full programme

25 – 28 JUNE 2015
PROGRAMME
THURSDAY 25th JUNE
WHERE DO WE
GO FROM HERE?
– LITERATURE
DEVELOPMENT
IN LEICESTER
A Mass
Conversation about
Literary Strategy in
Leicester
TWITTER Q&A
WITH DAMIEN
WALTER
Room
KE LT1,
Ken Edwards
Building,
The Centre of
New Writing,
University of
Leicester
Twitter
4.30 PM –
5.30 PM
FREE
8 PM –
9 PM
FREE
In association with the Centre for New Writing,
Leicester Writes hosts a Pecha Kucha style event to
discuss our collective ambitions for literary
development in Leicestershire. We invite anyone who
is engaged with Leicester's writing scene to join this
conversation. What are our ambitions for literary
development in Leicester? What have we got? How
can we collaborate most effectively? What do we
need? What are our ambitions for literary development
in Leicester? How can we achieve them? Please fill in
our simple Survey Monkey questionnaire in advance of
the meeting. No need to book for this event. Survey
link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8XSH3WR
Join us on Twitter for a Q&A with writer and
columnist, Damien Walter. Walter was the first
professional reviewer to dedicate attention to indie
authors in his regular column for The Guardian. He
helps indie authors and major publishers market their
work in the digital world. Please use the hashtag
#AskDamienW to join the conversation and put your
questions forward.
th
Full line up
tbc
Damien
Walter
FRIDAY 26 JUNE
MASTERCLASS
THE ART OF
SHORT STORY
WRITING
Room
ATT LT3,
Attenborough
Building,
Centre of New
Writing,
University of
Leicester
10 AM –
1 PM
£15
In this masterclass, renowned short story writer and
novelist, Jacob Ross will teach you about how to
develop your short story voice. Learn what makes a
good short story and the techniques you can employ to
fine tune and develop your own creations. This will be
part one of a two part masterclass with Jacob Ross
offered in association with University of Leicester’s
Centre of New Writing.
Jacob Ross
WORKSHOP:
STORY GAMES
WITH POLLY
TUCKETT
IN
CONVERSATION
WITH JAMIE
MOLLART
Room
ATT LT3,
Attenborough
Building,
Centre of New
Writing,
University of
Leicester
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square, 4
Midland
Street,
Leicester
2 PM – 4
PM
6.30 PM –
7.30 PM
£15
£7
In this two hour workshop Polly Tuckett uses game
strategies and play to tease out the stories we want to
write, and help us bring them to life. In association
with Writing School East Midlands.
Described as ‘a haunting debut novel of Mad Men and
redemption’ Jamie Mollart explores the darker side of
the advertising world in The Zoo. Jamie will be in
conversation with festival director, Farhana Shaikh.
Followed by drinks in the bar.
Polly Tuckett
Jamie Mollart
Farhana
Shaikh
SATURDAY 27th JUNE
Registration opens at 10 AM at Phoenix Square
KEYNOTE:
WRITERS ON
WRITING
WRITE YOUR
NOVEL AND GET
PUBLISHED
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square, 4
Midland
Street,
Leicester
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square, 4
Midland
Street,
Leicester
Join authors Kerry Young and Rod Duncan in the first
session of the day as they share invaluable insights
about a writer’s life.
10.30 AM
– 11.15
AM
11.15 AM
– 12.30
PM
Kerry Young
Rod Duncan
£10
Advice for first time writers can be confusing and
contradictory. This session will give you the
opportunity to hear from published writers and
publishers. If you’re thinking of writing a novel or
have just finished your first draft this panel will offer
insights into the world of writing and publishing.
Discover what publishers are looking for and how you
can make sure your submission stands out from the
crowd. Panel discussion with Alison Moore, Jonathan
Alison Moore
Jonathan
Taylor
Will
Buckingham
Tom
Chalmers
Taylor, Will Buckingham and Tom Chalmers. Chaired
by Farhana Shaikh.
Farhana
Shaikh
12.30 -1.30
NETWORKING LUNCH
KEYNOTE: AN
AUDIENCE WITH
BALI RAI
MURDER HE
WROTE
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square, 4
Midland
Street,
Leicester
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square, 4
Midland
Street,
Leicester
1.30 PM –
2.30 PM
3 PM –
4 PM
£10
£10
Bali Rai was born in Leicester in 1971 and grew up in
a multicultural part of the city. After a brief stint
working in London he returned home to Leicester and
worked in a supermarket, bar and nightclub before
turning his hand to writing full time. His first novel,
Unarranged Marriage was written to critical acclaim
and he has gone on to write many more. In 2010, his
novel, Rani and Sukh became a set text for GCSE. In
this inspirational keynote, Leicester author, Bali will
talk about his writing life and read from his work.
Followed by a Q&A with the audience.
In association with An Indian Summer
What are the key ingredients for writing good crime
fiction? How do you know you’re on to a good idea
and what will keep your readers interested over a
series? Local authors discuss their work, followed by a
Q&A with the audience. Featuring authors Richard
Cox, John Martin and Mark Wright
Bali Rai
Richard Cox
John Martin
Mark Wright
DIVYA GHELANI
– AN IMPERIAL
TYPEWRITER
Curve
Seminar
Room, Curve
Theatre,
Rutland Street,
Leicester
3 PM –
4 PM
FREE
Recently published in an anthology called Hidden
Stories – commissioned by the Centre for New
Writing, this is a story concerning the Ugandan Asian
strikers in the 1970s. A critical reflection and Q&A
will follow the reading.
In association with An Indian Summer
Divya
Ghelani
This event is free but will need to be booked with Curve
box office separately.
WRITING DRAMA
FOR RADIO AND
TELEVISION
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square, 4
Midland
Street,
Leicester
4.15 PM 5.15 PM
£10
Where do you start? What are the opportunities and the
challenges facing writers and how do you best apply
your talents? What are the opportunities and the
challenges? A panel of writers offer advice and
encouragement. This session is sponsored by Leicester
Media School MA TV Scriptwriting (De Montfort
University). Panel discussion with Furquan Akhtar,
Pardeep Aujla, Kulvinder Gill, Michelle Lipton, Shazia
Rashid, Laura Spooner. Chaired by Jim Hill
Furquan
Akhtar
Pardeep Aujla
Kulvinder
Gill
Michelle
Lipton
Shazia Rashid
Laura
Spooner
Jim Hill
MASTERCLASS:
SECRETS TO
WRITING
SUCCESS
BLOOD – THE
PLAY
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square, 4
Midland
Street,
Leicester
Curve Theatre,
Leicester
5.30 PM –
6. 45 PM
7.45 PM
£10
£14
£2 off full price
tickets – enter
code LWRITES
In this fun interactive session, Mahsuda Snaith, winner
of the SI Leeds Prize, Bristol Short Story Prize and a
finalist of the Mslexia Novel Competition will share
her invaluable tips and secrets for writing success.
Prize winning authors, Rebecca Burns and Mark will
read from their work and discuss the art of writing
successful short stories.
Caneze meets Sully in the college canteen. The heat
rises over triple chilli sauce in Nando’s. She makes her
move in the sweet smoke of a shisha bar. A touchpaper
is lit… but neither of them bargained on the lengths to
which her brother would go to keep them apart. A
21st century love story set in a Midlands Pakistani
community.
Mahsuda
Snaith
Rebecca
Burns
Mark
Newman
SUNDAY 28th JUNE
Registration opens at 10 AM at Phoenix Square
MASTERCLASS:
THE INSIDE
TRACK ON COPYEDITING AND
PROOFREADING
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square, 4
Midland
Street,
Leicester
BLOOD:
AFTERSHOW
DISCUSSION
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square
10.30 AM
-11.30am
£10
11.30 AM
– 12.30
PM
£10
In this session you’ll learn about proofreading and
copy-editing. You’ll discover what proofreaders and
copy-editors do and the difference between them.
You’ll gain an insight into the process of editing,
common mistakes writers make, and tips on how you
can self-edit your manuscript before sending it out to
professionals.
Join playwright, Emteaz Hussain in this post show
discussion to explore the theatre making process.
Here’s your chance to put questions to Emteaz and
share your thoughts on the play. In association with An
Indian Summer
Richard
Sheehan
Emteaz
Hussain
12.30 PM – 1.25 PM
NETWORKING LUNCH
KEYNOTE:
NIKESH SHUKLA
BEING A
CONTEMPORARY
NOVELIST…
NEW
TECHNOLOGIES,
NEW
DIRECTIONS
Courtyard
Suite, Phoenix
Square, 4
Midland
Street,
Leicester
Courtyard
Room, LCB
Depot, 31
Rutland Street,
Leicester
1.30 PM 2.30 PM
£10
3 PM –
£10
4 PM
Nikesh Shukla is a writer of fiction and television. In
his latest novel, Meatspace, Nikesh writes about a
social media obsessed author struggling to write his
second book. His ‘lamb chop in space’ video went viral
and was reported in news across the world. In this
keynote talk, Nikesh Shukla will talk candidly about
his experiences as a writer and read from his work as
well as offer some home truths about what it means to
be a contemporary novelist today.
How can writers best utilise new technologies to find
new audiences? And how are publishers making the
most of new technologies to spot new talent? This
diverse panel will talk about their respective projects
and how they’ve used technology to gain followers,
publish their work and win trust in a constantly
Nikesh
Shukla
Rosalind
Adam
Alex Davis
Kiran Nagra
crowded space. Panel discussion with Rosalind Adam,
Alex Davis, Kiran Nagra, Andy Reeves, Imran Siddiq
LITERARY
SHOWCASE
FINALE
Exchange
Bar
Basement, 50
Rutland St,
Leicester
4 PM –
5.30 PM
£5 at the door
Join us for a spectacular finale as Leicester’s hottest
literary talent takes over the floor to perform their
latest work. An eclectic showcase of poetry, spoken
word, flash fiction and short stories featuring Shruti
Chauhan, Carol Leeming, Tim Grayson, Lydia
Towsey, Jenny Hibberd and Ishi Khan Jackson along
with many more. In association with An Indian
Summer.
Andy Reeves
Imran Siddiq
Shruti
Chauhan
Carol
Leeming
Tim Grayson
Lydia
Towsey
Jenny
Hibberd
Ishi Khan
Jackson