Julia Bell’s poetry collection ‘Hymnal’ is out now!

After three novels and a book of essays ex TSFG member Julia has published her first collection of poetry, a memoir in verse about growing up as the daughter of an evangelical vicar in Wales. It is attracting rave reviews:

‘These full-throated poems bring to resonant life the story of a daughter whose father’s calling “sits on all our shoulders like a fog”’. (John McCullough).

‘..vivid, intense and freeing.’ (Maggie Mackay)

‘superb, intriguing’ (nation.cymru)

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Charles Wilkinson has new book out.

Charlie has another book ‘The Harmony of the Stares’ out with Egaeus Press. They say:

‘Egaeus Press and the marvellously unique Charles Wilkinson join forces once more for The Harmony of the Stares: Ten diversely strange tales, steeped in menace, linked in the most unexpected ways by an auricular theme… These are tales in which music often plays a role: music as ritual, music as language, impossible music, lethal music. But here also are the silences, the stop-gaps between notes, the attempted retreats from the audible world.’

More information here.

Elizabeth O’Connor’s ‘extraordinary’ debut novel snapped up by Picador.

Associate member Elizabeth was at the centre of a ten-way auction for her first novel, which was eventually won by Picador. The novel ‘Whale Fall’ has been described as one ‘of incredible intensity, immense control, and devastating beauty. It is that rare combination of a thrilling read and a novel of profound resonance.’ Read more here.

Readers will have to wait until 2024 for its publication. We’re looking forward to it!

Ashok Patel’s play ‘Ninety Days’ showcased at the Curve Theatre, Leicester.

Commissioned to reflect the lives of Ugandan Asians in Britain 50 years after they were expelled by Idi Amin, Ashok’s moving play is part of a trio recently performed to acclaim.

The Guardian said ‘Patel movingly and unflinchingly exposes political, economic and racial tensions between the black and Asian communities in Uganda’s capital.’ You can read the whole review here.

Chisenga Malama and Rav Moore in Ninety Days by Ashok Patel, which ‘movingly and unflinchingly exposes tensions’. Photograph: Kieran Vyas

Annie Murray, one time Tindal Street member, included in BBC Radio 3’s ‘Words and Music’ programme about Birmingham.

Kudos to Annie Murray, one time TSFG-er, who had an extract from her The Chocolate Girls novel included in BBC Radio 3’s ‘Words and Music’ programme about Birmingham this past Sunday, alongside Morrall, Lodge, Fisher, Coe, Zephaniah, Liz Berry, and other fine Brum-linked writers.

Hear it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0019c18

Kit de Waal’s ‘My Name is Leon’ reaches our TV screens this week!

Kit’s best selling novel ‘My Name is Leon’ has been adapted for television and will be screened this Friday (10th June 2022) on BBC 2 at 9:00pm. It was taken up by Lenny Henry’s production company.

‘Sir Lenny, who previously voiced the audiobook of My Name is Leon, added: “Kit’s writing is so vivid and pictorial, when I was doing the audiobook I could see the characters in my head.

‘ “I rang my office and said ‘we’ve got to do something with this’ and six years later, here we are.” ‘

Kit is extremely pleased with the adaptation and said at the launch: “Every author who has their work adapted, you hope it is faithful, you hope it turns out how you imagined it and it absolutely has been a dream team. ”  Find out more here. Watch a trailer here.

Kit and Sir Lenny Henry at the launch of ‘My Name is Leon’.

Charles Wilkinson’s new chapbook published.

Two weird stories by Charlie appear in his chapbook ‘The January Estate’ published by Eibonvale Press.

56 pages
Published January 2022

‘Charles Wilkinson writes with a very classical and subtle touch – the quiet historical writing, the haunting weird tale, shot through with hints of deep strangeness and wildness, elegance and refinement.  This is the type of writing that slowly seeps its way into your mind, and that pulls you in slowly until you find yourself deep in the strangeness of it all. Subtle and immersive.  The January Estate presents a pair of stories that showcase the author’s unique style.’

More information from:

https://www.eibonvalepress.co.uk/chapbooks/Chap17_Estate.htm