Sandra Mangan, Author at Blackpool Social Club

01 Jul

Big names for Little Theatre

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

There's an eclectic line-up of musical acts on their way to Thornton Little Theatre this autumn – and tickets are selling fast. The gigs are being promoted by Hollow Horse Events, whose mission in life is to bring nationwide artists to local venues – and it is through their efforts that China Crisis, Kyla Brox and A Celebration of Simon and Garfunkel will be appearing at the theatre later this year. On Friday, October 2, A Celebration of Simon and Garfunkel – AKA Tim Chu and Ian Bailey – will present their take on the life and works of one of the greatest singing duos to…

30 Jun

Focusing on family has won Carys rave reviews

Sandra Mangan1 CommentLiterature & Spoken Word, Local News

It is the first trip to Wordpool for Southport-born author Carys Bray. She has had two books published. the first, Sweet Home, is a collection of short stories, while her novel A Song for Issy Bradley has won rave reviews. She will be in conversation with fellow author Amanda Brooke on July 3. Tell us a little about your novels I've written two books. The first is called Sweet Home and it's a collection of short stories. The second is a novel called A Song for Issy Bradley. It's about a Mormon family whose daughter dies suddenly and what happens to them in the…

29 Jun

Debut author Tasha shares her dark side

Sandra Mangan1 CommentLiterature & Spoken Word

Debut novelist Tasha Kavanagh has been garnering high praise for Things We Have in Common, a dark and twisted coming of age thriller. A former film editor (including Twelve Monkeys and The Talented My Ripley), Tasha cut her writing teeth on children’s books. Tell me a little about Things We Have in Common? Things We Have in Common is a dark, literary thriller. When 15 year old Yasmin, an overweight, social outcast, sees a sinister man watching Alice Taylor – the girl she herself obsesses about – from the school fence, she gets it into her head that he’s planning…

26 Jun

Peaceful writing time is heaven for Helen

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word, Local News

Barrow in Furness-based author Helen Phifer works full time and has five children and a grandchild, so it is a miracle she finds time to write at all! Her books are a combination of thriller/ghost stories all about police officer Annie Graham which have found a huge following. She will be in conversation with Sandra Mangan for the final author event of Wordpool 2015. Please tell us a little about your books? They are a combination of thriller/ghost stories all about police officer Annie Graham. My lovely readers tell me that they are real page turners that keep them on the…

24 Jun

Tragedy that inspired Amanda to write

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word, Local News

Liverpool author Amanda Brooke didn’t start writing until her 40s - and the decision was inspired by a tragedy in her life. She will be talking about this, and much more, when she is in conversation with fellow author Carys Bray on July 3. Tell me a little about your books, and The Missing Husband in particular. My books fall under the general term of women’s fiction and I tend to write stories that are focused on family with a strong element of drama. I enjoy creating situations which are highly emotional and I’ve been known to myself cry on…

18 Jun

Crime fighters turned crime writers make Wordpool debut

Sandra Mangan1 CommentLiterature & Spoken Word, Local News

They’re known as the ‘crime fighters turned crime writers’, but don’t expect Carol and Bob Bridgestock to turn up at Wordpool wearing capes and dodgy costumes. The pair, who write together as RC Bridgestock, have the inside line on police procedurals – Bob spent 30 years as a police officer with West Yorkshire Police, 28 years a career detective, retiring at the rank of Detective Superintendent and Carol from not only being married to the man in charge of murder enquiries (26 in his last three years alone), but also from working for the same Force in a civilian support…

16 Jun

History repeats itself for returning author Elizabeth

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word, Local News

It’s the second trip to Wordpool for hugely popular historical novelist Elizabeth Fremantle, whose latest book, Watch the Lady, is the third part of my Tudor trilogy. The three books are thematically and chronologically linked but each focuses on a different aspect of the theme of women and power. Elizabeth will be in conversation with John Simpson Wedge – grab your tickets now for what promises to be a very popular event! Tell me a little about your books, and Watch the Lady in particular? Watch the Lady is the third part of my Tudor trilogy. The three books are thematically and chronologically…

12 Jun

Award-winning Ali is Shaw to feel right at home

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word

Ali Shaw, award-winning author of The Girl with Glass Feet and The Man who Rained, is preparing for the publication of his third novel, The Trees. He has a degree in English Literature and has worked as a bookseller and at Oxford’s Bodleian Library, so he will feel right at home at Blackpool Central Library on July 2. He chatted to Sandra Mangan about his work. Tell us a little about The Man who Rained? It’s about a young woman called Elsa, who leaves New York after the death of her father. She catches a flight to a far-flung and isolated place…

10 Jun

Best-seller Elly books her place at Wordpool 2015

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word, Local News

Best-selling author and Blackpool Libraries’ Crime Reading Group favourite Elly Griffiths has quite a history with the town – she’s even featured one of her books here. Elly’s award-winning novels feature a forensic archaeologist called Ruth Galloway – who is inspired by her husband, an archaeologist. Not content with the Galloway series, Elly has begun a new series set in 1950s Brighton. The first book is The Zig Zag Girl and both series are keeping her busy, but she took time out of her schedule to chat to Sandra Mangan ahead of her visit for Wordpool 2015. Tell me a little…

02 Jun

Making a Grand entrance at historic theatre

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLocal News

Work has started on the second phase of a development plan that will ensure the historic Grand Theatre really lives up to its name. This time, the focus is on the entrance – and work to restore it to its original splendour is expected to take about 12 weeks. The ‘Street to Seat’ project aims to improve all aspects of the audience’s experience – from when they enter through the Church Street entrance until they take their seat in the stalls. Outside, the wrought iron canopy and main entrance doors will be stripped back, repaired and repainted, while inside, the box office will be totally transformed with…