Carrie Cohen is reprising her readings of The Old Woman From Friuli & BRAT at
Deptford Lounge, 5 Giffin Street, SE8 4RQ on 1st July at 11am
For younger readers (5-9, and up to 90 really) Bad tempered dukes, clever counsellors, and really stuborn old women.
For young adults (11-16 plus) outlaws, missing fathers and beggar children in a fantasy novel which is the first of a trilogy.
I can’t tell you what a buzz it is to launch books in the Library where I spent great chunks of my childhood. Although there is an enormous centre out the back and the main body of the library is unrecognisable, the space we were reading in is the actual children’s library that I worked my way round book by book possibly three times before getting access to the adult books several years before I was entitled to. Thank you Eltham Library! (for then and now).
Brat cover by Gordy Wright
Carrie Cohen did us proud, reading from both books, Ghillian Potts talked to the children from Holy Family School, who asked really interesting questions about writing, and Gordy Wright, the cover designer for BRAT came all the way from Bristol to help us celebrate.
Here are some pictures of Carrie, and Ghillian, with a rapt audience.
Video of Carrie reading the opening of BRAT
And some video snippets from The Old Woman From Friuli (Children kept popping up indentifiably so we couldn’t use all the video!)
and just for fun, a ringing endorsement from Carrie
Carrie is reading for us again at Deptford Lounge 1st July at 11am, and Lisa Rose will read at Stanmore Library 8th July 2pm.
A brief conversation with Ghillian Potts about the writing of Brat
Brat is a novel for older children and younger young adults, the first in a fantasy trilogy about Brook, who is 12 at the start of the series. The Trilogy is called The Naming of Brook Storyteller, because Brook, as a storyteller has the power of naming – she can raise or destroy people by the names she gives them, and she earns, and loses, names herself, starting out as Brat, before becoming Spellbinder (book two out in December 2017) and finally Wolftalker (book three out in June 2018)
We are launching Brat with a very informal launch reading at Eltham Centre Library, Archery Road, Eltham SE9 1HA on 7th June at 1.30. The reading will be performed by Carrie Cohen.
We currently have one other reading for Brat arranged (together with Ghillian’s other book, The Old Woman From Friuli.)
Osterley Library, St Mary’s Crescent, TW7 4NB on 22nd July 2017 at 2.30pm. Once again, Carrie Cohen will be reading.
Bookshops, libraries, schools, if you’d like us to visit and read to you, get in touch.
The Story Sessions are back – for a guest spot, maybe for good, depending… We are doing three events for BrockleyMAX. The first two are both on Saturday 30th May The Ladywell Gallery, (what used to be Misty Moon) behind The Ladywell Tavern 80 Ladywell Road SE13 7HS
Writing Workshop – Festival
Author Alex Smith in South Africa answers questions about Devilskein & Dearlove collected at readings in the UK
The last of the readings before we hear whether we’ve been long-listed for the Carnegie Medal (announcement will be on Tuesday)…
Cape Town born Peter Noble takes up the Devilskein challenge, at Lewisham Library. Peter it turns out went (we think!) to the high school Erin is forced to attend, a little later into the book than this extract.
Press coverage of the reading at Brentwood Theatre (with slightly exaggerated audience number in the headline!!) Thanks to Chicken & Frog for organising!
Recording from an early section of the reading by Greg Page at Brentwood Theatre
Video snippet of Greg Page reading at The Gate Library, Forest Gate.
Arachne Press is doing another actor reading of our CARNEGIE MEDAL NOMINATED Young Adult novel, Devilskein & Dearlove this coming Thursday 5th Feb 7.45 for 8 til 9.30 at Lewisham Library 199-201 Lewisham High Street SE13 6LG.
It’s an intoxicating mix of gardens and demons, doors within doors, tragedy and hope. Great for anyone from age 9 to 900, and especially anyone who loves fantasy.
Join publisher Cherry Potts of Arachne Press and actor Peter Noble for the reading with video Q&A from the author Alex Smith, showing of the animated trailer and live Q&A from the publisher.
We will find out if we are LONGLISTED for the Carnegie Medal a couple of days later…
Free but booking advisable at EventBrite (this is purely to control numbers, don’t be put off coming by the need to get a ticket!)
Join us at Lewisham Library
199 201 Lewisham High Street
SE13 6LG
on Thursday 5 February from 20:00 to 21:30
Come and hear actor Peter Noble read from Alex Smith’s Carnegie Prize nominated tale of Erin Dearlove. From living grumpily with her bohemian Aunt Kate, Erin’s life changes when she goes to tea with Mr Devilskein, the demon who lives on the top floor. A fantastical story aimed primarily at 12-18 year olds, but in the tradition of former Carnegie medal winners Phillip Pullman, Terry Pratchett and CS Lewis entirely suitable fro anyone aged 9-900 and there is plenty for adult readers and listeners to savour.
This is a free event but please pre-book your tickets
Watch the YouTube trailer for Devilskein & Dearlove
We will have a novel Q&A on the night (like skype without the technical hiccups) – as Alex Smith lives in South Africa and isn’t able to be with us. We have asked people to get questions in early so that Alex can record her answers for the event.
Moody, teenage clever clogs Erin meets her match in the magical but malignant Devilskein. At first I thought they deserved each other. Our author’s upfront revelations of Devilskein’s fantastical powers and horrific motivation and the more gradual revelations as to why Erin lies about her past change this.
Amid the caustic wit and at times frantic action, Erin grows to understand the upsides and downsides of having a vivid imagination and about friendships both real and contrived via the vivid worlds opened by the right keys. The only thing that grated was the heavy-handed use of brackets (although I do exactly the same myself).
All praise to Arachne Press and the Carnegie Award judges for unearthing this South African diamond. Alex Smith’s novel pays homage to other classic and contemporary writers whilst being unique in its own right.
Alan M
Well, very nearly – do three dates constitute a tour?
We are doing readings of our CILIP Carnegie Medal Nominated young adult novel Devilskein & Dearlove by Alex Smith at:
Brentwood Theatre 15 Shenfield Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8AG (in partnership with Chicken & Frog Bookshop)
Wednesday 21st January 2015 13:30, with Greg Page (who voices Mr Devilskein on our animated trailer) reading. We will show the trailer, together with a video of author Alex Smith answering questions from Cape Town, South Africa) and Cherry Potts, Arachne Press owner will talk a little about publishing.
£10 including a copy of the book
The Gate Library 6-8 Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, London E7 0QH
Thursday22nd January 2015, 11am with Greg Page taking the reader’s role. We will show the trailer, together with a video of author Alex Smith answering questions from Cape Town, South Africa) Free.
Lewisham Library, 199-201 Lewisham High Street SE13 6LG
Thursday 5th February 2015 8pm with Peter Noble reading. Free.
We have actors to read because author Alex Smith is in South Africa. We have tried doing live video link-ups but there are too many variables, and it tends not to work, so we are doing some filming in advance, and we need your questions!
If you are coming to any of these events (or even if you aren’t) and would like to ask Alex a question, please use the form below, or tweet us at @Devilskein, BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Then Alex will record her answers and we can play them at the events, and put the video up on the website afterwards. (At the moment this will only happen at Brentwood Theatre, but we will see whether the libraries have the facilities to do the same.)
