

Discover some of the best books on favourite world cities and countries in the company of some of their most passionate enthusiasts. An exciting programme of interviews, presentations, workshops, competitions, event bookshop, and goody bags to make this a truly unforgettable readers’ day …

Introduced and compered by Oxygen Books, publishers of the city-pick travel series.
The day will run from 9.30 – 4.00 in the inspirational surroundings of the Library of Birmingham

Around the World in 80 Books: Readers’ Day

9.30 – 10.00am Registration and goody bags

10.00 – 10.30am Oxygen Books’ publisher Malcolm Burgess introduces the day and  some of their favourite books set in different cities.www.oxygenbooks.co.uk

10.30 – 11.15am Tracy Chevalier in conversation with Roz Goddard  The author of Girl With a Pearl Earring, set in Delft, which has sold over 4 million copies and was made into a film starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. She has written six other novels, each richly evoking particular historical times and places, including Paris and London. Her most recent novel The Last Runaway, is a story about an English Quaker who emigrates to 1850 Ohio and helps runaway slaves. www.tchevalier.com
 
11.15 – 11.30am Coffee break

11.35 – 12.20pm Workshop – Choice One
Discover the best writing from some of our favourite countries or else sample a special writing workshop.

Choose from the following when you sign up at Registration – first come, first served.
Turkish Delights: Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak are just the start when it comes to the untold riches of Turkish writing. Dynamic Turkish translator Feyza Howell helps you discover their myriad delights.

German Cousins: Germany has so many wonderful writers, present and past, that it’s difficult to know where to begin. This session, run by Annemarie Goodridge from London’s Goeth-Institut, looks at some of the books most popular with the Institute’s own book club. www.goethe.de/London

Going Dutch: For such a small country the Netherlands has produced a remarkable range of writers, many now available in English translation. Arnold op de Haar, writer and advisor to Holland Park Press, tells us about the prose and poetry we shouldn’t be missing: www.hollandparkpress.com

Freedom to Read, Freedom to Write:  A creative writing session with a difference. English PEN works with imprisoned writers across the world. This workshop uses their words and Writers in Translation supported books as a ‘jumping-off point’ for our own creative writing – and a celebration of ways that writers courageously and imaginatively strive to liberate their ideas and writing. www.englishpen.org

12.20 – 1.20.pm Lunch. The library café offers a wide selection of lunch dishes and snacks.

1.20 – 1.30pm Competition results and prizes.

1.30 – 1.50pm The Joys of Foreign Fiction Independent Publisher of the Year Meike Ziervogel  of Periene Press tells us about her innovative company and her choice of compelling novels. www.peirenepress.com

1.50 – 2.35 pm Richard and Judy Book Club favourite Beatrice Colin in conversation with Roz Goddard tells us about her novels, including The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite and The Song Writer, set in Berlin and New York respectively,  and her new novels set in Paris and Barcelona – and the books that have inspired them. www.beatricecolin.co.uk

2.35 – 2.50 pm Coffee break

2.55 – 3.40 pm Workshop Choice Two. Your chance to attend another workshop of your choice – please sign up at Registration.

3.45 – 4.25 pm A Year of Reading the World. During 2012 writer Ann Morgan set herself the task of reading one book from every one of the world’s 196 countries. She tells us about the joys and surprising discoveries she has made during this amazing project. www.ayearofreadingtheworld.com

 4.25 – 4.30pm Round-up.

Please note: all the books discussed are available in English language editions. No prior knowledge of any of the books or writers is needed.