The Medieval Physician

Thursday 1^st November

Clifton Library  

10.30-12.00

Free- no ticket required

Sir Ralph of Epperstone : The Medieval Physician 

A presentation by Ralph Needham

Chilling Tales - Tonight

Chilling Tales

Wed 31 October, 8pm @ Broadway Cinema cafe-bar (free entry)

As winter nights gather, you are welcome you to an evening of chilling tales of terror. Live storytelling from Nottingham Writers' Studio, with horror novelist Niki Valentine and guests, plus TV archive classics from Tom Baker (SREDNI VASHTAR—a child's pet forms the basis for a new and deadly religion), Christopher Lee (the Devil, death and a black cat feature in the chilling THE STALLS OF BARCHESTER by M.R. James) and Robert Powell (James' horticultur...

al horror THE ROSE GARDEN). An unmissably entertaining evening of scares.

THE PROGRAMME

Niki Valentine: extract from The Doll’s House
Marty Ross: The Cabinet of Dr Caligari
Andrew Kells: The Good Books
Megan Taylor: The Dining Room Ghost
Brick: Horror She Wrote
Angela Foxwood: The Writing Group
Chris Pearson: The House

 

Sillitoe Day at Nottingham Contemporary

With the likes of McGregor and Moore, Nottingham is fast adding to its literary tradition but we still, quite rightly, celebrate our randy rebels, Byron, Bertie and Alan Sillitoe. Eastwood’s annual D H Lawrence Festival and Hucknall’s annual International Byron Festival do their bit. Last Saturday it was Sillitoe’s turn.

The Second ‘Sillitoe Day’ was a cracking event. Here’s what you might have missed:

After BBC TV’s Marie ‘one-take’ Ashby did her piece to camera, we kicked off with James Walker & Paul Fillingham, launching the Sillitoe Trail mobile phone App. The Sillitoe Trail is a literary walk commissioned by The Space (their only literary commission outside of London). The idea of the phone App is that you can access loads of information as you visit each of five locations featured in the novel Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.

Accompanying a series of slides, we heard an audio of Derrick Buttress talking about the history of Slab Square. It included an evocative account of his experiencing VE Day as a 14 year old. The Nottingham author and poet then took the microphone, recounting further tales and reading a couple of nostalgic poems.

LeftLion editor Al Needham’s talk about Nottingham’s pub culture was as poignant as it was hilarious. You had to be there but his tale about wanting to have a drink with Robbo and Dale Winton was a gem. He smoothly switched from recounting his formative years to imagining where a modern day Arthur Seaton would drink, now that the White Horse pub is a curry house. Perhaps on the other side of a bar, pulling pints and other people’s wives?  

After a short film about the Raleigh production line, Pete Davis (Storytellers of Nottingham) shared some of the raucous antics that he’d gleaned from staff that had worked at the cycle factory during its heyday.

Ann Featherstone was next up, rounding off the trail with an entertaining account of Seaton’s Goose Fair where, as the bright lights came on, boxing and wife bothering were the order of things.  

The Space and the Sillitoe Trail App contain a rich variety of audio and visual treats. The content includes the chance to hear Arthur Seaton’s views on his home city in 2012. Penned by James Walker & Neil Fulwood, and voiced by Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson, this is a monologue of reflection and advice, Seaton-style.

With David Sillitoe (Alan’s son) as compare, we began the afternoon session with a short film by Sam Derby-Cooper. The filmmaker had previously met Alan Sillitoe to ask him for permission to adapt his acclaimed short story, Mimic, for the silver screen. Sillitoe acquiesced, on the proviso that he had final say on the film’s release. After watching the short movie, Sillitoe gave his blessing on this faithful and atmospheric film.     

The launch of Sillitoe’s novel, The Open Door, came next. This republished edition has been well produced in hardback by Five Leaves and we heard readings from the book. The Open Door follows Brian Seaton (Arthur’s brother) as he is diagnosed with, and recovers from, TB. This, and Brian’s path to becoming a novelist, provides overtones of the autobiographical. Discover more here.

Michael Eaton’s letter to Alan Sillitoe was a wonderful homage to Nottingham and its people. From the origin of the term ‘duck’, to living with the odd break-in, Eaton had the audience in his palm.

The day continued with Frank Abbott’s preview of his mash-up of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Abbott’s film is a remix of the original, containing new images and extracts of other movies.

Local legend and screenwriter, Billy Ivory, missed his beloved Notts County in action to discuss Sillitoe’s film adaptations, their place in the British Social Realism movement, and Sillitoe’s influence on his writing.

There was much more besides at this well organised feast of local heritage.

Following Sillitoe Day was Sillitoe Evening, a night of poetry and music. Profits and donations from the two events have gone to the Alan Sillitoe Memorial Fund. It’s important that we honour Sillitoe with a statue. It will happen, but will we get the immortal line etched into its pedestal, ‘Don’t let the bastards grind you down!’

Alan Sillitoe proved that you can’t label an individual but you can give him a voice.

Visit:

Sillitoe’s Nottingham: Then and Now at The Space
The Sillitoe Trail
The Alan Sillitoe Website

 

Stella Rimington - Bloomsbury Book Club

Intelligence Squared Bloomsbury Book Club with Stella Rimington
Thursday 8th November
6pm for 6.30pm
At 50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP
Tickets £25 including the book

www.bloomsburyinstitute.com

Stella Rimington, our most high profile spy fiction writer, attends the November Book Club.
As the former Director General of the MI5, Rimington is no stranger to the underground world of spying. Her wealth of experience as the first female spy to rise to the top of the famously male-dominated organisation feeds magnificently into her novels, providing an authentic insight into the often over-glamourised and sensationalised world of the Secret Service. Which is not to say that her book lacks any of the traditional thrills and spills of traditional spy fiction; The Geneva Trap is a masterful blend of ambition and personal relationships.

When a Russian spy approaches MI6 with vital information about the imminent cyber-sabotage of an Anglo-American Defence programme, he refuses to talk to anyone but Liz Carlyle of MI5. But who is he, and what is his connection to the British intelligence officer?

At a US Air Force base in Nevada, officers watch in horror as one of their unmanned drones plummets out of the sky, and panic spreads through the British and American Intelligence services. Is this a Russian plot to disable the West’s defences? Or is the threat coming from elsewhere?

As Liz and her team hunt for a mole inside the MOD, the trail leads them from Geneva, to Marseilles and into a labyrinth of international intrigue, in a race against time to stop the Cold War heating up once again...

‘Liz Carlyle is an MI5 agent with the traditional thriller-heroine mix of dysfunctional personal life and steely ambition’ Daily Telegraph

Ticket Details

Tickets for the Intelligence Squared Bloomsbury Book Club cost £25 for individual events and include a copy of the hardback book posted to your home. For details of season membership please contact Claire Daly at
bloomsburyinstitute@bloomsbury.com
mailto:bloomsburyinstitute@bloomsbury.com
or call 0207 631 5717.
Date: Thursday 8th November
Time: Drinks 6pm, Talk 6.30pm
Place: Bloomsbury Publishing, 50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP
Cost: £25 (including the book)

The Intelligence Squared Bloomsbury Book Club is sponsored by Moët Hennessy

Playhouse: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

23-27 October.

BAFTA winning and Olivier Award nominated playwright Roy Williams has adapted Alan Sillitoe’s classic novel for the stage and, after touring several cities, it has arrived in Nottingham for a 5-night stint.

The award winning Pilot Theatre Company bring the searing text of class and the criminal justice system to the Nottingham Playhouse. This stunning new production, set in Britain's Olympic Year, exposes the beating heart of a nation, still broken and still divided across class lines.

A long distance race in real time, we follow one runner, alone with his thoughts, becoming part of his journey as his steady running rhythm transports him over a harsh, frost bitten earth. Colin Smith is defiant. He is a young rebel inhabiting the no man's land of detention centres and young offenders’ institutes.

Why, for whom and for what is he running?

It’s a retelling with a contemporary edge. The 2012 youth is now mixed race and the riots of last year provide elements of the class war and anger of Sillitoe’s creation over 50 on from the novel.

A glorious tour de force

 The Independent

Book now on 0115 941 9419.

Worth a look

LINKS FROM FIVE LEAVES.

Five Leaves' author websites:

Lesley Acton: www.newsgrape.com/u/Lesleyacton/
Sherry Ashworth: www.sherryashworth.com
Ray Banks www.thesaturdayboy.com
Michael Baron: www.listenupnorth.com/writer-profile/253
David Belbin: www.davidbelbin.com
David Bell: www.freewebs.com/davebell/books.htm
Lawrence Block: www.lawrenceblock.com
Stephen Booth: www.stephen-booth.com
Alan James Brown: www.alanjamesbrown.com
Elizabeth Cashdan: www.lizcashdan.co.uk
John Stuart Clark: www.brickbats.co.uk
Andy Croft: www.literaturenortheast.co.uk/writers/Andy_Croft_A-Z
Berlie Doherty: www.berliedoherty.com
Rod Duncan: www.rodduncan.co.uk
Zoe Fairbairns: www.zoefairbairns.co.uk
Kevin Fegan: www.kevinfegan.co.uk
Mike Gerber: http://www.jazzjews.com
Alan Gibbons: http://alangibbons.net
David Goodway: www.goodway.go-plus.net
Cathy Grindrod: www.cathygrindrod.co.uk
John Harvey: www.mellotone.co.uk
Richard Hollis (designer): www.richardhollis.com
Jacqueline Karp-Gendre: perso.orange.fr/jacqueline.karp-gendre
Anita Klein: www.anitaklein.com
Shaun Levin: www.shaunlevin.com
Peter Lawson: http://web.mac.com/peter.lawson
Joanne Limburg: www.joannelimburg.net
Maxine Linnell: www.maxinelinnell.com
Clare Littleford: www.clarelittleford.net
Rod Madocks: www.rodmadocks.com
Karen Maitland: www.karenmaitland.com
Michael J Malone: mickmal1.blogspot.com
Jon McGregor: www.jonmcgregor.com
Russel D McLean: www.russeldmcleanbooks.com
Roger Mills: www.rogermillswriter.co.uk
Nicola Monaghan: www.nicolamonaghan.co.uk
Peter Mortimer: www.petermortimer.co.uk
Mark Patterson: http://romannottinghamshire.wordpress.com
John Payne: http://johnpayne.tbpcontrol.co.uk
Marge Piercy: www.margepiercy.com
Bali Rai: www.balirai.co.uk
Dominic Reeve: gypsytrailercaravans.webeden.co.uk
Danuta Reah: www.danutareah.co.uk
Harold Rosen: haroldrosen.blogspot.com
Michael Rosen: www.michaelrosen.co.uk
Martin Rowson: http://procartoonists.org/portfolios/martinrowson/profile/public/
Carol Rumens: www.carolrumens.co.uk
J David Simons: www.jdavidsimons.com
Iain Sinclair: www.iainsinclair.org.uk
Dan Tunstall: www.dantunstall.com
Michelene Wandor: www.mwandor.co.uk
Andrew Whitehead: www.andrewwhitehead.net
Charlie Williams: www.charliewilliams.net
Gregory Woods: www.gregorywoods.co.uk
Colin Wilson: www.colinwilsononline.com and www.colinwilsonworld.co.uk
Ken Worpole: www.worpole.net


Organisations
Alliance of Radical Booksellers: www.radicalbooksellers.co.uk
Bread and Roses Award for Radical Publishing: www.bread-and-roses.co.uk
Lowdham Book Festival: www.lowdhambookfestival.co.uk
Exiled Writers Ink: www.exiledwriters.co.uk
Anglo-Catalan Society: www.anglo-catalan.org
Writing East Midlands: www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk
Jewish Socialists' Group: www.jewishsocialist.org.uk
Jewish East London Celebration Society: www.jeecs.org.uk
Left Lion, Nottingham culture on line: www.leftlion.co.uk
The Poetry Library: www.poetrylibrary.org.uk
Socialist Jewish East End walks: www.eastendwalks.com
Nottingham Trent University MA in Creative Writing:
www.ntu.ac.uk/creativewriting
Resonance radio's programme on forgotten London Writers: www.loststeps.org.uk/
London fiction: www.londonfictions.com
London anarchist book fair: www.anarchistbookfair.co.uk
Mike Gerber’s Jazz Jews related programme:
www.ukjazzradio.com/ListenAgain.html
Alan Sillitoe Committee: www.sillitoe.com
Cable Street Group: www.battleofcablestreet.org.uk
Iberian Book Services: www.iberianbookservices.com
Nottingham Literature: http://nottslit.blogspot.co.uk/
Beeston Poets: http://beestonpoets.wordpress.com/


Publishers
Inpress, representing 30+ small publishers - including Iron Press, Parthian, Smokestack, Menard, Flambard, Modern Poetry in Translation, Arc, Hearing Eye, Glas, Wrecking Ball; Smith/Doorstep: www.inpressbooks.co.uk
Shoestring Press: www.shoestringpress.co.uk
Sphinx - chapbook reviews: www.happenstancepress.com
Central Books, distributing independent publishers: www.centralbooks.com
Penniless Press literary journal: www.pennilesspress.co.uk
The Book Depository – an “Amazon” that is good on backlist titles: www.bookdepository.co.uk
Candlestick Press poetry: www.candlestickpress.co.uk
Staple literary magazine: http://staplemagazine.wordpress.com/
Pewter Rose, a new Nottingham small press:
www.pewter-rose-press.com
Eland Publishing: www.travelbooks.co.uk
Serif Books, specialising in cookery, travel and politics:
www.serifbooks.co.uk
Nine Arches Press, rising star of poetry publishing:
www.ninearchespress.com

Bookshops
Newham Bookshop, London: www.newhambooks.co.uk
Eastside Bookshop, London: www.eastsidebooks.co.uk
Joseph’s Bookstore, London: www.josephsbookstore.com
The Bookcase, Lowdham: www.thebookcase.co.uk
News from Nowhere, Liverpool: www.newsfromnowhere.co.uk
Housmans, London: www.housmans.com
Wordpower, Edinburgh: www.word-power.co.uk
Cottage Books, mail order Romani Books: jenny@friendlyweb.com
Andrew Burgin, mail order posters & books: www.andrewburgin.com
Left on the Shelf, second hand labour movement: www.abebooks.com/home/leftontheshelf
Nottingham Books: www.nottinghambooks.co.uk - The best selection of books about Nottinghamshire
Scarthin Books, Derbyshire: www.scarthinbooks.com (new and second hand, quirky and mainstream - a bookshop for the majority of minorities)
George Street Books, Glossop (mostly second hand): www.georgestreetbooks.co.uk
Books about Northumberland: www.localbookshelf.co.uk
Pages of Hackney: www.pagesofhackney.co.uk
Bakewell Bookshop: www.bakewellbooks.co.uk
Open Road Bookshop, deepest rural Suffolk: theopenroadbookshop.wordpress.com
Hydra Bookshop, radical, Bristol: www.hydrabooks.org
People's Bookshop, Durham (new and second hand): www.peoplesbookshop.co.uk
Oswald Street Bookshop, Glasgow - for Scottish books: www.oswaldstreetbookshop.co.uk
Kibworth Beauchamp, general and children's: www.thebookshopkibworth.com

Tales & Terror

Chilling tales of terror

Wed 31 October.

8 pm @ Broadway Cinema cafe-bar

(FREE entry)

As winter nights gather, why not attend an evening of chilling tales of terror. Live storytelling from The Nottingham Writer's Studio, with horror novelist Niki Valentine and guests, plus TV archive classics from Tom Baker (SREDNI VASHTAR—a child's pet forms the basis for a new and deadly religion), Christopher Lee (the Devil, death and a black cat feature in the chilling THE STALLS OF BARCHESTER by M.R. James) and Robert Powell (James' horticultural horror THE ROSE GARDEN).

An unmissably entertaining evening of scares.

Man Booker reaction

So we didn’t get the result we wanted but maybe we’d already achieved it. For Alison Moore, if ever there was a case of ‘it’s not the winning, it’s the taking part…’ then this is it. By Moore’s own acknowledgement, her debut novel would have been struggling to find shelf space at Waterstones without the longlist nomination. To then be shortlisted, has established Moore as a respected author. Sure, the nomination opens her debut up for criticism but that is almost incidental because from now on, she is a shortlisted author, she commands respect. I only wish the media would stop referring to Moore as a Manchester-born novelist. Who cares where she was born when she lives in Nottingham! It’s not a case of us claiming her, more that she is already ours. Cary Grant is associated with Hollywood not Bristol. Come on folks.

I wasn’t surprised to hear that Mantel (Derbyshire-born) won, but I had hoped that the judges might have been split over the two heavyweights, allowing the majority’s 2^nd favourite, perhaps Moore, to take it on the line. Self was the bookies front runner but only last year the judges were preaching the importance of readability. Had Umbrella won it would have marked a huge U-turn. Whilst there is much to admire, it’s a book that will be started by significantly more readers than finish it. With Mantel, it becomes a question of worth. By awarding Mantel the prize, the judges are lavishing huge praise on a sequel, making the author the first British writer - and the first woman – to win twice.

Moore’s writing ticks the literature box but it also has the readability factor. It will keep the masses sticking around for the ending and they won’t be disappointed when they get there. So yes, I am a little disappointed that she didn’t win. The Lighthouse had momentum, regularly being picked out by library groups as their favourite, and the author had impressed during the rounds of interviews and media demands. I suppose that, in the end, the judges had backed themselves into a corner. The problem was that whilst Wolf Hall was a popular winner, Bring Up The Bodies is a much better book.

I look forward to Moore’s next novel, which I suspect will surpass The Lighthouse, I just hope it isn’t released in the same year Mantel completes her trilogy.

The Lighthouse by Nottingham author Alison Moore

 

Writing Competition for Notts under 19s

Nottingham Lace Writing Competition

Open to anyone 19 years or under, living in Nottinghamshire.
Flash Fiction and Poetry on the theme of 'LACE'.
Winners to be announced at a prize-giving in February 2013 as part of the first Nottingham Festival of Words.

Judges:

Usborne author, Paula Rawsthorne
Former Derbyshire poet laureate, Matt Black

Age Groups:

11 years and under
12 - 16 years
17 - 19 years

Prizes:

(for each age group)
1st prize: £50 book token and mentoring
2nd prize: £25 book token
3rd prize: £15 book token
All winners and commended runners-up receive publication in the competition anthology.

Deadline:

Wed 14 November 2012, 5pm

 

To Enter:

Entry is free. Print off the entry form and email or post it to the address given on the form.

Rules

1.     Entrants must have been resident in Nottinghamshire at some point during the six months prior to 14 November 2012.

2.     Age group is determined by age on 14 November 2012.

3.     Maximum one submission per entrant.

4.     Submissions must fit onto one page of A4 in minimum 12-point font size, and contain no more than one poem or piece of flash fiction.

5.     All submissions must be the original work of the entrant.

6.     Copyright remains with the authors, although Nottingham Festival of Words retains the right to reproduce poems and stories physically and digitally until 30/11/2015. If entrants wish to publish their winning work or work selected for inclusion in the competition anthology, they will be required to acknowledge Nottingham Festival of Words.

7.     Work submitted must not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere, in print or online.

8.     The winner in each age group will receive 3 mentoring sessions, either individual or for their class at school: 17–19 years —individual; 12–16 years —individual or school-based; under 11 years —school-based.

9.     The judges cannot acknowledge submissions.

10. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Enquiries to:

lace@nottwords.org.uk or 0115 959 7947

 

Just a Gigolo

Written by Stephen Lowe and starring Maurice Roëves

Tuesday 23 October - Saturday 27 October 8pm

Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts Centre

£15 (£12 Concessions) £9.50 restricted view

 

Book online

Running Time: approximately 1 hour
Suitable for 16+

Written & Directed by Stephen Lowe, Produced by Vanessa Rawlings-Jackson.

Maurice Roeves (The Damned United) stars as the real Lady Chatterley's Lover, and reveals the hidden truths behind D H Lawrence's forbidden paintings in this smart new comedy from the George Devine Award-winning writer.

 

Mouthy Poets & Mouthy Youngers

Beeston Poets returns with a bang

The Nottinghamshire poetry series that ran for many years at Beeston Library returns on Saturday 20^th October with the major poet Jackie Kay, and monthly events throughout the winter.

Beeston Poets ran for about twenty years – in its day the only regular series of poetry readings in Nottinghamshire. Those who read included the biggest names in British poetry, including the current Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, the “Liverpool Poets” including Roger McGough, and Britain's best-selling poet Wendy Cope. Many of the readers were spotted early in their career, before they went on to become national figures.

Now Beeston Poets returns, again featuring nationally known figures. The series starts with the Scottish poet Jackie Kay who headlined at Beeston last time on its fifteenth birthday. She is followed by Neil Astley, editor at Bloodaxe Books, Britain's liveliest poetry publisher, and in December Andy Croft is reading – fresh from a poetry tour of Siberia!

Beeston Poets is organised by Nottingham Poetry Society, Five Leaves Publications and Nottinghamshire Libraries.

Ross Bradshaw, from the Nottingham publisher Five Leaves, said “I developed my own passion for poetry as an audience member at Beeston Poets and ended up running the series. Since then poetry has developed all over the county, but it'll be great to return to Beeston.”

All events take place in Beeston Library and are ticketed.

Full details on www.beestonpoets.wordpress.com or from Beeston Library.

 

Central Library - Mental Health event

Don’t Sweep It Under The Carpet

Tuesday 9^th October

7pm Nottingham Central Library  

 

Free

The 2008 book, ‘Memories of Mania’, is an account of Kim's experiences of bipolar disorder during his twenties and early thirties. This evening, "Don't sweep it under the carpet", is in the form of a discussion between Kim and his brother, Sankie Evans.  Kim is keen to use Mental Health Awareness Week 2012 to share his story with a wider audience, and both he and Sankie feel that the insights offered by a frank, public conversation will be of interest to many people who have some experience of mental health problems, either in themselves or in friends or family.

 

FREE tickets available from Nottingham Central Library, Ground Floor: Tel: 0115 9152825

 

Nottinghamshire Folk Tales

Notttinghamshire Folk Tales - Book Launch

Tuesday 9th October 

 2 - 4pm  

 

Nottingham Central Library 

 

Free

Come to the book launch of Pete Castle’s new book ‘Nottinghamshire Folk Tales. Pete will be reading excerpts, telling a few stories and singing some songs. So why not come along and enjoy Pete's storytelling with us and learn about Nottinghamshire's folklore. Its all happening in the Cecil Roberts Room on the first floor!

Copies of the book, published by The History Press will be available to purchase at the event.

For further information contact Christina Raven Conn on 0115 9152846 or email enquiryline@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Talks from Stuart Rose - in Clifton and Basford

The Laxton Court Leet and Jury - a Talk by Stuart Rose

Thursday 4^th October

10.30-12.00 

 

Clifton Library  

 

Free - no ticket required

Step back in time as Stuart Rose gives a fascinating insight in to the last manorial system of the Court Leet and Jury.

For further details contact the Library, Tel: 0115 9152945

 

 

Laxton: England’s Last Open Field Farming Village:

Tuesday 9^th October

 

10.30-11.30 

Basford Library

 

Free – no ticket required

A captivating talk by Stuart Rose on how and why strip farming survived and its impact on Laxton today. For further details contact the library on Tel: 0115 9155797

Readers' Day - line up announced

Best selling authors come to Nottingham
Martin Davies, Joanne Harris, and Marina Lewycka will be among guest speakers for this year's Reader's Day.

The 9^th Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Libraries Readers' Day, hosted by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, takes place on Saturday 3 November at the offices of Nottingham City Council at Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham from 9.15am until 4pm. Tickets are on sale now.
Councillor David Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: "This is a great event for book lovers of all ages who want to share their passion for books and reading. The author talks give people the unique chance to hear from published authors and learn about their inspirations for their books and give us an insight into the world of literacy.
"There is a fantastic selection of sessions available during the day on a diverse range of subjects; from a talk on Robert Browning to a discussion on Nordic Noir."
Nottinghamshire County Council Councillor John Cottee, Committee Chairman for Culture, said: "We are delighted to be joining forces with the city council on this key date in the calendar to celebrate reading. Every year, this Readers' Day event is well received by the public and offers another opportunity to celebrate our libraries, leading authors and literature."
After registration and a welcome speech, Martin Davies, the author of "The Conjurer's Bird" and "The Year After" talks about bringing the past to life in fiction.
From 11am until 12 noon, morning parallel sessions will take place including:

• From page to screen - Gillian Roberts asks"Is it true that the movie is never as good as the book?" An opportunity to discuss your favourite and least favourite examples of film adaptations.
• The Gift of a Book - Eve Griffiths from The Bookcase at Lowdham will lead a discussion on the joys and perils of choosing books as gifts. Share your own views on the best and worst books you've ever received.
• Ray Bradbury: Imagination and Beyond. The legendary science-fiction author died earlier this year. He left behind a collection of classic novels including "Fahrenheit 451". Alex Davies explores the work of this iconic and imaginative writer.
• Nordic Noir - Sheelagh Gallagher asks "What's so special about Scandinavian crime?" With an emphasis on all things Swedish!
• Where have all the happy endings gone? - Jane Brierley and Sarah Akroyd discuss whether literacy novels can bring a smile to our face or whether they have to be depressing to be taken seriously? Comes and hear our suggestions and share some of your own.

During lunch there will be a bookswap where citizens can bring in a book that they have enjoyed and swap it for a book they would like to read. There will also be bookstalls and displays.
After lunch Joanne Harris, best-selling author of "Chocolat" talks about her acclaimed new novel "Peaches for Monsieur le Cure". Joanne will also introduce her second book of short stories, "A Cat, A Hat and a Piece of String".
From 2pm until 2.45pm, afternoon parallel sessions will take place including:

• Joanne Harris - Join Joanne for a closer look at her epic fantasy adventures "Runemarks" and "Runelight"
• But What Would Jane Think? - Alison Hirst looks at literacy sequels and spin-offs: from "Wide Sargasso Sea" to "Death Comes to Pemberley"
• Do you believe in ghosts? - Local author Megan Taylor will explore our love of ghost stories, from childhood scary tales to the classics that have influenced her novel "The Lives of Ghosts"
• The Story of My Life - Deirdre O'Byrne explores our fascination with autobiographies, focusing on recent bestsellers by Jeanette Winterson, Joan Didion, and others
• Happy Birthday Browning - 2012 is the 200^th anniversary of Robert Browning; one of the best loved and respected Victorian poets. Mike Wilson looks at his most enduring works.

The day will draw to a close with a talk from Marina Lewycka, the author of "A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian" and "We Are All Made of Glue".
The Readers' Day is a joint venture organised by the Library Services of Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Councils.
Places for Readers' Day should be reserved in advance to avoid disappointment.
Tickets are £18 (£16 if booked before 22 October 2012) and concession price (unwaged/over-60s/students) £15 (£13 if booked before 22 October 2012)
For further information contact about the event please contact Jane.Brierley@nottinghamcity.gov.uk, Development Librarian Books, Communities Team, on 0115 915 1171 or alison.hirst@nottscc.gov.uk, Librarian, on 0115 920 2247.
For more library events and information on services, please visit www.mynottingham.gov.uk/libraries and www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/libraries.

Storytelling - Kids get spooky in Eastwood

SPOOKY STORYTELLING, ghoulish games and a fancy dress competition are just some of the activities on offer this half term at Eastwood’s D.H Lawrence Heritage Centre.

The packed programme of events includes:

•Drop-in Halloween Arts and Crafts Workshops, Tuesday 23rd and Thursday

25th October (10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.00pm to 3.00pm) - Come along and join in the fun Halloween themed arts and crafts workshops.

• Halloween Havoc event, Wednesday 24th October (11.00am to 3.00pm) – Join us for spooky storytelling, terrifying trail and ghoulish games, if you dare! There will be lots of creepy arts and crafts, plus a fancy dress competition at 1.30pm.

• Friday Film Club: E.T, Friday 26th October, (11.00am) - Bring the family along to see this 1980’s classic film. Follow the story of Elliot who makes a special Extra-Terrestrial friend and along with his brother and sister helps him to return home. This heart warming Steven Spielberg classic is a must-see family film.

Admission to all events costs £3.00 per child, £2.50 for Broxtowe Leisure Card holders and free for D.H. Lawrence Annual Members. All children must be accompanied by an adult, with the first accompanying adult free and a £1.00 charge for additional adults.

The half term holiday programme is part of over 100 events and exhibitions taking place at D.H. Lawrence Heritage throughout 2012.

Recently voted Nottinghamshire's 'Best Visitor Attraction', D.H. Lawrence Heritage is a multi-award winning visitor attraction based around two highly-acclaimed sites. The attraction brings together a museum, heritage centre, gift shop, art gallery, meeting facility, civil wedding venue and the Colliery Bistro.

D.H. Lawrence Heritage, which includes the D.H. Lawrence Heritage Centre and the

D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum, is open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday) from 10.00am until 5.00pm. Admission to the Birthplace Museum is by timed entry

throughout the day from 11.00am. Spaces are limited so please call to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

The Colliery Bistro, at the D.H. Lawrence Heritage Centre, is open between Tuesday and Sunday from 10.00am, serving a selection of light refreshments and main meals.

For more information or to request a 2012 events brochure, please contact D.H.

Lawrence Heritage on 01773 717 353, email culture@broxtowe.gov.uk or download your copy for free at www.dhlawrenceheritage.org