The Writers’ Conference programme 2015

Conference Programme

The Writers’ Conference Building 2015 successful Saturday 28 March

writing careers

WRITING EAST MIDLANDS

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Contents

3

Welcome

5

At a Glance

6–7

Programme

8–17

Special Events, Activities and Services

18–19

Event Map

20–21

Keynotes Speakers

23

Speakers and Agents

24–33

Credits

35

Notes Pages

38–39

Writing East Midlands 49 Stoney Street, The Lace Market, Nottingham NG1 1LX Tel: 01159 59 79 29 / info@writingeastmidlands.co.uk / www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk Twitter: @writingem, The Writers’ Conference hashtag #wemconf2015 Facebook: www.facebook.com/writingeastmidlands The Writers’ Conference 2015 is brought to you by Writing East Midlands, in partnership with The University of Nottingham

WRITING EAST MIDLANDS @writingem

#wemconf2015

www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk

up live Our celebrated pop- es home to com literature festival th April as part

Leicester on Sat 25 ival at Curve. of the Inside Out Fest

Join us for a day of poetry, storytelling, workshops, open mics and music jams, with special guests: Mouthy Poets (feat. John Berkavitch), David Gibb, Melanie Abrahams & Rennaisance One and Writing School East Midlands.

For a full programme visit our website:

www.lyriclounge.co.uk @ lyric_lounge

lyric.lounges for the latest news

Welcome

5

W

elcome to The Writers’ Conference 2015, a day for writers and the writing industry to come together to share ideas, meet people, make new contacts and celebrate the world of writing. It is brought to you by Writing East Midlands in partnership with the University of Nottingham.

Our programme today offers an inspiring range of speakers, including Keynote speeches from the highly distinguished novelist, poet and playwright Maureen Duffy and celebrated author Kerry Young. The Conference will close with a brand new piece of work, created in collaboration with the delegates and speakers present, from Conference Poet in Residence Joel Stickley and Cartoonist in Residence Brick.

The rest of the day comprises a series of in-depth talks, panel events, debates and one-to-one sessions with agents working with some of the UK’s top publishers. In response to feedback from last year, we’ve also included Writer Surgeries with some of the region’s most acclaimed writers, and the addition of seminars and workshops to our programme.

All of the sessions take place in rooms on the ground floor of the Portland Building. Refreshments and lunch will be served in the Atrium, and there will be the chance to get your books signed by the Keynote speakers during the lunch break. You can also tweet and blog your thoughts and experiences of the day at our ‘Blogging Booth’, located directly outside of the Atrium.

All rooms are marked out on the map in the centre of this programme.

Aside from the practical issues, and in the light of the terrible events that took place in Paris at the start of the year, you may notice a light undercurrent in the programme as we gently remind ourselves of the importance of freedom of expression to our lives as artists and as people.

We thank all of our supporters, sponsors and partners of The Writers’ Conference 2015, and in particular Arts Council England, the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and the University of Nottingham for their generosity. Special thanks go to the many volunteers, organisations and colleagues who are helping to make today a success.

Henderson Mullin, Chief Executive Writing East Midlands @writingem

#wemconf2015

www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk

6

At a Glance

RV – Restricted View / WSR – Workshop/Seminar Room PR2 – Panel Room 2

9.30am

Arrival, registration & refreshments

10am

Welcome by Christopher Walker – Chair of Writing East Midlands (RV Delegates only) – PR2

10.05am

Welcome: Stephen Booth – The Writers' Conference Chair and Matt Welton – University of Nottingham

10.15am

Keynote Speakers: Maureen Duffy / Kerry Young and Nottingham City of Literature by Pippa Hennessy

11 – 11.45am

Slot One

Panel 1

Freedom to Write? Ali Abdolrezaie / Xiaolu Guo Henderson Mullin (Chair) / Paul Whickman

Panel 2

Finding Your Place in the Writing Community: Pippa Hennessy / Judith Palmer (Chair) Aly Stoneman / Jonathan Telfer

Panel 3

Historical Fiction Revealed: Do Facts Get in the Way of a Good Story? Judith Allnatt (Chair) / Joanna Courtney Catherine Hall / Tim Leach

11 – 12pm

Workshop – Behind the Scenes: Playwriting Workshop with Kevin Fegan

11.45 – 12.15pm 12.15 – 1pm

Break

Slot Two Seminar – Knowing Your Book – The Importance of the Synopsis with Hannah Ferguson

Panel 1

Myth Busting – Self-Publishing Be Damned: Tracy Bloom Sarah Dale (Chair) / Maureen Duffy / Rachel Gregory

Panel 2

Reaching Young Readers and Writers: Davinia AndrewLynch / Jack Croxall / Tamsyn Murray / Emma Pass (Chair)

Panel 3

Make 'Em Laugh: Using Humour and Satire in Your Writing: John ‘Brick’ Clark / Andrea Mann / Alison McQueen (Chair) Joel Stickley

1 – 2.15pm THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

LUNCH

7 1.30 – 2pm

Book signings with Maureen Duffy & Kerry Young – PR2

2 – 3.15pm

Workshop – Development Planning for Writers: Taster Workshop with Cathy Grindrod

2.15 – 3pm

Slot Three

Panel 1

The Nuts and Bolts of Earning a Living as a Writer: Anne Caldwell (Chair) / Maureen Duffy Emteaz Hussain / Tim Leach

Panel 2

Finding Your Fiction in a Parallel Universe: Alex Davis (Chair) Kim Lakin-Smith / Robert Shearman / Freda Warrington

Panel 3

Transitioning from Set to Show on the Spoken Word Scene: Melanie Abrahams / Rob Gee (Chair) Charlotte Hodkinson / Carol Leeming FRSA

3 – 3.30pm

Break

3.30 – 4.15pm

Slot Four

Panel 1

The Publishing Process: Why is Having an Agent Important?

Carole Blake / Ben Clark / Jane Commane Alison McQueen (Chair)

Panel 2

The Academic Path to Furthering Your Writing Career: Creative Writing MA’s and PhD’s: Spencer Jordan Georgina Lock / Matthew Welton (Chair) / Harry Whitehead

Panel 3

Seminar – Running a Writing Workshop with Rob Gee

4.25pm

Introduction to Closing Event (RV Delegates only) – PR2

4.30pm

Keynote Q&A with Maureen Duffy and Kerry Young chaired by Stephen Booth

5pm

Things You Shouldn’t Say – The Writers' Conference Poet in Residence, Joel Stickley & Cartoonist in Residence, Brick

5.20pm

Closing Conference from Stephen Booth

5.30pm

Conference End THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

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Programme 11 – 11.45am

SLOT ONE

Panel 1 Freedom to Write?

In the Hebdo darkness, or the high emotion stirred by Exhibit B in Edinburgh, it seems art, once more, is easy prey to intimidation and censorship. Should we be free to write what we want? How does censorship, from whatever source, affect the creative processes and approaches of writers? And agents, editors, and publishers - are you censors in disguise?

Speakers: Ali Abdolrezaie / Xiaolu Guo / Henderson Mullin (Chair) / Paul Whickman Sponsored by

Panel 2 Finding Your Place in the Writing Community The art of writing can be a solitary occupation. As a writer it’s therefore vital for you to find a place where you can discuss your writing and writing practices, and share advice and experiences with other literary professionals. This panel is designed to help you identify where to seek guidance and support both face-toface and online, and to find your place in the writing community.

Speakers: Pippa Hennessy / Judith Palmer (Chair) Aly Stoneman / Jonathan Telfer

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Panel 3 Historical Fiction Revealed – Do Facts Get in the Way of a Good Story?

Step back in time to engage in a discussion of how fact and fiction should interplay in Historical Fiction. Do writers of this genre have a duty to be factually accurate? How do you get the right balance between entertainment and truth? How much research is too much research? In this panel, these questions will be addressed, and more.

Speakers: Judith Allnatt (Chair) / Joanna Courtney Catherine Hall / Tim Leach

11 – 12pm

Workshop Behind the Scenes: Playwriting Workshop with Kevin Fegan Imagine an empty stage... a character enters, carrying flowers.

He/she tells us how much they love their wife/husband/partner.

That's nice, the audience thinks, taking it at face value. He/she kneels down and lays out the flowers. Now it appears as though he/she is at a grave and the person they love has died. All is not what it seems as a drama unfolds...

In this workshop, playwright Kevin Fegan will take you back to first principles in writing for the theatre.

THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

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Programme 12.15 – 1pm

SLOT TWO

Seminar Knowing Your Book – The Importance of the Synopsis with Hannah Ferguson The purpose of a synopsis is to inform an agent or publisher of the type of book that you have written in a concise manner, yet the task of writing a synopsis is an art in itself. Join literary agent, Hannah Ferguson of Hardman & Swainson, to explore the role of the synopsis in the writing process. Discover its importance in not only conveying your story to others but also in discovering for yourself what your work is about, and gain crucial knowledge and top tips of how to submit your work to a literary agent in the process.

Panel 1 Myth Busting: Self-Publishing Be Damned Self-publishing has become an unstoppable force within today’s literary arena, or so the media would have you believe. There are many myths surrounding self-publishing, so what should you pay attention to? This panel will unpick the truths and provide answers to key questions such as: How can self-publishing really be profitable? Should you put all of your energy and creativity into social media marketing, or are there better ways for you to gain exposure for you and your book? And can self-publishing be used as a gateway to publication through a more mainstream publisher?

Speakers: Tracy Bloom / Sarah Dale (Chair) Maureen Duffy / Rachel Gregory

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Panel 2 Reaching Young Readers and Writers: Writing for and Marketing to Children & Young Adults Nothing can replace a paper copy of a good book that you can’t put down, but in today’s world of tablets, gadgets and gaming, gaining and retaining the interest of children and young adults can sometimes be a hard feat. How can you write to get their attention and engage them in reading and writing activity? This panel will discuss breaking into the genre, writing for younger audiences, the state of the market, marketing your work, and more.

Speakers: Davinia Andrew-Lynch / Jack Croxall Tamsyn Murray / Emma Pass (Chair)

Panel 3 Make ’Em Laugh: Using Humour and Satire in Your Writing Humour comes in many shades, but which is suitable for your writing and how can you make your work ‘seriously funny’?

Where is using satirical writing appropriate and where should you draw the line? From novels and screenplays to poems and cartoons, this panel will discuss how you can make your audience laugh and how to become fearless to push the comic boundaries with your writing.

Speakers: John ‘Brick’ Clark / Andrea Mann Alison McQueen (Chair) / Joel Stickley

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Programme 1.30 – 2pm

Book Signings with Maureen Duffy & Kerry Young – PR2 Purchase your copies of Maureen and Kerry’s latest titles from the Conference Bookseller Five Leaves and have them signed by the writers.

2 – 3.15pm

Workshop Development Planning for Writers: Taster Workshop with Cathy Grindrod Are you satisfied with the time and attention you give your writing? What would writer paradise be for you? Does a lack of confidence, poor motivation or isolation hold you back? If so, you are not alone! This workshop will give you a taste of writer development planning – a guided process to help you take stock, set new goals and begin to explore your writing future.

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2.15 – 3pm

SLOT THREE

Panel 1 The Nuts and Bolts of Earning a Living as a Writer In our current, ever changing literature landscape, what are the opportunities to earn a living from your writing? What are the obstacles that many writers come across and how do you overcome them? How do you balance the administrative demands of being a freelance writer, filing your tax returns, marketing your work and finding new projects while at the same time finding the all-important time to write? Hear from a range of experienced writers and literary professionals of differing writing disciplines and gain insight into how to take your writing to the next level.

Speakers: Anne Caldwell (Chair) / Maureen Duffy Emteaz Hussain / Tim Leach Sponsored by

Panel 2 Finding Your Fiction in a Parallel Universe Dedicated to Graham Joyce Explore the world of Alternative Fiction in this panel, which will discuss how the genre is evolving; help you to identify where you are on the Alt Fic spectrum; discover how to cross in to a new genre; and how to reach the audiences who enjoy and inhabit that world.

Speakers: Alex Davis (Chair) / Kim Lakin-Smith Robert Shearman / Freda Warrington THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

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Programme Panel 3 Transitioning From Set to Show on the Spoken Word Scene Success as a spoken word artist can be both rewarding and challenging when going solo, but how do you make the leap from a spoken word performance to a full scale show? This panel will explore what you need to effectively collaborate with others, promote and perform your show to make it big.

Speakers: Melanie Abrahams / Rob Gee (Chair) Charlotte Hodkinson / Carol Leeming FRSA

3.30 – 4.15pm

SLOT FOUR

Panel 1 The Publishing Process: Why is Having an Agent Important?

Hear from a range of highly regarded Literary Agents and Editors who will answer the fundamental question ‘Why is having an Agent Important?’ Pitch your questions to find the best pathway to publication for your work, be it indie or traditional, digital or print. In doing so, the panellists will share their insights from the ever changing world of publishing.

Speakers: Carole Blake / Ben Clark / Jane Commane Alison McQueen (Chair)

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Panel 2 The Academic Path to Furthering Your Writing Career: Creative Writing MA’s and PhD’s What could a creative writing qualification bring to your writing career? How might you enhance your writing skills through academic study? In this panel, creative writing academics from East Midlands universities will discuss the benefits of Higher Education creative writing courses and Doctoral Training Partnerships to help you decide if this is a viable option for you.

Speakers: Spencer Jordan / Georgina Lock Matthew Welton (Chair) / Harry Whitehead Sponsored by

Seminar / Panel 3 Running a Writing Workshop with Rob Gee Ever fancied turning your hand at running a writing workshop?

Join Rob Gee and learn how to tailor your workshops to fit any age or ability and deal with unforeseen circumstances. You’ll have the chance to address and improve your own skills as a writer in the process and the workshop includes a whole armoury of ideas and exercises to get you going.

THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

MA Creative Writing This course is one of the longest established postgraduate programmes of its kind in the UK, with an excellent record of publication by its graduates.

Designed for talented and committed writers, the course is taught by an award-winning team with extensive experience of the publishing industry.

Students work closely with staff and visiting speakers to develop their work to a professional standard.

Alongside core modules there are options in Fiction, Poetry, Children’s and Young Adult Fiction, Writing for Stage, Radio and Screen, and Creative Non-Fiction.

Visiting writers have included David Almond, Michael Eaton, Alan Hollinghurst, William Ivory, Kathleen Jamie, Jackie Kay, David Lodge, Michèle Roberts and Miranda Seymour.

School of Arts and Humanities To find out more, please email hum.postgrad@ntu.ac.uk or visit www.ntu.ac.uk/creativewriting.

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4.30pm

Keynote Q&A with Maureen Duffy and Kerry Young Chaired by Stephen Booth Join Stephen Booth who will be taking your questions from the floor and Question Box for Maureen Duffy and Kerry Young in this exclusive Q&A session.

5pm

Things You Shouldn’t Say with Joel Stickley and Brick The Writers’ Conference Poet in Residence, Joel Stickley, and Cartoonist in Residence, Brick, reveal the ‘Things You Shouldn’t Say’, using your contributions throughout the day, and more!

Stay Connected Join the Writing East Midlands Writers’ Directory and be part of a region–wide network of professional, emerging, new and early-career writers.

This free service is available to writers from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland. To join follow the links on our website www.writingeastmildlands.co.uk fill in your details.

@writingem www.facebook.com/ writingeastmidlands

Writing East Midlands is the Writer Development Agency for the region and works to provide opportunities for writers at all stages in their careers.

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Special Events, Activities & Services At this year's Conference, there are a range of special events, activities and services for you throughout the day.

SERVICES Stalls We are delighted to welcome this year’s stallholders to the Conference: The University of Derby, Student Wordsmith (Loughborough University), National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE), Nottingham Writers’ Studio, Arts Council England (ACE) and Five Leaves.

The Writers’ Conference Bookseller – Five Leaves Five Leaves Bookshop, the first independent in Nottingham since 2000 and the only indie to have opened in any city centre over the last few years, returns to the Conference as the event’s Bookseller. A range of books are be available, including titles from the Keynotes and other speakers, so do have a browse. www.fiveleavesbookshop.co.uk

Arts Council England Advice Service James Urquhart (Relationship Manager, Literature) is on hand to talk to you about any project plans you may be developing and can offer advice on Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts funding programme.

Publishing Surgery with Jane Commane Editor Jane Commane from Nine Arches Press is providing short surgeries on getting your poetry published and advice on how to build your profile as a poet.

Poetry Surgery with Matthew Welton Poet and Creative Writing Lecturer, Matthew Welton, is offering short surgeries to discuss your poetry and give you advice about how to develop your work.

Sign up for a Surgery slot at the Registration Desk. Offered on a first come first serve basis.

Blogging Booth Located just outside of the Atrium, come and use the computers and get blogging about your experiences at the Conference throughout the day. #wemconf2015 THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

19 SPECIAL EVENTS 1.30pm – Panel Room 2

Book signings with Maureen Duffy and Kerry Young See page 12 for full details.

4.30pm – Panel Room 1 / Panel Room 2 (RV delegates)

Keynote Q&A with Maureen Duffy and Kerry Young See page 17 for full details.

5pm – Panel Room 1 / Panel Room 2 (RV delegates)

Things You Shouldn’t Say See page 17 for full details.

Nottingham City of Literature This year sees the Nottingham literature community coming together in an exciting bid for the UNESCO City of Literature.

Nottingham has a rich and vibrant literary heritage and future, with many celebrated writers housed within its walls, and we wholeheartedly support the bid and its aim to improve literacy, encourage social cohesion and inclusivity, and support the wide range of creative businesses in and around Nottingham. www.nottinghamcityofliterature.com

ACTIVITIES Poet in Residence – Joel Stickley As the Conference’s Poet in Residence, Joel Stickley will be writing a speciallycommissioned poem over the course of the day, inspired by suggestions from delegates. Taking contributions via a cutting-edge interactive social media platform (a noticeboard covered in index cards), Joel is asking for examples of “things you can’t say” and, with the help of the conference’s Cartoonist in Residence Brick, will be weaving all these unspeakable things into an illustrated poem to be showcased at the end of the day.

Cartoonist in Residence – Brick A roving pen providing quick-fire ‘toons reflecting on the day’s proceedings and pulling the rug from under anything smacking of precious literarti-speak. Possibly the odd caricature, if bribed!

Ask the Agents & Keynotes – Question Box Is there something that you really want to ask an agent or one of the Keynote speakers in their Q&A sessions? If so, fill out a question slip at the Registration Desk and see if your question is selected by the Chair. Particularly recommended for RV delegates for the Keynote Q&A. THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

Portland Building

Entra Disabled

Atrium Refreshments & Lunch

Blogging Booth

Registrati

Panel Room 3

Keynotes & Panel Room 1

Panel Room 2 (RV Screening Room)

Workshop/ Seminar Room

C27

Entr

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20

THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

C Floor Plan

21

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Breakout/ Networking Space

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WEM CONFERENCE AREA

RV = Restricted View

THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

Have you ever had anything published?

If you’ve written a book or had an article published, the Authors’ Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) could be holding money owed to you.

ALCS collects secondary royalties earned from a number of sources including the photocopying and scanning of books.

Unlock more information about how you could benefit by visiting www.alcs.co.uk

Keynote Speakers Maureen Duffy / Writer

Sponsored by

Maureen Duffy is the author of 34 published works including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and plays for stage, screen and radio. Her new collection of poems, Environmental Studies, was published by Enitharmon in May 2013 and her novel, In Times Like These, was self-published in December 2013.

She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and King's College London, as well as a CISAC gold medallist. She is also President of Honour of the British Copyright Council and the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society which last year distributed £30 million to 80,000 authors.

Kerry Young / Writer Kerry Young is the author of two novels. Pao (2011) was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Book Prize. Gloria (2013) was longlisted for the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature and nominated for the 2015 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Both novels were shortlisted for the East Midlands Book Award.

Kerry is currently working on her third novel.

Silbercow has proved the perfect publishing fellow: always ready to make suggestions to solve a problem, always willing to put in the extra time – even if that does mean evenings and weekends!

A real designing hero who I continue to work with and would not hesitate in recommending.

– Dawn Kingsford, Freelance magazine editor

Supporting

The Writers’ Conference 2015 Silbercow graphic design Tel: 0845 456 4838 / info@silbercow.co.uk / www.silbercow.co.uk

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Speakers and Agents Ali Abdolrezaei / Poet and Writer Ali Abdolrezaei was born on 10 April 1969 in Northern Iran. He is the Chair of Exiled Writers Ink in the UK. Abdolrezaei is one of the most acclaimed Iranian poets and has published 43 varied books. His poems have been translated into many languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Turkish, Portuguese, Urdu, Croatian, Armenian, Bengali, Arabic and…

Melanie Abrahams / Literature Curator and Producer Melanie Abrahams is a curator who has channelled a love of books and words into projects and escapades.

She has produced festivals and toured with writers including Amiri Baraka, Ali Smith and Patience Agbabi.

With Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze she co-instigated ‘The Final Stage’ mentoring project for writers in the East Midlands.

Judith Allnatt / Author Judith Allnatt writes poetry, short stories and novels that have been variously shortlisted for the Portico Prize for Literature and the East Midlands Book Award, and featured as a Radio 5 Live’s Book of the Month. Her latest novel, set in WW1, is The Moon Field.

Davinia Andrew-Lynch / Literary Agent, Andlyn Davinia was previously an associate film and television agent, and worked simultaneously as a freelance children’s fiction editor and reader. In 2015 Davinia founded Andlyn, an agency dedicated to children’s fiction and content. Their aim is to find authors and illustrators whose material can exist on the page and beyond.

THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

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Carole Blake / Blake Friedmann Literary Agency An agent since 1977, Carole has 14 years experience as a publisher. Her experience includes being President of the Association of Author’s Agents and Associate Vice President of the Romantic Novelist’s Association. She is the author of From Pitch to Publication (Macmillan) which has been reprinted 17 times. She won the Pandora Award in 2013 ‘for significant and sustained contribution to the publishing industry’.

Tracy Bloom / Writer Tracy Bloom wrote the romantic comedy No-one Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday whilst living in America for her husband’s job. She self-published the book in 2013 and achieved Number 1 Bestseller status on Amazon for three weeks, subsequently securing a four-book deal with Penguin Random House.

Stephen Booth / Author Nottinghamshire crime novelist Stephen Booth is a former newspaper journalist and the author of 15 novels featuring Derbyshire police detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry. His books have won awards on both sides of the Atlantic, with translations into 15 languages, and are currently in development for a TV series.

Anne Caldwell / Writer and Deputy Director, NAWE Anne Caldwell is the Deputy Director of the National Association for Writers in Education (NAWE). She also teaches Creative Writing at the University of Bolton and works as a freelance writer and poet. Her latest collection of poems is Talking with the Dead, published in 2011 by Cinnamon Press. She is based in West Yorkshire.

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Ben Clark / Literary Agent, Lucas Alexander Whitley Ben started his publishing career ensconced in the contracts department at Little, Brown Book Group.

Working at Lucas Alexander Whitely for six years has given him the privilege of working with some truly great writers. His tastes range from science fiction and fantasy to serious non-fiction, and he is actively looking to take on new clients.

John ‘Brick’ Clark / Cartoonist in Residence, The Writers’ Conference John ‘Brick’ Clark is a Nottingham-based cartoonist, comics creator and prose author whose last book, To End All Wars, dominated the UK comics charts towards the end of 2014. His previous book, Depresso, which humorously tackles the sensitive issue of mental health, was shortlisted for the MIND Book Award.

Jane Commane / Editor, Nine Arches Press Jane Commane is the Editor at Nine Arches Press and Co-Editor of Under the Radar magazine. Her poems have been published in Tears in the Fence, And Other Poems, Iota, Anon, The Stare’s Nest, Morning Star and in Best British Poetry 2011 and Lung Jazz: Young British Poets for Oxfam.

Joanna Courtney / Author Ever since Joanna sat up in her cot with a book, she has wanted to be a writer. She’s had over 200 stories and serials published in women’s magazines and this May, to her delight, PanMacmillan will publish The Chosen Queen, the first in her historical trilogy – The Queens of the Conquest.

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Jack Croxall / YA Author Originally trained as an Environmental Scientist, Jack Croxall soon realised a life in the lab wasn’t for him. He started writing for student publications at university, and writing quickly became his passion. He’s now an award-winning, self-published Young Adult author, and largely attributes any success he’s had to social media.

Sarah Dale / Director, Nottingham Writers’ Studio Sarah Dale lives in Nottingham and practices as an Occupational Psychologist. She has self-published two non-fiction books, Keeping Your Spirits Up and Bolder and Wiser and is now venturing into writing fiction. She is a Director of Nottingham Writers’ Studio.

Photo: Alli Price

Alex Davis / Editor/Publisher, Boo Books Alex Davis is an author, tutor and event organiser, and an editor and publisher at Boo Books, an independent press in Derby which seeks to publish regional talent.

He also works as co-ordinator for Edge-Lit, Derby’s annual Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror extravaganza, which in 2015 will feature Joanne Harris, John Connolly, Claire North and many more.

Photo: Hannah Fox

Kevin Fegan / Playwright Kevin has been commissioned to write over 50 stage plays for a wide variety of theatre and is the winner of several awards. He has been described as ‘Britain’s most innovative playwright’ by Plays International and his latest play is Obama The Mamba (Curve/Lowry coproduction with Art Building Projects).

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Hannah Ferguson / Literary Agent, Hardman & Swainson Hannah started working in publishing after completing an MA in Creative Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. She began her career in 2007 and became an agent in 2010. She has since continued to build a list of fiction and non-fiction writers, which is constantly growing and evolving. This list includes Sunday Times Bestseller novelist Miranda Dickinson and bestselling authors Giovanna Fletcher, Kirsty Greenwood and Cathy Bramley.

Poet, comic and reformed psychiatric nurse, Rob has clocked up over two thousand shows internationally, and won numerous awards including Best of Fest at the Ottawa, Winnipeg and Calgary Fringe Festivals.

He’s also won several poetry slams and is sometimes sent into schools as a warning to children.

Rachel Gregory / Ebook Programme Manager, Matador Rachel Gregory has a degree in English and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Southampton.

She worked in administrative roles before joining Troubador as Ebook Programme Manager in November 2012. Rachel runs a busy Ebook Department for Matador, overseeing the production of ebooks and their distribution and marketing to retailers worldwide.

Cathy Grindrod / Writer, Tutor and Mentor Cathy Grindrod is a former Derbyshire Poet Laureate and the author of five poetry collections. Her new play Swing is currently in production. She is a workshop facilitator, mentor and accredited coach, specialising in writing for wellbeing. In 2014 she was awarded an honorary degree for her work with Derbyshire communities.

THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

Photo: Nick Rawle

Rob Gee / Performance Poet

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Xiaolu Guo / Novelist, Filmmaker and Honorary Professor Xiaolu Guo is a novelist and filmmaker and was named in Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists in 2013. Her novels include A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers, which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2007. Her new novel I Am China has been published in nine languages and longlisted for the 2015 Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Catherine Hall / Novelist Catherine Hall was born in the Lake District and has a background in documentary film production and international peacebuilding. She’s written three novels: Days of Grace, The Proof of Love, which won the Green Carnation Prize and a Fiction Uncovered Award, and The Repercussions. She lives in London.

Pippa Hennessy / Development Director, Nottingham Writers’ Studio Pippa Hennessy is Development Director of Nottingham Writers’ Studio, Project Director for Nottingham City of Literature, and works at Five Leaves as a publishing assistant. She writes poetry and prose, and has published poems, fiction, creative non-fiction and graphic short stories. She was a software developer in a previous life.

Charlotte Hodkinson / Lead Producer, Mouthy Poets Charlotte has worked with Mouthy Poets since January 2014, running all aspects of the company. She made her debut as a performance poet at their annual spring show, ‘Say Sum Thin 8’. She also runs her own company, 11:18, which specialises in audio-based performances for train journeys.

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Emteaz Hussain / Writer Emteaz’s play Blood is set to tour theatres up and down the country. Sweet Cider was produced by Tamasha Theatre in 2008. As a Performance Poet she has performed internationally. She is currently commissioned to Pilot Theatre, Clean Break and is on assignment to the Royal Court Theatre, London.

Dr Spencer Jordan / Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, University of Nottingham Dr Spencer Jordan is Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Nottingham; he is a member of the editorial board of Creative Writing Studies; and a member of Literature Wales. He was the Chair of the English-language Panel for the 2012 Wales Book of the Year Award. Spencer’s first novel, Journeys in the Dead Season, was published by Macmillan in 2005.

He teaches a variety of creative writing, with a particular focus on prose (incl. historical fiction), digital narratives and research methods.

Kim Lakin-Smith / Writer Kim Lakin-Smith is a science fiction and dark fantasy author of adult and children’s fiction. Kim’s short stories have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies.

Her novel, Cyber Circus, was shortlisted for both the British Science Fiction Association Best Novel and the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel 2012.

Tim Leach / Writer Tim Leach’s first novel, The Last King of Lydia, was published in 2013 and shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. Its sequel, The King and the Slave, was published in 2014. He lectures in creative writing at the University of Warwick. He lives in Sheffield.

THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

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Carol Leeming FRSA / Poet, Playwright, Director & Performer, Dare to Diva Company Carol Leeming FRSA is a published poet, playwright, author, director and performer. She was shortlisted for the Imison Tinniswood Award for Radio Drama. Notable works include the choreopoems The Loneliness of the Long Distance Diva (Curve Theatre 2012) and Love the Life You Live... Live the Life You Love, which was awarded the Siobhan Logan Award in 2014 by Leicester Writers’ Club.

Georgina Lock / Senior Lecturer in English and Creative Writing, Nottingham Trent University Georgina Lock is a scriptwriter who began her career in the theatre. She has made four short films and has recently adapted one of her original screenplays to her first novel as part of a PhD in Creative Writing. She teaches Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University.

Andrea Mann / Comedy Writer Andrea is a comedy and freelance writer. Until recently, she was the Comedy Editor of The Huffington Post UK, where she created, commissioned and curated the best in online comedy content, from viral videos and pictures to spoof news stories and listicles.

Alison McQueen / Author Alison McQueen grew up in London. Her seventh novel, Under The Jewelled Sky, won the 2014 East Midlands book Award. Her 2012 novel, The Secret Children, was selected by The Independent for their alternative 2012 Booker list. Alison also wrote the Housewife Down comedies (Pan Macmillan 2005–2011) which were featured on Channel 4’s Richard & Judy Show.

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Henderson Mullin / Chief Executive, Writing East Midlands Henderson is the Chief Executive of Writing East Midlands, which works to create opportunities for established and emerging writers by running projects and events across the region. He was formerly CEO at Index on Censorship, publishing in support of freedom of expression and introducing new voices to cultural and political issues. He has contributed to various advisory committees and is currently a board member of Nottingham Festival of Words, Nottingham City of Literature, and The College of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Derby.

Tamsyn Murray / Author Tamsyn Murray writes for all age ranges, from picture books to adult fiction. Her books include the Stunt Bunny series and the Afterlife series and her latest title is Completely Cassidy: Accidental Genius. She teaches Writing for Children at City University, London and is a self-confessed Paperchase addict.

Judith Palmer is Director of The Poetry Society, the UK’s national organisation for poets and poetry. At the heart of what’s happening in poetry, The Poetry Society commissions new work, publishes The Poetry Review magazine and develops new talent through awards such as the National Poetry Competition.

Emma Pass / Author Emma Pass is an award-winning author of teen fiction.

ACID, her debut, won the North East Teen Book Award, and both ACID and her second novel The Fearless were nominated for the Carnegie Medal. She runs workshops in schools and supports one of Writing East Midlands’ Young Writers Groups.

THE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 2015

Photo: Hayley Madden

Judith Palmer / Director, The Poetry Society

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Robert Shearman / Writer Best known for bringing the Daleks back to Doctor Who, Robert is also an award-winning writer for theatre and radio. His five collections of short stories have collectively won the World Fantasy Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and three British Fantasy Awards.

Joel Stickley / Poet in Residence, The Writers’ Conference Joel Stickley is Poet Laureate for Lincolnshire and the author of Who Writes This Crap? and 100 Ways to Write Badly Well. His work has appeared on BBC1, Channel 4 and BBC Radio 3 and 4, as well as at the Glastonbury, Latitude and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.

Aly Stoneman / Writer/Arts Coordinator Aly Stoneman is Poetry Editor at LeftLion Magazine, Board Member of Nottingham Writers’ Studio and an Arts Project Coordinator. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Nottingham Trent University and has read at many literary events including Copenhagen International Poetry Festival. Lost Lands, her debut pamphlet, explores restlessness, myth-making and womanhood.

Jonathan Telfer / Editor, Writing Magazine Jonathan Telfer is Editor of Writing Magazine, which he first joined fifteen years ago as Editorial Assistant. He is responsible for over 80,000 published words each month and reads a lot more. He also oversees the magazine’s popular Twitter and Facebook pages, website and lively forum.

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Christopher Walker / Chairman, Writing East Midlands Christopher Walker is the programme leader for De Montfort University’s MA in Television Scriptwriting. He was the Head of Central Independent Television’s Script Unit and produced the ITV sitcom The Upper Hand.

With literary agent Julian Friedmann, he wrote The Insiders Guide to Writing for Television, published in 2012.

Freda Warrington / Author Freda is the author of twenty-one fantasy novels including The Court of the Midnight King – an alternative history of Richard III – the award-winning Elfland, and the 1920s vampire romance A Taste of Blood Wine (Titan Books). She lives in Leicestershire, where the beautiful Charnwood landscape has inspired her since childhood.

Matthew Welton / Poet and Lecturer in Creative Writing, University of Nottingham Matthew Welton is a creative writing lecturer at the University of Nottingham and a poet who’s revered by an emerging generation of UK poets. His books include The Book of Matthew and We Needed Coffee but... (both Carcanet) and Waffles (EggBox). Recognition for his writing includes the Eric Gregory Award and the Jerwood First Collection Prize.

Dr Paul Whickman / Lecturer in English, University of Derby Dr Paul Whickman is Lecturer in English at the University of Derby, specialising in eighteenth and nineteenth-century literature. He completed his PhD on blasphemy in the literature of Percy Shelley at the University of Nottingham and has written on Shelley, Byron and Keats. Literary censorship remains a firm research interest.

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Dr Harry Whitehead / Senior Tutor for Creative Writing, University of Leicester Harry Whitehead is a novelist, Senior Tutor for Creative Writing at Leicester University, and Chair of the Literary Leicester Festival. He is an elected member of the National Association of Writers in Education’s Higher Education Committee. His novel The Cannibal Spirit (Penguin) was described as ‘a unique work, compelling, complex, thoughtprovoking and impressive’ by The National Post.

Who d

u o e ?

the magazine for new writing £12.00 (£20 World) for two issues, subscribe online at www.brittlestar.org.uk

Poetry • Short fiction • Articles • Reviews • Columns • Interviews www.brittlestar.org.uk

@brittlestarmag

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www.completelycassidy.co.uk #completelycassidy

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Providing a highly professional transcription service for writers Benefits of using Virtual Office Solutions include my: • eye for detail • excellent command of the English language • passion for completing anything undertaken to a very high standard • competitive rates • quick turn round on projects.

If you are writing a book or article and need help in making it look and sound professional or need proof reading facilities please call me on the contact details below to discuss your requirements.

References can be provided if required.

Tel/Fax: 01327 311744 Mobile: 07769 847297 Email: gaynor.collins@tesco.net Web: virtual-office-solutions-by-gaynor-collins.co.uk

Registered No: 6122740

Credits

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The Writing East Midlands Team Henderson Mullin, Chief Executive / Aimee Wilkinson, Writer Development Manager Annabel Bennett, The Writers’ Conference Coordinator / Jacqueline Gabbitas, Marketing Manager / Jess Tickell, Education Manager Olivia French, Courses & Workshops Officer / Natalie Aylward, Marketing & Events Officer / Larry Wilkes, The Writers' Conference Photographer / Martin Parker, The Writers’ Conference Graphic Designer

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

Funders and Principal Sponsors Sponsors

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Supporters

Major Sponsors

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Creative Writing Courses

Make time for your writing with Writing School East Midlands in Leicester and Nottingham

If you want to develop your writing skills, learn more about the craft or push your writing further, try one of our creative writing courses.

Taught by professional writers, performers and editors, our core programme offers courses in novel writing, short fiction and poetry.

Our tutors include: Stephen Booth, Rod Duncan, Jacqueline Gabbitas, Maxine Linnell, Alison Moore, Lydia Towsey, Polly Tuckett and Kerry Young.

For more information visit our website at www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk email us on info@writingeastmidlands.co.uk or call us on 0115 959 7929