Arachneversary Departures and the Story Sessions

Editor Cherry Potts talks about Departures, an anthology of short fiction and poetry, and the events that inspired it – The Story Sessions, the live literature event that ran for three years. Complete with archive footage from the story sessions, and video from the launch of the book.

This book is available from our Webshop,

and you can get a discount throughout August if you add the code ARACHNEVERSARY at the checkout.

Lockdown readings VG Lee reads an extract from Alpaca Moonlight

Reading from Story Sessions Anthology, Departures, VG Lee reads an extract from her story Alpaca Moonlight.

You can buy Departures and all other Arachne books  from our webshop, we will post them out to you.

Preorder No Spider Harmed… – out 8th August for our eighth anniversary!

If you would prefer eBooks, all our books are available from your usual retailer, now VAT free! We recommend Hive for ePub.

The Departure Board a film by David Steward

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We’ve come up with poem films before, and book trailers, but this is a first, a story film! What a multi-talented lot our writers are, working away to enliven their and your, lockdown lives.

David Steward, (Shortest Day, Longest Night, Departures) has created a film of his story for Departures, The Departures Board.

Thanks, David!

You can buy Departures and all other Arachne books from our webshop, we will post them out to you.

If you would prefer eBooks, all these books are available from your usual retailer.

Women on the Move: Poetry and Flash for International Women’s Day

To celebrate the launch of Emma Lee‘s new poetry collection The Significance of a Dress, we are holding an event at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery, University of Greenwich, 10 Stockwell Street, Greenwich SE10 9BD on the actual day SUNDAY 8TH MARCH 2pm.

Emma will be joined by Jenny Mitchell (Time and Tide, whose idea it was). Michelle Penn (Dusk, Noon, Time and Tide), Shamini Sriskandarajah (Story Cities), Claire Booker (Time and Tide), Laila Sumpton (Dusk, Noon) and Sarah Lawson (The Other Side of Sleep, Vindication, Departures), and there will be an open mic session, and very possibly cake.

The notional theme is women on the move, but this is being widely interpreted.

If you would like to take part in the open mic with on-theme poetry or flash fiction, please contact us, or sign up on arrival, there are a maximum of 6 500-word-limit slots.

Tickets by donation to cover travel expenses for the readers.

Videos from Departures Launch 2

Meant to upload these ages ago, but preparing for Solstice Shorts got in the way!

Here is the second half of the launch of Departures, with readings from

Gloria Sanders reads poems that link beautifully to the theme

Helen Morris teases withthe first page of her extraordinary take on departures – The Change

Liam Hogan a ‘chance’ meeting in the departures lounge, set by fate…

and Barbara Renel with her flash piece inspired by a painting.

Thanks once again to Brockley Brewery for hosting, much appreciated!

Videos from Departures launch part 1

Videos from the first half of the Departures launch at Brockley Brewery on 21st November 2019

Oscar Windsor-Smith reads This England

Carolyn Eden reads My Daddy

Joan Taylor-Rowan reads from Three Sisters on the Edge

more tomorrow…

Audio recordings from Departures Launch

Thanks to everyone who came along to celebrate the launch of Departures at Brockley Brewery last night, it is so lovely to have a packed venue!

And huge thanks to the readers for instilling such passion and humour into their readings, and to the Brewery for hosting us.

Normally I video everything, but in the heat of the moment I didn’t hit the record button till part way through, so there are only audio recordings for the first two readings, massive apologies to David Mathews and Sarah Lawson for that, but the recordings are good.

David Mathews

Here’s David reading Midday Bus

 

and Sarah reading Through SecuritySarah Lawson

More tomorrow, with actual videos…

You can buy a copy of Departures from our webshop

 

Departures – the trailer

A little animation to help launch our latest offering, Departures, which hits the shops on 21st November, and is launched the same day at 7pm at Brockley Brewery SE4, everyone welcome details of launch

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For those in the know there’s a nod at quite a few of the stories.

Announcing LAUNCH of Departures

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clever cover by Kevin Threlfall

We are in the countdown to Departures lift off! We have the books (preorder a copy here). We have the venue. We have the invitations!

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We have readings from Carolyn Eden, David Mathews, Barbara Renel, Liam Hogan Joan Taylor-Rowan, Oscar Windsor-Smith and Gloria Sanders, and maybe more.

Join us to celebrate at Brockley Brewery, 31 Harcourt Road, Brockley, SE4 2AJ

Nearest station Brockley. Buses 171, 172 stop almost on the corner.

21st November 2019, 7 for 7.30. There will be cake, and beer. Everything free (apart from the beer.) Everyone welcome, please RSVP so that we know who is coming.