Write on!

Stars of the book world gather for local festival

BOOKWORMS can meet bestselling authors, discover up and coming writers and help bring stories to life during Oldham Literature Festival.

There are 12 events planned across eight libraries between September 15 and October 1.

Nationally acclaimed writers Stuart Maconie, Sadie Jones and Mandasue Heller will share insights into their most popular works while cutting edge novelists Helen Walsh, Matt Hilton and Clare Allan will introduce themselves to new fans.

The festival starts with a Mills and Boon night celebrating the best in romantic fiction with local author Sarah Mallory.

Budding authors can learn all about the inner workings of the literature industry at our publishing workshop.

Take the words off the page at UNISON’s innovative Living Library event where you can “borrow” a person rather than a paperback as the “books” are ordinary people with a fascinating story to tell.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for community services and housing, said: “The festival is a great way to celebrate books and the love of reading. With bestselling authors, workshops and a Living Library the festival shows the wide range of events on offer at Oldham’s libraries.”

For details on all events pick up a copy of the Oldham Literature Festival 2009 brochure, call 0161-770 8016 or visit www.oldham.gov.uk/libra ries.

Oldham Literature Festival 2009


Mills and Boon night

September 15, 6pm, Crompton Library, Farrow Street East

Sarah Mallory is the author of a range of historical titles for Mills and Boon. She will be talking about life as a romantic writer and how living on the edge of the Pennines inspires her work. Tickets are £2, to book call Crompton Library on 01706 842184 or email crompton.library@oldham.gov.uk 


Migration stories

September 16, 6pm, Chadderton Library, Middleton Road,

Migration Stories is a new collection of short stories shaped by people who have settled in the north of England. Two of the authors Vijay Medtia and Sue Stern will introduce the project and read a selection of stories. Tickets are £2, to book call Chadderton Library on 0161-665 2225 or email chadderton.library@oldham.gov.uk


Livi Michael

September 17, 10am, Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, Cultural Quarter, Greaves Street

Livi is a popular author of books for children and young adults who lives in Saddleworth. In this event for visiting schools Livi will read from her latest book ‘Faerie Heart’, a beautifully written tale of magic and fantasy. Tickets are free — this event is for school groups only. To book call Punam Ramchurn on 0161 770 8016 or email punam.ramchurn@oldham.gov.uk  


What publishers want

September 17, 6pm, Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, Cultural Quarter, Greaves Street.

Take the first steps to seeing your work on the nation’s bookshelves at this writers workshop. Ian Daley from Route Publishing will give advice to budding authors. From traditional print to e-books we’ll help you understand what publishers really want. Tickets are £2, to book call Punam Ramchurn on 0161-770 8016 or email punam.ramchurn@oldham.gov.uk 


Clare Allan

September 23, 6pm, Lees Library Community Hub, Thomas Street.

Clare Allan is a writer and author. Her first novel ‘Poppy Shakespeare’was an arresting account of madness set in a busy day hospital. The book was longlisted for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction and turned into a major Channel 4 drama. Tickets are £2, to book call Lees Library on 0161-633 5764 or email lees.library@oldham.gov.uk 


Anne Zouroudi

September 23, 6.30pm, Uppermill Library, St Chad’s, High Street.

Anne is the creator of the popular ‘Mysteries of the Greek Detective’ novels and each title is based around one of the Deadly Sins. Her latest book ‘The Doctor of Thessaly’ is an absorbing tale of revenge served up with a splash of ouzo. Tickets are £2, to book call Uppermill Library on 01457 872777 or email uppermill.library@oldham.gov.uk 


Stuart Maconie

September 24, 1pm, Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, Cultural Quarter, Greaves Street.

Stuart Maconie is a broadcaster, journalist and author who penned the bestselling northern travelogue ‘Pies and Prejudice’. In this lunchtime talk Stuart introduces his latest book ‘Adventures On The High Teas’, a journey to the heart of middle England. Tickets are £2, to book call Oldham Library on 0161-770 8000 or email oldham.library@oldham.gov.uk


Helen Walsh

September 24, 6pm, Failsworth Library, Main Street.

Helen Walsh shot to fame in 2004 with her raw debut novel Brass. Second novel ‘Once Upon A Time In England’ is a unique snapshot of northern life that led to a Somerset Maugham Award as one of the country’s best young writers. Tickets are £2, to book call Failsworth Library on 0161-681 2405 or email failsworth.library@oldham.gov.uk  


Creative verse

September 26, 2-5pm, Fitton Hill Library, Fir Tree Avenue.

Let your creative side out at this innovative card making workshop for adults. We’ll show you how to design greetings cards for all occasions and write sparkling verses to make your artistic creations shine. Tickets are free — just call in on the day. For more details call Fitton Hill Library on 0161-633 2011 or email fittonhill.library@oldham.gov.uk   


Living library

September 29, 2-7pm, Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, Cultural Quarter, Greaves Street.

At UNISON’s living library the “books” are ordinary people with a fascinating tale to tell. Sit and listen to stories in groups or by yourself and then have a chat and ask questions. This unique event lets you get close to the person at the heart of the story. Tickets are free call-in on the day. For more details call Punam Ramchurn on 0161-770 8016 or email punam.ramchurn@oldham.gov.uk 


Sadie Jones
September 30, 6pm, Royton Library, Rochdale Road.

Sadie Jones is an acclaimed storyteller and screenwriter whose debut novel ‘The Outcast was nominated for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Sadie’s second book ‘Small Wars’ chronicles the devastating consequences of a marriage put under pressure. Tickets are £2, to book call Royton Library on 0161 770 3087 or email royton.library@oldham.gov.uk  


Mandasue Heller and Matt Hilton

October 1, 6pm, Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, Cultural Quarter, Greaves Street.

Matt Hilton is an emerging thriller writer whose second book ‘Judgement and Wrath’ is due later this year.

Mandasue Heller’s hard-hitting tales have seen her touted as Manchester’s answer to Martina Cole. Tickets are £2, to book call Oldham Library on 0161-770 8000 or email oldham.library@oldham.gov.uk