FORTHCOMING EVENTS 2020
COVID-19 UPDATE
For the duration of Covid-19 and social distancing measures I can offer talks and visual presentations online via ZOOM or similar video-conferencing platforms.
I’ll be contacting any groups with booking for the rest of the year. Or if your group’s 2020 calendar has been laid waste by the virus why not add something new?
Please contact me or ring 07800760624 to discuss.
Wednesday June 24th | Old Sodbury WI
The History of Photography
What’s the oldest photograph you own?In my illustrated talk I invite the audience to bring along their oldest family photos to compare with some of the earliest ever made and learn about the processes involved. They’ll also hear about the historical figures I met in the course of writing my latest novel In the Blink of an Eye (Linen Press 2018) which was inspired by photographs from the 1840s and the stories behind them.
7.15 pm via ZOOM
Private event, members only
Wednesday March 4th | Weston Museum, Weston-super-Mare Literary Festival
Hidden gems: fascinating discoveries through novel research
Myself and fellow novelists Jean Burnett, Kerry Postle and Heather Child, share the three most amazing things we found out while researching our books. Delve into the secrets of famous Italian artists, the birth of photography, the Spanish civil war and the deep fakery of artificial intelligence. You are sure to learn something new!
3.30 – 5 pm
Weston Museum
Burlington Street
Weston-super-Mare
BS231PR
Entry £5. Tickets via Festival
Saturday April 25th | Hawkesbury Upton, South Gloucestershire
Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival
I’ll be on a ’round Britain’ reading panel at this constantly evolving festival in a village location where ALL EVENTS ARE FREE.
Talks and reading from 10 am until 5 pm, Festival Bookshop, Cafe and Art Exhibition.
Full programme.
Venues around Hawkesbury Upton, South Gloucestershire
Sunday April 26th |People’s University of Fishponds
In the Blink of an Eye: the early history of photography
How Fox Talbot’s discovery of photography travelled north to Scotland and another chance to meet characters from In the Blink of an Eye. Hosted by People’s University of Fishponds in the fascinating Glenside Hospital Museum. All welcome.
6 – 8 pm
Glenside Hospital Museum
Blackberry Hill, Stapleton,
Bristol, BS16 1DD
Entry £3.50
PREVIOUS EVENTS
January 3rd | Chipping Sodbury Town Hall |From Lacock to Leith
Members of Yate and Chipping Sodbury U3A are invited to bring their oldest family photographs to compare with some of the earliest ever made and to learn about the processes involved. You will also hear about the historical figures I met in the course of writing In the Blink of an Eye and the stories behind the photographs which inspired me.
Chipping Sodbury Town Hall
57-59 Broad St
Chipping Sodbury, Bristol BS37 6AD
2pm (Tea and coffee will be served from 1:45pm)
December 7th | Gloucester Road Book Fair
I’m joining Writers Unchained at this festive bookfair.
Fair trade hot and cold drinks and snacks will be available and look out for literary gifts of all kinds. For a sneak preview (or if you can’t make the day) check out the WU Bookshop page. If you do have the time to join us at the fair, there are sure to be some special seasonal offers.
St Michael’s Church
160A Gloucester Road,
BS7 8NT
11am – 4pm
December 10th| Left Bank Club, Bristol
The next Talking Tales will be celebrating the launch of Christopher Fileden’s 2019 To Hull And Back humorous short story competition anthology.
I’m reading a funny flash Wet and Dry .
Join us for stories, beer, badges and the legendary ‘Finish the Lines’.
LeftBank 
128 Cheltenham Rd
Bristol BS6 5RW
Doors open 6.30pm
October 20th | Southbank Club, Bristol
Story Sunday ‘Tales of Our City’
I’m helping organise the next Writers Unchained event also part of the 2019 Bristol Festival of Literature with special guest Lucy Engish and eight other short story readers.
Tickets £5 in advance here or £6 on the door.
Southbank Club
Dean Lane, Bedminster,
Bristol BS3 1DB
7 – 9 pm
Doors open 6.30
November 10th 2019 | Cotswold Arts Theatre
Stroud Short Stories
I’ll be reading Snowbird, my submission to the latest Stroud Short Stories event which is part of the Stroud Book Festival.
This event has recently moved to a new bigger venue at the Cotswold Playhouse
Tickets (£8) are on sale here
Cotswold Playhouse
Parliament St,
Stroud GL5 1LW
7.30 – 9.30 pm
Doors open 7 pm
9th October |Tetbury Goods Shed
Putting the Past on a Page: three writers, three centuries, three approaches to historical fiction.
Writers at the Goods Shed (WAGS). With Jean Burnett and Kerry Postle.
Tetbury Goods Shed Arts Centre,
Cirencester Road, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8EY
Ticket enquiries 01666 505496
7.30 – 9 PM
24th June | Burdall’s Yard, Bath
Novel Nights: What does it take to be an author with literary agent, Juliet Pickering?
I’ll be joining other local writers reading from work in progress alongside a Q&A with Juliet Pickering.
Burdall’s Yard
7a Anglo Terrace, London Road, Bath
7.30 – 9.30 PM
29th June |BRSLI, Bath
Bath Writers and Artists Summer Gala
Poetry, fiction and nature writing with an official Bath launch for In the Blink of an Eye.
Free entry. Light afternoon tea will be served.
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution,
16 – 18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
2 pm – 4.30 pm
10th July | Bristol Photographic Society
In the Blink of an Eye: Hill and Adamson’s place in the early history of photography.
Non-members £3
Bristol Photographic Society
Unit 13 Montpelier Central,
Station Road, Montpelier, Bristol BS6 5EE
7.30 – 9.30 pm
23rd March | BRSLI, Bath
The Place of Arts in a Time of Climate Catastrophe 
Join Bath Writers and Artists for a stimulating afternoon of prose, poetry and song. I’ll be doing a short illustrated reading from In the Blink of an Eye.
Free entry
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution,
16 – 18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN
2 pm – 4 pm
Saturday April 27 | Hawkesbury Upton, South Gloucestershire
Writing inspired by other arts (Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival)
Panel discussion at this unmissable annual event where there are many other talks, discussions and workshops for readers and writers.
Bethesda Chapel,
1 Park St, Hawkesbury Upton, GL9 1BA
1pm – 2 pm
Free entry
Full programme
2018 EVENTS
8th December | Emersons Green Library
Meet the Author (that’s me!)
A chance to chat or buy a signed copy of In the Blink of an Eye just in time to fill a Christmas stocking.
Emersons Green Library, Emersons Way,
Bristol BS16 7AP
10 am – 1 pm
24th and 25th November | Languedoc Cracker Fair
The Cracker Fair is going to be held at the stunning Abbaye de Valmagne again, the 12th edition of the best Christmas market in the region. All your Christmas shopping under one roof.
Abbaye de Valmagne is located between Pézenas, Mèze and Montpellier.
10:00 – 18:00
Entrance is €5, a saving of €3 from the normal entrance to Valmagne.
11th November | Stroud Short Stories
I’m one of ten authors from Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire reading as part of the Stroud Book Festival.
‘Possibly the best short story event in the South West”.
Stroud Valley Arts
John Street,
Stroud, GL5 2HA
8 – 10 pm
NOW SOLD OUT!
Info on future events at Stroud Short Stories
17th October|Edinburgh Launch for In the Blink of an Eye
Join me for an evening of readings and conversation about my heroes Hill & Adamson in the city they immortalised.
Register for tickets (free entry)
15th October | St Andrews Photography Festival 2018
In the Blink of an Eye: fact, fiction, photography
Readings and discussion to celebrate publication of ‘Blink’ in the venue where it began to take its final shape.
Martyrs Kirk, 80 North Street,
St Andrews KY16 9HH
6 – 7 pm
9th September | Outwith Festival Dunfermline
All His Darlings
Hear from the women whose lives were touched by the artistry and skill of photographer D.O. Hill, including the daughter of Dunfermline whose contribution to his life and work is only now being recognised.
I’ll also be taking part in an author panel following this event
Firestation Creative, Carnegie Drive
Dunfermline KY12 7AN
1.30 – 3 pm, and 3 – 4 pm
Buy tickets
21st July|Book Signing in Clevedon
I’ll be at the lovely Books on the Hill for most of the day. Do drop in for some bookish talk or learn how my hero changed the history of photography.
No obligation to buy, though you’ll be tempted by more than just books
Books on the Hill,
75 Hill Rd,
Clevedon BS21 7PL
from 11 am
29th June | Wickhambrook WI Literary Lunch
A Suffolk launch for In the Blink of an Eye. Crime writers Nicci French are also appearing. WI Hall, Wickhambrook, West Suffolk, CB8 8XR
Tickets £10 (includes lunch) Dorothy Anderson 01440820376
11 am – 3 pm
22nd June |Cotswold Edge Literature Festival
Local Author Showcase/Discussion with Anne Corlett, Alice Jolly and Debbie Young.
Yate Library, Yate Shopping Centre, West Walk, Yate, Bristol BS37 4AX
Tickets £4.50 via Festival Website
6.30 – 8.30 pm
26 – 27th June |La Comedie du Livre
With Linen Press and Le Bookshop for a two day festival of books in Montpellier, France.
10th May |Bristol Central Library Lunch-time Lecture
3rd May |From Lacock to Leith
A talk for Yate & Chipping Sodbury U3A Photography Club. (Club members only)
29th April |Writers Unchained Story Sunday
Another short story showcase evening with Writers Unchained. Three of us will also be reading from and signing our new books.
Southbank Club, Dean Lane, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 1DB
Admission £5
7 – 9 pm
26th April | Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival
17th April |Redland Library Bristol: The Power of the Short Story
Campaigning group Friends of Redland Library are hosting a Desert Island Books discussion focusing on the short story. Join me and local writers for bookish chat.
Redland Library Whiteladies Rd, Avon, Bristol BS8 2PY
Admission: £3
7 – 9 pm
14th April | Launch party: In the Blink of an Eye
Join me and photographer Rob Douglas to celebrate publication of In the Blink of an Eye. Spike Island Cafe, Cumberland Road, Bristol, BS1 6UX
5 – 7 pm
13th April |Evesham Festival of Words, ‘Meet the Author’
Talking about In the Blink of an Eye with other authors and readers.
Evesham Library, Oat St, Evesham WR11 4PJ
11 am – 12 pm
In the Blink of an Eye will also be on sale throughout the Evesham Festival of Words 2018 in the festival bookshop from Friday June 15th.
