Literature & Spoken Word

A northern publisher is geared up to publish a book of historical fiction short stories based in Blackpool and wants local people to write it. From November Comma Press is hosting a short story writing course for local aspiring writers. The course will consist of three sessions, with one held every three weeks, and there are 15 places available. With guidance from a tutor, each participating writer will produce a work of short fiction inspired by the town’s history. The stories will then be brought together in an anthology and published by Comma Press as an ebook. The six sessions,…

Desmond Bagley was an internationally bestselling thriller writer who lived right here in Blackpool, but you'd be forgiven for not knowing his name. Local author Michael Davies has made it his personal mission to correct the oversight in Bagley's centenary year Does the name Desmond Bagley mean anything to you? If you’re of a certain age, then it just might. If not, don’t be too hard on yourself – he’s fallen rather out of fashion these days. But Fylde coast author Michael Davies is on a mission to change all that and reposition Bagley in his rightful place as the…

Join the prize-winning New Zealand novelist as she discusses her novel, Pet, and her research for a new book – set right here in Blackpool. "A remarkable and original writer, whose novels have the golden combination of being both riveting and superbly written." —Lissa Evans Blackpool Social Club presents author Catherine Chidgey in conversation on 6th October. Chidgey is the bestselling, prize-winning New Zealand novelist and short-story writer. She will be discussing her latest book, Pet, as well her research for a new novel – set right here in Blackpool. Pet probes themes of racism, misogyny and the oppressive reaches…

Musical comedy duo Black Liver – aka Ruth Cockburn and Keith Carter – are hosting Library Quest, a quiz like no other in Blackpool Central Library... with booze. As part of Libraries Week, on 5th October Black Liver invites you to assemble a team of five and get your detective skills ready. They'll be hosting an interactive quiz where they will delegate a number of tasks and you will have to uncover their clues, decipher their riddles, and unlock the secrets hidden within the library's walls. In between going off on various tangents, Ruth and Keith tell us what to…

On Friday 14th July Blackpool Social Club hosted an evening with author Claire McGlasson at Blackpool Central Library. McGlasson discussed her Blackpool-set book, The Misadventures of Margaret Finch, with editor Antonia Charlesworth Stack and a packed audience who posed many of their own insightful questions. Here we share some highlights from the conversation. Photos: Amanda Aiton Margaret Finch has just begun work in a position that relies on her discretion and powers of observation – documenting the behaviour of working class holiday makers in Blackpool in the interwar period. Harold Davidson, the disgraced Rector of Stiffkey, is the subject of…

Local librarian Emily Wareing finds herself in a happy and sometimes frustrating place as she recommends your next summer read. "In every universe, it’s you for me.
 Even if it’s not me for you.” Happy Place tells the story of Harriet and Wyn, the 'perfect couple' until they broke up six months ago. The pair are forced to spend one last summer holiday together with their friends who are none the wiser to their breakup. Harriet and Wyn met in college and, as they grow up, they realise they're no longer the carefree kids that spent their summers with their…