Archive for the 'Literature' Category

The Daily Post launches its online literary festival – Live Read

Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk – Entertainment – Liverpool Arts – The Daily Post launches its online literary festival – Live Read.

Looks good…

INTERNATIONALLY renowned horror writer Ramsey Campbell will be a star guest of the first online literary festival to be organised by a UK newspaper.

The Wirral-based author, whose work inspired his American counterpart Stephen King, will be one of the big names featured in LiveRead.

Run by the Daily Post from March 15-19, the festival will be a celebration of Liverpool writers and writing – both amateur and professional.

Campbell, 64, will be one of several major names to take part in a live online interview – answering readers’ questions on his books, the writing process and his own reading habits.

“I’m delighted to be involved with the Daily Post’s LiveRead festival,” he says.

“It was always my morning paper, since I’ve lived here all my life.

“I’ve been setting tales of terror in contemporary Liverpool for 45 years now, and I look forward to the feedback from readers.”

LiveRead will also feature a performance by Neil Caple, former Brookside actor and star of Funny Money, currently playing at the Royal Court, and book readings by a range of local authors.

LIVEREAD runs on the Daily Post website from March 15-19. Further details and information on how to get involved at www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liveread

WoW 10th Anniversary – Rebel Rants Announced

An impressive list of social commentators (or boring old farts maybe ;)
WoW 10th Anniversary – Rebel Rants Announced
WoW (Writing on the Wall) celebrates 10 years as a radical, cutting edge festival, by launching ‘Rebel Rants’, a series featuring some of the most high profile, outspoken, controversial writers and campaigners in the UK today, including: Journalist and former independent anti-corruption MP, Martin Bell, Radical Feminist, writer and commentator, Germaine Greer, Radical lawyer, Michael Mansfield QC, activist, broadcaster and columnist, Darcus Howe and writer, critic and social commentator Bonnie Greer.

Democracy Down the Drain?
With Martin Bell & Stuart Wilks-Heeg

Date: 27th January 2010 at the Bluecoat Continue reading ‘WoW 10th Anniversary – Rebel Rants Announced’

The Penny Readings 2009

I’m a bit late with this but I believe there’s still some tickets on ebay (the others have all gone)…

The Penny Readings 2009
Sunday 6th December 2009, 7pm at St George’s Hall

The sixth annual Penny Readings, hosted by The Reader Organisation will take place at 7pm on Sunday 6th December in the Small Concert Room in Liverpool’s magnificent St. George’s Hall.

“A wonderful start to Christmas – like mulled wine for the soul”

This year, the Penny Readings will feature readings by Liverpool’s award-winning author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce.
In Dickens’ time public readings were the equivalent of a big music gig today – think Beyoncé at the Echo Arena – Dickens was a hot ticket! For the past six years, the Penny Readings has continued the tradition that Charles Dickens began in the 1840s, when he would travel around Liverpool reading to thousands of ordinary people and charging just one penny.
Previous years have included readings from actor and director Janet Suzman, actor Annabelle Dowler and poet Janet Joseph. The 2009 line-up is still under wraps (announcements coming soon), but it can be guaranteed that the fantastic live-readings will be combined with the usual exciting array of music and dance. All this and a good measure of festive cheer, still available at the rock-bottom price of one penny!

The ever-popular readings have repeatedly sold out well-short of demand in previous years, so those wishing to attend are advised to get their tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Twenty tickets will be released on eBay on Friday 27th November, for those really keen to come and willing to bid away!

Vic Reeves at the Bluecoat

Vic Reeves Vast Book of World Knowledge

Vic Reeves’ Vast Book of World Knowledge

Vic Reeves was at the Bluecoat last Friday night talking to Tim Clare about his new book Vic Reeves Vast Book of World Knowledge.

He was very funny of course, discussing such things as his tweed suit (and underpants!), the museum he had in his house which included the shovel that was used to load coal into the boiler of the Titanic. But mostly showing some of the images from the book and explaining their meaning.

He is very keen to stress his artwork, he is an artist of course and he obviously enjoys spending a lot of time drawing and painting.

So we bought a signed copy of the book – it really is vast!
Buy your copy Vic Reeves’ Vast Book of World Knowledge

This was part of the excellent Chapter & Verse Literature Festival 2009 at the Bluecoat.

Tim Clare and Vic Reeves.   Photo: Minako Jackson

Tim Clare and Vic Reeves. Photo: Minako Jackson

Vic Reeves using a broom as pointer whilst explainig about Pop Stars.   Photo: Minako Jackson

Vic Reeves using a broom as pointer whilst explainig about Pop Stars. Photo: Minako Jackson

Liverpool Reads 2009 – The Savage

The Reader – The Savage.

I haven’t read it yet but it looks really good, I love Dave McKean’s illustrations.

This year’s book is The Savage, written by David Almond and illustrated by Dave McKean. The Savage is a uniquely presented, touching tale of grief, solace and hope from a master of contemporary storytelling and a visionary artist. Read more…

Get the book:

Pick up your FREE copy of The Savage from all Greater Merseyside libraries (across Halton, Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St. Helens, Warrington and Wirral), Merseytravel bus stations and M2Go rail station shops, Waterstone’s (Bold Street and Liverpool ONE), News from Nowhere (Bold Street), Amorous Cat (Lark Lane), Starbucks (Bold Street) and all Liverpool Football Club Stores.

Vic Reeves and Michael Rosen in Bluecoat Literature Festival 09

Vic Reeves.   Photo by Scott Wishart

Vic Reeves. Photo by Scott Wishart

Reeves, Rosen and revolution as the Bluecoat announce second Chapter & Verse Literature Festival.

With a diverse range of events including performances from Vic Reeves and Michael Rosen, debates and workshops, the second Chapter & Verse Literature festival at the Bluecoat promises to be an eclectic and highly enjoyable programme.

cv-logoThe festival includes 30 events over five days from October 14 -18 2009 with a special focus on ‘revolutionary moments’ to coincide with a range of anniversaries occurring in 2009, including the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 50th anniversary of the recording of Kind of Blue by Miles Davis.

From football fans of all shades to those who just want some hard, slightly wrong facts such as Leonardo ‘DaVincicode’ inventing the racing handlebars (well, we did tell you Vic Reeves was in attendance) the annual festival at the Bluecoat is sure to please a diverse audience.

The readings, talks and workshops will offer visitors a chance to hear directly from authors whilst mingling with fellow book-lovers.

And adding excitement for children and adults alike is much loved children’s author and illustrator Michael Rosen who returns to the Bluecoat courtesy of the Children’s Bookshow.
Rosen who is the children’s poet laureate will be performing some of his own poems and sharing his love of children’s books from all around the world with a reading from the best-selling Loulou by French author Gregoire Solotareff. In addition, during the first three weeks of October, children can participate in some giant fridge poetry as part of regular ‘Explore’ activities at the Bluecoat.    Continue reading ‘Vic Reeves and Michael Rosen in Bluecoat Literature Festival 09′

Liverpool Reads 2009 – 20,000 Books to Giveaway

Liverpool Reads… The Savage
20,000 books to give-away!

The Savage, written David Almond and illustrated by Dave McKean has been chosen as the Liverpool Reads book for 2009. Liverpool Reads is a book bonanza! – a city-wide initiative, coordinated by The Reader Organisation at the University of Liverpool, encouraging the reading and sharing of one book each year.

The Savage is a uniquely presented, touching tale of grief, solace and hope from a master of contemporary storytelling and a visionary artist. David Almond, acclaimed author of Skellig – a children’s novel recently adapted into a major drama for Sky television – is a Whitbread Children’s award winner and was short-listed for the Carnegie Medal for The Fire-Eaters.

This year there are 20,000 copies of The Savage (published by Walker Books) to give away across the whole of Greater Merseyside. The Savage will be available for you to collect from 15th September from: all Merseyside libraries (across Halton, Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St. Helens, Warrington and Wirral), Merseytravel bus stations and M2Go rail station shops, Waterstone’s (Bold Street and Liverpool ONE), News from Nowhere (Bold Street), Amorous Cat (Lark Lane), Starbucks (Bold Street) and all Liverpool Football Club Stores. Get there quick to get yours!

Director of The Reader Organisation, Jane Davis, says:
“The Savage may be the boldest choice of book we’ve made for Liverpool Reads. It’s a graphic novel, it’s a children’s book, but also a book for adults. It’s a book to share with your family – read it aloud, or to take it to work and talk it over with your workmates. We’re very excited about bringing 20,000 free copies of The Savage to Merseyside. Make sure one copy has your name on it.”

David Almond, author, says:
“I was really thrilled when I heard that The Savage had been chosen for Liverpool Reads. It’s a groundbreaking project – imaginative, creative, optimistic and wonderfully democratic – and it’s a great honour to be part of it. The Savage is in many ways my favourite of all my books, not least because it is my first collaboration with the visionary artist Dave McKean. I hope that the people of Liverpool enjoy it!”

Dave McKean, illustrator, says:
“It’s a wonderful initiative, encouraging people to read is always welcome, but getting everyone to read the same book so they can talk to each other about it and share their own thoughts on the story is particularly inspired.”

Throughout the Liverpool Reads project, we’ll be reading the book aloud in Get Into Reading groups, where people across Merseyside communities will be able to share their thoughts and feelings on The Savage together.

We’ll be reading it with older people, asking how the book makes us feel about young people. We’ll be reading it with young people, asking what the book makes us feel about fear, love and creativity.

There are plenty of ways you can get involved and find out more, please visit the website for more details: www.thereader.org.uk/liverpoolreads. An exhibition of Dave McKean’s original artwork from The Savage will be on show at the Bluecoat from 15th September – 31st October 2009.  Books will be available until they’re all snapped up!

www.thereader.org.uk

Corridor8 Magazine – Art and the Supercity

corridor8 logo

Corridor8.

Issue 1:
Art and the SuperCity
Launched 16 July 2009

Exclusive commissions and new work by the UK’s leading artists and writers

Will Alsop & Peter Saville & Iain Sinclair & Jon Savage & Chris Petit & Paul Bradley & tenantspin & Paul Rooney & Isabel Nolan & Rory Macbeth & Bob Levene & Simon Le Ruez & Rachel Goodyear & Matthew Houlding & Freee & Linder

Corridor8, a new international annual contemporary visual art and writing magazine, launches in July.

Issue #1 takes as its central theme Will Alsop’s daring vision for the future of the North of England: his SuperCity — the vast urban corridor that proposes to unite cities and towns as disparate as Liverpool and Hull, extending overseas to Ireland in the West and Denmark in the East. Around this theme, Corridor8 commissions and features exclusive interviews with five visionary artists connected to the SuperCity and, between them, slots ‘flash’ profiles of some of the emerging artists living and working there.

Alongside a major literary commission from Sinclair, the annual contains a free limited edition art print from artist Rachel Goodyear, a poster by graphics icon Linder for Richard Nicholl’s autumn collection, and cover art by international artist Michelangelo Pistoletto — three new works acting as a fitting celebration for our inaugural issue.