Libraries turned inside out!

Regional Writers' Group Networking Day

Skelmersdale Writers Group


invite you to
The 2nd Northwest Regional Writers’ Groups Networking Day.
to be held on SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER. 10.00am - 4.00pm
at The Engine Rooms, Westgate, Skelmersdale. WN8 8AZ.

Cost just £15 per person, includes lunch and refreshments.
Book sales table provided.



Programme


10.00 am: Coffee and registration.
10.30 am: Morning speaker: Andrew Darby (Lancaster Litfest/Flax Books.)
12.15 pm: Lunch and book sales.
1.15pm: News from the groups around the region and readings from members.
2.30pm Refreshment break.
3.00p.m More regional reports and members’ readings.
3.50: Final feedback and farewells.



Following on from the hugely successful regional writers’ group networking day hosted by Ormskirk Writers’ and Literary Society in 2009, Skelmersdale Writers’ Group is delighted to host the regional networking day for 2009. A great opportunity for writers in the region to share their experiences and publicise their work and their forthcoming events.

We are also pleased to offer the region’s writers the opportunity to get an in depth view of Lancaster Litfest and its publishing imprint Flax Books.



Information about Lancaster Litfest:

Andy Darby the Artistic Director of litfest (www.litfest.org) will talk and take questions about the range of litfest's work as a literature development agency, publisher and festival based in Lancaster in the North West of England.

Litfest has been Lancaster's annual literature festival since 1978, and now runs literary events through the year as well as occasional writing projects on an ad hoc basis. We support and publish upcoming writers in the North West of England through our Flax imprint and are about to open a poetry bookshop as part of our new space at The Storey Creative Industries Centre.

This year's festival runs from the 16th to 25th October 2009 and features a fantastic range of novelists, short story writers and poets, find out more at www.litfest.org or call 01524 62166 for a brochure.

To receieve a booking form for this writers' group networking day, please email Carol@fenlonh.freeserve.co.uk or telephone Carol at 01695 728320. The day is open to individuals as well as members of Lancashire and regional writing groups.

Philippa Gregory to vist Preston

Philippa Gregory will be visiting Preston as part of a national book tour arranged to launch her new novel: The White Queen.

She'll be appearing at the County Hall Council Chambers Preston on the evening of 20th August to talk about her latest novel and answer questions from the audience.

Philippa’s ability to evoke a sense of period and her strong characterisation have meant her books have been adapted for the small and large screen. The White Queen marks the start of a trilogy set during the War of the Roses and so has special resonance for readers in Lancashire. The next event on Philippa's tour will be held in York... is this a modern day War of the Roses?

About The White Queen:

The first in a stunning new series, The Cousins War, is set amid the tumult and intrigue of The War of the Roses. Internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings this family drama to colourful life through its women, beginning with the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.

The White Queen tells the story of a common woman who ascends to royalty by virtue of her beauty, a woman who rises to the demands of her position and fights tenaciously for the success of her family, a woman whose two sons become the central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower whose fate remains unknown to this day.

From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores the most famous unsolved mystery, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills

Tickets are priced at £5.00 each and are redeemable against the price of the book on the evening which Philippa will be happy to sign.The event starts at 7.30pm. For further details or to book tickets please contact SilverDell Bookshop, who is hosting the event in partnership with Lancashire Library and Information Service.

telephone: 01772 683 444
email: info@silverdellbooks.com

For more about Philippa Gregory, vist her website.

Word Soup 4

Word Soup is Preston’s live lit night and this month’s was bigger than ever. Not only was it part of Preston Tringe Festival and recorded for Preston FM and Diversity FM, but it had the biggest turn out so far.

If you weren’t able to make it, here’s what you missed...

The night kicked off with Sally Murray, a musician from Manchester, who wowed the crowd with her beautiful voice and chilled out songs. And when there was a sound issue, she proved to be that rarest of things- a muso with a sense of humour.

First reader of the night was Richard Hulse, a teetotal short fiction writer, who started the evening’s tenuous connections to the booze theme. His funny and original short story charted a man’s brand new relationship, jealousy and break up in the minutes it takes him, and his new girlfriend, to fall to their deaths from a plane crash.

Next was Simon Baker, a teacher and compere of Lancaster Spotlight Club, who read a gritty and angry piece about life in a small town and a night out from hell. His odious protagonist eventually met his match in an equally small town bouncer.

Tim Woodall, a fiction and non fiction writer who claims he writes self obsessed stories around exactly the same themes (his words not mine), read a piece called booze. It featured a journalist with alcoholic tendencies walking through Soho.After the break, Jenn Ashworth, compère extraordinaire in shiny shiny shoes, introduced the second half of the night and the return of the three minute open mic slots.

The brave open mic slot readers were:
* Max Henry, who read Win Them and Wear. He blogs at Tell Me Again About Typhoon Patsy.
* Chris Billington, who read her poetry based on Greek myths and cider. She is an active member of Preston Poets.
* Cynthia Kitchen, who read three poems based on booze and a recovering alcoholic.

* Peter Crompton, read poetry on the theme of booze and violence. Stood out for being a passionate and stand out performer and writes here.
* Terry Quinn, who read his piece, The Asylum seeker. He also works for Preston FM and blogs at Broadgate Is Great.

Mollie Baxter couldn’t make the event but Norman Hadley from Garstang read in her place. He read Poets Anonymous from his third collection, Perspectives. He also read a poem about diving through a sunken village which he read entirely from memory. This really impressed and marked him out as one of the evening's most engaging performers.

Richard Hirst, author of previous Word Soup success, Dear Millipede, and blog I thought I told you to wait in the car provided free postcard artwork for the event and read a piece about the leader of the BNP being captured by slug moles and having to live underground digging tunnels. It was every bit as surreal as it sounds, as funny as his last outing and I’m sure will not be his last.

The final performer of the night was star guest, Nicholas Royle, writer, critic, and blogger who read from his upcoming novel. The first section dealt with airline conspiracy stories and whether the brace position actually works. The second section twisted to become a post modern discussion of the the first in a Manchester Lit Event.

Let us know if you were at Word Soup on Tuesday in the comments box below and what you thought of it.

There is no Word Soup next month because it is the holidays, however it will be back in September. If you are interested in performing in one of the three minute open mic slots email prestonwritingnetwork@gmail.com

All photos have been supplied by James Brunton, 23rd Parallel

This blog was written by Mel who blogs at What do you do in Preston.

Helena Pielichaty to visit Preston

Helena Pielichaty is the author of over twenty-five books for children, including the award-winning Simone series and the best selling Clubbing Together. On wednesday 5th August, between 2 - 3pm Helena will be at the National Football Museum to talk about her exciting new series, Girls FC.

Based around the Parrs U11s, Girls FC explores the world of girls' football in a twelve-book series that is aimed at 8-11 year olds. The series is released on the 3rd August with the first four books. Here's what Helena had to say about the series on her website:

Based around an U11s girls’ football team, the Parrs, the
series is a mix of my usual reality-bites-but-with-laughs story-lines. It kicks off with 9 year old football mad Megan Fawcett. All she wants is to get five minutes on the pitch for her school team but Mr Glasshouse, headmaster and coach, believes only the Y5s and Y6s should play in the first team. He barely notices her, even when she wears fairy wings and a tiara to training. So, after a chance meeting with Hannah Preston from the senior women’s squad, Megan starts her own team. A team just for girls; some from school, some from after school club and one from Lornton FC’s ground caught nicking stuff from the changing rooms!

As well as participating in the launch and having the chance to meet and talk
to the author, you'll be able to have a tour of the museum, watch a female
football freestyler in action and take part in the 'Goal-Striker' penalty
shoot-out. Helena will be signing books and you can find out more about her and
her writing life here.

The National Football Museum is on Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston and this looks to be a great afternoon out for younger PrestonWNers or their children! Places
are limited - to secure a place please email eve.warlow@walker.co.uk

Word Soup 4 - The Line Up

After the success of Word Soup #3: The Poetry Edition hosted by Ann the Poet, we’re back to the usual format hosted by Jenn Ashworth, Preston Writing Network’s Co-ordinator.

By popular demand, we’re keeping the three minute open mike spots and have several available to book on the night. Theme this month is: booze

This Word Soup is one of the many events put on as part of Preston’s first Preston Tringe Festival. For more about Preston’s first tringe, go here:

We’re also being recorded for PrestonFM and Lancaster’s Community Radio Station: Diversity FM ‘Words on the Waves’ programme. Volunteers will be live-blogging and twittering the event on the night, and you can join in from home by following us at @prestonwn or searching for #wordsoup

Events space at the New Continental – parking available round the back, and still only £3 to get in on the door. From 8pm.

This is the last Word Soup before our summer break – although we’ll be returning in September with something very special…

Booked writers are:

NICHOLAS ROYLE

Nicholas Royle’s most recent books are two novellas, The Appetite (Gray Friar Press) and The Enigma of Departure (PS Publishing). His short story collection, Mortality (Serpent’s Tail), was shortlisted for the inaugural Edge Hill Prize. He writes regularly for Time Out and the Independent. Born in Manchester in 1963, he has been teaching creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University since 2006.

http://tigergarden.wordpress.com

http://www.nicholasroyle.com

http://www.facebook.com/nicholasroyle

MOLLIE BAXTER

My earliest memory of real writing – the sort that comes from no incentive other than to write – is of feverishly coding text adventure games into a Sinclair Spectrum 48k. Looking back, I can see this provided valuable insight into the frustrations of

telling a good story. I am a prose writer, singer-songwriter, radio presenter and creative writing tutor. Some of my short stories can be found in ‘Before the Rain,’ published by Flax Books.

‘… An abiding characteristic of Mollie Baxter’s writing … is her ability to pull off the unexpected. Rather than the road less travelled, it's a road cleaved through the thicket.’ – Dogmatika, 2008

www.molliebaxter.com

RICHARD HIRST

Richard Hirst was born in Preston and has studied creative writing in Manchester and Liverpool. He maintains a blog called I Thought I told You To Wait In The Car where he passes off other people's jokes as his own, draws pictures of John Leslie, and is the author of previous Word Soup ‘performance’, 'Dear Millipede'.

www.richardvivmeisterhirst.blogspot.com

SIMON BAKER

Simon Baker teaches English in a sixth form college and lives in Lancaster. He is a regular compere and performer of poetry, stories and comedy at the Spotlight Club. As a result he has been recognised in the street twice. His performance passport also has stamps from The Green Room in Manchester and the Sedburgh Literature Festival. Simon was commissioned to blog the Lancaster LitFest in 2006. Shortly afterwards it was accidentally deleted.

Reviews:
http://thelunecyreview.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/the-spotlight-club-20309/
http://thelunecyreview.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/simon-baker-at-the-spotlight-club-17409/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=XibiORi0oHk

TIM WOODALL

Tim Woodall is a writer who refers to himself, pretentiously, in the third person. He has been writing for a long time without getting very far, and has never come close to perfecting his art form. Does he work hard? Well, sometimes. Does he complain about it? Almost all of the time. In 2008 he published his first short story, and followed this minor success with a string of self-obsessed stories revolving aroun

d exactly the same themes. In 2009 he co-wrote a short comedy film called 'HIV: The Musical.' Somewhat bizarrely – and despite his hand in the directorial process – a real-life human film materialised. As yet, you might struggle to find it (anywhere) but it does star the ever-beautiful Martin Freeman and Julian Barratt. Thankfully, these two men are brilliant (they never write or speak about themselves in the third person…) and for the briefest of moments they made me – sorry, Tim – appear professional. It didn’t last long. As you’ll no doubt witness on the 28^th July.

FICTION

RAIN ON FILM (Aesthetica Magazine) - http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/gfx/21Friction.pdf

THE PLAGIARIST http://sixsentences.blogspot.com/2009/01/plagiarist.html

THE SATURDAY BOY http://dogmatika.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/the-saturday-boy/

NON-FICTION

THE ROAD TO BLACKPOOL PIER

http://www.lovemusichateracism.com/magazine/2008/11/21/the-road-to-blackpool-pier-report-on-blackpool-protest-stopping-the-bnp-in-the-north-west/

THE ROAD TO BRUSSELS (A RATHER UNFORTUNATE SEQUEL)

http://www.lovemusichateracism.com/magazine/2008/11/21/the-road-to-blackpool-pier-report-on-blackpool-protest-stopping-the-bnp-in-the-north-west/

RICHARD HULSE

Richard Hulse’s short fiction has appeared in the American literary webzines, Smokelong, Monkeybicycle, and 3AM. In 2004, his short story, ‘Christmas’, won first prize in the British fantasy magazine, Dark Tales. In 2007, he graduated from the University of Manchester creative writing MA, and is currently finishing a novel set in fin-de-siecle Vienna.

Interview: Ed Walker from Preston Blog

We're assuming, if you're reading this, that you're interested in the nuts and bolts of blogging - choosing a subject, building a readership, networking and promoting yourself. Who better to ask, we thought, than Ed Walker, who writes the locally famous Preston Blog and edits the Preston Twitter directory, among other things. Currently, Ed works at the UCLAN Students' Union as Web & Digital marketing co-ordinator and is also a trustee for Mencap Liverpool. We roped him in to answer a few questions about blogging.

PWN: Hi Ed. Thanks for coming. Lets get the ball rolling . How did it all begin? What inspired you to start Preston Blog?

EW: It was a bit of a New Year's resolution. I was sick of mates bitching about how poor the LEP was and how there wasn't anything that really represented Preston. I saw a gap for a decent blog that encompassed loads of different stuff about Preston and really connected with a community. I also took inspiration from St Albans Blog run by Robin Hamman (ex-BBC head of social media) and thought if St Albans can do it then why can't Preston?

PWN: And what's been the highlight of the experience so far?

EW: Opening my inbox and every day having an offer from someone for a guest post, a lead for a story, an image or simply someone just saying how much they enjoyed reading the blog. Oh, and the Sunday just gone when the blog got 271 views in a day! I nearly fell off my chair.

PWN: Has the project taken off as you expected it to? Have there been any 'blips'?

EW: It's surpassed all expectations. I started the blog just under a month ago and it's just gone from strength to strength. I really have been taken aback by the level of support I've received from all the readers and it seems that my hunch was right, there really is the demand out there for something like Preston Blog on the web. Blips, there's been the odd evening where I've had no idea what to write about but then something pops up on twitter or drops in my inbox and suddenly I'm up and running.

PWN: Do you do it all on your own? Are there opportunities for budding bloggers and web journalists to get involved?

EW: I had an email from a student journalist at UCLAN, Kirsty Higginson who said she wanted to help out. I asked her what she was interested in and she said music and films, so she's now music, films and entertainments correspondent - so hopefully she'll post regularly and that takes the pressure off me a little bit. I've also had some guest posters now, but basically Preston Blog is there for anyone to contribute to and I've had a really great mix of people so far.

PWN: So, for people who might be thinking about submitting some work to you - what do you think makes writing for a blog distinctive - different from other kinds of journalism or non fiction writing?

EW: I think it's distinctive because it really is your own voice - if you've got something to say you can say it. There's no newspaper owner, book publisher, PR man etc wanting to change this bit, take that angle. If you want to say something you can go right ahead and just say it - within reason of course.

PWN: And along the same lines, what turns you off blogs? What's likely to make you want to click away and go and read something else?

EW: If it hasn't been updated for a long time. If the only posts written are 'Today I went to the shop and I bought some eggs and then I read the paper and I thought it was good...'. Blogs aren't there as a diary. The only time that they should be used as a diary is if you're someone famous or do a very important job and then a diary is interesting.

PWN: If you could give advice to someone about to start a blog of their own, what would it be? EW: Just do it. Get your blog started, get posting and that's when it all really starts. Don't spend too long on the design, colours etc - just get your content. Also make sure you are commenting on other people's blogs and reading around your subject, this will get people coming to your blog. And stick at it, at the start you'll look at your blog views and despair that 8 people a day are looking at it (that's what it was like when I started Preston Blog) but I got out there, talked about, made connections, begged some guest posts off people and then it took off.

PWN: And 'a little bird' (joke - birds, tweet, twitter! Get it? No? Sorry) tells me you're planning an event sometime soon. Fancy plugging it here?

EW: Preston Blog is running a 'tweetup' - hosted by Stage 9 Marketing and held atthe New Continental pu b, in the Snug room, on Tuesday 17th March 2009 from 7 PM. You can regis ter beforehand to reserve your place and also claim a free drink if you're in the first 50 to register. Preston Tweetup is a chance to come together and share your views on an important issue about the city, either in person, via twitter, or both!

PWN: You'll have to fill some of us luddites in on what a tweet up actually is. We know, because of your famous Twitter Directory you're fond of twitter, so I'm presuming its something to do with that?

EW: A tweetup allows you to bring a laptop/mobile phone on the night and connect to wireless and then contribute, via twitter, the micro-blogging site, both online and in person.

PWN: And there'll be technical support on the night for those new to social networking?

EW: Absolutely. And go here if you want more information.

PWN: Any final thoughts about the writing 'scene' in Preston?

EW: It's quality and not quantity that counts. I don't think there's been any effort to really connect writers in Preston and create a 'scene' so to speak - but there's a big university, with courses in English/creative writers, there are libraries and novelists, and if you can get these people talking and working on things then suddenly there's going to be a buzz. I don't think we should compare ourselves to other cities, or worry about them for that matter, let's build a community in and around Preston and then hopefully there will be some great stuff produced.

PWN: Thanks for coming Ed, and good luck with the night. We'll be there, and you can follow Preston Writing Network on twitter and keep up with us in real time by clicking here.

The Preston Tweet up logo was designed and created by Kerry Sholicar, a graphic design graduate from UCLAN.

Coming up: author interviews, book giveaways, live lit reviews, opportunities for poets and more. Subscribe in your reader to make sure you don't miss out. Atom

Eat our Words at the NC Open Mike

The New Continental Open Mike, held in front of an open fire in the refurbished snug area of the pub, has been attracting live music, stand-up, poetry and prose readings for some months now. The media have taken an interest and Preston FM are a regular presence, recording performers for later broadcast on the radio show. All except the story I read there in February, because it was too rude ;)

On Thursday the 5th March the organisers of the Open Mike have been kind enough to host the launch of a new writing group: The Continental Collective. Three reader representatives from the collective will be sharing prose and poetry they worked on during a series of eight creative writing workshops held in the pub and hosted by your very own PWN (that's us).

As well as entertaining you with live lit performances, the Collective will also be launching and selling their first anthology. Eat Our Words showcases not only the work you will hear tomorrow night, but work from the rest of the ten-strong group. The night starts at 9pm, but the room fills up by 8.30 so arrive early if you want to get a seat!

And if you miss the Continental Collective tomorrow (don't miss them though) they'll be entertaining us again during the open mike spots at our first live lit outing on the 21st April.

Word Soup

Word Soup is a monthly Live Lit night held in the New Continental Arts Space in Broadgate and organised by They Eat Culture and the Preston Writing Network.

If you want to read, act a skit, play music, make short films - or if you do something word-related you think we've overlooked and you want to do that in front of a friendly audience at Preston's newest riverside arts venue, please get in touch.

The dates for 2009 are booked. We work to a theme. Please check it out before you offer your services!


21^st April: RISK (booked up - details to follow)

19^th May: SKIN (booked up!)

23^rd June: POETRY SLAM

28th July: BOOZE (In conjunction with Preston Tringe)

22^nd September: REVOLVE

20^th October: SPOOKY SOUP (Halloween Special!)

17^th November: OLD

22^nd December: HOME