It’s publication day!

In shops today, in time for the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Armistice, An Outbreak of Peace, stories and poems in response to the end of WWI.

A collection of work from writers all over the world, and both sides of the conflict.

The brief was ‘no trenches’ and for the stories and poems to address, grief, relief and hope not vengeance, hatred or triumphalism. We were deeply moved and impressed by what we were sent, and picking the best of those for this book has been a particular pleasure.

You can order the book from us direct in our web shop (post free), or come to one of the launches –

Three launch events for An Outbreak of Peace

LONDON! Housmans 14th November

The official publication date for this anthology of new short stories and poems in response to the end of WWI, An Outbreak of Peace is the 8th November, but we are having the launch party on

Wednesday 14th, at Housmans radical bookshop, 5 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX,

with readings from Clare Owen, CB Droege, Katy Darby, Chantal Heaven (fiction);

Karen Ankers, Valerie Bence, Peter Kenny, Sarah Tait (poetry).

There will also be a poppy-seed cake, and other, liquid, refreshments.

£3 on the door, redeemable against purchase of the book. (It would help our pre-event nerves if you let us know you are coming)

Manchester! Blackwells 30th November

As our authors are spread all over the globe, we are trying to give as many of them as possible an opportunity to celebrate the launch in person. We can’t afford to jaunt off to the US and Australia, or even Germany or France, but we can manage Manchester!

Northern fans of poetry and short fiction are invited to join us at Blackwells, Manchester. Near Arthur Lewis Building, The University of Manchester Bridgeford Street, M13 9PL

on 30th November at 6.30pm

There will be readings from

Rebecca SkipwithLily Peters, (fiction)

Ness Owen, Sarah Tait, Mantz Yorke, and Valerie Bence, (poetry)

and cake and liquid refreshment.

Tickets are free. https://bit.ly/2CQcuVT

And finally, for now, a reading

by Clare Owen of her story from the collection, The Cormorant,

at Lost in Books, Quay Street, Lostwithiel, PL22 0BS

on 16th November 2018 6pm

Armistice Tales

Jobno 1274745 Armistice talesA6To celebrate National Short Story Week we are hosting a free live literature event at London’s first co-operatively owned pub, The Ivy House. A beautiful traditional pub building.

As NSSW coincides with the week that Remembrance day falls, we will be reading stories of war, peace and remembering.

Join Liam Hogan, Cherry Potts, Emily Bullock, Nicolas Ridley (Who also writes as Nichol Wilmor)  and Joan Taylor-Rowan, for an interactive evening of  live literature – think folk club with books. The audience is invited to contribute 100 word on-theme flash fiction in the flash from the floor spot. Books sales in the interval – free ‘Books are my Bag‘ bags to haul away all your demob souvenirs (that’s books in case you are wondering).

Possibility of a ‘work in progress’ spot for a brave author who would like to try out a fresh piece of on-theme writing on an audience. if you are interested in this slot, or in being an invited author at this or a future event, get in touch.

This is the second of two booked events at the Ivy House, if it goes well, it could become a regular fixture. Come along and support the first community owned pub in London, and live literature!

Wednesday 13th November 7:30 for 8, gun carriages at 10.

The Ivy House
40 Stuart Road
Nunhead
SE15 3BE