My first novel Heritage of Secrets is being published by Lubin & Kleyner in November 2008.  I’ve set up a group on Facebook that you can join if you’re interested in hearing more about it – just go to www.facebook.com and search for Heritage of Secrets.  I’ll be reading from it at Loose Muse on September 10th at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden at 8pm.

Thursday 18 September, 19.00-20.30
www.wellcomecollection.org

The skeletons in the exhibition may be hundreds of years old but they have the power to stir living feelings in many of us. How does London feel about its dead bodies? Body-snatching in the 1800s had a huge influence on the development of modern medicine. But what rights does a dead body have today, and how do these rights change over time?

What’s the difference between a skeleton that is 99 years old and a skeleton that is 100 years old? Should we be using the dead at all? What limitations, rules and regulations are in place to mark our use? Join our speakers for a discussion of regulatory, philosophical and historical perspectives on death and dying in the capital.

This event will begin with a soundscape and a live poetry reading by Aoife Mannix. Have your chance to contribute to the soundscape at ‘ Dem Bones’, a day of drop-in activities at Wellcome Collection on 31 July.

In support of the ‘ Skeletons’ exhibition.
Speakers

Druin Burch, author of ‘Digging Up the Dead: Uncovering the life and times of an extraordinary surgeon’

A C Grayling, Reader in philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London

Kate Robson-Brown, Archaeologist and member of the Human Tissue Authority

Spread the Word goes to Molten Festival

A weekend of activities to inspire the writer in you

Saturday 27th September
10.30am – 12.30pm
Barking Learning Centre
Introduction to Blogging
Fancy setting up a blog but not quite sure where to start? Already have a blog and want some ideas on how to develop it? Join writer and blogger Yemisi Blake for an introduction to the world of blogging. No experience necessary.

10.30-11.15am
Rectory Library, Rectory Road, Dagenham
&
4.00 – 4.45pm
Thames View Library, Sue Bramley Community Centre, Bastable Avenue
Love Books?
Love books? Love reading? Join writer and poet Aoife Mannix for a 45 minute workshop: a chance to chat and write about your favourite books in a fun, informal environment.

4.00-5.00pm
Barking Learning Centre
Getting Started
Do you have a story, poem, script or novel in you? Have you always wanted to write, but never quite been able to get past the first line? Join writer, Yemisi Blake, for some inspirational tips on getting started and keeping going.

11.00am – 4.00pm
The  BROADWAY Foyer
Paper Birds, Paper Words
Create poetry sculptures with poet Francesca Beard and origami artist, Monika Cilmi.

Sunday 28th September
11.00 – 12.15pm
Barking Learning Centre, Children’s Library, Ground Floor
Sunday morning storytelling for all the family. Sally Pomme Clayton tells ‘Tales told in Tents’: stories of magic horses, demons, warrior princesses, and the water of life… A vibrant performance weaving myths, fairytales and cultural descriptions from distant parts of the world. Open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by a parent/carer.

Molten Stories
Writers, Yemisi Blake, Aoife Mannix and Francesca Beard, and storyteller Sally Pomme-Clayton, will be collecting stories from people in Barking and Dagenham over the Molten workshop weekend. They will create straight-talking stories, tall tales, and pithy poems inspired by the borough, which will be presented at the weekend finale 2.00 – 4.00pm on Sunday 28th September in the gallery space at BLC.

See www.spreadtheword.org.uk for more information