There's just two weeks to go - the Chorlton Book Festival is back - offering a variety of authors, poets, musicians, fun and games for historians and horror fans, slow travellers and book swappers, vampires and revampers in the M21 area and beyond.
eBook Drop-in
Want Santa to bring you an eBook reader this year? Test drive some of the latest models and get some expert, impartial advice.
We lend eBooks too - find out more about the Download> eBook and audio book service on our website, where you’ll find over 2,600 titles. If you’re a library member who already has an eReader, smartphone or tablet computer, you can use the library’s free WiFi and download something sensational to read on the tram. Free, of course.
Chorlton Library,
Tuesday 8 November, 4.00pm-7.00pm
Cath Staincliffe
Cath Staincliffe is an established novelist, radio playwright and the creator of ITV’s hit series, Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis. Cath’s recent novels, The Kindest Thing and Witness, told stories of ordinary people caught up in the criminal justice system and faced with difficult and dangerous choices. Crying Out Loud is the eighth in the series featuring Manchester’s very own private eye, Sal Kilkenny. The discovery of an abandoned baby on her doorstep makes Sal’s investigation into a killer’s conviction that much harder...
Chorlton Library,
Wednesday 9 November, 7.00pm
Book Quiz and Bess’s Bingo with copland smith
Welcome to copland’s Hard One, mostly with a book theme. He’s throwing down a literary gauntlet for Chorlton’s quizzers and readers, literati and illiterati. Quiz 7.30pm till 9.00pm - no more than six to a team, £1 per person, prizes and kudos to be won.
Then it’s eyes down, look in for cash prizes at Bess’s Bingo between 9.00pm and 10.00pm.
The Spread Eagle, Wilbraham Road
Thursday 10 November, from 7.30
The Four Points Ramble
Readings and music from slow travel books by Chorlton author Steve Saxton, with the assistance of early music group the Holy Maggots. Learn more about the Four Points Ramble, a charitable venture that includes walking, observing, recording, reading, writing, fundraising and selling a mixture of history, literature, archaeology, genealogy, music, wildlife and narrative.
Chorlton Library,
Friday 11 November, 7.30pm
Rubbish Revamped: Reduce, Re-use, Revamp, Recycle
This family workshop, open to ages 8+, invites you to make cards from junkmail and retired library books using the practice of quilling. Rubbish Revamped is a Chorlton-based recycled craft organisation. Its aim is to inspire the creative and thrifty-minded to convert their rubbish and neglected items into fun and fabulous craft items. Matted jumpers turn into cuddly monkeys, junkmail into jewellery, old ties into draught excluders, empty juice cartons become wallets and newspaper is woven into baskets.
Learn more at www.rubbishrevamped.org.uk.
Chorlton Library,
Saturday 12 November, 2.00pm-4.30pm
Playwriting workshop with Charlotte Keatley
Write a scene, hear how it works aloud, rewrite it, and plot your play - all in one workshop. Charlotte Keatley has writing games to get you going and keep you going on the process of creating a play.
Best known for My Mother Said I Never Should, which has been translated into 23 languages and is the most performed play ever written by a woman, Charlotte Keatley has taught creative writing from Burnley to Shanghai. Her newest play Our Father opens at Watford Palace Theatre in February.
This workshop is free, but demand will be high and places are limited. Booking essential and you’d better be quick! Call 0161 227 3700.
The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre, Manchester Road,
Saturday 12 November, 1.00pm-3.30pm
An evening of sparkling poetry and prose
Award-winning poet and workshop facilitator Sarah L Dixon and the First Sundays Creative Writing Group showcase their work. Readers include Alan Clemo, Helen Marks, Lynn Myint-Maung, Emma Short and Willian West Call Sarah on 07743685221 for more information or book through the library.
Chorlton Library,
Saturday 12 November, 7.00pm
Simon Kurt Unsworth
A spine-tingling Sunday afternoon with an author whose work has appeared in the Ash Tree Press anthologies At Ease with the Dead, and Exotic Gothic 3, Gaslight Grotesque and Black Static magazine. His story The Church on the Island was nominated for a World Fantasy Award. His first collection was Lost Places (Ash Tree Press, 2010) and the follow up, Strange Gateways, will be published by PS Publishing in 2012. His ebook, Uneasy Tales is out now.
Chorlton Library,
Sunday 13 November, 2.00pm
Chorlton History with Andy Simpson
This local historian and author will talk about Chorlton’s history. His new book, Chorlton-cum-Hardy: A Community Transformed, is out in December.
Chorlton Library,
Monday 14 November, 7.00pm
A Means to an End
An evening of poetry, music and song with this new poetry music group. At its core is Andy N (vocals/keyboards), previously of Wordmusic and Jeff Dawson (vocals/guitar) of Half Evil Promotions accompanied by singer-songwriters Petrova Fairhurst and Dave Hitchen. A lively celebration to launch the group’s first book, A Means to an End.
Chorlton Library,
Tuesday 15 November, 7.00pm
An Encyclopaedia of Manchester: Ed Glinert
Ed’s back with his unique personal take on the recent and not-so-recent history of Manchester. And he should know: Ed is a walking tour guide and was a co-founder of the much-missed City Life magazine. Tonight, he’ll talk about his latest project: the first ever encyclopaedia of the world’s greatest city.
The Lloyds Hotel, Wilbraham Road,
Wednesday 16 November, 6.00pm
Canal Street Gothic and Rosie Lugosi
Author David Thame presents readings from his acclaimed collection of stories set in and around Manchester’s gay village. A journalist has a stroke (and not in a nice way); a soap star plays pool; chinchillas kick sawdust onto the carpet and men make pancakes in the nude. Manchester as you’ve never seen it before - probably. Royalties to the Albert Kennedy Trust.
And if that’s not enough, David’s reading will be followed by a special festival performance by the legendary lesbian vampire poet Rosie Lugosi.
The Lloyds Hotel, Wilbraham Road,
Thursday 17 November, 7.00pm
Charity Book Swap
A large and varied collection of books for sale, with prices from just 50p. Donations of books can be delivered on the night or collected - details from Les Jones 0161 881 9503. All profits to Oxfam.
The Beech, Beech Road,
Thursday 17 November, 8.00pm-10.00pm
Manky Poets with Jackie Kay
This Festival Special features award winning Jackie Kay. All welcome £2 (£1 concessions)
Chorlton Library, Friday 18 November, 7.45
Writers’ Workshop with Sarah L Dixon
Poet, NHS secretary and Mum to Frank, Sarah offers plenty of fresh prompts to get the pen going and fill the paper. All exercises are easily replicated at home, so you can use them whenever you need inspiration. All writers welcome, prompts will allow freedom to explore your preferred style.
The workshop is free, but as ever, places are limited. Booking essential - call 0161 227 3700.
Chorlton Central Church, Barlow Moor Road,
Saturday 19 November, 12.00-2.00pm
Beatrix Potter Family Event
Come and meet Peter Rabbit! Readings, games, quizzes, activities and fun for all the family. Come in fancy dress and you might win a prize. Our party celebrates this most enduring of children’s authors, her gorgeous illustrations and her wonderful cast of characters. Beatrix Potter had a Manchester connection too - find out more on the day.
This event is free and open to all.
Chorlton Library,
Saturday 19 November, 2.00pm - 4.30pm
