Wild Words Reading
Had a fantastic time last night at the launch of Wild Words, the anthology all about the spirit and inspiration of Dartmoor produced by Dartmoor Preservation Association. Thank you Victoria Regan for reading my Wild Words piece ‘Scatter’ so beautifully in situ. Lovely to meet you at the wonderfully atmospheric launch in Ashburton. Also thanks to Helen JR Bruce for the whole thrill of it and for having me.
Such a pleasure to read to the lovely warm audience and a privilege to read amongst a brilliant and eclectic cast of other writers and performers including my old Literature Works buddy Nutty Hares.
If you’d like to hear the reading, visit the DPA YouTube channel here:
‘Wild Words’ – the whole beautiful digital mag – can be read in full on the DPA website: https://dartmoorpreservation.co.uk/
Brian the Bear and Christmas!
Thanks to everyone who came along to my first event of the Christmas season at Seavington St Mary. First time at this one but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Then not long after it was back to The Barrington Boar and their Christmas Shopping Evening, with South Somerset’s finest.
Cooking in the Exeter Word Kitchen
I read last night at the lovely Exeter Word Kitchen – thanks everyone who braved Storm Benjamin to come and watch and listen to us!
I didn’t take any pics at the venue – I think there have been enough ‘Mark reading at the mic’ photos lately – but I did take this one at the hotel. I stayed on as I had another assignment on Dartmoor today – more about that soon.
The best things about the hotel were this staircase and window and the fact that rooms were half-price. It was the original Central Station hotel and probably once felt rather grand. Sadly now the elegance feels somewhat faded, though maybe this will improve as the hotel ownership has recently changed.
It was also very close to the venue which was a blessing in that weather!
Thank you David Lloyd and Pippa Marriott for another top evening and putting together such a stirring and varied programme.
Clevedon Literary Festival
A quick spin up an empty M5 (yay!) and I was back at the seaside for the Clevedon Celebration of the Book, part of Clevedon Literary Festival.
I’ve never not sold any books at these events, but now I’m of the ‘whatever’ mindset. I’ll meet people, talk about books and writing, have a lovely day out. I have good friends now I’ve just met once at a book event! And if I do sell a single book, then that’s a bonus.
‘Broken’ Stories – David Hall
Wrapped up a busy spell of reading slots last night at another full house, the very atmospheric Fresh Fiction event at The David Hall.
The theme for the evening, ‘Broken’, led to some disturbing tales, which ratcheted up the intensity of that atmosphere! I did wonder looking out at the sea of discombobulated faces if my story ‘Click’ was TOO disturbing!
No matter, it was a highly entertaining evening. Great to catch up with Mark Rutterford (mutual photographic society – thanks!) and to hear FF debutante Ieva Lakute and all the other excellent readers. Thank you Grace Palmer (for pics too!) Novel Nights, Gem, Helen and everyone at The David Hall.
Time Travelling with the Archangel
Last night I went back to the Archangel in Frome – I was amazed to realise it was eight years since my last visit!
The previous occasion was a political meeting when I was the local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate in the 2017 General Election – talk about being shot by both sides. (I was an anti-coalition lefty lib.) It was a painful experience, especially as I gave up my first ever writing prize (a trip to Sydney as winner of the Heathrow 70 writing comp!) to ‘do my bit’ when Theresa May called a snap election.
It was strange returning as a writer, and I was nervous at Dirty Laundry Storytelling & Poetry, as I was trying something quite raw and a little different to my usual short story/book extract fayre. I shouldn’t have worried; the audience were warm and supportive, and the other performances were amazing in variety and power, topped off by the bogglingly good Malaika Kegode whose words stayed with me the whole long journey home.
Thank you Olly and Alexis Brooks for having me and creating such a vibrant and empathic event. I’ll be back – if you’ll have me!
Budleigh Literary Festival
Last night at the sold-out Word Kitchen, part of the Budleigh Literary Festival programme.
When I saw I was the ‘opening act’ I was a little nervous as my extract from ‘Cold Shower’ was about abuse. After hearing a brave reading from fellow writer Jamie Wright in Exeter a while back, I knew I had to write this – it was the elephant in my writing room. I’ve fictionalised some of my school experiences before but this was the first time I’ve exposed the real blood and guts.
The longer piece goes on to attempt to establish a connection between the bullying which starts early in life and then develops into the more institutional intimidation and victimisation which is all too pervasive right now.
I shouldn’t have worried about reading it; the audience reaction was amazing – emotional and affirming.
As someone said to me afterwards, putting it out there is not only cathartic for the writer (to me, it feels like writing about it ‘disempowers’ the abuse), but can be for the listener, too. I do feel this is one of the strongest things I’ve written; it hasn’t found a home yet but I hope it does.
I do realise that superficially as a mature adult I appear presentable, socially adept and confident enough, and I’ve had a good share of privilege and ‘success’; it is possible to overcome, though we all have our bad days.
I’m damaged but not broken.
Thank you David Lloyd and Pippa Marriott at Word Kitchen for creating such a warm supportive environment where I can admit this and where I feel brave enough and safe enough to share the piece. Thank you too to the audience for your kindness and warmth.
Happily, the tone lifted with the other wonderful readings and a good time was had by all.
Read with Yeovil Birthday Party!
A really lovely time celebrating Read With Yeovill’s 3rd birthday today. The two Elaines (Elaine Sharp and Elain Buckley) have done wonders for readers and writers in Somerset – here they are flanking the day’s star attractions Jenni Godfrey and Nikki May. First time I’ve met Nikki, but Jennie and I were on the same bill just two years ago at The Word Kitchen at Budleigh Salterton – in the meantime she’s become a Sunday Times Bestseller, among plenty of other successes!
It was great to catch up with her and listen to her and Nikki chatting in a lively and laugh-a-minute way about books and writing. I will try some Marian Keyes, I promise! (Not saying those two words…)
Read With Yeovil have been so supportive of me and my writing, even dedicating an event to Final Approach, so it was lovely to celebrate with them and catch up with others in the RWY clan – Mark Rutterford, Nikki Copleston, Grace Palmer, James Brinsford, and BooksCovered and Jan Nock to name a few.
You always have a special moment at these wonderful gatherings and mine was going to pick up my coat near the end and finding a woman flicking through Final Approach – not one of my copies, but one that RWY were selling. We had one of those extraordinary conversations comparing extreme paternal behaviour. I think B won, with her tale of multiple hidden false passports! Happily she bought the book, and I do think she’ll find a few aspects she can identify with!
Brian the Bear at Barrington Court!
The lovely National Trust people at Barrington Court invited me to do a series of Brian readings as part of their activities, and the first one was at the Design Shed at the Court as part of their Community Day. I was more terrified of reading to children than to adults, but it seemed to go down well!
Brian has launched!
What a lovely day we had for the launch of Brian The Flying Bear! And obviously I’m not talking about the weather… Thanks to everyone who braved the rain and came along. The book is now available at local stockists and here on my website.
Fresh Fiction Reading
Great to be back with my Bowie-inspired short story at the Fresh Fiction event.
Despite a little apprehension on my part, my new Bowie-inspired coming of age story went down well.
A lovely evening in the company of excellent writers and an enthusiastic full house.
Thank you, Novel Nights, for selecting my story!
A return to the Brook Kitchen, Budleigh!
My first public reading from Final Approach! Thanks to everyone at the Brook Kitchen, event, always such a quality repertoire!
Ilminster Literary Festival 2023
My first lit fest appearance was a really lovely evening, very well attended by an appreciative audience. I read The Wall at the Fresh Fiction Best Short Story Show, part of the Ilminster Literary Festival.
Wonderful to be on the bill with such excellent writers, and such a great and supportive atmosphere.
Back at the Brook Kitchen, Budleigh!
And a lovely evening it was too, in the presence of some wonderful writers, and I read my short story The Wall, a dress rehearsal for my appearance at Ilminster Literary Festival.
Literature Works Hothouse Fiction Weekend
Excited – and not a little awed (read apprehensive) – to have been selected as a participant on the Literature Works Hothouse fiction weekend with none other than Andrew Miller, one of the best British novelists.
We already have three of his novels and am somewhat pinching myself that next month I’ll be spending three days at Exeter Custom House learning the craft from one of its masters.
A Spoken Word Night and a Bowie Tribute
I recently opened the bill at Brook Kitchen’s (Budleigh Salterton) Spoken Word night with my Bowie tribute, which seemed to go down well and connected with some of the other readings – love it when that happens.
Getting to know quite a few other local writers too – great to hear their work and to meet and hear new authors.
You can read the full piece here: https://markblackburn.co.uk/2018/01/10/david-bowie-youre-sorely-missed/
An Exhibition Win!
Yay! I won a lottery prize! Not THE lottery, but a lottery run by the @studio1.1_london gallery, whereby the holder of the winning ticket gets to put on their own show for a whole four weeks – how exciting?!
I’m thrilled that my brilliant artist friend @catedinoff will be helping me curate and organise. We haven’t been given exact dates yet, but the exhibition’s likely to be late summer.
More detail as it emerges, we’re really looking forward to it!
The Wall
It looks like a version of my short story The Wall has found a home in print. I’m thrilled to say it should be appearing in an anthology which is being launched to raise funds for a very worthy cause. More details when they’re confirmed.
Me with actor Adam Brady who read The Wall at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond.
markblackburn.co.uk 