A Fine Excess provides theatregoers with an ideal opportunity to hear and enjoy some of the best work of the past whilst getting a taste of some of our leading contemporary poets - including Sean O'Brian, whose Firebox is the book to understand contemporary verse 

Michael Donaghy, Sean O'Brien, Selima Hill and Roddy Lumsden

Trains, and boats, and planes

National Poetry Day 4th October - the theme Journeys - by fridge, balloon, rhubarb and digbeth.....

Birmingham - High Street. Thursday October 4th 6.30- 8.00pm A mini-super Rhubarb & Digbeth Roi Kwabena, Roshan Doug, Julie Bowden, Matt Nunn, Brian McInally ...and your chance to pit your poetry up against the Wonder Wall. Fancy being the next Birmingham Poet Laureate after Roshan....click here 24-26 High Street Birmingham B4 7SL tel. 0121 633 4353 fax. 0121 633 4300 email enquiries@birmingham-highstreet.waterstones.co.uk Waterstone's - key venues for Birmingham Book Festival

Tindal Street Press  Thursday 4 October at 7pm, Walsall Leather Museum

Surviving Sting

launched by Paul McDonald

"Very funny, very crude, and very Walsall”

Surviving Sting -- a comic gem of a novel by Walsall writer Paul McDonald -- charts 7 days of madness on a dog-rough estate in ‘the ugliest town in the country’, summer 1979. Come and hear this new author read and discuss his laugh-out-loud, defiantly regional novel. All are very welcome.

“The most comical thing I’ve read in a long time”

First Word on the First Word Programme

Once again,Worcestershire Libraries have been successful in attracting some very good names.  The programme currently consists of

2^nd October – Tenbury Library – Sam Llewellyn

11^th October – Malvern Library – Sally Beauman

12^th October (?) – St Johns Library – Phil Rickman

14^th November – Kidderminster Library – Andrew Davies

6^th December – Stourport Library – Storytelling Café

17^th January – Droitwich Library – Louis de Bernieres

30^th January – Kidderminster Library – Frances Fyfield

6^th March – Redditch Library – Annie Murray

19^th April – Droitwich Library – Behind the lines: 1^st World War poetry with Gabriel Woolf & Rosalind Shanks

26^th April – Bromsgrove Library – Jonathan Coe

Full Details on redesigned lit-net site - see http://shrewsbury.dsvr.co.uk/~litnet/

Birmingham - New Street. Tuesday October 9nth 12.30pm The man who ate your hampster.... signing with Freddie Starr....... Full Details on redesigned lit-net site - see http://shrewsbury.dsvr.co.uk/~litnet/ 128 New Street Birmingham B2 4DB tel. 0121 631 4333 fax. 0121 643 2441 email enquiries@birmingham-newstreet.waterstones.co.uk Waterstone's - key venues for Birmingham Book Festival

Wednesday 10 October at 7.30pm Erdington Library, Orphanage Road, Birmingham B24 9HP

Maureen Carter "Working Girls"

Maureen's first novel "Working Girls" has just been published and is a gritty crime story set against the backdrop of prostitution in Birmingham.

Admission FREE For more details phone Kevin Duffy on 0121 464 0798 or email erdington.library@birmingham.gov.uk.

 Storytelling from Graham Langley                       

Venue: Solihull Central Library, Courtyard

Date: Thursday 11^th October 2001

Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Tickets: Free

Come and celebrate the opening of the newly refurbished Central Library with an evening of storytelling from Graham Langley one of the Midlands best known storytellers in the tranquil surroundings of the Courtyard.   Graham Langey of the Storytelling Café is a lively and enthralling performer, so why not come along and let him transport you to worlds beyond your imagination.

 Launch of Break Into Print books Saturday, 13 October between 10am and 4.30 pm

Tindal Street Press  Thursday 11 October at 6.30pm, Walsall Ottaker's

Surviving Sting by Paul McDonald

"Very funny, very crude, and very Walsall”  “The most comical thing I’ve read in a long time”

Surviving Sting -- a comic gem of a novel by Walsall writer Paul McDonald -- charts 7 days of madness on a dog-rough estate in ‘the ugliest town in the country’, summer 1979. Come and hear this new author read and discuss his laugh-out-loud, defiantly regional novel.

Paul McDonald & Jackie Gay (Scapegrace) will read from and discuss their novels -- two compelling tales of growing up fast in the 1970s

All are very welcome.

Birmingham Book Festival: Sat. 13th October to Friday 26th October

This year’s Festival brings more than forty wonderful writers into the heart of Birmingham for two weeks of performance, discussion, conversation and debate.

Our themes are Life and Art.

Life includes Betty Boothroyd on her days as Speaker of the House of Commons, James Mawdsley on being imprisoned in Burma, Paddy Ashdown and Robin Oakley on life in politics and Tanni Grey-Thompson on being a world class athlete.

Art focuses on fiction and poetry and includes performances and conversations with novelists Douglas Coupland, Beryl Bainbridge and Patrick Gale and poets Simon Armitage, John Hegley and Esther Morgan. We look at other arts too. Visual art critic Matthew Collings explores why (or even if) England is an ‘Art Crazy Nation’ and designer Alan Fletcher takes a look at ‘The Art of Looking Sideways’, while chef Gordon Ramsay creates an evening full of the art of cooking – and eating!

bookmark www.lit-net/bbf.htm for full programme

Sunday 14th October 8pm  A People's Cabaret Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath High St:-

A People's Cabaret continues its season of traditional music, song and dance, storytelling, theatre and political comedy - every second Sunday of each month: Music starts 8pm. Last time some folk arrived too late to get a seat - so come along early!  Entrance £5 (£3 unwaged)

www.cabaret.free-online.co.uk   e-mail: pam@cabaret.free-online.co.uk

A Fine Excess Tuesday 16th October 7pm for 7.30 - too good to miss

Wednesday 17th October 7.30 pm The MAC,Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham Storytelling Café: Roi Kwabena Parkside Room £4/£3 - mac box office number 0121 440 3838 boxoffice@mac-birmingham.org.uk   www.mac-birmingham.org.uk Trinidad born storyteller Dr Roi Kwabena uses the drum and voice to weave handed down epics of Karifuna and Nubian heritage, a unique hybrid of the indigenous people of the Caribbean and Afrikan settlers. These traditional tales of intrigue, suspense and even theparanormal never fail to stun audiences - click www.lit-net.org/whetherornot.htm for Roi's latest book Whether Or Not Access generally very good, click on website or e-mail enquiries@mac-birmingham.org.uk mac reading group now full - place your bookmark down for new group in autumn

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 Poetry Events – Solihull Libraries & Arts                 

Jo Shapcott

Date: Thursday 18^th October 2001, 7.30pm
Venue: The Studio, Solihull Arts Complex
Tickets: £5 (£4) from Box office, 0121 704 6962

Award winning poet, Jo Shapcott will be appearing at Solihull Arts Complex on Thursday October 18^th.  Her collections include Phrase Book and My life Asleep which won the Forward Prize in 1999.   Her latest collection, Tender Taxes is published this autumn.

 Solihull Arts Complex Homer Road Solihull  B91 3RG

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The Drum 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham, B6 4UU Literature Evenings - and more Showcasing word-based artists from the region.  Poets, story-tellers and dream-weavers…up and coming and the best Next Date            Thursday 18th October 8.00pm             Free Radio Waves This month is Black History Month 106.6FM. Live broadcast from The Drum. An opportunity to get your three minutes of fame. Let yourself be heard, with the Spoken Word. A regular lively and entertaining night with shared work and experiences. Hosted by local performance poet, Dr Roi Kwabena Box Office Opening Times:  9.30 - 5.00 Monday - Friday    tel 0121 333 2444 www.the-drum.org.uk      e-mail:info@the-drum.org.uk

 

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Sandwell Libraries Friday 19th October 7.00pm Whispers in the Walls  Tindal Street Press “Stories that sparkle with the vitality of Birmingham itself” Whispers in the Walls -- a unique collection of black and Asian writing -- brings together fresh, compelling voices grounded in the life of this modern multicultural city. Come hear these new authors read and discuss their stories from ‘captivating and interesting’ (Pride) Readings by Pavan Deep Singh & Naylah Ahmed All are very welcome. “This is the real deal” Benjamin Zephania Smethwick Library.

 

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Rhubarb and Digbeth   New writing from Birmingham   October 21st Waterstone's High Street Tickets £2.50 (£1.50 for readers) Sundays, 2 - 4pm @ Waterstone's 24 - 26 High Street      Sundays. 1-5pm @ The Warehouse Cafe Complementary custard pies and 10% off all books bought - except Delia Smith's Complete Guide To Tarts Birmingham's brightest monthly space for prose, performance poetry, humour,very short stories and sketches starts a new season Sign up on the door to join in and read some of your work (for around 5 mins) or simply sit back, listen and enjoy. Tuck into some delicious cakes and sample some wise words from the city. Bring a favourite quote or book recommendation for The Words of Wisdom Wonderwall! 'Yeh, Rhubarb and Digbeth, great idea!' John Hegley Since opening up for business, over two years ago, over 100 new writers have signed up to read and perform new work at Waterstone's to a large and growing audience. This March event MC Brian McInnally was overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response: "The audience now tops 50 people per gig. That's a rock'n'roll audience for writers, rock'n'roll." Waterstone's Marketing Manager Chris Harding said: "Rhubarb and Digbeth provide the best chance to hear a wide cross-section of people enjoying some of the amazing stories and poetry on offer in Birmingham, or anywhere." This month's optional theme is "part of the Birmingham Book Festival "  To find Rhubarb and Digbeth @ Waterstone's, 24 - 26 High Street, Level 4 in the 'Book Garden' just 30 seconds walk from the Rotunda and adjacent to many exotic food halls and fashion stores in the Pavilions Shopping centre Birmingham A-Z: p. 152 C/3. Extra Benefits for Rhubarb and Digbeth ticket paying customers:10% off all book purchases made on the day of  'Rhubarb and Digbeth' To qualify simply hand your ticket in with the books you intend to buy. Up to 12 reading slots allocated before 2pm on first come, first served basis Next Dates * Sun 9thDec. 1-5pm @ The Warehouse Cafe   Christmas Bop! £9, in advance. * Sun 27th Jan. 2-4pm @ Waterstone's Theme: Thank God it's payday * Sun 24th March 2-4pm @ Waterstone's * Sun 12th May 1 - 5pm @ The Warehouse Cafe  Third Anniversary Party!   £9, in advance. *Sun 14th July 2-4pm @ Waterstone's For further details and Advance tickets contact: Brianmcinally@hotmail.com Good Disabled Access Rhubarb & Digbeth gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsorship of Waterstone's and honorary patron Mike Gayle

 

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Tuesday October 23 at 8.00pm Assembly Rooms, Royal Pump Rooms. The Parade, Leamington

Enjoy Top Writers at Live Literature Events in Warwickshire……

Les Murray

‘One of the finest poets writing in English today, one of the super league…..’

 Find out more at www.olympicpoet.com/les.htm

 Tickets £6  /  £4 (concessions)

Advance bookings 01926 742720 or at Leamington Library     Wheelchair access                       

A promotion by Central Warwickshire Libraries, Warwickshire County Council, Libraries & Heritage

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 and the next day at the Mac......

 

Wednesday 24th October 8.00 pm The MAC,Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham Les Murray 'one of the great presences in modern poetry’  A chance to hear one of the greatest poets writing in the English language, in conversation and performance.  Les Murray is a winner of Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, and Derek Walcott has described his work as ‘rooted in its sacredness… broad-leafed in its pleasures, and yet.. intimate and conversational’.  Les will be reading from ‘Learning Human; New Selected Poems’, and sharing as yet unpublished work with us. Seamus Heaney describes Murray’s poetry as‘self-galvanising…catapulting and skimming off and over two or three different language levelt’.  The chance to share in one of his relaxed and engaging readings is not to be missed! Theatre £6.85/£4.75 - mac box office number 0121 440 3838 boxoffice@mac-birmingham.org.uk   www.mac-birmingham.org.uk Access generally very good, click on website or e-mail enquiries@mac-birmingham.org.uk mac reading group now full - place your bookmark down for new group in autumn

 

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Birmingham - High Street. Wednesday 24th October 6.30-8.00pm Surving Sting & Rough Music Paul McDonald’s first novel, “Surviving Sting”, is a savagely comic tale of life in late 1970s Walsall, starring a cast of grotesque but too-believable characters in a crazy week of sex, violence and betrayal. In “Rough Music”, Patrick Gale has created a family story that is both engrossing and startling, and enhances his already high reputation as a novelist. Both writers will talk about their books in conversation with David Fine - Lit Net Ed of www.lit-net.org. Tickets: £2   24-26 High Street Birmingham B4 7SL tel. 0121 633 4353 fax. 0121 633 4300 email enquiries@birmingham-highstreet.waterstones.co.uk A Waterstone's event in the Birmingham Book Festival

 

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WRITERS AT WARWICK AUTUMN 2001

Wednesday 24th October, 7.15 p.m.  Conference Room Warwick Arts Centre Elizabeth Cook  Achilles This powerful, passionate and beautifully crafted retelling of the epic tale of Achilles recreates Homer's fated hero in a new and vivid reality. Elizabeth Cook's mesmerising poetic voice weaves the interlocking stories of Achilles and the central figures of his legend into a many-layered exploration of achievement and loss, of choice and inescapable destiny. As Kate Kellaway in the Observer called Achilles,  'An instant classic. I have never read anything like it. Cook retells Achilles' story, making the reader feel that it exists in a present tense. Her writing is charged: every moment matters, each word counts, as if time were running out. It is as if the writing itself were a heroic enterprise ... a terrifying, erotic tour de force'. Liz Cook’s beautiful version of the Achilles myth is a literary and performance highlight of this season. The composer and musician Sylvia Hallett will accompany her. Warwick Arts Centre  Call Box Office 024 76 524524   £4.50 (£3.00) for details of free lecture series click here

 

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The Drum 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham, B6 4UU Literature Evenings - and more Showcasing word-based artists from the region.  Poets, story-tellers and dream-weavers…up and coming and the best Next Date            Thursday 25th October 8.00pm             Free Whispers in the Walls  Tindal Street Press “Stories that sparkle with the vitality of Birmingham itself” Whispers in the Walls -- a unique collection of black and Asian writing -- brings together fresh, compelling voices grounded in the life of this modern multicultural city. Come hear these new authors read and discuss their stories from ‘captivating and interesting’ (Pride) Book to be launched by editors Leone Ross & Yvonne Brissett. All are very welcome. “This is the real deal” Benjamin Zephaniah Box Office Opening Times:  9.30 - 5.00 Monday - Friday    tel 0121 333 2444 www.the-drum.org.uk      e-mail:info@the-drum.org.uk

and

Birmingham - New Street. Friday 26th October 7pm Whispers in the Walls  Tindal Street Press “Stories that sparkle with the vitality of Birmingham itself” Whispers in the Walls -- a unique collection of black and Asian writing -- brings together fresh, compelling voices grounded in the life of this modern multicultural city. Come hear these new authors read and discuss their stories from ‘captivating and interesting’ (Pride) Authors will read from their stories. All are very welcome. “This is the real deal” Benjamin Zephaniah all are welcome.   128 New Street Birmingham B2 4DB tel. 0121 631 4333 fax. 0121 643 2441 email enquiries@birmingham-newstreet.waterstones.co.uk A Waterstone's event - key venues for Birmingham Book Festival

 

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Sandwell Libraries Literary Events Friday 26th October at 7.30pm Sandwell Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich Proudly Presents Novelist and Screenwriter SHAMIM  SARIF To discuss her highly acclaimed first novel: ‘The World Unseen’ which is set amongst the Indian community in South Africa in the 1950’s Tickets: £1.50 (£0.50 concession) tel: 0121 569 4911 for details & reservations

 

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WRITERS AT WARWICK AUTUMN 2001

Wednesday 31th October, 7.15 p.m.  Conference Room Warwick Arts Centre Galway Kinnell The legendary US poet Galway Kinnell was born in 1927. He served in the navy and has taught writing at many schools in around the world, including universities in France, Australia, and Iran. In the United States, he has served as Director of the Creative Writing Program at SUNY Binghamton and New York University. He won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, among many other awards. He lives in Vermont and New York. Although Galway Kinnell began writing poetry very traditionally, his later poetry represents a separation from structure into a more free style. His poetry comes from his own experience and his inner self. He speaks of nature and man's relationship, death and living, and the experiences one gains from being alive. As he put it, ‘Poetry is the singing of what is to be on our own planet’. Kinnell launches his Selected Poems from Bloodaxe Books at Warwick, and is a powerful reader of his own work. Warwick Arts Centre  Call Box Office 024 76 524524   £4.50 (£3.00) for details of free lecture series click here

 

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