As usual Leicester Writers’ Club had a stall at States of Independence, the annual book fair organised by Five Leaves Bookshop in conjunction with De Montfort University.
Lindsey Waller-Wilkinson very kindly brought the Leicester Writers’ Club display boards which show covers of some more recent members’ books and some photos from social events including Middle Stanley, the Leicester Writers’ Club residential weekend.
Judith Cooper and I also set out a display of books from Rod Duncan, David Wilkinson, Marianne Whiting, Kazia Meyers, Siobhan Logan, Emma Lee and Paul Lee (who had been a member before he passed away) as well as the “Winter Tales” anthology which includes one of Karen Ette’s short stories, plus leaflets for Rod Duncan’s Gas-Lit Empire Walk on 19 March, Lizzie Lamb’s visit on 17 March, “Over Land Over Sea: poems for those seeking refuge” (which was being sold at the Five Leaves stall) and Leicester Writers’ Club.
At 12 noon, Rod Duncan, Andrew Bannister and David Wilkinson were involved in a panel discussion sci-fiction publishing in Room 3.02. Meanwhile in 3.01, Emma Lee, Siobhan Logan and Carol Leeming were involved in an “Over Land Over Sea” event with readings from contributors to the anthology which so far has raised £3000 and gone into a second edition. One of the contributors, Malka al-Haddad, is in negotiations with an Iraqi publisher to produce an Arabic translation of the anthology, subject to getting permissions from individual contributors. Five Leaves are happy for this to go ahead.
At 1pm, Marianne Whiting gave a talk on “Cousins at War”, exploring a major theme in her “Shieldmaiden” series. Reportedly, the audience wasn’t quite as large as last year, when the room was packed, but they behaved and Marianne has an invitation to speak at Ashby Writers’ Club organised by David Bell.
The Club’s stall attracted a lot of interest. Some of those who dropped by to ask about joining the Club included students and published writers. An added bonus we sold some of the books on display.
Thanks to those who dropped by to say ‘hello’ or helped cover the stall.
by Emma Lee
leicesterwritersclub.com 