Displaying items by tag: lgbt events

Monday, 11 May 2015 16:01

6.3.2015 - Interview in Network Buzz #3

Really delighted to be interviewed in Issue 3 of Network Buzz!
Here's the link:
Click to read Network Buzz online

or you can read the full interview here...

Thomas Anderson Inclusive Networks interview

2015 has got off to a great start thank you. I'm now working for myself which is wonderful. Hope you're well and excited about the paperback release of Vixen.

1 - Your second novel Vixen is about to be released on paperback. What's the book about?

The year is 1349. In an isolated village deep in a forest in the south west of England, the arrival of a mysterious young woman – the Vixen - turns the lives of the villagers upside down.
I am fascinated by times when the world was on the cusp of massive change. 1349 was the year the Black Death struck England. Its shadow could be seen advancing across Europe. I wanted to capture that sense of a deadly, inescapable force heading your way.

2 - Are isolation and loneliness things that you personally fear?

Not any more.
But I've had my share. I spent my teenage years in Devon, which was not a good place to be in any way 'different'. It wasn't just about sexuality – anything that wasn't marriage and 2.4 children (preferably with one on its way by the age of 16) was regarded as deeply suspect. I yearned for escape and counted the days till I was 18 and could escape.

3 - Your debut novel 'The Palace of Curiosities' was very well received and is adored by many people. What were you feeling ahead of the release of Vixen last year?

Fear!
As my follow-up novel, it felt like the 'difficult second album' on occasion. Vixen is a different book to 'The Palace of Curiosities' and not just in the 500-year time shift.
I have a nasty inner critic – Mavis - who never ever says anything nice. She kept whispering that the reaction would be a sneering 'Ok, so people liked 'The Palace of Curiosities'. They aren't going to like Vixen.'
Luckily, that hasn't been the case.
I've blogged about Mavis here: http://www.rosiegarland.com/news-and-events/item/177-being-a-writer-dealing-with-the-internal-censor.html

4 - How did you feel when the book began receiving lots of great feedback and was dubbed 'Best for Historical Fiction fans' in Grazia's Summer reading list?

I've been astounded by the great response! Here's a snippet from the amazing review in Diva: 'Poetic, surprising and ultimately deeply moving, Vixen will have you hooked faster than it takes to drink a jug of ale and – unlike ale – it will stay with you long after you've reached the final page.'

5 - How important are magazine and online reviews to you?

Very and not at all, if that makes any sense.
Positive reviews are wonderful; I'd be lying if I said they weren't. I'm extremely lucky to have had nothing but - so far. I won't let them go to my head. I'd hate to become one of those people who are so puffed up about themselves they believe their own publicity and are a complete nightmare to be around. After all, a review is a personal opinion and nothing more.

6 - Do you think your books would adapt well to the small, or big, screen and how would you react if this idea was brought to you?

I would be delighted! Seriously, I'd do my massively uncool happy dance.

7 - You're a big advocate of local book stores. Why do you think it's so important to shop local and support the independent book stores?

I don't know about anyone else, but I think it matters when yet another indie or queer-friendly café / club / shop closes down and is replaced with a faceless retail chain. Who wants to live in a neighbourhood where the only option is Starbucks?
Oh yes - and indie stores pay their taxes and treat their staff like human beings. Next!

8 - We're seeing many local libraries close due to cuts. How important do you think public libraries are and did they play a part in your own dreams to be a writer?
It frightens me when folk say we don't need libraries 'because everything's online and free'. Er – no it isn't. Libraries are far more than a repository of books. A positive childhood memory is the Saturday trip to the local library. I explored new worlds, learned new things, thought new thoughts. It was the beginning of a love affair that's still going strong. It was National Libraries Day recently. Here's my love letter:
http://www.rosiegarland.com/news-and-events/item/649-20112014-a-passion-for-libraries.html

9 - You take part in lots of literary events and book tours. Are these something you enjoy (and why) and are these important to authors?
I love doing readings. Maybe it's connected to happy memories of being read to as a kid. Before I could read, I was hooked by the magic of words.
Sure, I understand not every writer enjoys live readings, but I get a buzz when I can communicate and share my stories. If that encourages and enables others to tell theirs – that's even better. We need to get our work out there, even when the mainstream world tells us it is uninteresting, weird, or just plain wrong. Especially when the mainstream world tells us that.

10 - Did you have any literary role models growing up? Were you encouraged to follow your dreams at school and at home?

I had great teachers who encouraged me to write. I produced my first novel aged nine: a science fiction extravaganza featuring rockets and sharks. With pictures. All of that was fine till I started exploring the more macabre / queerer side of life in my teens. The encouragement evaporated and was replaced by disapproval.
Luckily, I was a stubborn brat and kept going.

11 - It's International Womens Day on 8th March. Is there a female in your life who has inspired you the most in your career and/or personal life?

That is such a difficult question. Impossible to answer!
I guess the first of many inspirational women was my grandmother. She always had time to read stories and listen to mine. We shared a love of splashing in puddles and climbing trees. She accepted who I was and didn't force me into being something I wasn't.

12 - You're also the lead vocalist of The March Violets. We'd love to know more about the group and what you have planned music wise for 2015?

Singing is one of life's particular pleasures. The March Violets is unusual in having a male / female duo fronting the band – Si Denbigh and myself. We reformed in 2007, thinking we'd do a one-off reunion gig. But hundreds of fans turned up and made it very clear they weren't going to let us go away again.
This year we're playing Europe and the USA. In 2014 we toured the West Coast from Seattle to LA. It was incredible - we had such a wonderful welcome. The plan is to head to the East Coast in 2015 with the new album, 'Made Glorious'. Keep an eye on the website!
http://www.marchviolets.com/

13 - Novel number 3. When can we expect this? Will you be exploring any new genres or themes?

I'm working on it – slowly! I'm at that early stage where it's a tangled heap of words. I go through phases of thinking it's complete rubbish. Luckily I have an encouraging editor at HarperCollins.
It's set just before WW1 and revolves around family secrets. Once again, I've been drawn to a period of upheaval; specifically that moment shortly before enormous changes take place. I view those times rather like an indrawn breath, held and not released.

14 - What's next for you?

I'm busy on a number of projects, which suits me fine. I'd get bored if I was only doing one thing. The trick is to get that number right...
The book tour for the paperback release of 'Vixen' is ongoing through March and April. There's the new novel to get on with, plus The March Violets tour mentioned above. If that wasn't enough, I'm treading the boards as Rosie Lugosi the Vampire Queen. Plus I'm writing new poetry, in particular, a sequence of narrative poems inspired by the 2 years I worked as a teacher in Darfur, Sudan. Truly a stranger in a strange land.
So - 2015 is already busy. I love the fascinating projects that come into my life! One that's very exciting is being invited to co-curate the John Rylands Library Literary Gothic exhibition in summer 2015. And I am headlining Polari Literary Salon in June – wow!

Published in News
BOLD Queer Poetry Soirée

Thursday 7th July
Above the Stag Theatre & Bar,
72 Albert Embankment
Vauxhall
London SE1 7TP

Doors 19:30, show 19:45-21:30
£12 (live) £6 (livestream)

Do come to BOLD's end-of-season musical finale on July 7th with post-punk Rosie Garland, poet Simon Madrell & virtuoso violinist Kate Conway hosted by the divine Nathan Evans
Tickets here: http://bit.ly/3NomRC0

‘a wonderful collection of fascinating stories by unique voices'—Kathy Burke on Inkandescent’s Mainstream anthology

‘one of the most compelling LGBT+ writers in the UK today’—Val McDermid on Rosie Garland

‘has things to teach me about being human, about how to live with trauma, loss and love.’
—Will Harris, RENDANG (Best First Collection, Forward Prize 2020) on Simon Maddrell

Inkandescent were founded by Justin David and Nathan Evans to champion diverse writers underrepresented in mainstream publishing. Recent publications include Address Book by Neil Bartlett and the Mainstream anthology.

Published in Gig List
Polari Salon

G-A-Y Manchester
63 Richmond Street
Manchester
M1 3WB
7pm – 10pm

Fresh from our sell-out event at the legendary nightclub Heaven, London's multi award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon rocks up in Manchester.
A night of cabaret, comedy, poetry and performance with a literary bent.
Hosted by author Paul Burston with special guests –

Author, poet and performer Rosie Garland (‘What Girls Do In The Dark')
Award-winning author and performer Karen McLeod as Barbara Brownskirt
LGBT+ History Month Poet Laureate, publisher and performer Adam Lowe
Author Paul Magrs ('The Panda, the Cat and the Dreadful Teddy')
£8 in advance, £10 (£5 conc) cash only on the door
"The most exciting literary movement in London - crackling with energy, ideas, excitement" - Huffington Post
"Lively, funny and inspiring"- Patrick Gale
"Always fun, always thought-provoking – a guaranteed good night out" - Sarah Waters
Part of the Polari Prize Tenth Anniversary Tour, funded by Arts Council England.
PLEASE NOTE -
Tickets are being sold based on current Covid restrictions.
If restrictions are lifted on July 19, more tickets will be released.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/polari-manchester-tickets-159581856629

Published in Gig List

Neptune's Glitter House for WayWard Poets

Friday 28th of May, 7pm BST
Free event

Merman poet Serge Neptune hosts readings by poets Stuart McPherson, Chloe Proctor and Rosie Garland.

The most over the top poetry broadcast. On Zoom. Poets chill, drink wine, read work in glamorous outfits, hosted by your very gay Serge Neptune.

Register for the your free Zoom ticket here -
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neptunes-glitter-house-for-wayward-poets-2x04-tickets-153799738157?keep_tld=1

Published in Gig List
Tuesday, 18 August 2020 09:27

17-21.8.2020 - Leeds Digital Pride ONLINE

Digital Pride Programme

Starting on Monday 17 August, celebrations of Leeds Pride will be showcased across a range of digital channels. The full programme is below:

Pride Film Festival
The University of Leeds, Leeds Arts University and Leeds Beckett University have collaborated with Hyde Park Picture House to create a self-curating LGBT+ film programme. The programme provides links to more than 25 films, both long and short form, which can be navigated as a personal mini Pride Film Festival.
We are really excited about the programme, with Leeds’ friendly, local indie cinema Hyde Park Picture house profiling a new film every day. It includes suggestions from LGBT+ author, musician, poet Rosie Garland (aka Rosie Lugosi); and members of the LGBT+ networks at the three coordinating universities.

The full film listing will go live on the University’s Medium account later this week. Follow the University of Leeds on twitter where we will be sharing all Medium articles as they go live throughout the week.

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4653/universities_in_leeds-together_for_pride_2020

Published in Gig List
Out on the Page

16 May, 15:00 – 16:30 BST
Online Zoom Video-Conference

Guest Writer Q&A: ROSIE GARLAND | Free Event

Join award-winning writer Rosie Garland for an informal 'round-table' Q&A where we explore with Rosie, amongst other things, her experience of emerging as a writer. She will also do a short reading of her writing.

Out on the Page was set up in 2018 by Paul Bradley-Cong as an experimental project to bring together LGBTQ+ writers to write, support each other and to share information and experiences.

https://www.outonthepage.co.uk/event-details/guest-writer-q-a-rosie-garland-free-event

Published in Gig List
Saturday, 08 February 2020 14:02

24.2.2020 - Oldham LGBTQ4U Launch Night

Oldham LGBTQ4U Launch Night with Rosie Garland

Oldham Library
Greaves Street
Oldham
OL1 1AL

Mon, February 24, 2020
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Free event

Oldham 0LGBTQ4U
Celebrate LGBT History Month & the Launch of a new LGBT initiative @Oldham Library in partnership with LGBT Foundation

LGBT Foundation and Oldham Libraries invites you to the launch night of a new Oldham group initiative – Oldham LGBTQ4U. Meeting the last Monday of every month at Oldham Library, the group aims to bring together LGBT people, Queer people, and allies who wish to expand their social and cultural horizons. The group is open to all LGBT communities, we aim to be as inclusive as possible and to reach people who might otherwise feel socially isolated due to their age, ethnicity, identity, sexuality or gender.

To launch this new group initiative and to celebrate LGBT History Month we have invited performer, writer, and Queer historian Rosie Garland. Rosie will talk about their recent residency at John Rylands Library and the notion of ‘queering the library’, recite pieces from some of their recent work, and the importance of LGBT History month to our communities.

Tea, coffee and refreshments will be provided.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oldham-lgbtq4u-launch-night-with-rosie-garland-tickets-93055528591?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

http://www.oldham-council.co.uk/libevent/events/view/united-kingdom/oldham/oldham-library/oldham-lgbtq4u-launch-night-with-rosie-garland

Published in Gig List
Monday, 11 November 2019 14:39

22.11.2019 - Polari Literary Salon, Macclesfield

Polari Literary Salon / Bona to Vada your Dolly old Eek! Double bill

Fri, 22 November 2019
King Edward Street Chapel
4 King Edward Street
Macclesfield
SK10 1AB

An exclusively bona double bill from some of the best-known names in LGBT+ writing and performance in the beautifully intimate surroundings of King Edward Street Chapel. Troll on in!
Polari Literary Salon with Paul Burston
London’s award-winning LGBT+ literary salon comes to LIT. Founded in 2007 by author Paul Burston, Polari showcases the best in emerging and established LGBT+ literary talent. Named Best Cultural Event in the Co-Op Respect Loved by You Awards 2013, the salon is based at London’s Southbank Centre and also tours regularly. Tonight’s event is programmed and hosted by Burston, with guest performers including award-winning authors Rosie Garland, VG Lee and Okechukwu Nzelu.
Bona to Vada your Dolly old Eek! with Jez Dolan
Take a troll, stretch your lallies, vada the omipalones and enter the bijou world of Polari artist Jez Dolan. With music, art, and a liberal sprinkling of performing stardust, Jez creates a unique and original show using Polari as his inspiration.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/polari-literary-salon-bona-to-vada-your-dolly-old-eek-double-bill-tickets-77170074771

https://litmacc.org/

Published in Gig List
Sunday, 25 August 2019 16:05

28.9.2019 - QStory, Northampton

Q Story

Umbrella Fair Pavilion
The Racecourse,
Kettering Road,
Northampton, NN1 4LG

Join us for a day of author talks, readings and spoken word as we celebrate LGBTQIA literature. Please see the "book festival authors” page for details of the authors who will be joining us. The festival is open to LGBTQIA people and allies alike, and will be a day for our community to come together and have fun.

The timings for the day will be as follows:
11.00 am Doors open
11.15 am Welcome speech
11.30 am - 12.30 pm Rosie Garland
1.00 pm - 2.00 pm Meg-John Barker - etc

Tickets will cover the whole day and there will be three different pricing options depending on what you feel you can afford. There will also be free tickets available for carers accompanying people with disabilities. If you would like to come but cannot afford a ticket, please contact us and we will see what we can do.
Low-income price: £3
Standard price: £5
Supporter price: £10

Our venue
The festival will be held at the Umbrella Fair Pavilion in Northampton. There is parking on site. Our author talks will be held in a marquee on-site, the main hall in the Pavilion will be used for author signings, eating and socialising, and there will also be a smaller, quiet room available for those who need some chill-out time.

There is a vegetarian and vegan cafe on site, and other options for food nearby. There will be a vegetarian & vegan BBQ in the evening. Please note that the Umbrella Fair Organisation is a vegetarian/vegan organisation and we ask you to respect their values by not consuming meat on-site.

https://qstorynorthampton.webs.com/book-festival-details

Published in Gig List
LGBT+ tour of The John Rylands Library

The John Rylands Library
150 Deansgate
Manchester, M3 3EH

Saturday, July 27, 2019
11:15 AM 1:30 PM
Free event

Towering over Deansgate, The John Rylands Library is one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings.
Imposing? Yep. Daunting? Sure. Ever ventured inside? Think it’s not the place for ‘you’?

Come on this specially-designed tour with Manchester writer Rosie Garland. Nominated for the Polari Prize & winner of the Coop LGBT Novel of the Year, her latest book ‘The Night Brother’ has been described as ‘Orlando meets Jekyll & Hyde’.

Discover how she’s Queering the Rylands, using the collections to inspire her new novel. Find out about ghosts, and the woman who built the library. How we can write our queer stories into new spaces.
Join us and put a queer pin in the map of Manchester.
Here be dragons!

https://superbia.org.uk/events/lgbt-tour-of-the-john-rylands-library

Published in Gig List
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News and Events

  • Royal Society of Literature - Fellowship
    Royal Society of Literature - Fellowship
    Royal Society of Literature Fellowship

     

    On 12th July 2023 I was made a Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature! It was something I never imagined in a hundred years.

    It's a tremendous honour, & a testament to the quality of my writing. To say I am thrilled is a huge misunderstatement.

    https://rsliterature.org/fellows/rosie-garland/

    https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jul/12/royal-society-of-literature-aims-to-broaden-representation-as-it-announces-62-new-fellows

    Written on Monday, 21 August 2023 09:12
  • Manchester City of Literature - Festival of Libraries 2023
    Manchester City of Literature - Festival of Libraries 2023

    Delighted to get the opportunity to talk to Manchester Festival of Libraries about the importance of libraries in my life!

    https://youtu.be/18VPl5qXvkM

    And there are many more –
    Watch all the short films featuring four accomplished Manchester creative practitioners who have worked closely with libraries over the course of their careers.

    Hear how libraries can support artists, writers, dancers, musicians and more to create original work, access valuable resources, gain practical support and inspire creativity.
    These films aim to highlight the rich creative diversity of our libraries, and pave the way for emerging artists to head to their local library for ideas and insight for their next big project.

    You can view all the films below.
    https://www.manchestercityofliterature.com/event/creatives-in-libraries/

    Written on Thursday, 22 June 2023 09:40
  • 'Because goddess is never enough' - a new film-poem!
    'Because goddess is never enough' - a new film-poem!
    ‘Because goddess is never enough’ – revealing the new film poem, made in collaboration with filmmaker Jane Glennie.

    Absolutely thrilled to announce this new film poem – created over 2021 in collaboration with amazing filmaker Jane Glennie. Inspired by the life of dancer and choreographer Tilly Losch, the film explores notions of erasure, strategies for persistence and the centrality of creative expression for the life of a woman in perpetual motion.

    We are delighted with the reception the film is receiving! A list of film festivals is below.
    AND there’s a ‘Book of the Film’!

    'Because Goddess is Never Enough (Peculiarity Press, 2022)
    Available from Blackwell’s (Waterstones, Amazon, etc)
    https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Because-Goddess-Is-Never-Enough-by-Rosie-Garland-Jane-Glennie/9781912384167

    Flick through the book here –
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/zzDN5KKbUccqPZsQ7

    Film festivals & events 2022 that have selected & featured 'Because Goddess is Never Enough'

    Moving Poems May 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – selected as one of ‘the best poetry films on the web’
    https://movingpoems.com/2022/05/because-goddess-is-never-enough-by-rosie-garland/

    Fringe Arts Bath Festival 27 May - 12 June 2022
    Bath’s annual free festival of visual arts
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – selected for WORDPLAY programme
    https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/festival-2022
    https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/wordplay

    Tranås at the Fringe International Arts Festival 2-9 July in Tranås, Sweden
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – selected for the LIVING FEMININITY programme.
    https://www.atthefringe.org/film-program-2022

    Women X Film Festival 2-4 September in Darlington, UK.
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' - Honourable Mention
    https://riannepictures.com/womenx

    Women Over 50 Film Festival
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – nominated for Best Experimental film, selected for the AT MY CORE programme
    https://wofff22.eventive.org/films/62e15892943cb70054a692d9
    https://wofff.co.uk/2022/08/wofff22-films-announced-find-out-more-about-our-fantastic-official-selections/

    Athens 10th International Video Poetry Festival 28 September - 1 October 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – screened 29th September within 'Feminist Struggles' programme
    https://theinstitute.info/?p=5226

    HOME Manchester, Filmed Up 28th September 2022
    ‘Because Goddess is Never Enough’ selected for Filmed Up programme.

    https://homemcr.org/event/filmed-up-sep-2022/

    The Feminist Film Festival, Bucharest, 13-16 October 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – Official Selection
    https://filmfreeway.com/TheFeministFilmFestival

    Sunderland Shorts Film Festival October 17th, 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – selected for the Art & Experimental Films programme
    https://filmfreeway.com/SunderlandShorts

    Zebra Poetry Film Festival, Berlin 3-6 November 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough'.
    We are very proud to be selected for Zebra, the oldest and largest international festival of poetry films.
    https://filmfreeway.com/ZEBRAPoetryFilmFestival
    https://www.haus-fuer-poesie.org/en/zebra-poetry-film-festival/home-zebra-poetry-film-festival/

    Still Voices Film Festival, Ireland 9-13 November 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – Official selection Experimental
    https://stillvoicesfilmfestival.com/

    Written on Thursday, 29 September 2022 09:41
  • Sept 2022 - The March Violets announce 5 CD boxset release!
    Sept 2022 - The March Violets announce 5 CD boxset release!
    Announcing the Novemeber 18th 2022 release of 'The Palace of Infinite Darkness'

    It's 40 years since The March Violets released our 1st 7" EP (seriously, FORTY).
    So it’s a great time to announce that this tasty 5 CD Box Set is now up for pre order from Jungle Records!
    The Palace of Infinite Darkness - In addition to all the singles plus all the extended versions, the box has six excellent BBC sessions, 23 tracks with 9 unreleased songs (also reissued as Big Soul Kiss 2LP yellow vinyl after a sold-out RSD release). Then there are two whole discs of unreleased demo sessions – one from the early period 1982-84 and another from 1985-87. Founder-member Rosie Garland recounts the band’s story in a 44-page booklet.
    Check out the link:
    https://smarturl.it/MV5CDbox

    Written on Thursday, 22 September 2022 12:19
  • June 2022 - Queer Poetry for The Arvon Foundation
    June 2022 - Queer Poetry for The Arvon Foundation
    Residential Writing Week: Queer Poetry

    A wonderful experience – for the first time, I co-tutored a residential writing week for the prestigious Arvon Foundation! It was such a thrill to work alongside inspiring co-tutor Keith Jarrett and electrifying guest reader Jay Bernard.
    A very special week. I won’t forget it.

    Monday June 27th - Saturday July 2nd 2022
    Totleigh Barton, Sheepwash, Beaworthy Devon
    https://www.arvon.org/writing-courses/courses-retreats/residential-writing-week-queer-poetry/

    Written on Wednesday, 21 September 2022 15:16