This Saturday I'll be returning to Wales to perform at the Do Not Go Gentle Festival, held in the Uplands area of Swansea. I'll be doing a joint event with Rachel Trezise, short story author, novelist, dramatist, literary star - and all around cool lady. Other events include readings by Rob Lewis and Niall Griffiths, as well as film screenings and music gigs. Tickets are available by the day, or £30 for the weekend. So if you're in the area, or fancy an excursion, come and check it out - it's gonna be a blast.
Thanks to everybody who came out to support the 'Event in the Tent,' which I took part in alongside novelist D.D. Johnston, who was once my friend but who is now my arch rival and boxing nemesis. For forty minutes, D.D. and I were interviewed by the eloquent literary critic Dr. Martin Randall, and at the end of that our lighthearted banter gave way to some real literary action; D.D. and I dropped trou (we were wearing boxing shorts) and laced up the gloves and took each other on in a head-to-head sparring match, with Randall acting as referee. It was the first (and possibly last) boxing match the Cheltenham Literature Festival had ever seen. It was supposed to be for fun, but being the competitive men we are, things got a little out of hand. Blood was spilled, noise complaints were made, and low-blows were thrown...but it was all for a good cause, and in the end we raised over £150 for the charity Music For Hope. And fortunately no real boxers were on hand to witness this mockery of their sport - and kick our asses.
This Tuesday, at 6 p.m., the Cheltenham Literature Festival is going to be rocked and rumbled by a reading event unlike any its hosted before. At the University tent on the Imperial Square site, I will be stepping into the literary ring with my colleague, comrade, and Scottish alter-ego, D.D. Johnston, author of 'Peace, Love, and Petrol Bombs,' and 'The Deconstruction of Professor Thrub' - a stunning text that redefines the definition of the word 'novel'. He's a true literary heavyweight, but I'm hoping to hold my own against him. I've been working out - both mentally and physically - and also going for long, thoughtful runs. Renowned critic Martin Randall has taken on the refereeing duties to ensure it's all legit and on-the-level. No side-bets, no backing down, and no taking dives. In that way it will be closer to ice hockey than Johnston's sport of choice - if we can call squash a sport. So the game is on, and the gloves are off. Hopefully somebody will bring the smelling salts.
