Celebration of the Book
Timetable for Day/Evening Pass holders and workshop attendees
(click for summary)
Clevedon Community Centre (Rooms 1 and 2, Main Hall and Jubilee Lounge/Bar)
Talks, discussions and panels for anyone with a Day Pass* (events from 10.00-22.00)
or Evening Pass (events from 18.00-22.00 only)
Room 1:
10.20-11.00
The Hidden Half - Writing Women's History
Historical fiction author Alison Knight (writing as May Ellis) joins women's history authors Jane Duffus and Felice Harvey to discuss the facinating stories of the women in their books and why such stories risk being lost or obscured when history is dominated by the narratives of men.
11.20-11.40
Talk - TBC
12.00-12.40
ADHD: A modern Lexicon
Writer, screenwriter and filmmaker Merlin Goldman discusses his latest book, written following his ADHD diagnosis. ADHD: A Modern Lexicon is an easy to read but authoritative description of ADHD through the lens of popular terminology and provides some advice on living as an ADHDer.
12.30-1300
Trials and Tribulations - YA readings
Colleen McMahon, Richard Collis, Trevor Stubbs - authors of YA and teen fiction share excerpts from their books.
13.20-13.50
Book launch: Nana Boo by Jackie Hales
Following her successful debut in 2022 with Shadows of Time, Clevedon author Jackie Meekums-Hales launches her new novel, Nana Boo.
14.10-14.30
Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic
Author and University of Bristol historian Tabitha Stanmore shares her insights into the Medieval world of everyday magic, as explored in her new book Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic.
14.50-15.20
Cops and Robbers: Writers of Police Procedural Crime
Bryan J Mason and Barry Faulkner - two authors writing police procedural fiction from very different perspectives share their experiences.
15.40-16.30
Crime Writing Masterclass
What makes a great crime novel? In this session, psychologist Heather J Reed and journalist Jason Mann will examine the key elements of the craft of crime writing and talk about the approach they take with their own novels. It will be a light-hearted interactive session with the audience having the opportunity to ask questions and to take part in a fun 'first line' competition with signed copies of Heather and Jason's novels as prizes.
16.50-17.10
How to win the Tour de France
James Witts will uncover the training and nutritional strategies that propel these super-human cyclists to Paris over three long, hot weeks every July. Just what does it take physically to ride over 3,500km, conquering several mountain ranges along the way?
17.30-18.00
Exploring the Edges - readings
Judy Darley, Elizabeth Delo, Carolyn Lewis, Melanie Greenwood - readings from four authors whose work explores deeper topics and the human condition.
Room 2:
10.00-12.00
#WalkingWords writing workshop(Room 2 + outdoors) with Ruth Hill
Whether you're a regular writer, haven't picked up a pen since school, or are somewhere between the two, join local writer Ruth Hill for a seasonal look at nature. Ruth is writer in residence at Found Outdoors CiC and this, alongside her #WalkingWords project, means she has spent many hours walking in and writing about the wonderful world around us.
Through conversation and objects she brings to the workshop, and if we are lucky with the weather a wander in the beautiful Clevedon surroundings, Ruth will guide you to really look at nature. You will explore the sights, scents, sounds and feelings of Autumn and to find ways to put it all into words.
12.20-12.50
Love, Laughter, Tears and Joy- readings
Rosemary Dunn, Richard Frost and Maureen Morrison and Suzannah V. Evans - authors of comedy, romance and drama gather to share readings from their work.
13.10-13.40
In the Shadow of the Great War
Two authors of WWI fiction, Frederick Petford and David John, talk about their journeys into writing stories set during and after the Great War. What about that conflict continues to draw authors to write new stories set in and around those years, and how do such stories keep memory alive?
14.00 - 14.40
Twisting the Knife - Women Writing Suspense
More and more crime fiction and thrillers are being written and read by women. Four established authors of the genre - AA Abbott, Dawn Patricial Boulton, Jane Shemilt and Helena Dixon - gather round to discuss the enduring attraction of of murder and intrigue, and why women authors are so good at twisting the knife
15.00-15.20
Writing Newsletters
With the growth of online newsletter services growing exponentially across the online spheres, there has been no better time to start publishing your writing online.
Chloe Vlahos, author of the Mindless Musings newsletter on Substack, will discuss how to get started on your very own online newsletter, as well as offering insight into a wide range of content categories that your writing could explore.
15.40-16.00
The Cost of Putting Things Right
Chemicals known as PCBs were banned in the 1980s. There are 18 known PCB dump sites in the UK. Most of them are in Wales. For the last year and a half, writer Richard Owen Collins and photographer Matthew Broadhead have investigated the pollution of the Sirhowy Valley. This is the story they've uncovered and documented.
16.10-16.40
Concentrated Imaginative Awareness - poetry readings
A group of prolific and experienced poets share readings of some of their favourite pieces (with Michael Loader, Helen Sheppard and Dave Wynne-Jones).
17.00-17.20
How the Archie series was created - experiences of a childrens' author!
Anne Parsons will recount how she became a children's author and storyteller, creating the Archie series for children aged 6-9 years, stories about a young Airedale Terrier who dreams of becoming a national jumping champion. She will talk about her writing career and how she has used the self publishing route via Matador / Troubador Publishing to create and promote her books. She is happy to take questions towards the end of her talk.
17.40-18.10
What Makes a Good Romance
Anne Parsons takes a look at how to go about writing romance, and is divided up into sections, for example, characters, dialogue, the love scenes, etc. and how these must be treated for the romance genre. It will be of interest to both readers and writers.
20.15-21.15
Murder, the AI Wrote,
Some claim that soon AIs will do much of our writing and our artwork for us. Sceptics (including author and computer scientist Tom Kindberg) think that AI will only ever produce a combination of the bizarre and the banal, because AIs know nothing about life as we live it, and are incapable of creativity as we humans would understand. (I say "we" - you are a human reading this... aren't you?)
Come along to hear a basic explanation of how AI works, and to join a conversation about all things AI and literature.
MAIN HALL - Headline event
19.00-20.00
Breaking the Dead Silence
In the wake of the toppling of the Colston statue in Bristol in 2020, Dr Christina Horvath and Richard S. White explore the legacies of empire and slave ownership in Bath and Bristol’s memoryscapes. Their new book, Breaking the Dead Silence brings together diverse and distinctive voices. Timely commentaries, insights and experiences in the memoryscape enriching and transforming an uncomfortable heritage through empathy and creativity. Multiple perspectives from academics, artists, activists and heritage professionals, contribute ideas and strategies towards re-telling obscured stories and getting unheard voices heard. In this talk Richard discusses his journey from conversations on foot with individuals face to face in the intensity of the moment through to the co-editing of a book. From a walk in Bath's Sydney Gardens to a chapter in a book, collaborating with University of Bath academic Dr Christina Horvath and multiple and diverse authors, co-authoring and co-editing. What happens to live ideas and feelings when translated to the page?
Jubilee Lounge/Bar
20.15-21.30
Quite Weird - Songs, Stories and Open Mic
Join members of Just Write Bristol after dark for readings from their newly published Quite Weird short story anthology, with songs from writer and musician Dawn Kelly. Register on the day for an open mic slot (5 minutes maximum) to share something you consider quite weird!
Rooms 3 and 4 - at Friends Meeting House, 17 Albert Road BS21 7RP (just around the corner).
Workshops (available to book) and talks (included in Day/Evening Passes) taking place there.
Room 3
10.00-12.00
An Introduction to Case Binding
Fi Harris is a felt-maker, print-maker, bookbinder and creative experimenter. She plays with textiles, textures and techniques in her North Somerset studio. She also loves to pass on her knowledge and enthusiasm for craft & making via workshops, in her studio or out on tour.
£35
13.00-16.00
Printmaking - Drypoint etching with Tetra pak cartons
Print [works] Weston is run by print makers, Claire and Tracey. Our aim is to bring printmaking and associated art practices to the community. We run workshops, offer open access working and personal tuition in Screen print, Lino print, Dry point etching, Collagraph, Cyanotype and Monoprint in a friendly, safe and informal studio.
£35
17.00-18.00
Collage Poetry
Chloe Vlahos is a writer, photographer and filmmaker whose work is primarily concerned with longing, memory, and place. After growing up in South London and later moving to Paris in her early twenties, she developed a keen interest for that which occupies the ‘in-between’ space within language and landscapes. She credits her time in France as having the biggest influence on her artistic practice since this is where she discovered how poetry – in both its written and visual forms – helps us to express the ‘in-betweens’ of the human experience, and ultimately allows us to access all that is unsayable.
£10
Room 4
10.30-10.50
The Science Lover's Guide to London
Rachael Rowe is a writer and journalist with a passion for travel. Her bylines include National Geographic, Fodor's and Dorset based BV Magazine. She is Cornish but has lived and worked in London, visiting frequently.
(Day Pass required for entry)
11.50-12.10
From Generation X and Beyond: Writing Compelling Biographies of 80s Pop Stars for today's audience
Great music is timeless and the associated stories also need to transcend generations. Join Martin Tracey on a journey through the subject matters, hooks and pitfalls of 80s pop star biographies.
(Day Pass required for entry)
13.10-15.20
Writing and Publishing a Novel
Are you writing or thinking of writing a novel? In this small group session, award-winning novelist Gareth L Powell draws on his experiences from his 20 year career to answer all your questions about writing and publishing as well as giving an insight into his own process.
£15
16.00-18.00
Poetry X Art
How might image and word fit together? What can we achieve by writing poetry about art? How might paintings, sculptures, and other artworks open up new ways of thinking about memory and experience? Suzannah V Evans' workshop will take us into the imaginative space of the gallery, where we will craft poems based on visual stimulation. We will experiment with the encounter between visual and verbal, focusing on close looking and translating works of art into exciting poems. By the end, you will have a fresh perspective on poetry and art, as well as a selection of drafts and further ideas for writing.
£15