Liverpool Irish Festival are looking for new storytellers, as part of their  ‘Discovering the Liverpool Irish’ project, who are keen to discover more about traditional Irish storytelling. Using traditional Irish stories, you will take part in a series of professionally led workshops, learning more about Irish history and traditional culture along the way. You will hone your storytelling skills and will have the opportunity to take part in the ‘Mouth of the Mersey’ storytelling event at the end of August.

It is then planned that you will also share your stories with school children, during a series of school visits in the Autumn Term. Dates: approximately 6 workshop sessions, from now until the end of August. There will be a total of approximately 8 school visits, from 5^th September up until half-term (24th October) – although you would only be required for 2 of these visits.

You would also be part of the Celebration Event on Saturday 29th October.

No previous experience necessary! Just an active interest in Irish traditions and culture, and an ear for a good yarn! And by the way, this is all absolutely FREE!

If you would like to take part or find out more information please contact Rebecca Sharp at rjoysharp@hotmail.com or Cathy Butterworth at cathyliverpoolirishfestival@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 07949 025 884.

For more information and updates about the ‘Discovering the Liverpool Irish’ project go to www.liverpoolirishheritage.co.uk and if you would like to find out more about Liverpool Irish Festival events in October go to www.liverpoolirishfestival.com

The lecture takes place on Saturday 9th April, 12pm-1pm, in the Concert Room of the Anglican Cathedral (St James’ Mount, Liverpool, L1 7AZ).

This is a free event but please book in advance by contacting Dianne Rothwell: 0151 702 7201 / dianne.rothwell@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk

The University of Liverpool’s School of Music has just published their programme of events for the coming weeks and, on their behalf, we would like to extend an invitation for you to join them at the concerts.

The Wednesday lunchtime performances run until the 15th December, and are all free.

Click here to see a full list of performances.

7.30pm – 9pm, Wednesday 13th October

Following tonight’s announcement of the Man Booker Prize winner, you are invited to join The Reader Organisation in conversation with author Lloyd Jones, whose novel Mister Pip was shortlisted for the prize in 2007.

Victoria Gallery & Museum, Ashton St, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZG.

Just turn up, or contact Claire Speer to reserve your free ticket: 0151 794 2830 / clairespeer@thereader.org.uk

UK and US poets laureate, Carol Ann Duffy and Billy Collins will perform their work together for the first time to mark the University’s milestone 125^th birthday.

The Written Word takes place on 28^th October 2010 and promises to be a highlight of the University’s anniversary celebrations.

Billy Collins has served two terms as the poet laureate of the United States from 2001 to 2003. As the USA laureate, Collins read his poem The Names at a special joint session of the United States Congress on 6^th September 2002, held to remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks. He has been called “The most popular poet in America” by the New York Times.

Bookings are now being taken for this free event, starting 6pm. Spaces are limited so book your place by emailing corporateevents@edgehill.ac.uk.

Both writers cite ancient Egypt as the inspiration for their work, and after the discussion the audience will have the opportunity to handle actual Egyptian artefacts from the Museum’s collection – a must for anyone with an interest in Egyptology!
The event is free, but booking is essential.

 Call the Museum’s Education Bookings on 0151 478 4788 or email Peter Wallace for more information: Peter.Wallace@liverpool.gov.uk

Seamus Heaney
Blake Morrison
Vanessa Hemingway (she’s got a very famous grandfather)
Eric Lomax

If you want a bigger dose of reading goodness, then issue 37 of The Reader, ‘Knowing by Heart’, is availble to buy from our shop. Featuring:

Hanif Kureshi
David Almond
Alison Brackenbury
David Constantine
Michael Schmidt
David Almond

It is a free two day festival of sport, music, art and education which works to encourage racial harmony and better community relations. There will be workshops promoting social and life skills, football tournaments, art workshops, music and dance performances, plus much more!

For more information on the Festival, please visit the Anthony Walker Foundation Website, where you can also view the Festival brochure.

If you would like tickets for the AWF Carnival at Alma De Cuba, please email: info@anthonywalkerfoundation.com

The Junction tells the story of Captain Peter Scott, paralysed and dying of a nervous disorder, just as the First World War is coming to an end. After losing consciousness in the Mawdsley Hospital Peter wakes to find himself in a mysterious village called The Junction, where he encounters intense recollections from his past. Curiously, the inhabitants of The Junction seem to have been expecting him…

In Mary’s own words:

The thought behind this story came to me when I was in the Wallasey tunnel, on my way to one of my Get into Reading groups, in the summer of 2005. I don’t know where it came from, or what to call it – an intuition, delusion, realisation or fantasy.

The idea was that if there was an afterlife, most of the stuff that I think of as me wouldn’t get there. Even the most spiritual-seeming parts of myself are rooted in the psycho-physical being that’s going to end when I die. If there’s anything more to me…would I even know what it was?

The good thing about writing fiction is that it means you don’t have to translate ideas like that into a world view or religious belief – you can just make a story around it. Originally The Junction was a 70,000 word long novel. In 2007, Phil Davis asked me to turn it into a three to five episode serial. At first I thought I would be able to do it by condensing and cutting. It was his advice to stop the first episode where it stops now that made me understand the whole shape of the story was going to have to change – this taught me more about plot than anything else I’d ever heard or read.

 

Download The Junction here

Did you also know that it’s completely free to do so?

Issue 33 is now available to download

This means that you can now access the past four issues of The Reader– that’s a whole year’s worth, for free! Just follow the link above, and enjoy all The Reader has to offer.