By Michaela O’Callaghan, Sunny Moen, Sabeehah Saleq and Rosie Burgoyne
Penguin Live Lunchtime Boost: Freelance Edition with Anna Codrea-Rado
30 March, 1:00 p.m. Anna Codrea-Rado, author of You’re the Business, offers excellent advice for those wishing to freelance. From managing taxes to dealing with insecurities, this event will offer insight into everyday freelance experiences, and how you can thrive as a freelancer. Free tickets here.
From West End To Waterstones - Davina Elliott
31 March, 6:30 p.m. Be sure to sign up for this free online event, where Davina Elliott, author of the Judith Gold trilogy, will discuss her experiences working in theatre and as a writer. Free tickets here.
SYP London: SYP Insights: How to Build Your Presence on Bookish Social Media
1 April, 6:30 p.m. Interested in bookstagram or book tube? Learn more about growing your social media presence with tips from creators, marketing and publicity professionals on how to stand out from the crowd and encourage engagement across multiple platforms. Free tickets here.
Launching New LGBT+ Fiction Event From Hachette Pride
1 April, 7:00 p.m. Curious about how to write and edit an LGBTQ+ rom com? This special event to celebrate the launch of The Split by Laura Kay, will feature the author and her editor, Emma Capron, speaking in conversation about the process of writing and editing queer and comedic fiction. Register for free here.
An Evening with Saima Mir and Nikesh Shukla
1 April, 7:30 p.m. In this online event, Saima Mir will discuss her exciting new crime thriller novel The Khan, joined by author Nikesh Shukla. To participate in this exclusive event where you will have the chance to ask questions to both authors, book tickets here.
Bitterhall : The new novel by Helen McClory
1 April, 7:00 p.m. This April, Helen McClory returns to your bookshelves with her exciting new novel Bitterhall. This online event will be your first chance to delve into this dark and gripping tale of obsession. Book tickets here.
Penguin Live Lunchtime Boost: The Work-Life Balance Edition with Cate Sevilla
6 April, 1:00 p.m. Join Cate Sevilla, author of How to Work Without Losing Your Mind, as she discusses topics such as burn-out. Drawing on experience, Sevilla offers excellent advice on how to navigate the troubles and complexities of working life. Free tickets here.
Rachel Kushner and Hal Foster: The Hard Crowd
6 April, 7:00 p.m. Organised by London Review Bookshop, this event features Rachel Kushner discussing her essay collection, The Hard Crowd, ahead of its release on 8 April. With celebrated author Kushner in conversation with professional art critic Hal Foster, this event is sure to be as dynamic and spectacular as Kushner’s writing itself. Book tickets here.
The British Library: A Virtual Walk through the World’s Collective Memory
6 April, 7:00 p.m. This virtual tour is an incredible opportunity to explore The British Library, which is home to some of the world’s most important pieces of literature, including the original Magna Carta. If you’re keen to gain a unique insight into this renowned building, book tickets here.
Tandem Collective: Community Classes - Session 6: What’s Trending?
6 April, 7:00 p.m. Tandem Collective will look at the challenges and trending hashtags that have taken bookstagram by storm and talk you through how you can jump on the bandwagon. All are welcome to the event whether you’re a newbie to Instagram or a longstanding member of the Bookstagram community. Book tickets here.
HarperFiction Presents... The Book Club with Andrew Taylor
7 April, 7:00 p.m. Interested in crime fiction? Join bestselling author Andrew Taylor and his editor Julia Wisdom as they celebrate the groundbreaking novel, The Ashes of London. Have some questions prepared and keep your ears open for an exclusive early reading from Andrew’s forthcoming novel The Royal Secret. Register here.
Manchester Literature Festival Events
8 April, 7:30 p.m.: Caleb Femi Event
19 April, 7:30 p.m.: Kazuo Ishiguro & Jackie Kay in Conversation
These events form part of this year’s Spring programme from Manchester Literature Festival, with all proceeds raised going towards funding its annual festival in October. First up, Caleb Femi will be speaking all about his new poetry collection, Poor, a collection about his experience of life as a young, black and working-class man living in South London. Femi will also be performing some new poems exploring the impact of solitude during the pandemic, which were written especially for the event.
For the second event in the series, attendees will get the chance to hear Kazuo Ishiguro in conversation with festival patron and poet, Jackie Kay, from the comfort of their own homes. Ishiguro will be speaking about his exciting new novel, Klara and the Sun, along with discussing his work, character-building and love of music. Pay what you can tickets for both events are available here.