ONE-TO-ONES FOR FICTION WRITERS
Booker-longlisted novelist John Murray is now offering one-to-one fiction consultancy for writers looking to take their work further. John provides honest and very detailed criticism to fiction writers seeking a candid professional opinion about the publishability of their work. With over twenty years tutoring experience, he’s taught for the Arvon Foundation and at Madingley Hall, Cambridge, and is currently Royal Literary Fellow at the University of Lancaster. Several of the writers he’s worked with have gone on to be published and achieve considerable success. For more information, see www.johnmurraynovelist.wordpress.com.

FACETS OF FICTION – WORKSHOPS IN CUMBRIA THIS AUGUST
Mike Smith, aka Brindley Hallam Dennis, is running a series of workshops aimed at writers interested in the theory and practice of narrative fiction, with sessions on specific techniques, ways to promote and publish your work, and some intriguing ones on Beginnings and Endings, the Narrative Trinity and Origins. Workshops are on Sunday afternoons in August – Mike has just completed his M.Litt with Glasgow University (congratulations Mike!) and has been teaching creative writing at the University of Cumbria as well as writing short fiction – including winning a number of awards over the past year or so. See attached flyer for full details, including programme, times and venue.

KATHLEEN JONES BLOG
Appleby author Kathleen Jones writes to say she’s just been ‘strong-armed’ into starting a blog, or to be more precise two blogs. One is kind of on-line diary and the other is a ‘what I’m reading’ blog. The address of the main blog is www.kathleenjonesauthor.blogspot.com And if you go into the ‘my full profile’ section the other blog is there as ‘what I’m reading’ and is also linked into her website. The things authors have to do nowadays!!

HELEN FARISH
Award winning Cumbrian poet Helen Farish, who now lives in Penrith, whose poem July is shortlisted in the best poem section of the Lakeland Book Awards (in the ‘Best Ever’ section – see above) has recorded a CD of her poems for the Poetry Archive website. There’s a mix of poems from her collection Intimates, along with new poems, including some landscape poems which draw on Cumbria. You can listen to half a dozen of the poems online , and the full CD is also available to buy, at www.poetryarchive.org

NEW LINES SCRIPTING PROJECT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Ann Wilson has been really busy since leaving Apples & Snakes earlier this year, and is now working as a Script Development Director on The Ashton Group’s New Lines project with Sarah Miller. New Lines is a playwriting project for young people aged 16-21 in Copeland, Allerdale and Furness. For more information about the project phone 01229 430636 or email from Ashton Group’s Theatre Factory website at www.ashtongroup.co.uk

FREE BOOKS!
The Literature department at Arts Council England, Yorkshire has a number of publications that they would like to donate to worthy homes, rather than hide them away in their archives. The books are on offer to literature organisations or individuals running literature projects and libraries, and were all published in 2006 or earlier, including some novels, but mainly poetry. If you are interested in making use of the books contact Jacqui Corcoran, Assistant Officer (Literature and Media), with details of how many books you would like and a couple of sentences to explain how you will use them. Phone 01924 486269, email jacqui.corcoran@artscouncil.org.uk

NEW EDITIONS OF BOOKS FOR WRITERS
The Writer’s Handbook is back this year with even more helpful advice for new and emerging writers than ever before.If you are interested in writing, getting published, or simply want to expand your knowledge of the book publishing scene then this is the book for you. See: www.thewritershandbook.com/Invite.asp for more information. The other popular port of call for much the same sort of information is the Writers and Artist’s Yearbook- for information about the new issue of that go to www.writersandartists.co.uk

NEWS FROM ZOE SHARP
Eden crime fiction writer Zoe Sharp has a lot going on right now: her last novel Third Strike is now in paperback, her ‘Charlie Fox’ backlist is being reprinted, her story Served Cold has just been nominated for a Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Award, her Charlie Fox short story Off Duty has just been included in a new anthology, Criminal Tendences (published by Crème de la Crime) AND she’s appearing at the 2009 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 23 – 26 July, where amongst other things she’ll be running workshops in action prose … and self defence! Phew – perhaps crime pays after all. If you would like to sign up to receive Zoe’s newsletter, go on to the ‘My Newsletters’ page of Zoe’s website www.zoesharp.com

NEW BOOKS

Sarah Hall’s How to Paint a Dead Man and Jacob Polley’s Talk of the Town have barely had their launches and hit the bookshops than there’s already a new crop of fantastic books – poetry, memoirs and fiction – appearing from our talented local writers:

CHRISTOPHER PILLING – DEFYING FATE (Translation of Maurice Carême)
Christopher Pilling is a prize-winning translator of poetry, most usually from French (but also from Latin and other languages) – and for very good reason. His latest book, a collection of poetry by Belgian poet, Maurice Careme – Defying Fate – is outstandin: it takes a real poet to translate another poet. Careme is regarded as one of Belgium’s master poets, and composers Poulenc and Milhaud both set poems by him. The poems are accessible, and in this edition what is particularly nice is that the original French and the translation are on facing pages which allows the reader to appreciate both the original and the interpretative translation. Defying Fate is published by Arc, in their Visible Poets series, with an introduction by Professor Martin Sorrell, ISBN 978-1-904614-46-7, price £11.99 and is available from local bookshops, direct from Inpress: www.inpressbooks.co.uk/defying_fate_by_maurice_careme_i019582.aspx

JOHN MURRAY – THE LEGEND OF LIZ AND JOE
It’s 2008 and Joe Gladstone’s North Cumbrian gourmet guesthouse is losing a packet, not least because of the unusual requirements he makes of his would-be guests. Meanwhile, his wife Liz has embarked on her first extramarital affair at the age of seventy, and has started having spiritual visions. John Murray’s latest comic extravaganza also features a wild dialect epic, set in 2018, about political tyranny and the tyranny of fashion, as well as some diverting table talk about the ethics of eating and drinking. All as usual then.
The Legend of Liz and Joe is published byFlambard Press, ISBN: 9781906601072, price £8.99. See
www.flambardpress.co.uk or www.inpressbooks.co.uk for online ordering – but the book will be available in local bookshops too.

TOM RAWLING – HOW HALL: POEMS AND MEMORIES
Tom Rawling is a Cumbrian poet who has been all but forgotten in the years since he died, but thanks to Michael Baron of Cockermouth a new collected works of the poet is being published, and will be launched this summer. Michael writes: ‘When Rawling died in Oxford in 1996, age 80, his death went unnnoticed in the land of his birth, although a half page memoir by the distinguished poet, critic .and biographer of Sylvia Plath, Anne Stevenson, appeared in the international Poetry Review. He had produced three collections of verse, one, ‘Ghosts At My Back’, published by Oxford University Press in 1982 and had poems published in many poetry magazines … A near contemporary of Norman Nicholson, Rawling left West Cumbria before the World War II for university in London, qualified as a teacher, served in the war, and took up teaching in Oxford. But stored in his imagination was the experience of boyhood and adolescence in Ennerdale and Whitehaven – the hill farming, the becks and fells, the fishing and family life.. ‘ and these were released after he joined a poetry group run by Anne Stevenson at Oxford, when he was aged 60.
How Hall. Poems and Memories: A Passion for Ennerdale, with line drawings by Liz Boughton, and photographs of family and places featured in the poems, and including some previously unpublished wartime poems is being published in the place of his birth, by the Lamplugh and District Heritage Society, and will be launched at Ennerdale Show on 26 August, by Anne Stevenson – who wrote the introduction to the book. The book costs £7.50.

CHRIS WADSWORTH – HERCULES AND THE FARMER’S WIFE
and other stories from a Cumbrian art gallery
Chris Wadsworth is well known as the proprietor and curator of the Castlegate Gallery in Cockermouth, and has been a person-about-the-arts in Cumbria for many years. Now she’s turned to hand to writing, and her first book Hercules & the Farmer’s Wife – And Other Stories from a Cumbrian Art Gallery has just been published. Chris’ tales of what happened when she and her husband upped sticks and moved north to the Lake District are funny, touching and sometimes hair-raising (such as the ghost in the garden) and feature a cast of characters which include many of the artists the gallery shows, including farmer’s wife Karen Wallbank and reclusive, transvestite Percy Kelly – a private view of the wonderful world she discovered when she made art her business, in Cumbria. Hercules & the Farmer’s Wife, published by Aurum Press, ISBN 9781845134518, price £12.99.

JIM ELDRIDGE – DISGUSTING DAVE AND THE FARTING DOG
Look out Horrid Henry, because here comes Disgusting Dave … The latest book for children by Jim Eldridge features Dave, who is … well, quite disgusting – everyone says so, even his mum. And now Dave’s got a challenge: if he can avoid doing anything disgusting for a week, he gets a £20 reward. He thinks he can do it – at least, until his arch-enemy, Banger Bates, lands him with Fred, the farting dog. You know your kids will love it! Disgusting Dave and the Farting Dog is published by Hachette Children’s Books, ISBN 9780340981573, price £4.99.

NEW SHORT FICTION FROM FLAX – UNSAID UNDONE
The latest Flax downloadable book, 017, is an antholodgy of short fiction: Unsaid Undone. Described as ‘a punchy, diverse collection of stories that explore the silences in our relationships and the ensuing comfort and discomfort we feel’ It features authors are at various stages of the careers, all of whom show a love of language, deftness in construction and sense of urgency in what they have to tell us. Writers include Annie Clarkson, Andrew Michael Hurley and John Siddique, and from Cumbria: Marita Over and Brindley Hallam Download from www.litfest.org/unsaid-undone-flax017.html

HEATHER PARKER – MIDDLEWITCH
Until recently Heather Parker worked for the University of Cumbria but now writes freelance. She has won prizes in several literary competitions and many of her stories and articles have been published in UK and US magazines. Her new novel, Middlewitch, has just been published by Drollerie Press as an ebook. The book features Alicia, a young witch with a mission: to protect the citizens of Middlewitch, a sleepy little hamlet consisting mostly of a church, a senior citizen’s home, a pub, and two constables. With the help of her cats, Domino and Tango, the Women’s Institute, and even the Vicar, Alicia faces down demons, vampires, satanists, an American…and even the City. Sounds fun! Download Middlewitch, price $3.22 (pay credit card or PayPal and it’s automatically changed into sterling) from Drollerie website at: drolleriepress.com/bookshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=88$3.22
Find out more about Heather at her website www.ruslandvalleyscrapbook.co.uk , which also features her husband’s Lakeland photography and artwork.

OPPORTUNITIES

LAKE DISTRICT WRITING RETREATS
A not-for-profit organisation which provides Asian writers with more opportunities to write, and promote their writing is running some writers’retreatsin the Lake District – which are open to all writers. The retreats offer you the time and space to write without distractions, in beautiful surroundings – at a superb and very peaceful retreat near Windermere. Next retreat: 17 – 23 July 2009 from only £200 per person, homecooked meals included. Optional excursions include trip to Dove Cottage, Mirehouse, and Hill Top. Writing facilitator available for feedback. For further details or to book email shaikhf@hotmail.com or see www.theasianwriter.co.uk

WORK IN PROGRESS WRITING SURGERIES
Lancaster Spotlight is running a series of surgeries for writer – whether you’re just starting out or have been writing for some time, and whether you write for performance or the page – with Ron Baker and Sarah Fiske.
Surgeries will be held at The Gregson Centre on:
Sunday 12 July – 1pm – 3pm; Tuesday 21 July – 12pm – 2pm and Sunday 22November – 7pm – 9pm
Fee is £5 and places are limited so must be booked in advance. Prior to the surgery participants will be asked to submit by e-mail or word processed on A4 1,000 words of prose or 3 poems up to approximately 40 lines in length. To sign up for a 20 minute writing surgery e-mail: spotlightclub@btinternet.comor phone: 01524 381642
www.spotlightlancaster.co.uk This initiative is funded by Arts Council England.

SUMMER FICTION, POETRY AND SCRIPT WRITING WORKSHOPS
A series of fiction, scriptwriting and poetry workshops hosted by Incwriters will take place at Kitschen in Mossley this summer – a great venue to explore your writing, learn new skills and meet fellow writers and poets. Each workshop takes place in a purpose built venue beside the Huddersfield Canal and Tame River, alongside a countryside walk to Saddleworth and all participants will be supplied with free homemade refreshments and notebook. Workshops include:
4 July HELEN FARRALL (TV writer/BBC): Character-based Scene Writing
11 July IAN PARKS (Poet/Waywiser Press): Narrative Poetry – Stories in Verse
2 August ZOE LAMBERT (Writer/Comma Press): Wordy People – Creating Fictional Characters
15 August ANDREW OLDHAM (Writer/Route Books): Short Stories
There will also be a workshop for writers and poets on developing writing in progress:
25 July IAN PARKS & ANDREW OLDHAM: Workshop Words
For the full programme, contact Claire Summers at incwriters@yahoo.co.uk. There are B&Bs in Saddleworth and a select listing of them can be sent on request. Further information, and directions, can be accessed at:
www.incwriters.co.uk/KitschenWorkshops2009.htmF

BBC WRITERS ROOM
CBBC New Writers
CBBC are looking for a new generation of writers with fresh perspectives, original voices, and the ability to create unforgettable characters. This opportunity is opento any writer who wants to write drama for the 6-12 age range. www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/cbbc_writing_competition.shtml
See also:
New Scripts:
www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/categories/plug/acrobat/acrobat.shtml?intro
Merlin: Excalibur by Julian Jones – read an episode from Merlin by the creator of the series:
www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/merlin_s1e9.pdf
Browse through the script archive:
www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/script_archive.shtml
Want to write for the BBC yourself? Find out what to send on script submissions page:
www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/submissions_writersroom.shtml
Blog: Updates from College of Comedy, Writers Academy and Alfred Bradley Bursary Award as they happe, and a report from the recent Masterclass opportunity to write sketches for the Radio Comedy Show Formerly Known As 7 On 7: www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/

HOW TO GET AHEAD IN SCREENWRITING – SUMMER COURSE & MASTERCLASS
Signal Films is offering aspiring screenwriters in Lancashire and Cumbria the opportunity to take part in free scriptwriting training led by an industry expert this summer. Tutor Rob Ritchie is former Head of Screenwriting at the National Film and Television School, and will guide trainees through the process of developing a short film script to industry standard. Courses in Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster, with just 15 places available on each. 3 day courses will be followed by a 1 day intensive masterclass fin Barrow for trainees on the principles of pitching and securing commissions.
Screenwriting Courses:
Lancaster: Sat 11, Sun 12 July, Sat 5 September, 10am – 5pm.
The Storey Creative Industries Centre, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster, LA1 1TH. Refreshments provided. Barrow-in-Furness: Sat 25, Sun 26 July, Fri 11 September 10am – 5pm with refreshments.
The Dock Museum, North Road, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 2PW
Masterclass:
Barrow: Sat 12 September 9.30 – 5pm (Refreshments throughout the day and lunch will be provided)
The Custom House, 1 Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness,
For a place on the course or masterclass please contact Anna on 01229 839983 or email signalfilms@gmail.com In your application please include your short film script(s) and if possible a current C.V.
Applicants must be over 16 and living in Cumbria or Lancashire. Places are limited so be quick to register!
Signal Films: 01229 839983/01229 838592. This project is supported by Northwest Vision and Media, West Lakes Renaissance, Northern Rock Foundation, Barrow Borough Council and Furness Enterprise

NEW PLAYS NEEDED
HighTide is now looking for new, unproduced plays for the fourth HighTide Festival in May 2010 and its Autumn 2010 season from emerging writers. International scripts, written in English, are welcome – on the basis that all selected writers are available in the UK for the dramaturgy, rehearsal and production period from November 2009 to May 2010. Send play to scripts@hightide.org.uk – please make sure there is a title page with author’s name, address and telephone number. Scripts will not be returned, and enter your name and title of script in the subject line. Deadline: 31 July 2010

MARKINGS
Markings is a literary magazine with a lively editorial style and a commitment to quality, founded in 1995, it consistently features nationally and internationally established authors from Britain and abroad. It also seeks new talent, working closely with writers’ groups and libraries across the country to find tomorrow’s literary stars. Allied to the poetry performance space, The Bakehouse at Gatehouse-of-Fleet, Markings brings writers directly to people, in print, in performance and on film and the Internet and carries features on art and reviews which aim to review work you won’t find in the High Street bookstore but which is shaping today’s literary culture. See www.thebakehouse.info Submissions policy: Markings will consider unsolicited submissions of poetry, fiction, artwork and criticism. Forward work to submissions@markings.org.uk in electronic format, preferably using Microsoft Word or as rich text/plain text in other word processors. Further details on website. Deadline is 7 August.

NEW WRITER MAGAZINE
Subscription Offer
Take out a subscription with New Writer magazine, and they will add two free issues to the subscription that you require, whether 1, 2 or 3 year subs, in the UK or overseas. See website: www.thenewwriter.com/ for further details. For a free recent copy of the magazine send A4 SAE stamped at 76p (Large Letter) or 2 x first class stamps (UK) whatever’s easier or 5 International Reply Coupons (IRCs) to the address below.
Prose And Poetry Prizes 2009
International competitions for short stories, novellas, single poems, poetry collections, essays and articles; offers cash prizes as well as publication for the prize-winning writers in The Collection, special edition of The New Writer magazine each July. For further infor/guidelines and entry fees: www.thenewwriter.com/prizes.htm
Closing date 30 November.
The New Writer 100th issue
The magaz\ine is now seeking fiction and poetry and features from subscribers over the years for a bumper celebration issue, Jan/Feb 2010. If subscribers, past and present, would like to submit something for consideration, please email editor@thenewwriter.com – marked ‘100th issue’ in the subject line. Maximum words for short stories 2,000.
The New Writer, PO Box 60, Cranbrook TN17 2RE, Tel 01580 212626 admin@thenewwriter.com

COMPETITIONS

THE MANCHESTER FICTION PRIZE 2009
Under the direction of Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, the Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University The Manchester Fiction Prize is a new literary competition celebrating excellence in creative writing, with a
a cash prize of £10,000 for the writer of the best short story submitted. The competition is open to entrants aged 16 or over; there is no upper age limit. A bursary for study at MMU will also be awarded to an entrant aged 18-25 as part of the Manchester Young Writer of the Year Award*. Eligible entrants are asked to indicate on the entry form if they would like to be considered for the Manchester Young Writer of the Year Award in addition to the main prize.
Short stories should be 5,000 words in length, on any subject, in any style, but must be new work, not published or submitted for consideration elsewhere. The competition will be judged by distinguished novelists and short story writers Sarah Hall, M. John Harrison and Nicholas Royle. You can enter online by going to: www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk If you would like a printed entry pack for postal submission contact: James Draper,Project Manager: Writing School, Department of English, Manchester Metropolitan University on 0161 247 1787 or e-mail: j.draper@mmu.ac.uk Deadline for entries: 7 August.

247 TALES
New online competition by Bloomsbury Publishing which challenges young writers to create stories using fewer than 247 words. Each month different Bloomsbury author will write a 247 tale on a different theme , thenit’s over to Britain’s budding young writers – aged 8 – 16 – to create their own miniature masterpiece. One winner will be chosen each month, and they will have theier 247 tale featured on the website and win a selection of books. Full details at www.247tales.com
IF YOU KNOW OF ANY SCHOOLS IN YOUR AREA THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN
TAKING PART IN THIS COMPETITION THEN PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PASS MY DETAILS ON TO THEM
Ian LambSenior Publicity Manager (Children’s)Tel: 020 7494 6340

THE BASIL BUNTING POETRY AWARD 2009
An important new award which acknowledges and celebrates the life and work of Basil Bunting – a leading British modernist poet whose poems have established their place amongst the twentieth century’s best poetry. Bunting’s precise and measured speech in his best known long poem Briggflatts (about the Quaker meeting house near Sedbergh) which critic Cyril Connolly described as ‘the finest long poem to have been published in English since T S Eliot’s Four Quartets’. It is hoped the award will become recognised as a major honour for poets.First prize is £1000, second £500 and third £250 with up to three Commendations of £75 each and Neil Astley, editor of leading poetry publisher Bloodaxe Books (and Bunting’s publisher) has agreed to read the work of the award winners. Bunting always stayed close to his roots in Northumberland so this first award is being judged by three poets based in the north east of England: Sean O’Brien, Linda France and Paul Batchelor.
Entries will be accepted online or by post. Full details and conditions of at www.basilbuntingaward.co.uk
Closing date: 30 September.

EVENTS
Friday 26 June 8pm
WAX LYRICAL
A night for anyone who loves words: perform at the open mic or listen to some of the North West’s finest performing poets: Emma McGordon from Whitehaven and Sarah Miller from Barrow – hosted by Ann the Poet.
Wax Lyrical is a night of two halves: in the first half, local poets will be invited to stand up and perform their own poetry – book your slot by phoning Kirkgate Centre 01900 829966 or by signing up at 7.15pm on the night. In the In the second half two well-established local poets will take to the floor to showcase their work. West Cumbrian born and bred, Emma McGordon has a national reputation and is one of the country’s top young poets. Her collection Those Who Jump was recently published by Tall Lighthouse. Emma lives in Whitehaven with her partner, three dogs, four guitars and a cat. Sarah Miller is a performing poet and playwright. Her poetry, infused with dark humour, is influenced by youth culture, family and conversations she overhears on public transport.
£6 adults, £4 under 18s and open mic performers from Kirkgate Centre, or Billy Bowman’s Music Shop in Cockermouth.

Saturday 27 June 7.30 pm
A POEM AND A PINT – GUEST POET HELENA NELSON
Venue: The Village Hall, Water Yeat, Nr Ulverston
A summer evening party of poetry, music and good company – what better way to finish another great season of poetry events! Guest Scottish poet Helena Nelson, a writer skilled in both serious and light verse. Her first full poetry collection, Starlight on Water (Rialto Press, 2003) was a Jerwood Prize winner, while Unsuitable Poems (2005) represents her humorous and satirical side. Since then she’s performed widely, often provoking riotous laughter, and has somehow also managed to set up and run HappenStance Press, while working by day as a college lecturer in Adam Smith College, Fife. There are floor slots available for six local poets to read (apply at the door), live music from Kim Moore and Liz Wiejak, MC will be Ross Baxter, and entrance cost £4 and £3 concessions (pay at the door). Please note that there is no bar at this venue – please bring your own refreshments. For more complete information go to: www.apoemandapint.co.uk
Future Poem and a Pint Guest Poets will include:
12 September– ANDREW FORSTER
14 November– CLARE SHAW

Tuesday 7 July 7.30 pm
JACOB POLLEY
Jacob will be talking about his new novel Talk of the Town at Bookcase, Castle Street, Carlisle.
Tickets are £2 each, redeemable against purchase of the book on the night. Come and enjoy a glass of wine, good company, and meet Jacob Polley – and get your book signed. Tickets for sale at Bookends and Bookcase
Tel 01228 529067 or email bookscumbria@aol.com to reserve your ticket

Tuesday 21 July
READINGS AT BLUEBELL BOOKSHOP 7.30pm
Meg Peacocke will be reading at Bluebell Bookshop in Penrith, with Kate Foley and Joy Howard – more details to follow later.

EVENTS AT THE BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, KENDAL

Fri 3 July 7.30pm
Warehouse Books – a new series of readings and Q&As by Cumbrian authors –
Frederick Lightfoot: Fetish and Other Stories. FREE (but book ticket at the Box Office)
Collection of short stories by Frederick Lightfoot united by the theme of the fragility of human identity in the face of formidable hostility, stories range in time and place, from the collapse of the Roman Empire in Britain to the wharves of 18th century Manhattan – sometimes bleak subject matter, but with a belief in and celebration of a shared humanity. Although not explicit, the stories are adult in theme, with references to sex and violence.
Frederick Lightfoot studied English and Drama at Sussex University and his stories have appeared in numerous magazines and journals including Stand, Oasis, Northwords, Front and Centre Magazine. Winner of the Skrev Press short story competition 2005, he has published four novels – Migrants, Immigrants, Cry and Swans – to critical acclaim.

Thurs 16 July 7.30pm
Fourpenny Circus
The Fourpenny Circus comes to town with their Little Top full of poetic tricks. Gasp as they saw a poem in half, juggle words and pull ideas from a hat. Four Cheshire Poets Laureate combine in a show to make you laugh, think and even blush. Four distinguished poets who really ought to know better, and a dauntless professional director. Good poetry, performed well. £5/ £4 conc

Warehouse Open Mic
Sat 25 July – guest poets Dominic Berry & Andy Craven Griffiths
Sat 27 June – guest poets Kate Davis and Nikki Norton
Guest poets and open mic slots in a relaxed atmosphere with comfy sofas, with MC Ann Wilson.
7.30pm £2 audience, free to readers

Workshops
Sat 27 Jun – how to connect with your audience
Sat 25t July – writing workshop
4pm – 6pm £4

Box Office: 01539 725133 www.breweryarts.co.uk

WORDSWORTH TRUST EVENTS AT GRASMERE

Saturday 27 June 10.30am –4.30pm
Reminder: Last few places … Like the back of your hand: Poetry and the Landscape with Jen Hadfield
The Reading Room, The Jerwood Centre. £30
This workshop will assist participants to become acquainted with a place in its minutiae. We will explore the idea of becoming at home in the natural world through poetry: creating bivouacs of spoken/written language. Weather permitting, participants will explore the landscape around Dove Cottage.

Tuesday 30 June 6.45pm
Poetry in Grasmere: George Szirtes & Jen Hadfield at St Oswald’s Church, Grasmere
Another highlight of what has been a wonderful series so far. The youngest ever winner of the T S Eliot prize reading alongside an acknowledged master at the height of his powers, Jen Hadfield’s energetic, jaunty and iconoclastic poetry just screams to be heard, while George Szirtes’ cinematic poems continue to break new ground. £7 (£6 advance) Supper afterwards at Dale Lodge £16, £18.95 with a glass of wine (Last bookings for supper 12noon Monday) Book on 015394 35544

NB. There are only restricted view seats left for the Simon Armitage reading on 14 July, and these are going fast – book now to avoid disppointment.

Wednesday 1 July 2.30pm
A Spot of Poetry
with special guest Eileen Pun In the garden behind the Wordsworth Museum (weather permitting – in the Lower Rotunda at the Jerwood Centre if raining)
Another of our free, informal readings of classic and contemporary poems.Special guest Eileen Pun was born in New York, is a former volunteer with the Wordsworth Trust and was selected as a Cumbria County Council promising young writer in 2003. Several of her poems have appeared in anthologies by Cultureword and Suitcase Press. Eileen recently won the Rosamond Prize, supported by Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal Northern College of Music, for a collaborative piece of poetry and music composition. She is currently working on an MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University as well as a traineeship in publishing at Carcanet Press, Manchester.

Thursday 6 August 2.30 – 4.00pm
Wordsworth Trust Reading Group: Michael Symmons Roberts – The Half-Healed
Lower Rotunda, The Jerwood Centre, The Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere
Come and explore contemporary poetry with us. Whether you already read poetry regularly or have never read a poem before, these sessions will give us the opportunity to discuss new poetry in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
We hope you will have the opportunity to read the book before each session.
These events are free: to book email A.Forster@wordsworth.org.uk or phone 015394 35544