February - Events for Writers, Music and Book Lovers

There is a lot going on this month for writers, music and book lovers in Lancashire so wrap up warm and enjoy. Here are my highlights:

FOR BOOK LOVERS

Check your local Library for events! There will be all sorts going on this month because of half-term so there is no need to be bored at home. Click here for more information on events taking place in Lancashire Libraries.

7th - 14th Feb ~ Shelley Workinger (read her guest post here) is giving away a copy of both of her books: Solid (read review here) and Settling (review here) over at her blog as part of her 'Follower Love' promo. Everyone who enters will win a little prize even if they don't win the books. So get your name down! You have literally nothing to lose.

8th Feb ~ Blackburn Library: An Afternoon with Charles Dickens ~ 2pm

To celebrate Dickens 200th Birthday, Lancashire Writing Hub has organized an afternoon of readings, discussions and quizzes. Tickets: £1 from Blackburn Library. Further info on Lancashire Writing Hub events here.

11th Feb ~ Meet Darth Vader! ~ 11am

Dave Prowse, the man behind the mask, will be meeting fans and signing his autobiography 'Straight from The Force's Mouth' at Waterstone's Hanley. Admission is free, but this is due to be an extremely popular event so arrive early. More information here. (I know this is not strictly Lancashire, but I thought Star Wars' fans might want to know about it).

14th Feb ~ Meet the Author: Joanna Trollope ~ 4pm

Joanna is one of the judges for the Melissa Nathan Award (read more about it here) and she will be signing her latest novel 'The Soldier's Wife' at Waterstone's Manchester Deansgate on Valentine's Day! So go for the signing and then a lovely meal for two in one of Manchester's many great restaurants (view a couple here). Free Admission. An Author Chat will also take place at Waterstone's Leeds on Feb 17th 7pm when Joanna will talk about her career as an author as well as her latest novel. Tickets: £3 from the store.

18th Feb ~ Southbank Center (London): Red House Children Book Award 2012 ~ 2.30pm

The Red House Children Book Award is the only national award voted entirely by children and you guessed it: they are invited to the award ceremony. It's actually ideal for children in between 7 and 12 years of age, so if your little one is a bookworm in the making this is a great event. Tickets: £8 Adults, £4 Children plus booking fee. More information here.

25th Feb ~ Meet the Author: Malcolm Rose ~ 11am

Malcolm Rose will be signing his latest teen novel 'Cyber Terror' - the latest episode on the adventures of bionic secret agent Jordan Stryker - at Waterstone's Leeds. Free admission.

FOR WRITERS:

The Continental Pub in Preston hosts Open Mic Nights the first Thursday of the every month. This article was too late for the one this month, but it's worth keeping this in mind, especially if you are a poetry writer. More information here. Admission is free. 8.30pm start.

11th Feb ~ Burnley Writers Circle meets the second Saturday of every month offering workshops, writing challenges, feedback and writing competitions. You must become a member (£15 per year) and sessions cost £2 per person towards room hire and coffees. More information here.

27th Feb ~ scRibble Creative Writing Group meets at The Continental in Preston the last Monday of every month to share their work and exchange feedback. Free Admission, 7.30 start. Further information here.

FOR MUSIC, DANCE AND FILM LOVERS

7th Feb ~ 'Jigsaw' by Integr8 Youth Dance ~ The Continental, Preston ~ 2.30pm

Integr8 is a dance group formed of disabled and non-disable dancers. An amazing project if you ask me and admission is free so you have no excuse not to support them.

24th Feb ~ Mini Cine Young Film Festival ~ Dreams of a Life (Cert: 12A) ~ The Continental 7.30pm

A filmmaker sets out to discover the life of Joyce Vincent, who died in her bedsit in North London in 2003. Her body wasn’t discovered for three years, and newspaper reports offered few details of her life - not even a photograph. Tickets: Free for under 21s and £4 for Adults, deals available for season tickets. More information here. 

Boyce Avenue (read about them here) and Emile Sande (read about her here), Florence and the Machines (more here), Wretch 32 (more here) and Ed Sheeran (info here) are all on tour in the UK this year and tickets have already gone on sale so don't miss out!