10.8.2019 - Val McDermid's 10 most compelling LGBTQI writers in the UK today
I’m thrilled to announce that Val McDermid has selected me as one of the 10 most compelling LGBTQI+ writers working in the UK today!
Val said: “These writers are writing for everyone. These are not words for a niche readership. These are not writings for a ghetto. These are the works of writers who have something to say that can be – and should be – heard by as many people as possible.”
She continued: “Auden was wrong when he claimed “poetry makes nothing happen”. Words do change the world, reader by reader. They open our eyes, they provoke thought. The work of these 10 writers… will awaken in us fresh delight in the wonder of words.”
The list was commissioned by the National Centre for Writing and British Council, supported by Arts Council England as part of a two-year programme to promote writing from the UK to an international audience. It also includes the amazing Colette Bryce, Juno Dawson, Juliet Jacques, Keith Jarrett, Kirsty Logan, Andrew McMillan, Fiona Mozley, Mary Paulson-Ellis & Luke Turner.
The Guardian - The Word Is Out. Val McDermid selects Britain's 10 most outstanding lgbtq writers
16.5.2019 - Museums at Night, The John Rylands Library, Manchester
Museums at Night
The John Rylands Library
150 Deansgate,
Manchester M3 3EH
DETAILS TBC
As part of Museums at Night 2019, The John Rylands Library is delighted to welcome Manchester author and Writer-In-Residence Rosie Garland for a special late event.
She’ll be reading from her latest novel, The Night Brother, set in Manchester.
In a special Collection Encounter, she’ll also be showing some of the items in the library collections, and talking about how they inspired her when she was writing the novel.
She’ll also be giving a sneak preview of the new novel she’s writing during her residency in the Library!
https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/whats-on/
8.5.2019 - Gothic Reading Group, MMU: The Night Brother
Gothic Reading Group, MMU: The Night Brother
Contemporary Gothic Reading Group
New Business School,
Ground floor cafe area,
Manchester Metropolitan University,
All Saints, All Saints Campus,
Manchester
M15 6BH
Free event – all welcome
17.30 – 18.30
Please join us for the first of the Modern and Contemporary Gothic Reading Group sessions for 2018/2019. We will kick-start the year with Rosie Garland's extraordinary Manchester-set Gothic novel The Night Brother (2017). We are also delighted to welcome the author herself, who is happy to answer your questions.
Attending this group is free and our approach informal - no prior knowledge is necessary, but a passion for the Gothic is essential! :) Tea, coffee and cake provided.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1963358480626178/
8.4.2019 - Rosie Garland at Burnage Library, Manchester
Burnage Library,
Burnage Lane,
Manchester M19 1EW
Monday 8th April, 2019
7pm start – 9.30pm
Free event
Back by popular demand! Following the success of our event in 2018, we are delighted to welcome Manchester writer Rosie Garland back to our special open-mic reading event at Burnage Library! Come and hear Rosie read from her sparkling works, and take part yourself in the open mic.
Burnage Library is located in the Activity Hub on the corner of Burnage Lane and Shawbrook Road.
26.2.2019 - English Literature & Creative Writing at Lancaster Uni: Visiting Writers Series
English Literature & Creative Writing at Lancaster University
Visiting Writers Series - Rosie Garland
Ruskin Library
Bailrigg
Lancaster University,
Lancaster, LA1 4YZ
Tuesday, 26 February 2019 from 18:00-19:00
Join us for an evening of conversation with Rosie Garland.
Everybody is welcome, this event is free and no registration is needed.
Tagged ‘literary hero’ by The Skinny, Rosie Garland is a novelist, poet and singer with post-punk band The March Violets. With a passion for language nurtured by public libraries, her writing has appeared in New Welsh Reader, The North, Rialto, Butcher’s Dog, Bangalore Review, Mslexia, Envoi, etc. She’s received writing commissions from Bronte Parsonage Museum, Tate Modern and Women’s Words Manchester as well as nominations for the Pushcart and Forward Prizes. Her latest poetry collection, As In Judy, is published by Flapjack Press.
Debut novel, The Palace of Curiosities, was nominated for both The Desmond Elliott and the Polari First Book Prize and Vixen was a Green Carnation Prize nominee. Her latest novel The Night Brother (Borough Press) was reviewed in The Times as "A rich and ambitious tale with shades of Angela Carter... Garland's prose is a delight: playful and exuberant.”
10.10.2018 - Interview in 'Visit Manchester' - walking tour inspired by The Night Brother
There’s a great article in Visit Manchester about the walking tour of the city inspired by The Night Brother!
“A Gothic style novel inspired by the streets and stories of late nineteenth century Manchester – ‘The Night Brother’(2017) by Rosie Garland – is soon going to be coming to life, in the form of a unique walking tour on Saturday 3rd November at 3pm - 4.30pm.devised by Rosie herself and local guide Anne Beswick.
This walk will be titled ‘Manchester Dark, Manchester Light - the inspiration behind The Night Brother’ and certainly is special.
‘The Night Brother’ is after all a novel of urban exploration, familial intensity and a dark delve into Manchester at the turn of the twentieth century. Guests will be able to ponder this as they will take in the sites of the city – including Northern Quarter backstreets, Victorian markets and subterranean spaces…”
Read the full interview here:
https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/haunt-manchester/places-product-list/night-brother-novel
3.11.2018 - ‘The Night Brother’ Manchester walking tour
‘Manchester Dark, Manchester Light - the inspiration behind The Night Brother’.
Saturday 3rd November 2018
3pm – 4.30pm
Starting point: The Craft Centre,
Oak Street,
Manchester M4 5JD
Limited places - £10
Special offer - Oak St Cafe at the Craft Centre will be offering cake and coffee/tea for £5 for anyone showing their walking tour ticket on the day.
A Gothic style novel inspired by the streets and stories of late nineteenth century Manchester – ‘The Night Brother’(2017) by Rosie Garland – is soon going to be coming to life, in the form of a unique walking tour on Saturday 3rd November at 3pm - 4.30pm.devised by Rosie herself and local guide Anne Beswick.
This walk will be titled ‘Manchester Dark, Manchester Light - the inspiration behind The Night Brother’ and certainly is special.
‘The Night Brother’ is after all a novel of urban exploration, familial intensity and a dark delve into Manchester at the turn of the twentieth century. Guests will be able to ponder this as they will take in the sites of the city – including Northern Quarter backstreets, Victorian markets and subterranean spaces.
The tour will be led by Rosie and Anne together, for a truly engaging experience. Rosie is a novelist and poet, as well as a singer with post-punk band The March Violets. Anne Beswick is a recognised guide at Manchester Guided Tours, and her walks to date have included the likes of Manchester Architecture, Gaskell in Town & at Plymouth Grove and a Gothic Manchester tour.
4.10.2018 - That's What She Said, Manchester
That’s What She Said
Tribeca,
50 Sackville St,
Manchester M1 3WF
£5
"The biggest spoken word night in London for women" (Evening Standard) returns to Manchester!
Shortlisted for Best Spoken Word Night in the UK (Saboteur Awards, 2017), That's What She Said showcases the best new writing and performance by women, featuring iconic and emerging authors with a mix of performance, poetry, storytelling, slam and more.
LINE-UP FOR THURSDAY 4th OCTOBER 2018
ROSIE GARLAND
Award winning ‘literary hero’ (The Skinny) Rosie is a novelist, poet and singer. Author of novels The Night Brother, Vixen and The Palace of Curiosities, and six solo poetry collections, most recently As in Judy (Flapjack Press). "One of the country’s finest performance poets" (Apples & Snakes). Winner of the DaDa Award for Performance Artist of the Year, the Diva Award for Solo Performer, and a Poetry Award from the People’s Café, New York.
SUZANNAH EVANS
DEBZ BUTLER
MORE DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED
WHAT THEY SAY...
"To put it bluntly, I'd never come across a spoken word night with such a fantastic lineup. 'How have I never come across this before?', I kept asking myself, 'this is everything I've ever wanted from a night out...'
Listen
Audible extracts, interviews & podcasts
'Half overheard secrets' - Interview on 'End of All Things' podcast
'Speaking in tongues' - winner, The Casket of Fictional Delights flash fiction competition 2018
The Night Brother, at audible.co.uk
The Palace of Curiosities:
Extract 1, at audioboom.com
Extract 2, at amazon.co.uk
2-3.6.2018 - A Splendid Day Out Steampunk Festival, Morecambe
A Splendid Day Out
1st – 3rd June 2018
Winter Gardens,
Morecambe
The Northwest premier Steampunk Festival returns. Follow Phileas Fogg’s Journey "Around the world in 80 days" The A Splendid Day Out airship will land in the UK’s charming Victorian seaside retreat of Morecambe for its fifth year of top-hole entertainment. Presented by The League of Splendid, another weekend of astounding entertainment and events, will take place throughout Morecambe.
The Winter Gardens will host out Art & Literature festival “Arts Of Steam”.
We are delighted to welcome Rosie Garland!
She will be joining us for Arts Of Steam in the Winter Gardens all over the weekend, 2nd & 3rd June 2018
Friday 1st June @ The Alhambra Theatre, Carleton, Morecambe 7.30 - Midnight - our Cabaret night
Sat 2nd June @ The Alhambra Theatre, Carleton, Morecambe 7.30 - 1am Our infamous sell out Masquerade Ball.
Outside on the Promenade:
Fairground, Steam Traction Engines, Birds Of Prey, Outside stage with Live music from Victor & The Bully. Alice's Night Circus, Montague Jacques Fromage, Kiss Like Ether, Ben Miles, Ukulele Jukebox, Dead Mans Hand.
Join us as we take you on a Journey around the world, visiting all the countries Philieas Fogg travelled to, each with its own entertainment and selection of food.
News and Events
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10.8.2019 - Val McDermid's 10 most compelling LGBTQI writers in the UK today
Written on Wednesday, 14 August 2019 08:44
I’m thrilled to announce that Val McDermid has selected me as one of the 10 most compelling LGBTQI+ writers working in the UK today!
Val said: “These writers are writing for everyone. These are not words for a niche readership. These are not writings for a ghetto. These are the works of writers who have something to say that can be – and should be – heard by as many people as possible.”
She continued: “Auden was wrong when he claimed “poetry makes nothing happen”. Words do change the world, reader by reader. They open our eyes, they provoke thought. The work of these 10 writers… will awaken in us fresh delight in the wonder of words.”
The list was commissioned by the National Centre for Writing and British Council, supported by Arts Council England as part of a two-year programme to promote writing from the UK to an international audience. It also includes the amazing Colette Bryce, Juno Dawson, Juliet Jacques, Keith Jarrett, Kirsty Logan, Andrew McMillan, Fiona Mozley, Mary Paulson-Ellis & Luke Turner.
The Guardian - The Word Is Out. Val McDermid selects Britain's 10 most outstanding lgbtq writers
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20.6.2019 - Peterloo: massacre or riot? The John Rylands Library
Written on Sunday, 21 July 2019 10:32
Peterloo – massacre or riot?
On June 20th 2019, The John Rylands Library staged a live performance event to mark the bicentenary of the Peterloo Massacre. It was a first for the library and I was excited to take the part of Jemima Bamford – one of the thousands of men, women and children who gathered at St Peter’s Field in August 1819. I donned bonnet and shawl and created a speech, imagining how she might have spoken out against the actions of the militia, who charged into an unarmed crowd, and murdered up to 23 people.
Then joined by 5 other actors, I took part in a public debate as we decide: was Peterloo a massacre or a riot? At the end of the debate, votes were cast, and Manchester decided overwhelmingly – massacre.
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8.6.2019 - Guest vox with The Bellwether Syndicate, Wave-Gotik Treffen
Written on Sunday, 21 July 2019 10:20
Guest vox with The Bellwether Syndicate at Wave-Gotik Treffen
The high point of WGT 2019 was being invited to be guest vocalist with The Bellwether Syndicate from Chicago! Rocking out to a special rendition of The March Violets track ‘Snake Dance’…
The gig on Saturday 8th June 2019 at Taubchenthal, Leipzig was packed out – and what a crowd…A great pleasure to work with William Faith, Sarah Rose (aka Scary Lady Sarah), keyboards Phil Destefano, bassist Paul Sin & drummer extraordinaire Stevyn Grey
https://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/ro/go4it.php?id=197&loc=en
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'How to ask for a residency' - The John Rylands blog
Written on Sunday, 24 March 2019 10:08
How to ask for a residency
Since I wrote about the Power of Asking, I’ve been heartened by how many writers have told me they’re going to ask for Writers’ Residencies too. There are plenty of questions: What do you say? What do you ask for? This blog offers a few suggestions.
Where do you want your residency to be?
Chip shop, bus stop, lighthouse, theatre, cemetery. The choice is yours. Think of where you’d love to write. It may be a place you pass every day on the way to work, or somewhere you’ve stumbled on by chance. Perhaps you have a connection already. For example, when I was invited to read at The John Rylands Library, I fell in love with this Mancunian gem. It sparked a train of thought…What do you want to do?
I’ve a pretty simple plan: my next novel is set in The John Rylands and I’m exploring what it’s like to write ‘on site’, drawing inspiration from the spirit of the place. You’ll have your own ideas. It’s a wonderful opportunity to try something new, with time to focus on your writing in an inspiring workspace. The clearer you are about what you’d like to create and how it’s connected to the venue you’ve chosen, the better. Do your research, and put together a proposal. I’ve broken this down below.How long is a residency?
Weeks, months, or a year – it’s largely up to you and the organisation. My residency is running for a calendar year; time to produce a first draft of the novel. I’ve committed to being on site for one day a week, but can’t keep away from the place…What can you offer?
As well as being clear about what you want to achieve, think about what you can offer your host organisation. Ideas can include giving talks, workshops, writing tutorials or readings, and writing blogs on the progress of the residency. You might produce a poem etched in the window, or devise a grand finale performance. There’s no limit.
If you’re unsure, ask for advice from writer friends (or friends of friends) who’ve done residencies in the past. If you don’t know any – ask the internet. Social media can be a lot more supportive than you might imagine.How do you get an introduction?
You’ll need to approach your chosen organisation to find out of they’re interested in your idea. I asked writer friends for signposting, and got an introduction. People were only too pleased to help, a warm reminder that we’re in this together. There’s a community of writers out there, and we are pretty groovy people.What about money?
This blog is about building your own residency from scratch, not applying for a funded opportunity. So, when the question of money and payment arose (pretty much the first question), I said no. Nowhere has money for residencies, unless it’s a regular gig like The Forestry Commission
And, unsurprisingly, these residencies are massively oversubscribed.
A personal tip is to source funding elsewhere. I applied to The Arts Council - Successfully.Then again – aim for the stars! One writer told me she’s asking for a residency at a private members’ club with buckets of money. Needless to say, she IS asking them to fund it.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Fear of the word no can stop us asking in the first place. Your chosen venue may say no. But they’re not going to poke you with forks. Trust me on this one. And in the words of Steve Jobs: “Most people don't get experiences because they never ask. I've never found anybody who didn't want to help me when I've asked them for help.”Keep going. Keep asking.
https://rylandscollections.wordpress.com/2019/02/26/how-to-ask-for-a-residency/
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'The Power of Asking' blog - The John Rylands Library
Written on Saturday, 02 March 2019 15:36
As part of my Writer’s Residency at The John Rylands Library, I’m writing a series of blogs… here’s the first – The Power of Asking.
“I’ve just been appointed the first writer-in-residence at The John Rylands Library. How did I manage this wonderful achievement? I asked.
Sounds easy.
It wasn’t. If you’re anything like me (and the longer I live, the more I realise I’m not alone), asking is far more difficult than it sounds.
Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. Unless you were born with a set of silver spoons in your mouth (which is everyone reading this, right?), then you’ve worked out that opportunities don’t fall magically into your lap. You’ve had to work hard to get where you are.
I like what Julia Cameron (author of the inspirational ‘The Artists Way’) says: “Pray to catch the bus, then run as fast as you can.” It’s a reminder to put myself into the path of opportunities. The bus does not come to the front door. I have to leave the house, and darn well run for it.
I have to take a deep breath, and ask. So, why is it so difficult?
Here’s my take. I grew up with a spectacularly unhelpful dictum: Ask, don’t get. Don’t ask, don’t want. I shared this with friends recently, and was shocked to discover it’s very common. I end up stuck in a bizarre Catch 22 situation, thinking that if I have to ask for something, then I don’t deserve it. Or, that I must to wait for someone else to ask me. The most I’m allowed to do is stand around looking hopeful.
This lose-lose mentality is combined with a vicious internal critic. I call her Mavis (I’ve blogged about her here and run Anti-Mavis workshops). She never, ever says anything nice. If someone says they like my writing, Mavis jumps in and whispers ‘they’re only being nice.’ In fact, she can be neatly summed up by this great Savage Chickens cartoon (Doug Savage):Naturally, my internal critic undermined any notion that somewhere as amazing as The John Rylands Library would want the likes of me.
So – standing up and asking for what I want can be pretty damn hard. I’m swamped with fears of rejection, coming over as needy, an underachiever, someone who’s failed because they need to ask.
Luckily, this isn’t a poor-me blog.
Years ago I decided that I was not going to let fear of rejection stop me living a life that is too darn short as it is. I take inspiration from Jia Jiang, whose TED talk about dealing with rejection is well worth 15 minutes of anyone’s time.
So, however hard it is to ask, to put myself forward, to send that manuscript to a competition or agent – I take several deep breaths and do it. In the words of Susan Jeffers: ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’.
And here’s the good news. The John Rylands Library is delighted to have a writer-in-residence. Correction: The John Rylands Library is delighted to have me as a writer-in-residence.
I have told Mavis to put that in her pipe and smoke it.
Coming next – what I asked for, and how to ask for a residency.”
https://rylandscollections.wordpress.com/2018/12/10/the-power-of-asking/
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