Readers’ Day

In partnership with the West Midlands Readers’ Network.

Join fellow readers to enjoy a mini festival in a day.

Devote a day to books as we hear from six brilliant writers in panel conversations and smaller discussion groups.

We’re delighted to welcome an exceptional lineup: Jill Dawson, Claire Fuller, Erin Kelly, Mike Gayle, Amanda Smyth and Lisa Blower with a brilliant catalogue of books perfect both for book club choices or individual reads.

We’ll be hearing from these authors in conversation during two separate panel discussions; morning and afternoon. Each panel is then followed by a smaller discussion session.

You’ll be asked to select your two group sessions at Registration, at the start of the Readers’ Day. There will also be the opportunity to buy books and have them signed.

Our Readers’ Day takes place on the lower floor of Priory Rooms in central Birmingham, accessible by stairs or lift.

Coffee and tea will be available as part of your ticket throughout the day. Lunch will not be provided but there are plenty of options close by, or you are welcome to bring your own.

 

About the speakers:

Lisa Blower is an award-winning short story writer and novelist. Her latest book, Pondweed, is a funny and wise road-trip novel; “a love story in the slow lane”. Her collection It’s Gone Dark Over Bill’s Mother’s includes a wonderful array of competition placed stories including the BBC National Short Story Award. One of Lisa’s stories appears in the Common People anthology edited by Kit de Waal.

Jill Dawson has written many literary page-turners including Fred and Edie, shortlisted for the Orange Prize and Whitbread Novel of the Year, Watch Me DisappearThe Crime Writer and The Language of Birds. Her most recent book is The Bewitching, a powerful and chilling tale of persecution and witchcraft from one of our most skilful and absorbing storytellers.

Claire Fuller has written four novels and published many short stories. Our Endless Numbered Days won the Desmond Elliott Prize for Debut Fiction, and her most recent, Unsettled Ground, won the Costa Book of the Year 2021 and was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction: ” A beautiful, powerful tale about real country life” – The Times. A fifth novel and a collection of stories have been announced.

Erin Kelly is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Sick Rose, The Burning Air, Watch Her Fall and more. The Poison Tree was a Richard & Judy Summer Read and became a major ITV drama. He Said She Said was selected for the Simon Mayo Radio 2 Book Club. Her new book The Skeleton Key is published in September, an intricately plotted thriller about two families and a lifetime of obsession.

Mike Gayle became a full time novelist following the publication of My Legendary Girlfriend in 1997. Since then he has written 13 novels including Half A World Away and All The Lonely People. His new book, The Museum of Ordinary People, is an uplifting and thought provoking novel about loss and the things we leave behind. “This author’s books just keep getting better and better” – Good Housekeeping.

Amanda Smyth is the author of three novels. Her first, Black Rock, was selected as an Oprah Winfrey Summer Read and chosen as a Waterstones New Voice. Her latest novel Fortune has been shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. “A masterwork of Caribbean literature and a book that will stay with me for a long time. Smyth is writing at the top of her game” – Monique Roffey.


More Info

Book Now

Location

Priory Meeting Rooms & Conference Centre
B4 6AF

Date

26 Nov 2022

Time

10:00 am - 3:30 pm

Cost

£25 for the full day
Category