The Spring Thing has come and gone… And what a Thing it was. During the sun-filled weekend, hundreds of visitors took part in workshops, listened to their favourite authors and submerged themselves in two days of literature and poetry. Our personal highlights were Project Pigeon’s monogamous pigeons, the carrot cake we ate with Sophie Hannah and John Hegley’s handkerchief unicorn.

There were so many things going on during the Spring Thing that were special to us. One of the events we are most proud of is the launch of David Lodge’s new novel, A Man of Parts.

It was also great to see the creative outpourings from several Spring Thing visitors: Some of you did some amazing poetry on the big magnetic poetry board. We also asked you to write down what Birmingham means to you. As a result, you gave us a fantastic range of answers, from “Birmingham: A place of Employment” to “Everything”.   

The Spring Thing 2011 was a big success and we can’t wait to do it all again next year. From all of us at the Birmingham Book Festival: thank you so much for coming, we hope you enjoyed the festival as much as we did. So long for now and see you in October for the Birmingham Book Festival 2011!  

Meanwhile, here are a few notices of things coming up that we thought you might like…

Soul City Arts presents:

i-SLAM POETRY – WOMEN’S SPECIAL

The slam is open to ALL women with a passion for poetry

‘If you’re able to be yourself, then you have no competition. All you have to do is get closer and closer to that essence.

– Barbara Cook’
Hosted by

Charlie Jordan | Birmingham Poet Laureate and Radio Presenter

Guest poets and slam judges
Zena Edwards | Internationally acclaimed spoken word artist

Fatima Al Matar | Poet and Author

Enter the competition for a chance to win cash prizes for winner and runner-up plus 1-2-1 mentoring with UK’s finest female spoken word artists.

Date: Friday 6th May 2011 

Time: 6.30pm – 9pm 

Venue: The Hubb, 9 Stoney Lane, Balsall heath, Birmingham, B12 EDL
TICKETS £7 (inc refreshments)

To enter competition (free) or for more info contact Aisha:

 events@soulcityarts.com | 07825 688 020

Audition: Saturday 30th April. 2-4pm, The Hubb

Purchase tickets online at www.soulcityarts.com/i-slamwomen

Postcode Stories in Birmingham:

Secret Stories of Kings Norton……

Kings Norton. It’s a typical neighbourhood in a typical town. Not much happens in these quiet everyday streets. Or does it?

That weird road name you spotted – where did that come from? Why is the old church boarded up? As for that old knarled tree in the graveyard…. perhaps strange things are afoot, and perhaps ghosts walk these lanes.

You’d like to follow further? Well, dive into this map where you can discover three dastardly Kings Norton tales, all created by the 213th Maypole Girl Guides group  in Birmingham. Hide the trails you don’t want to see yet by clicking on the name at the bottom of the map, and follow the pathway, story to story.

More from us soon.