Upcoming Publishing Events
By Sophie Dickinson and Erin Evett
The Ashby Lecture 2023 - In Conversation with Orhan Pamuk
2 May, 5:00 p.m., West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, CB3 9DP
Orhan Pamuk was born in 1952 in Istanbul, which founded the basis for many of his Nobel Prize winning novels. He originally dedicated his life to becoming an artist but soon turned away from this to novel writing. Pamuk is famous both within Turkey and internationally for his brilliant writing, and will be in conversation with Christopher de Bellaigue, author, historian, international journalist and commentator. For more information and free tickets, click here.
An Evening with Paige Toon in Conversation with Louise Pentland
2 May, 6:00 p.m.
Join Paige Toon in Waterstones, Birmingham, as she discusses her new novel, Only Love Can Hurt Like This with Louise Pentland, author of the Wilde trilogy and parenting vlogger. Toon's latest novel follows two strangers, both suffering from heartbreak, whose worlds collide and leave each other changed forever. For more information and ticket prices, click here.
An Evening with Elvin James Mensah
3 May, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Don’t miss out on an evening in Cambridge with brilliant new literary talent, Elvin James Mensah, as he discusses his new novel, Small Joys. With themes of love, friendship, and the experiences of Black LGBTQIA+ people, Small Joys promises to be more than just a small joy, but rather a sensational novel. Mensah will be in conversation with Associate Professor Tory Young. There will also be a book signing at the end of the evening. For more information and ticket prices, click here.
Kit de Waal in Conversation
3 May, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Kit de Waal is a multi-award winning author of various short stories, and an autobiography. My Name Is Leon, her first novel, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, and has also been televised by the BBC. De Waal will be in conversation with Shelley Harris, Creative Writing programme director at The University of Reading. They will be discussing de Waal’s passion for getting diverse voices heard, as well as her creative writing scholarship at Birkbeck. For more information and tickets, click here.
In Conversation with Kate Foster: The Maiden
5 May, 5:30–7:00 p.m.
If you love historical fiction, look no further! Award-winning author of The Maiden, Kate Foster, will be in Waterstones, Aberdeen, for a Q&A and book signing. Her debut novel is inspired by the real-life events of The White Lady of Corstorphine, a woman accused of murdering her adulterous lover. A darkly feminist and revisionist retelling of this gripping story promises to make for an enthralling evening of discussion. For more information and ticket prices, click here.
Write On! Open Mic: Short Story Workshop - Submissions
7 May, 12:00 p.m.
Have you always wanted to write stories? This is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded creatives and get started on a weeks-long project. The workshop will allow you to share ideas and get feedback on a draft which will be the centrepiece of the next open mic night at the Bristol Galleries. For more information and workshop dates, click here.
Book launch: The Grass Ceiling by Eimear Ryan
10 May, 6:30 p.m.
Meet Eimear Ryan in Waterstones, Cork, as she discusses her new book, The Grass Ceiling. It follows the struggles that many women can face as they struggle to reach equality in the world of sport. Confronting issues of social acceptance, competition and identity, The Grass Ceiling promises to be a compelling, heartfelt and nuanced book. It is inspired by Ryan’s own experiences as a Camogie player in Ireland. Ryan is also a co-founder of Banshee and Banshee Press. For more information and ticket prices, click here.