Most of my friends are writers. Sorry if that sounds pretentious but it’s true. Well, it’s inevitable, innit? Especially here in Whitley Bay. There must be something in that salty sea air. It attracts writers as well as musicians and artists.
I love working with creative pals. In recent weeks I’ve been helping two of them, Sandy Chadwin and Gail Curry with various gigs, talks and a book launch. I’m going to use this blog post to promote their forthcoming gigs this month. So there! That’s what friends are for, eh?
This coming Thursday Sandy will give a talk on the writer MR James in Newcastle’s Old George Inn The event is called The Ghost Stories of MR James: Games of an Antiquary. Doors open 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets cost £2.50 and are available in advance here I’ll be there with friend and colleague Jennifer C Wilson helping Sandy set out the room and welcoming punters. Sandy’s an expert on MR James so come along and find out more about the writer’s work which is a potent mix of donnish humour and subtle horror.
Five days later I will be co-hosting Gail Curry’s gig at Whitley Bay library. Gail published her collection of poetry Lines from an Unfinished Love Song to mark this month’s World Mental Health Day and aims to raise awareness of issues that can affect anyone.
Lines from an Unfinished Love Song charts a journey that began in 2000 with a chance meeting in Warsaw. Gail’s poems describe 17 years of friendship, love, loss, grief, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and finally recovery. All proceeds from the sale of the book go to Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland.
I co-hosted Gail’s “soft” launch of the book at The Laing Art Gallery earlier this month. The room was filled with friends. The gig at Whitley Bay library will have friends in the auidence but also, gasp! Members of the public! This gig is part of Gail’s journey to recovery. Please support her by joining us on Tuesday 24th October. Tickets are free but you must prebook by phoning 0191 643 5390.
I’m proud of Gail, Sandy, Jennifer (two book launches under her belt this year!) and all my friends. You don’t have to be a writer to be in my gang but it helps if you like writers as chances are I’ll introduce you to one!