Taste Writing

Taste Writing

Creative writing workshop plus two-course meal

November 16^th, 6pm-9pm (approx)

The Wonky Table, Sadlergate, Derby, DE1 3NR

Tickets £16, including ninety-minute workshop and two-course meal

Taste Writing is a new kind of writing workshop, taking place in the relaxed atmosphere of The Wonky Table. You'll be taking part in an informal ninety-minute workshop, WRITING GREAT SHORT STORIES, which will be followed by a delicious two-course meal for all participants, freshly prepared by the chefs at The Wonky Table. Ideal for both experienced writers and those looking for a more laid-back way to get started, and a great way to meet fellow writers.

Tickets and menu available by contacting Alex on 07896 228367 or emailling alexdavisevents@hotmail.co.uk

Read and Breakfast

READ AND BREAKFAST
With author NIKI VALENTINE
10:30am-12:30pm, Saturday 26^th November
The Wonky Table, Sadlergate, Derby
TICKETS £10

A whole new type of author event, combining a quality author event with a delicious breakfast – the ideal way to kick off your weekend. Read and Breakfast offers readings, Q+A and booksales, as well as a fabulous breakfast at The Wonky Table restaurant. Informal and relaxed, this event is the perfect Saturday morning for readers and book lovers.

Our guest author, NIKI VALENTINE, is an award-winning writer who, under the pen-name Nicola Monaghan, is the author of The Killing Jar and Starfishing and has been published internationally to huge acclaim. Her latest novel, The Haunted, is published by Sphere and described as 'a chilling, nail-biting read that will stay with you long after the last page'. Niki also teaches Creative and Professional Writing at Nottingham University.

To book your place, contact Alex on 07896 228367 or email alexdavisevents@hotmail.co.uk

This event is supported by Sphere – for more information visit, http://www.littlebrown.co.uk/About/Imprints/Sphere

Eat Your Words with Cath Staincliffe

EAT YOUR WORDS

Featuring Cath Staincliffe

The Wonky Table, Sadlergate, Derby

November 23^rd, 7pm onwards

£25 including three-course meal

Join us for Eat Your Words, a night of fantastic food with a healthy portion of literature on the side.

You'll will enjoy a three-course meal in the company of our guest writer, Cath Staincliffe, for a relaxed evening of readings, author Q+A and booksales. The ideal event for those who like their literature a less more leisurely.

Cath Staincliffe is a crime author with many successful titles to her name. Her debut novel, Looking for Trouble, was short-listed for the Crime Writers Association's John Creasey Award for Best First Crime novel. She is the author of the very popular Sal Kilkenny series and her work has been serialised on Woman's Hour. She is also a scriptwriter and creator of ITV's Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin. Her latest novel, The Kindest Thing, was released by Constable and Robinson.

For more information, or to book your place, contact Alex at alexdavisevents@hotmail.co.uk or call on 07896 228367.

This event is kindly supported by Constable and Robinson.

Nottingham Writing Course

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to pass on the news of my latest writing course - these have had fantastic success and feedback so far in Derby, so I'm pleased to be bringing a short 'taster' course over to Nottingham Broadway. The taster will run over four weeks and will be covering key areas such as how to create a great plot, develop strong character, use description powerfully and effectively, develop techniques for writing great short stories and other formats, as well as how to get your work out there with magazines, small presses and literary agents. It'll be great for anyone just getting interested in writing, as well as those with a bit of experience already behind them.

Here's the official anyway:

CREATIVE WRITING TASTER COURSE

Do you fancy having a go at writing fiction? This taster course gives you the chance to explore your writing talent, discover what makes a great story and find out more about the world of publishing. With a variety of practical exercises and helpful advice, this course is ideal for anyone interested in taking up writing or experienced scribes looking for a refresher course. It will be led by Alex Davis, a freelance tutor, speaker and events organiser.

4 WEEKS COMMENCING 6TH SEP

TUESDAY EVENINGS FROM 6:30PM

£70/£50 concessions and members

Tickets will be on sale online shortly, but in the meantime you can book them from the Broadway box office on 0115 952 6611.

Thanks a lot!

Alex

Overdue blog...

Hi Everyone,

First off all, I know it's been way too long since my last blog, for a host of reasons - partly it's just been busy, and partly it's been trying to have a bit of chill-out time after a very busy June and July. But anyway, things are fully back in the swing now for the remainder of the year, with a whole host of exciting events to come, and having had a month off in August, Alt.Fiction will be back with a bang in September with two fantastic events taking place two nights in a row!

First of all, we'll be at Derby QUAD on the 14th September hosting AN EVENING WITH CHRISTOPHER PRIEST, in association with our good friends at Gollancz. Christopher is one of the UK's most acclaimed SF authors, with a host of incredible titles behind him including The Prestige, The Separation, The Glamour and many more. This event celebrates the release of his latest title, THE ISLANDERS, which will be on sale at the event two weeks before it hits bookshops! We'll be presenting a reading and Q+A from 7pm, followed by a signing, as well as screening THE PRESTIGE with an introduction from Christopher. A fantastically exciting evening all around, if you ask me...

Not wanting to rest on our laurels, the very next night (15th September) we'll be heading over to Leicester Phoenix Square to be joined by ROBERT RANKIN, again courtesy of the folks at Gollancz. Robert has long been one of the top names in comic fantasy, accruing a larger cult following with each release. This event marks the release of his latest title, THE MECHANICAL MESSIAH AND OTHER MARVELS OF THE MODERN AGE, with a reading, Q+A and signing. I can't wait for this one, as Robert has a reputation as a thoroughly entertaining speaker, so I'm looking forward to seeing him in action!

You can check out the details on the event with Christopher Priest at

http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/whats-on/cinema-listings/pg106

and the details for Robert Ranking are up at

http://www.phoenix.org.uk/index.php?cms_id=487

So come and join us for one (or both) of these great nights!

More to follow shortly, including more events for October and November...

Cheers

Alex

Other Worlds 2 - schedule confirmed

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to pass on the news that the schedule for Other Worlds 2 is now confirmed - as you can see, there's plenty on during the day with all the authors, so should be a great event!

SCHEDULE: OTHER WORLDS 2

10:30am-11:15am: Strange New Places - Fantasy and SF (Panel)

Marc Gascoigne, Gary McMahon, Andy Remic, Gav Thorpe

11:15am-11:30am: Break

11:30am-12:15: Reading

Andy Remic and Gav Thorpe

12:15pm-1:15pm: Lunch Break

1:15pm-2:00pm: How Publishing Works (Panel)

Peter Crowther, Marc Gascoigne, Gav Thorpe

2:00pm-2:15pm: Break

2:15pm-3:00pm: Reading

Peter Crowther and Gary McMahon

3:00pm-3:15pm: Break

3:15pm-4:00pm: The Dark Side - Horror and Dark Fantasy (Panel)

Peter Crowther, Marc Gascoigne, Gary McMahon, Gav Thorpe

There's still some time to buy tickets - you can book online for just £10 here, which I'm sure you'll agree is a steal!

Thanks a lot

Alex

Other Worlds is almost upon us...

Hi Guys,

Back again for another blog, which hopefully will make up for some of the intermittent service in the very busy run-up to the Alt.Fiction weekend! This time it's to talk about Other Worlds 2, which is a mere week and a half away in Nottingham.

We're running in the Cecil Roberts Room, which is a nice little space in Nottingham's Central Library, from 10:30am-4pm with a mixture of panels, reading and Q+A time. To be honest, I think that the day is a steal at £10, especially as that includes tea and coffee throughout proceedings and takes in three panels and two readings - basically that breaks down to £2 per session!

The event is a collaboration with both Angry Robot and Nottingham City Council, where it's part of the Festival of Reading. We've got four Angry Robot authors taking part in the shape of Peter Crowther, Gary McMahon, Andy Remic and Gav Thorpe, plus publisher Marc Gascoigne. That covers a great range of styles and genres, and ensures we'll have something for fans of science-fiction, fantasy and horror. No doubt we'll also have a host of insights into the writing process, how to go about getting published and what you can expect once your book hits the shelves.

There's still time to pick up tickets for this one, so be sure to explore some Other Worlds with us on the day!

Full info, and booking, can be found at http://www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk/events/238954

Thanks a lot, and hope to see you there!

Alex