Archive for October, 2010
News…
1 year ago
by Birmingham Book Festival
in News
Birmingham Book Festival and new Library of Birmingham Accord Announced
Here’s a press release to mark our new accord with Birmingham Libraries that will see us partnering with them more and more over the coming years and working in the new Library of Birmingham, too..
We’re proud of this relationship and hope that it will grow and grow.
Here’s to 2011 and beyond..
The Story Exchange is back for 2010
1 year ago
by Birmingham Book Festival
in News
Needle & Thread Story Exchange Is Back!
Birmingham Book Festival Fringe Lounge: Central Library
Thurs 7th October: 12 noon – 8.00pm
Fri 8th October: 9.00am – 8.00pm
Sat 9th October: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Free!
This October Needle & Thread Theatre will be re-pitching their glorious book bazaar in the festival fringe lounge! We invite you to browse, peruse and explore the leafy pages of hundreds of sumptuous second hand books. Once you’ve found a book treasure to take away we won’t require your pounds or pence as payment, we simply ask that you give us a story. Any story! It can be an anecdote, a memory, a made up tale, a myth or a legend, a folk tale, a fairy tale, a fish tale!
With its relaxed, inviting and inventive atmosphere The Story exchange is a great chance to share a story, get creative or discover an unknown author. Feel free to pop by the central library foyer from Thurs 7th – Sat 9th Oct and immerse yourself in our magical world of words!
The Story Exchange. Simple. Find a book. Give a story.
Take the book home! No money. Just imagination!
Shami Chakrabarti confirmed to chair Gareth Peirce on Friday 8th October
1 year ago
by Birmingham Book Festival
in News
Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, will be chairing Friday’s event with human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce.
More about Shami (from the Liberty website):
“Shami Chakrabarti has been Director of Liberty (The National Council for Civil Liberties) since September 2003.
Shami first joined Liberty as In-House Counsel on 10 September 2001. She became heavily involved in its engagement with the ‘War on Terror’ and with the defence and promotion of human rights values in Parliament, the Courts and wider society.
A Barrister by background, she was called to the Bar in 1994 and worked as a lawyer in the Home Office from 1996 until 2001 for Governments of both persuasions.”
Also confirmed to introduce Gareth’s event is Professor Andrew Sanders, Head of the School of Law at the University of Birmingham.
Andrew was previously Head of Manchester School of Law 2003-7. He is the author of Criminal Justice (with R. Young), 3rd Ed, 2007 and The Case for the Prosecution (with M. McConville and R. Leng), 1991.
We hope you’ll agree that this is a stellar line up for an event that promises much discussion, compelling ideas and passion for justice and human rights.
Tickets are still available : 0121 303 2323 or here
This event is sponsored by the RSA, whose support of the Festival is invaluable.
Errors in this year’s brochure
1 year ago
by Birmingham Book Festival
in News
It happens every year, with the very best of intentions: those small errors in the print that every last proofreader misses. We kick ourselves, we double and triple read it, we vow that next time there won’t be any, but it’s inevitable – some always slip through.
We can only apologise if you’ve noticed them – or if they have caused any confusion.
A few we know about are below:
Emerging Talent should be listed as Wednesday 6 October, not Tuesday 6 October
Jonathan Coe & David Nicholls should be listed as Thursday 7 October, not Tuesday 7 October.
Lionel Shriver’s So Much For That description begins with the word ‘She’. This should say ‘Shep’. Shep is the protagonist of the (very brilliant) novel.
We hope there aren’t any more, and hope further still that they haven’t caused you too much grief. We apologise.
The Festival Team.
6 October: W/Shop – Writing For Internet Radio
1 year ago
Wednesday 6 October
TransMission Possible: an introductory workshop to writing for internet radio
1- 6pm
Venue: Radio Wildfire studio, Gun Quarter, Central Birmingham (full details will be given after booking)
Get your writing heard and help create a bespoke transmission for the Birmingham Book Festival on this writing for transmission workshop with Radio Wildfire. Internet radio is a growing field for the transmission of spoken word whether that be poetry, short stories, storytelling or drama. It is also an excellent medium for getting yourself noticed as a writer. The workshop will begin with a writing and editing session following which, after a break for refreshment, you will be recording your own work and helping to create the Birmingham Book Festival Loop, a repeating hour of material that will transmit for the rest of the festival period. This will include work produced during the day, archive material from last years festival plus work and interviews from artists taking part in 2010. The workshop will last until 6.00 pm but you are welcome to stay on afterwards until the whole of The Loop is ready and put online, and the publicity sent out. Ideas that you’ve already worked on and pieces you write on the day, they’ll all be considered for transmission.
Please give an email address as we will be sending other information (including directions and venue address) out to you before the workshop. (NB due to time restrictions, no guarantee can be made about the length of any contribution to The Loop. All decisions will be made on the day.)
The writing workshop will be led by Dave Reeves, Radio Wildfire presenter and previously editor of Raw Edge Magazine for 13 years; the recording and editing will be supervised by Vaughn Reeves and Benjamin Stanley from the Radio Wildfire creative production team.
Tickets: £26 (£23)
Box Office: 0121 303 2323 ONLINE BOOKING available now.
Fringe Festival: In Association with Birmingham Libraries
1 year ago
FESTIVAL FRINGE
In association with Birmingham Libraries
The Festival Fringe events are part of a wider, free, Fringe programme by Birmingham Libraries during the Autumn.
A pdf of the full Birmingham Libraries Fringe Festival 2010 (supported by us) is available here.
The Library have been good enough to lend us their fringe space for the following events.
Venue: Fringe Lounge (Central Library Foyer), Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ
Meet The Author:
Christine Coleman will be in the Fringe Lounge on Friday 15th October, 5-6pm.
Come and chat to Christine about her two novels, Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society and Paper Lanterns, and about writing and publishing.
Meet The Academy:
Birmingham City University and the National Academy of Writing will be in the Fringe Lounge on Wednesday 6th October, 5-6pm. Come and meet students and staff, talk about writing, studying writing, and the courses on offer, including a brand new MA in Writing.
These events are free and you don’t need a ticket – just drop in!
14 October: W/Shop: Nick Walker- Flash Noir Fiction in Hitchcock’s Hallway
1 year ago
WORKSHOP
Thursday 14 October
Ikon Eastside, 3 Fazeley Street, Birmingham, B5 5SE
2.30 – 4.30pm
Nick Walker: Flash Noir Fiction in Hitchcock’s Hallway
A suspense-filled, Hitchcock-drenched writing workshop where typing is against the clock and the only light is sliced through Venetian blinds. Your Jimmy Stewart for the afternoon is Perrier nominated writer, novelist, and playwright Nick Walker. You’ll pay for the whole seat, but only use the edge of it.
With thanks to Ikon Gallery 
Note: This workshop will take place amidst Ikon Eastside’s exhibit, Hitchcock’s Hallway and will include a short talk on the installation. www.ikon-gallery.co.uk
Tickets: £23 (£17)
Box Office: 0121 303 2323 or BOOK ONLINE
9 October: W/Shop: Mandy Ross – Family Writing
1 year ago
WORKSHOP
Saturday 9 October
Shakespeare Memorial Room, Birmingham Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ (meeting point)
10.30am -12.30pm
Mandy Ross: Family Writing
Join Mandy Ross for a walking, writing tour of the city centre. Taking in Birmingham’s architecture, nature, history – and its people – you may find inspiration in the least likely places…
Mandy has written over 60 children’s books. Her latest, Hometown History Birmingham, traces the city’s history from Roman times to the present.
Tickets sold in pairs:
£12 for one adult and one 9-16 year old
Box Office: 0121 303 2323 or BOOK ONLINE
Note: this workshop will involve walking. Waterproofs and comfortable footwear are advised.
Workshop Saturday is sponsored by Newman University College, Birmingham
9 October: W/Shop: Andy Walsh – Writing for Games
1 year ago
WORKSHOP
Saturday 9 October
South Birmingham College, High Street Deritend, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SU
1.30pm – 4pm
Andy Walsh: Writing for Games
In Association with the Writers’ Guild
This practical, interactive workshop will outline the ins and outs of interactive writing. Industry terminology explained, writing styles demonstrated and a chance to try your hand at some games writing.
Andrew Walsh has worked as a writer, designer, director or script consultant on more than 40 videogames. He won the 2009 Writers’ Guild Videogames Writing Award for Prince Of Persia.
Tickets: £23 (£17)
Box Office: 0121 303 2323 or BOOK ONLINE
Workshop Saturday is sponsored by Newman University College, Birmingham
9 October: W/Shop: Jo Ind – Finding Your Blogging Voice
1 year ago
WORKSHOP
Saturday 9 October
South Birmingham College, High Street Deritend, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SU
1.30pm – 4pm
Jo Ind: Finding Your Blogging Voice
You can write – but how do you write for the web? A practical workshop on writing blog posts, including tips on drawing readers to your website and using photographs.
Jo is a journalist and a blogger (joind.co.uk). She is deputy site editor for NHS local (nhslocal.nhs.uk) and manages its blogs.
Tickets: £23 (£17)
Box Office: 0121 303 2323 or BOOK ONLINE
Workshop Saturday is sponsored by Newman University College, Birmingham
