October 2012 - Events for Book Lovers, Writers and Curious Souls

There is plenty going this month, including numerous festivals, workshops, exhibitions, signings, Halloween activities, Global James Bond Day, and Dyslexia Awareness Week. So take your pick!

FESTIVALS

Lit Festival season has started people!!! And there are a lot of exciting things lined up for you.

First and foremost, let's not forget that Bath Festival of Children's Literature is still in full flow until October 7th. You can find out what is still to come here.

The Times' Cheltenham Literature Festival needs no introduction. It runs from today (the 5th) till the 14th of this month and includes guest appearances from big names such as J. K. Rowling, Caitlin Moran, Salman Rushdie and many more. Also watch out for events by Harper Collins and OUP authors Derek Landy, Emma Chichester Clark, Clara Vulliamy, Korky Paul; as well as a variety of workshops for writers. For more information click here.

Manchester Literature Festival starts on October 8th and goes through to October 23rd with a lineup of world literature, new commissions, events for children and families, walking tours, poetry, new writing and the Blog North Award ceremony on the 17th. To find out more download the brochure here.

And last but most certainly not least, Lancaster Litfest takes over from the 17th to the 21st, including a whole sections on Gothic YA Fiction, poetry and prose writing; a BBC Writers Room Workshop and picture book master class; More Music Songwriter's Circle;  and events for children and teens. Read the brochure here.

EXHIBITIONS & OTHER INTERESTING EVENTS

To celebrate 50 years of James Bond films and the upcoming new movie Skyfall, today is Global James Bond Day! There will be events happening all over the world, including an auction of James Bond movie memorabilia for charity at Christie's in London and tickets for the new movie, due for release on October 26th, going on pre-sale. If you're a fan check the Facebook Page or tweet them at @007. 

On the 11th of October join award-winning author Sally Gardner, Times children’s book critic, Amanda Craig and Booktrust’s books and disability consultant, Alexandra Strick, for a fascinating conversation about Reading, Creativity and Dyslexia and how new technology has been used to integrate sufferers. The events aims to show people what it’s like to see the world as a dyslexic and how this can better inform our understanding of dyslexia, as well as supporting Dyslexia Awareness Week. For more information click here.

Preston 6th International Film Festival kicks off from Oct 15th until Oct 22nd with a film screening every night at 7pm. £2.50 per film or £10 for all 7 screenings taking place at UCLan University. For the list of films and more information click here.

World Book Day and OUP are giving away prints of the gorgeous illustrations by David Roberts done for the new The Wind in the Willows book released last month (read related article here). For a chance to win one click here before the 17th of October.

This is one for graphic novel or comic book lovers. Head to Foyles at Charing Cross Road, London, in between Oct 20th and 31st to see Valentina: An Exhibition from the Iconic European Comic Strip by renowned Italian graphic novelist Guido Crepax. This exhibition is free. Click here for opening hours and more info.

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR WRITERS

Spotlight, one of the regular events below, and poet David Tait will be running a FREE Performance Writing Workshop this Saturday, 6th of October, from 1-3pm in Lancaster. Click here for details.

Successful Self-Publishing is an idea most new writers have considered or are considering. Explore the options with the help of experts Alison Baverstock (The Naked Author); Clare Christian (co-founder of Harper Collins' The Friday Project) and Helen Hart (Silverwood Books) on Oct 17th at Bristol Literature Festival from 4-5.30pm. Tickets: £3. More information here.

And while you're there... Why not take part on The Writer, The Editor, The Agent? An interesting discussion with literary agent Lucy Luck, her client Catherine O’Flynn, and Luke Brown, who commissioned her novel, about the part these three roles play in the making of a great book. Oct 17th, 6-7pm at Bristol Literature Festival, tickets: £5. More information here. 

Award-nominated Simon Kurt Unsworth will run a Ghosts and Other Worlds: A Short Course on Writing Horror and Sci-Fi workshop in Lancaster from October 23rd to November 13th. £7.50 per session. For times and what the sessions will include click here.

Valentina author Evie Blake will be running The Language of Seduction: Writing Erotic Fiction Workshop at Foyles Charing Cross, London, on October 28th from 12-3pm. £15 for a three hours workshop with a best-selling author isn't bad at all! For details of what it will cover click here.

AUTHOR VISITS AND SIGNINGS

Sat 6th Oct ~ New YA Voices takes centre stage at Foyles Charing Cross, with debut authors Sean Cummings, Kim Curran and Sarah Mussi for a discussion about their new books. 6-7.30pm, Free. More details here.

Fri 19th Oct ~ YA Crime Fiction comes into focus at Foyles Charing Cross with authors Gregg Olsen, Chris Ould and Niall Leonard discussing their work and their journey to publication. 6.30-7.30pm, Free. More about it here.

Sun 21st Oct ~ Queen of comedy Miranda Hart signs her new autobiography Is It Just Me? at Waterstones Trafford Center, Manchester. 3.30pm See here for details.

Sat 27th Oct ~ YA Fearfest at Foyles Charring Cross with authors Gareth P Jones, Karen Mahoney, Ruth Warburton, Caroline Green, James Dawson, C J Daugherty, Laura Powell and Sarah Mussi. 2-4pm. Free event. More information here.

Wed 31st Oct ~ Join The Night Circus author Erin Morgenstern and Her Fearful Symmetry author Audrey Niffenegger for Halloween at Waterstones Piccadilly. There's even a prize for the best dark and decadent costume! Time: 7pm, Tickets £8. See here for more information.

REGULAR EVENTS

Our much loved favourites...

Sat 13th Oct ~ 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. This month they are hosting a workshop with Phil Burton. Further information here.

Fri 19th Oct ~ Spotlight - Lancaster Litfest's Open Mic night takes place the third Friday of the month and works as a platform for poets, writers, comedians and musicians. Find further information by visiting their website here. Again, like with the Continental's Open Mic Night, if you wish to be part of the line up, you must contact them in advance.

LOCAL EVENTS

Check your Local Library for events! With half-term and Halloween fast approaching, they are guaranteed to have something cooking in the oven. To find out what is happening in Lancashire Libraries this month click here.

From now until Jan 13 ~ 50 Years of Clockwork Orange Exhibition at John Rylands Library in Manchester. Did you know its writer, Anthony Burgess, was a Manchester lad? Click here for details. There are many more events taking place at John Rylands, so don't forget to check the rest of their calendar.

Sat 13th to Sun 14th Oct ~ Umbrella Doodles where kids can customise their see-through umbrellas with the sites they see during the walking tour. More about it here.

Sun 21st Oct ~ Let's Get Crafty Food & Craft Fair returns to Whalley Village Hall, near Clitheroe, with a selection of handmade crafts and artisan food. 10am-4pm. Read related article here or visit Le'ts Get Crafty's Facebook page here.

Tue 30th Oct to Sat 3rd Nov ~ The Importance of Being Ernest at Oldham Coliseum. "Oscar Wilde’s theatrical masterpiece is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest comedies in the English language. Wonderful characters, sparkling dialogue, gloriously improbable plot twists and a sprinkling of romance." Performance times and tickets here.

I feel out of breath now! Pick your poison and go have fun. You have no excuse not to have a busy and exciting October. ^_^