www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/writeidea 14-16 November 2014 The Writeidea Festival 2014 East ’s FREE Reading Festival

Write idea 20 14

14-16 Nov EAST LONDON’S FREE Reading Festival Writeidea Festival 2013 Writeidea Festival Welcome to Writeidea Festival 2014, the sixth edition performers than ever, so be prepared for some tricky of Tower Hamlets Council’s unique free reading festival. planning if you want to catch them all! The fact that the festival remains free to the public is As usual, we have a wide range of international, national largely thanks to the kind support we have received and local authors and performers covering novels and from the Arts Council of England and from the Canary short story writing, history, journalism, poetry, music, Wharf Group – we are very grateful for their generosity. comedy, photography and television writing. We promise The authors’ books will be available to borrow for free you thought provoking and lively debates, riveting too, because at Idea Stores we offer a first class, world excursions into the past, fascinating journeys through renowned public library service. We have also involved the imagination, literary globetrotting, self-deprecating local independent bookseller Brick Lane Books, in case humour, satire and much more. you want to buy your own copy and have it signed by your favourite author. Finally, we think it is very fitting that such a diverse offer should be part of a festival that has grown and grown Following on from last year’s success, this year’s festival from the grassroots in Tower Hamlets, the true heart of retains the same format of events running concurrently the multicultural East End. We hope you enjoy it. over a single weekend. Somehow we seem to have managed to squeeze in even more authors and Idea Store – bringing writers and readers together.

You can keep up to date with events through our Contents website www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/writeidea Friday Events 3 Follow us on twitter @writeideafest Saturday Events 4 Don’t forget to book your free tickets. Festival Planner 12 Please go to www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/writeidea Sunday Events 14 This symbol indicates that this event will be British Writeidea Fringe 22 Sign Language interpreted 2 Friday 14 November 6:00pm

Urban Playground [Ground Floor Foyer from 6:00pm] Urban Playground is Morpeth School’s large woodwind and brass ensemble. The band rehearses every Monday and is made up of students from Years 7 to 13. Urban Playground has performed all over the world, including New , Madrid and Iceland, as well as at many great festivals in the UK including the Cultural Olympiads and BT River of Music. They have also had the privilege to work with many amazing musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Christian Scott, Arun Ghosh and the Soul Rebels Brass Bands.

SLAMbassadors [Dance Studio from 6:30pm] A performance poetry event by Slambassadors, featuring Samila Naira and Nafeesa Mohammed (overall winner of the Buckinghamshire Slam Championships). SLAMbassadors UK is the Poetry Society’s national youth slam championships and the longest running youth slam in the country.

Tariq Ali in conversation with Penny Wrout [Dance Studio]

Tariq Ali and Penny Wrout discuss the ‘Islam Quintet’, his acclaimed series of five novels addressing the long history of the clash of Islam and the West. Together the novels form an epic panorama that begins in fifteenth-century Moorish Spain and closes in the twenty-first century cities of Lahore, London, Paris and Beijing. Writer and activist, Tariq Ali first came to prominence leading the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign. He is a broadcaster, filmmaker and journalist, editorial director of Verso, and an editor of the New Left Review. Penny Wrout is an arts events and media producer, journalist and scriptwriter. Photo: Nina Subin

3 Saturday 15 November 1:00pm

Jake Arnott [Dance Studio]

The Art of Writing the Streets of London

Jake Arnott, author of ‘The Long Firm’ and ‘The House of Rumour’ will be your guide to the writer’s long-time obsession with the topography of the capital, looking at John Gay’s 1716 poem, ‘Trivia: The Art of Walking the Streets of London’ and his own work-in- progress novel set in eighteenth century London. Photo: Cristian Barnett

London Recruits [Labs 2 and 3]

London Recruits – the secret war against apartheid

The history of the anti-apartheid movement in the UK evokes images of boycotts and public campaigns, but another story went on behind the scenes. By 1966, the apartheid regime in South Africa had all but annihilated the African National Congress (ANC), imprisoning its leaders, including Nelson Mandela, or driving them into exile. To help keep their message of resistance alive the ANC’s exiled leadership recruited young, white volunteers to smuggle banned literature into South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. Sworn to secrecy, their work remained silent for forty years until the publication in 2012 of London Recruits: The Secret War Against Apartheid, edited by Ken Keable. This event will bring together some of these recruits to talk about what they did, why they agreed to participate, what it meant to them, how it changed them, and the role of international solidarity and collaboration in today’s world.

4 Saturday 15 November 1:00pm

Xiaolu Guo [Conference Room] Louie Stowell [Lab 1a]

One of Granta’s Best Young British Novelists of Writer Louie Stowell leads a hands-on comic- 2013, Xiaolu Guo writes from a truly international making workshop. Drawing ability not required perspective, having lived in Berlin and London after leaving her native China. Now writing in English, she Louie Stowell writes books and interactive stories about has penned a new novel, ‘I Am China’, which tells everything from real-life spacecraft to Norse mythology. the story of a London-based translator named Iona Her sci-fi novella, ‘The School for Supervillains’, was Kirkpatrick who translates the tragic letters of young published by Readzone this May. Her latest book, Chinese exiles Jian and Mu. ‘Write and Draw Your Own Comics’, was published by Usborne in October. She also has a webcomic: Deus ex Suburbia. http://godsnextdoor.wordpress.com/

Red Army Fiction [Ground Floor Foyer] Performances by members of East London’s spoken word collective, celebrating diversity and individuality via a cornucopia of creative contrasting styles and genres. Red Army Fiction will also be performing on Sunday at 6pm in the ground floor foyer.

Saturday 1:00pm 5 Saturday 2:30pm

Jerry White [Dance Studio] Ahsan Akbar [Labs 2 and 3]

London’s River in the Great War In conversation with Hannah Eiseman-Renyard

The First World War saw a two-edged crisis in the Port Ahsan Akbar was born in London but grew up in of London. At first the dislocation of world trade caused a Bangladesh. After attending the University of Exeter, he stoppage in shipping that threw many on the riverside out worked in the City, and is currently at work on a novel. of work. But slump turned quickly into boom as the bustle His debut collection of poems, ‘The Devil’s Thumbprint’, of war swept along the river. Throughout the conflict a was launched at the 2014 edition of Hay Festival Dhaka. labour shortage was the river’s greatest problem, solved in He reviews for The Dhaka Tribune, The Daily Star, The part by the migration of men from Asia and the Caribbean Telegraph, 3 Quarks Daily, and recently curated literary to fill the gaps: they were not always well received by the projects with Granta and Wasafiri locals. And all the while the Port was a major target for the German air force. Jerry White is a leading social historian of modern London. His ‘Zeppelin Nights: London in the First World War’ was published by the Bodley Head in May 2014.

6 Saturday Nikesh Shukla [Lab 1a] James Dawson [Conference Room]

‘The First and Last Thing I Do Every Day Is See This Talk Is Gay What Strangers Are Saying About Me’ Award winning ‘Queen of Teen’ and former Sex Ed teacher Comedic author Nikesh Shukla has written a satire on James Dawson argues why rigorous sex education should our social media lives, how we’re connected by likes, be mandatory and explains what prompted him to write favourites and interactions, and he asks: has this really ‘This Book is Gay’, a guide to sex and relationships for brought us together? Through a mixture of readings, young LGBT people. storytelling of his own experiences that led to writing James Dawson is the award-winning author of dark teen ‘Meatspace’ and questions from the public, he’ll take thrillers ‘Hollow Pike’, ‘Cruel Summer’ and ‘Say Her Name’. you on a journey into our plugged in lives and ask the Until recently, James worked as a teacher, specialising question: how well do we all really know each other? in PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) and His debut novel, ‘Coconut Unlimited’ was shortlisted behaviour. His first non-fiction book, ‘Being a Boy’ tackled for the Costa First Novel Award 2010. His short stories puberty, sex and relationships in a frank and funny fashion. have featured in magazines, on radio and in national A follow up for young LGBT people, ‘This Book is Gay’, newspapers. He’s written for , Esquire was released in September. and BBC 2 and been writer in residence for BBC Asian Network and Royal Festival Hall. His Comedy Lab Kabadasses aired in 2011 and starred Shazad Latif, Jack Doolan and Josie Long.

Saturday 2:30pm 7 Saturday 4:00pm

Jill Dawson [Dance Studio]

Jill Dawson’s new novel The ‘Tell-Tale Heart’ explores what happens when a man receives a new heart in a transplant and discovers the story of the young heart donor. Patron and novelist Jill Dawson’s work has often explored ‘found’ stories and here she will talk about the pleasures of research, her love of the fen landscape in Cambridgeshire where she lives and the lure of history. She is a popular creative writing tutor and mentor too and willing to answer your questions on any part of the writing process...

Peter Hounsell [Labs 2 and 3]

Talking Rubbish Household rubbish is something we are all familiar with, as we put out our refuse and recycling each week for the dustmen to collect. But what was refuse collection like a century ago and even earlier? Dr Peter Hounsell is the author of ‘London’s rubbish: two centuries of dirt, dust and disease in the metropolis’, published by Amberley last year, and this illustrated talk will draw on his research for the book.

8 Kate Fox [Conference Room] Tanya Byrne [Lab 1a]

Kate Fox is a poet, spoken word artist and stand up In conversation with author Robin Stevens who has been called “Hilariously self-deprecating” (Three Weeks), “Funny, quirky and a wonderful Tanya Byrne was born in London and studied in Surrey, writer” (Sarah Millican) and “Funny and endearing where she still lives with her cat who goes by several with a journalistic cynicism that cuts through the names, none of which he actually answers to. After whimsy” (Sunday Telegraph).She’ll share some of eight years working for BBC Radio, she left to write her funny (and less funny) poems, topical satire and her debut novel, ‘Heart-Shaped Bruise’, which was stories from residencies including Radio 4’s Saturday shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Live, and a colostomy nurse’s Dagger, and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award. conference! Catch her ahead of her mini comedy series Tanya was also shortlisted for New Writer of the Year at on Radio 4 next spring in which she talks about not the National Book Awards. She has travelled all round wanting children or a white wedding. the country to speak to crowds at the festival and to classrooms of young people. The session will be introduced and chaired by Robin Stevens, author of ‘Murder Most Unladylike’.

Saturday 4:00pm 9 Saturday 5:30pm

Tom Holland [Dance Studio]

In the Shadow of the Sword: The Battle for Global Empire and the End of the Ancient World

Where and when did Islam emerge? Until forty years ago, the answers to these questions had always seemed clear; but increasingly, scholars are debating the traditional story of Islam’s birth. surveys the controversies, and asks if the religion, rather than emerging amid the isolation of the desert, in fact owes its origins to much broader currents and influences. Was Islam the grave-digger of

Photo: Sadie Holland antiquity, or its climax?

Liz De Jager [Lab 2 and 3]

Having fun writing Young Adult (YA) and cross-over genre fiction (with dragons, trolls, sword fights in a modern day setting)

Liz is an ex-blogger and reviewer who finds herself published by Macmillan. Her trilogy for their sci-fi/fantasy imprint Tor has been called the British Buffy, of which she’s very proud. She is addicted to tea and movies and good storytelling. The Blackhart Legacy trilogy is on the importance of pop culture, multi-media and where to find ideas with plenty of inspiration from across movies, TV shows, books, comics and poetry.

Eddie Johnson [Conference Room]

Tales from the Two Puddings Pub

Former landlord and writer Eddie Johnson reads from his book ‘Tales from the Two Puddings’, drawing on his experiences at one of East London’s most celebrated pubs. In the heady days of the 1960s the Two Puddings in Stratford was famed for its clientele, which included actors, footballers, musicians and the notorious Kray twins. A local East Ender born within the sound of Bow bells, Eddie lived through the Blitz and was landlord from 1962 until 2000.

10 Saturday 7:00pm

Deborah Levy [Lab 1a] Shazia Mirza [Dance Studio]

Deborah Levy’s novel, ‘Swimming Home’, Live Show: Bullet Proof published by And Other Stories, was shortlisted for various prizes including the 2012 Man Are words really dangerous? Can they hurt, offend and even kill Booker Prize and the title story of her short you? What happens when you think you’re being hilarious and story collection, ‘Black Vodka: ten stories’ (And other people just think you are causing anarchy? Can a laugh Other Stories), was shortlisted for the 2012 BBC save the day? What happens when you meet people who have International Short Story Award. Recent books no sense of humour at all, and no joke or situation can salvage published are Levy’s non-fiction essay, ‘Things I these people from misery? Is it best to just offend them as Don’t Want to Know’ and the re-issues of three much as possible to get any reaction at all? Mum, Dad, foreign previously published books: ‘The Unloved’, governments, and the Department of Environmental Health all ‘Beautiful Mutants’ and ‘Swallowing Geography’. play a part in Shazia’s latest roller coaster ride of a show. ‘An Amorous Discourse in the Suburbs of Hell’ is her latest book.

Saturday 5:30pm Saturday 7:00pm 11 Writeidea Festival Planner

Date Time Event Room Page Ground Floor Friday 14 Nov 6:00pm Urban Playground 3 Foyer

Friday 14 Nov 6:30pm SLAMbassadors Dance Studio 3

Friday 14 Nov 7:00pm Tariq Ali in Conversation with Penny Wrout Dance Studio 3

Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm Jake Arnott Dance Studio 4

Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm London Recruits Labs 2 and 3 4

Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm Xiaolu Guo Conference Room 5

Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm Louie Stowell Lab 1a 5

Ground Floor Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm Red Army Fiction 5 Foyer

Saturday 15 Nov 2:30pm Jerry White Dance Studio 6

Saturday 15 Nov 2:30pm Ahsan Akbar Labs 2 and 3 6

Saturday 15 Nov 2:30pm Nikesh Shukla Lab 1a 7

Saturday 15 Nov 2:30pm James Dawson Conference Room 7

Saturday 15 Nov 4:00pm Jill Dawson Dance Studio 8

Saturday 15 Nov 4:00pm Peter Hounsell Labs 2 and 3 8

Saturday 15 Nov 4:00pm Kate Fox Conference Room 9

Saturday 15 Nov 4:00pm Tanya Byrne Lab 1a 9

Saturday 15 Nov 5:30pm Tom Holland Dance Studio 10

Saturday 15 Nov 5:30pm Liz De Jager Labs 2 and 3 10

Saturday 15 Nov 5:30pm Eddie Johnson Conference Room 10

Saturday 15 Nov 5:30pm Deborah Levy Lab 1a 11

Saturday 15 Nov 7:00pm Shazia Mirza Dance Studio 11

Sunday 16 Nov 1:00pm Nick Cohen Dance Studio 14

Sunday 16 Nov 1:00pm Alan Gilbey Labs 2 and 3 14

Sunday 16 Nov 1:00pm Roopa Farooki Conference Room 15

Sunday 16 Nov 1:00pm Spread the Word: Write Here Lab 1a 15

Sunday 16 Nov 2:30pm Short Story Competition Dance Studio 16

Sunday 16 Nov 2:30pm Simon Gough Conference Room 17

Sunday 16 Nov 2:30pm Marigold Joy Lab 1a 17

Sunday 16 Nov 4:00pm The Gentle Author Dance Studio 18

Sunday 16 Nov 4:00pm Linda Wilkinson Labs 2 and 3 18

Sunday 16 Nov 4:00pm Nadifa Mohamed Conference Room 19

Sunday 16 Nov 4:00pm Asian Britain - A Photographic History Lab 1a 19

Sunday 16 Nov 5:30pm Debating Diversity in Publishing Labs 2 and 3 20

Sunday 16 Nov 5:30pm Words and Music with John Saul and Jan Pulsford Dance Studio 20

Sunday 16 Nov 5:30pm Dave Sankey Conference Room 21

Sunday 16 Nov 5:30pm Chimene Suleyman Lab 1a 21

Sunday 16 Nov 7:00pm Owen Jones Dance Studio 21 Date Time Event Room Page Ground Floor Friday 14 Nov 6:00pm Urban Playground 3 Foyer

Friday 14 Nov 6:30pm SLAMbassadors Dance Studio 3

Friday 14 Nov 7:00pm Tariq Ali in Conversation with Penny Wrout Dance Studio 3

Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm Jake Arnott Dance Studio 4

Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm London Recruits Labs 2 and 3 4

Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm Xiaolu Guo Conference Room 5

Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm Louie Stowell Lab 1a 5

Ground Floor Saturday 15 Nov 1:00pm Red Army Fiction 5 Foyer

Saturday 15 Nov 2:30pm Jerry White Dance Studio 6

Saturday 15 Nov 2:30pm Ahsan Akbar Labs 2 and 3 6

Saturday 15 Nov 2:30pm Nikesh Shukla Lab 1a 7

Saturday 15 Nov 2:30pm James Dawson Conference Room 7

Saturday 15 Nov 4:00pm Jill Dawson Dance Studio 8

Saturday 15 Nov 4:00pm Peter Hounsell Labs 2 and 3 8

Saturday 15 Nov 4:00pm Kate Fox Conference Room 9

Saturday 15 Nov 4:00pm Tanya Byrne Lab 1a 9

Saturday 15 Nov 5:30pm Tom Holland Dance Studio 10

Saturday 15 Nov 5:30pm Liz De Jager Labs 2 and 3 10

Saturday 15 Nov 5:30pm Eddie Johnson Conference Room 10

Saturday 15 Nov 5:30pm Deborah Levy Lab 1a 11

Saturday 15 Nov 7:00pm Shazia Mirza Dance Studio 11

Sunday 16 Nov 1:00pm Nick Cohen Dance Studio 14

Sunday 16 Nov 1:00pm Alan Gilbey Labs 2 and 3 14

Sunday 16 Nov 1:00pm Roopa Farooki Conference Room 15

Sunday 16 Nov 1:00pm Spread the Word: Write Here Lab 1a 15

Sunday 16 Nov 2:30pm Short Story Competition Dance Studio 16

Sunday 16 Nov 2:30pm Simon Gough Conference Room 17

Sunday 16 Nov 2:30pm Marigold Joy Lab 1a 17

Sunday 16 Nov 4:00pm The Gentle Author Dance Studio 18

Sunday 16 Nov 4:00pm Linda Wilkinson Labs 2 and 3 18

Sunday 16 Nov 4:00pm Nadifa Mohamed Conference Room 19

Sunday 16 Nov 4:00pm Asian Britain - A Photographic History Lab 1a 19

Sunday 16 Nov 5:30pm Debating Diversity in Publishing Labs 2 and 3 20

Sunday 16 Nov 5:30pm Words and Music with John Saul and Jan Pulsford Dance Studio 20

Sunday 16 Nov 5:30pm Dave Sankey Conference Room 21

Sunday 16 Nov 5:30pm Chimene Suleyman Lab 1a 21

Sunday 16 Nov 7:00pm Owen Jones Dance Studio 21 Sunday 16 November 1:00pm

Nick Cohen [Dance Studio] Alan Gilbey [Labs 2 and 3]

You Can’t Read This Book! East End Backpassages; Speed History

Freedom of speech is one thing but can you We all know the East End story – the one with Pearly write what you like? Are we really living in an age Kings and Huguenot weavers, the Kray twins and Jack of unprecedented freedom? Are the traditional the Ripper. But there’s another history of awkward truths, opponents of freedom of speech stronger than ever? amazing tales and extraordinary people waiting to be discovered just off the Whitechapel Road. Columnist for The Observer, author of ’What’s Left?: How the Left Lost its Way’, Nick Cohen argues that, Join stand up tour guide and lifelong local Alan Gilbey, in terms of writing what you like, no one is free, along with Sarah Wise and Roger Mills in a library of secret everyone is being watched, and a pernicious form of stories, where many other East End writers, historians and censorship is thriving. He has dared to write You Can’t performers await to tell you tales less told – and in ways Read this Book, which passionately and persuasively you might not be expecting! describes how we in the liberated West find ourselves in a situation in which you can write a novel and risk ending up financially ruined, or even dead. Nick Cohen will be in conversation with author and historian Louise Raw. 14 Spread the Word

Roopa Farooki [Conference Room] Spread the Word: Write Here [Lab 1a]

Considered to be a ‘life-changing’ read, critically Use your creativity to explore your local area in a new and acclaimed ‘The Good Children’ is the sixth novel from imaginative way, and find some inspiration to write from Orange Prize shortlisted author Roopa Farooki. Roopa your everyday life. will be talking about 1940s Lahore and growing up If you have always wanted to have a go at creative writing, in a society that required her characters and siblings or if you like to write and you are looking to take part in to be ‘good children’, how this was enforced and the a friendly group writing session, then you will enjoy this repercussions of this prescribed way of behaviour workshop. You’ll be guided through a series of interesting and obedience. Farooki writes tales of multicultural, exercises to get your imagination flowing, you’ll have a contemporary Britain populated by funny, believable chance to share your work and get some feedback, and characters. you’ll finish the session with at least one new piece of writing in your notebook. Suitable for all writers.

Sunday 1:00pm 15 Sunday 2:30pm

The Writeidea Prize Writeidea 2014 A new national short story prize Prize Awards Ceremony [Dance Studio]

We were honoured by the number and range of short stories sent in to the Writeidea Prize 2014. We received more than 300 — a third of which were from local writers, and we have seven outstanding finalists: Andrew Blackman, Tracy Fells, Rowena Macdonald, C.G. Menon, Umi Sinha, Melanie Whipman and Farrah Yusuf. Who will be the winner? Find out at this awards ceremony, presented by festival patron and competition judge Alex Wheatle.

The event will be preceded by the awards ceremony for the Writeidea ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Short Story Prize.

16 Simon Gough [Conference Room] Marigold Joy [Lab 1a]

When 10-year-old Simon Gough went to Majorca in Writing for Television Drama Series: A Taster 1953 he thought he had landed in paradise. Far from the misery of his English boarding school and his Marigold Joy has worked closely with writers for over parents’ divorce, he fell in love – with the tiny village of 10 years in television drama series at the BBC, ITV Deya, with his wild cousin Juan and most of all with his and abroad on award winning shows such as Lewis, beloved ”Grand-Uncle” Robert Graves. Dalziel and Pascoe, Larkrise to Candleford and The Clinic. She has now been writing for the last few years. When he returned in 1960, paradise had been overrun Marigold believes there is a craft to writing for drama by beatniks and marijuana – and Simon liked it all the series and would like to share a few choice titbits as it is more. But soon he fell for the enchanting Margot Callas, impossible to giveaway all the secrets in just one hour! Robert Graves’ muse. He found himself entangled in a web of lies and deceit and playing a game whose rules he didn’t understand. The repercussions would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Sunday 2:30pm 17 Sunday 4:00pm

The Gentle Author [Dance Studio]

The Gentle Author introduces ‘Spitalfields Nippers’ By Horace Warner

Around 1900, photographer Horace Warner took a series of portraits of some of the poorest people in the East End - creating relaxed, intimate images that gave dignity to his subjects and producing great photography that is without comparison in his era. This unique collection of pictures revolutionises our view of Londoners at the end of the nineteenth century, by bringing them startling close and permitting us to look them in the eye. Only seen by members of Warner’s family for more than a century, almost all of these breath-taking photographs are now published for the first time by Spitalfields Life Books, accompanied by newly- researched biographies that trace the lives of many of the children in Horace Warner’s pictures.

Linda Wilkinson [Labs 2 and 3]

Columbia Rd: A Strange Kind of Paradise

“An unrivalled and unsentimental insight into the history of the street and the people who make it what it is.” Linda has never quite been able to escape from her East End roots and especially her fascination with Columbia Road. Born in the area 60 years ago, she’s travelled the world and worked in many places, but still came home. During her life she has been a trainee accountant; hotel worker in Tuscany; scientist and researcher; political campaigner for Stonewall; UK Chair of (where she had a five year stint); radio producer; community and youth activist … and author, of course.

18 Sunday Nadifa Mohamed [Conference Room]

In conversation with author and publisher Meike Ziervogel

Nadifa Mohamed was born in Hargeisa in 1981 while Somalia was falling deeper into dictatorship. In 1986 she moved to London with her family in what she thought was a temporary move but a couple of years later it became permanent as war broke out in Somalia. She was educated in London and went to Oxford to study History and Politics and she finally returned to Hargeisa, now in the new Republic of Somaliland, in 2008. She lives in London and is

Photo: John Foley Opale currently working on her third novel.

Asian Britain - A Photographic History [Lab 1a] Florian Stadtler and Susheila Nasta, through extraordinary photographic history, show how South Asians have lived in Britain for centuries. From the first trade conducted between the two nations along the Silk Route to the adoption of Chicken Tikka Masala as a national dish, the ongoing mutual exchange of cultures continues to flourish today. Asian Britain vividly charts Britain’s process of coming to terms with the historic realities of its culturally diverse past and present. It is published in partnership, with the British Library and Getty Images.

Florian Stadtler Born in Germany, Florian studied at Kent University. He completed his PhD on Salman Rushdie and Indian Popular Cinema in 2007. He has worked on many projects looking at the way the Asian community has developed especially in Britain. He now works at the University of Exeter.

Susheila Nasta Sushelia joined the Open University in 1999 and holds a chair in Modern Literature. Author of many titles such as ‘India in Britain: South Asian Networks and Connections, 1858-1950’ and ‘Home Truths: Fictions of the South Asian Diaspora in Britain’. Sushelia is also the founding editor of ‘Wasafiri: The Magazine of International Contemporary Writing’.

Sunday 4:00pm 19 Sunday 5:30pm

Debating Diversity in Publishing [Labs 2 ans 3] Words and Music with

Alex Wheatle, Sunny Singh & Irenosen Okojie John Saul and Jan Pulsford debate diversity in publishing and what could be [Dance Studio] done to improve it. This is a chance to offer your views/experiences to the debate.

Alex Wheatle Alex Wheatle is the author of several acclaimed novels including ‘Brixton Rock’ and ‘Brenton Brown’. He was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2008 and is one of the Writeidea Festival Patrons.

Irenosen Okojie John Saul Jan Pulsford Irenosen Okojie is a writer and Arts Project Manager. She has worked John Saul has had four collections of short with the RSC, Apples & Snakes, The fiction published. His writing has been Southbank Centre and her work has described by The Times as ‘witty and playful’, been featured in The Observer and The proof ‘the short story is being reinvigorated in Guardian. Her debut novel ‘Butterfly excitingly diverse ways’. Fish’ will be published in 2015. Jan Pulsford, a ‘producer, keyboardist, virtual artist and explorer in music and technology’, Sunny Singh composes and records ambient and other music. She wrote and played with Cyndi Sunny Singh’s short stories have Lauper and now presents online shows to a been published by prestigious global audience. international literary journals including World Literature Today and her Together they have been exploring creative non-fiction published by key possibilities for combining words and music. anthologies and journals. Her new novel ‘Hotel Arcadia’ will be published in March 2015. 20 Sunday 7:00pm

Dave Sankey [Conference Room]

Stepney’s Tudor Palace

Archaeologist and writer David Sankey gives an illustrated talk on the excavation of the real-life rival to Wolf Hall. David Sankey is a Senior Archaeologist at the Museum of London and led Crossrail excavations at Stepney. His forthcoming book ‘From Tudor Palace to City Farm’ looks at local transformation from a wealthy area to today’s inner city suburb. He has Owen Jones [Dance Studio] previously published articles and books on Roman and Medieval remains in the City of London. He’s a long- The Establishment: And How They standing Stepney resident and landscape historian. Get Away With It Owen Jones is a columnist for the Guardian and a frequent broadcaster. His first book, ‘Chavs: The Chimene Suleyman Demonization of the Working Class’, was published [Lab 1a] by Verso in June 2011 to considerable acclaim and attention, and became the bestselling political book of 2011. It was longlisted for the Guardian First Book Outside Looking On Award and picked by the New York Times as one of their Top 10 Non-fiction Books of 2011. Is it possible to claim a building for yourself that Owen has been named one of ’s doesn’t know you exist? Most Influential People on the Left, and won Left Writer Chimene Suleyman Foot Forward’s poll for Most Influential Left-Wing uses the Docklands, in Thinker of the Year, and Young Writer of the Year at particular Canary Wharf, as the 2013 Political Book Awards. ultimate allegory throughout her poetry collection ‘Outside Looking On’. Here she will illustrate how we may attach His new book ‘The Establishment: Any How they Get emotion and memory in the least likely of places: where we Away With It’, exposes the linked worlds of vested might find company where previously reclusion had been. interests and why and how they must be challenged. Presented by publisher Kit Caless Sunday 21 Writeidea Festival Fringe 2014

Fringe 2014: Stories Your stories, their stories, our stories. [All the Writeidea Festival Fringe events will take place in the Gallery]

4:00pm Annie Broadbent: SATURDAY We Need to Talk About Grief

1:00pm Young Adult Book Quiz When Annie was just twenty-five, her mum died. Frustrated with seeing family and friends paralysed by How well do you know the ever-growing world of fears of death – and reluctance to talk about it – she Young Adult fiction? Test yourself with a quiz hosted decided to share her experience and others’ stories. by book blogger extraordinaire Jim Dean of YA Yeah Yeah. There’ll be some ace bookish swag in store Annie’s talk about her new book ‘We Need to Talk for the winners. About Grief’ will fascinate everyone and inform anyone at a loss in dealing with loss. She’s a trained clinical volunteer, supports a child bereavement programme, is 2:30pm Fandom training as a psychotherapist and writes for Psychologies magazine on taboos around death and grief. Then Annie Liz de Jager, author of Banished, first in the Blackheart will also join us for the next event, Death Café Legacy Trilogy, knows what so many thousands of you get up to in private – write fan fiction. Her talk will be part workshop, part enthusiastic chat 4:40pm Death Café about all things in the world of fandom. From writing and reading fanfic to creating gifs, working on meta, This offers you the chance to eat cake, drink tea and and finding out what’s happening and new. discuss death, aiming ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their Bring along lists of your favourite authors or your own (finite) lives’. It’s a discussion group rather than a grief work! Be prepared for fun and interactive chats about support or counselling session. Death Cafes are not for creating gifs and fanvideos, playlists and art but most profit and have no intention of leading people to any of all, no negativity allowed! This is going to be a fun, conclusion, product or course of action. Find out more fan-friendly event, to celebrate the movies, TV shows at www.deathcafe.com and bands and books we love.

22 4:00 pm Voices From History SUNDAY East London Suffragettes

1:00pm Independent publishing One hundred years after the East London Federation of the Suffragettes was established in Bow, hear the story of ‘our Industry-leading indie publishers and writers talk and Sylvia’ and this pioneering group of remarkable women. answer your questions on the power of the small press. We’re offering a rare and free chance to get advice about Sarah Jackson, chair of the first East London Suffragette publishing your work: from the experts. Festival, is co- author of ‘Voices from History: East London Suffragettes’ with Rosemary Taylor. She’ll talk about an Kit Caless: co-director of Influx Press, publishing extraordinary time in local history and a courageous and innovative and challenging site-specific fiction, poetry and creative group of forgotten East End rebels. creative non-fiction from across the UK and beyond, that explores the idea of place. Titles include the Gordon Burn Prize-nominated Marshland by Gareth E Rees. 5:00pm Urban Legends of London Sam Jordison: co-director of ‘old-fashioned publishers for These are our folk stories: from the bear loose on Hackney the 21st Century’ Galley Beggar Press, publishers of the Marshes to the demons on 55 Cornhill, to the legend and 2014 Baileys Prize-winning novel ‘A Girl Is a Half-Formed mystery of Jack the Ripper, urban legends are a way for us Thing’, by Eimear McBride. Sam is also a Guardian to understand our surroundings and express our deepest journalist, writer of Sod That: 103 Things Not to Do Before fears and thoughts cloaked in stories. You Die and co-editor of the Crap Towns series. In this talk and workshop Scott Wood will share some Meike Ziervogel: writer and founder of award-winning London stories with the audience, explain how and why boutique Peirene Press, specialists for contemporary legends form and invite the audience to share their own. European novellas in English translation. The best way to learn about our folklore is to share it. Meike’s first novel Magda was shortlisted for the Guardian’s Scott is the author of ‘London Urban Legends: The Corpse Not The Booker prize 2013 and voted one of the Books of on the Tube’, host of the London Fortean Society and the Year 2013 by the Observer and Irish Times. writes irregular ‘Fortean London’ posts for Londonist.

2:30pm Letter Lounge Writeidea 2014 Festival Who doesn’t love receiving a hand-written letter from Fringe is curated by someone special? Here’s the space to write the letters Festival volunteer, you never have time for and enjoy a bit of a social. Letter writer and East Lounge provide cake, tea, coffee, paper, pens, and Londoner Karen Hart. stamps. All you need to bring is the address of the person you’re writing to – and a sunny disposition. They’ll even post your letters for you.

23 Venue:

Idea Store Whitechapel 321 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BU Tel: 020 7364 4332

Whitechapel Underground Station

Fully accessible Patrons: Jill Dawson For more information about any of our events visit www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ideastore Louise Doughty Spread the Word Brick Lane Bookshop will Alex Wheatle be supplying books for sale throughout the festival. Brick Lane Bookshop 166 Brick Lane London E1 6RU Tel: 0207 247 0216 [email protected] follow us @bricklanebooks www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/writeidea

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Created and managed by Tower Hamlets Council