LitFest Weekender at the Pyramid

CULTURE Warrington is preparing for their LitFest Weekender event to be held during the bank holiday weekend.
A range of talented authors and writers will make their way to the Pyramid, kicking off with John Hegley on Friday May 2.
The acclaimed poet and comedian will read an extract from his new book New And Selected Potatoes and deliver performance pieces which are sung, spoken and awoken with dance. John has performed all over the UK, is a regular at Edinburgh Fringe and has played the main stage at Glastonbury Festival.
Pyramid will be buzzing with activity on Saturday May 3 as lovers of words and budding writers have the chance to attend a range of talks and workshops with some of the best in the business including keynote speakers Curtis Jobling and Helen Walsh.
Featuring a presentation and talk that includes live illustration and cartoons, Curtis Jobling will give an introduction to the acclaimed Wereworld series of fantasy horror novels for teens. He’s possibly most (in)famously known as the designer of the BAFTA winning BBC show Bob The Builder, as well as creator of Raa Raa the Noisy Lion and Frankenstein’s Cat. Don’t be fooled by those preschool credentials though – Curtis’s first love has always been fantasy and horror for older audiences, as you shall quickly discover!
Acclaimed and controversial local author Helen Walsh will take part in a Q&A session, bdiscuss her previous prize-winning books and read an extract from her newly released novel – The Lemon Grove. Helen was born in Warrington in 1976. Her first novel, Brass, was published in 2004 and was the winner of a Betty Trask Prize. Her second novel, Once Upon a Time in England, was the winner of a Somerset Maugham Award and her third novel, Go to Sleep, was published by Canongate to much fanfare in 2011.
Adult fiction author, Lynne Connolly, offers a practical guide to writing erotic fiction for profit and fun, including all the acronyms, rules and the rest, together with the publishers who specialise in publishing the genre. Lynne herself has over 60 novels in circulation.
Kate Feld, editor of the popular Manchizzle blog, will deliver a relaxed two-hour session covering the basics that go into writing engaging blog posts. Whether you’re just starting out or would like a refresher, this workshop gives you the tools you need to publish your own compelling and unique blog.
Can you tell a story in less than 500 words? Learn how to reduce ideas to an ultra-short format with writer and journalist David Gaffney. He’ll leave you wondering why anything has to be longer than a side of A4! Or why not try your hand at creative writing? Drama specialist Steve Fairclough gives a tutorial on how to write from a variety of perspectives and stimulus including scriptwriting.
Join novelist and publisher Wes Brown for a discussion on the basics of writing for digital platforms. He’ll look at e-publishing, how you develop an online presence and profile, social media, inbound versus outbound marketing, e-book promotions, ‘slow’ blogging, building and maintaining a mailing list and where to go to find news and the latest opportunities.
Get the kids involved in all the fun that words have to offer with creative and crafty sessions. A Tale of Time Travel explores the land of the pyramids, at Pyramid! Be inspired to make an exciting, interactive mini-book. There’s also Rhymetime, a fun and interactive session for under 6s, exploring African actions and sounds through story-telling.
Maureen Banner, Chair of Culture Warrington said: “It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to secure acclaimed and well respected authors for the second Warrington Literature Festival and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to the town. I hope the people of Warrington and its surrounding areas show their love for books by attending the events.”
For more information visit www.warringtonlitfest.co.uk or call Pyramid Box office on 01925 442345