Monday 21 May 2007

Starting them young!

Norfolk Reads and Writes starting developing audiences of the future this weekend with a day of magnificent story telling in a yurt in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral as part of the brilliant Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2007.




We had stories from
Daniel Morden, Hugh Lupton, Shamshad Khan and Pete Kalu. Each of them offered something different: Celtic myths, Norfolk folk tales, poems from Pakistan and Blackburn, African legends and much else besides.

Shamshad Khan
From 10 in the morning until 5.30 in the evening, we had a succession of eager listeners (with their equally eager grown ups in tow) come into the magical yurt - decorated inside and out - for half hour sessions that took them around the world while they enjoyed the spectacle in the heart of Norwich.

Pete Kalu

It was a fantastic way of introducing young readers of the future to the power of stories from across the globe.

We also played the audiences in and out of the yurt with fantastic Klesma music - to make the experience something to remember!





Monday 14 May 2007

Norfolk Reads & Writes Workshops

Norfolk Reads and Writes offers a wide range of workshops. Are you just beginning to write and feel like you would benefit from some tips on the basics of fiction or memoir writing? Are you an experienced writer who would like to learn more about handling difficult material? Have you an interest in the challenges and joys of translation? Read on for details, but sign up fast, as places are limited.

Monday 25 June, 4.00–6.00pm
Workshop 1: What’s Your Story?


Join best-selling memoirist and top tutor Vesna Goldsworthy (www.chernobylstrawberries.com) for a two-hour workshop that will help you to shape your story into the beginnings of a successful memoir. If there’s a strong story in your family, this workshop will give you the tools to shape it into a form that others will enjoy.
Price £7. Suitable for all levels.

Workshop 2: Voices of Exile (‘Stimmen des Exils’)

Writer, poet and translator Michael Augustin presents original audio recordings of exiles including Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, Alfred Döblin and Erich Fried reading their work in the original German. The workshop will develop joint translations of the poems read and discuss the art and craft of translation. In association with the British Centre for Literary Translation. Good German language skills required. Advanced Level.

Tuesday 26 June 4.00–6.00pm
Workshop 3: Real Life and Story Telling


Join novelist Brian Chikwava to explore how the drama of everyday life is a key part of our urge to tell stories. This workshop will explore identity, belonging and the drama of stories for those who are just getting going and want some handy tips to help on the journey!
Price: £7. Suitable for all levels.

Workshop 4: Are your parents a sonnet?

Daljit Nagra, Faber’s new young gun, explores the comedy, tragedy and everyday life within poetry. Are your parents a sonnet? Is your school a limerick? Designed for those secret and not-so-secret aspiring poets out there, this is a free workshop for young people between the ages of 11 and 16. FREE.

Wednesday 27th June 4–6pm
Workshop 5: Crossing Borders


The novelist and prize-winning translator Maureen Freely explores how to cross borders (national, cultural, psychological) in one’s writing without making the extraordinary exotic: how to be a traveller and not a tourist! For experienced writers who would benefit from working with one of the country’s leading translator/writers.
Price: £7. Advanced Level.

Workshop 6: Jump in and Start Writing!

Lawrence Bradby, Norfolk writer and artist, leads a final workshop for young writers who want to jump in the word pool and start writing. Bring nothing but your inspiration (and perhaps a small pencil) and Lawrence will have you dashing off poems by the yard. This is a free workshop for young people between the ages of 8 and 12. FREE.

Workshops places are limited to 15 people – so be sure to book your place soon!

To Book call 01603 877 177 or email sarahbower@clara.co.uk

All workshops are taking place at The Garage, Theatre Street, Norwich. www.thegarage.org.uk.

Thursday 3 May 2007

Hisham Matar wins RSL Ondaatje Prize

Hisham Matar has won the fourth Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, worth £10,000, with In the Country of Men. It was presented on Monday at a dinner at the Travellers' Club in Pal Mall. The novel was praised by judge Ruth Padel for its "exact and imaginative prose".

Hisham celebrated with a cigarette and said: "As soon as you are aware of the result, the work is dead. Writing is the work of a servant." He went on to thank his editor Mary Mount, and his agent Kevin Conroy Scott of A P Watt. Read the short article in Publishing News.