This Saturday I'll be heading down to Cardiff to take part in the launch of Rarebit: New Welsh Fiction, an anthology that features my story, 'Mangleface.' To celebrate the release, as well as National Short Story Day, Parthian editor Susie Wild has organized a literary tour with many of the contributing authors, including Rachel Trezise, Deborah Kay Davies, and Roshi Fernando. Starting at 2 p.m., we'll be hitting up a few literary hotspots, as well as locations that inspired some of the works, before ending up back at NosDa Hotel and Bar, right in the city centre (and conveniently close to the train station, for those commuting). Tickets are a tenner, but that includes a paperback copy of the limited edition anthology - which means the tour is basically free. So come along and schmooze and hobnob and do all the things that writers and artistic types do at these events... including getting too drunk and possibly a bit belligerent, albeit in a friendly way.
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.
