Faber Fiction Roadshow and Other Events

Life Below Stairs: True Lives of Edwardian Servants

Peterborough Central Library

Saturday 4th May, 2pm

£5 (£4 conc and heritage pass)

Book at any Peterborough Library, Waterstones Peterborough or Peterborough Museum

A fascinating talk about the true lives of Edwardian servants. Author and journalist Alison Maloney will be talking about her book Life Below Stairs. This intriguing book uncovers the real-life experiences and first-hand accounts of what life was really like working in a grand Edwardian house.

For further information, please visit:

http://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/event/life-below-stairs-true-lives-of-edwardian-servants

Faber Fiction Roadshow

Afternoon Tea with Three Authors

Saturday 11th May, 2-3pm

John Clare Theatre, Peterborough Central Library

£3 (£2 concessions, free tickets for reading groups)

Tickets from any Peterborough Library or Waterstones, Peterborough

Marcel Theroux, Susie Steiner and Nadeem Aslam will be presenting a panel event. Come along and hear a group of writers talking about their novels, and be inspired to try something different.

Afternoon Tea will also be provided enabling readers to chat individually with the authors afterwards.

Susie Steiner is a former Guardian journalist. Her novel “A Homecoming” is the story of a Yorkshire family. A warm, enjoyable and funny debut novel, reminiscent of Anne Tyler and Marina Lewycka.

Marcel Theroux is a screenwriter, a broadcaster, and an award-winning novelist.
“Far North” was a finalist for the U.S. National Book Award. He is currently working on a new novel “Strange Bodies”. Nicholas has been dead for months. So when a man claiming to be him turns up to visit an old girlfriend, deception seems the only possible motive. Yet nothing can make him change his story.

Nadeem Aslam is the author of three previous novels. Maps for Lost Lovers was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Born in Pakistan, he now lives in England. His new novel “The Blind Man’s Garden” is set in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the months following 9/11 – a story of war, of one family’s losses and of the simplest, most enduring human impulses.

Their books will be available for purchase and signing on the day.

For further information, please visit: 

http://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/event/faber-fiction-roadshow

Author Events in Peterborough this Spring!

Vivacity now has a new booking system so you can buy your tickets from any Peterborough library, not just Central Library and  Waterstones on Bridge Street will also have tickets for sale.

Experience Seventeenth Century England – fiction, fact, and food!
With Author Charlotte Betts and Re-enactor Lynda Carvell

Saturday 23rd March, 2pm
John Clare Theatre, Peterborough Central Library
£5 (£4 concessions & reading group members) including refreshments
Tickets available from any Peterborough Library and Waterstones Bridge Street

Join historical novel writer Charlotte Betts and re-enactor Lynda Carvell on a journey back to the 17th Century, with an afternoon of fact and fiction.

Charlotte’s latest novel 'The Painter's Apprentice' is set during the Glorious Revolution of 1688, a significant event in British history. She will talk about why she loves writing historical fiction and the extensive research involved. She will read from some of her sources as well as her novels.

Re-enactor Lynda Carvell will join Charlotte to reveal the realities of life at the time. She will demonstrate the clothes the book’s characters would have worn.

Both author and re-enactor will reveal lots of other fascinating details of life in the 17th Century – including recipes and cooking techniques, with a chance to taste a 17th Century biscuit!

Copies of Charlotte’s books will be available for purchase and signing.

'The Apothecary’s Daughter' (2011) won a number of awards.  'The Painter’s Apprentice' is her latest book.
 
Further information on the event is available here:
http://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/event/experience-seventeenth-century-england-andndash-fi

 

World Book Night Author Event with Crime Writer S J Bolton
Folklore and Forensics: making sense out of the nightmare!

Tuesday 23rd April, 7pm
Peterborough Central Library
Tickets £5 (£4 concessions and reading group members)
Available from any Peterborough library, and Waterstones Bridge Street

Free prize draw included - great book giveaways!

Celebrate World Book Night with crime author S J Bolton. She will be speaking about how she became a writer and the particular sort of Gothic crime novel that has become her trademark.

Her new book is 'Like This For Ever':

Barney knows the killer will strike again soon. The victim will be another boy, just like him. He will drain the body of blood, and leave it on a Thames beach.
There will be no good reason for Lacey Flint to become involved . . . And no chance that she can stay away.

Face your darkest fears, but keep telling yourself it’s only fiction . . .

Copies of her books will be available to purchase and have signed.

S J Bolton is the author of five critically acclaimed novels. Her books have been shortlisted for several international awards, including the CWA Gold Dagger, and the Theakston's Old Peculier prize for crime novel of the year.





Further information on the event is available here:
http://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/event/world-book-night-author-event-with-crime-writer-s-

Pudsey the Dancing Dog's Book Tour

You may or may not be aware of Pudsey, the dancing dog, winner of 2011's Britain's Got Talent. A whirlwind year has ensued and Pudsey has very cleverly written his 'autobidography' for a reported 6-figure deal.

Now, some will say such books are a mockery and what about all the actual human writers struggling to get their big break, which I can understand. But on the other hand, if Pudsey's book sells - it's providing much-needed sales to book stores and sellers, and getting people reading and talking about books, which is great!

Pudsey (and Ashleigh his choreographer and owner) have been on a book tour across the UK in the last couple of weeks and on Friday 2nd November they visited Waterstones Peterborough. I went along accompanied by a unconvinced 'dogs don't dance' 4-year-old. Only 75 tickets were issued to see Pudsey and Ashleigh dance, which made for a comfortable-sized crowd. Surprisingly, although half term, most of the audience were middle-aged with only about 20 children there in total!

After a short wait Pudsey and Ashleigh greeted the very welcoming and enthusiastic crowd and performed a short dance routine. I'd researched Pudsey on You Tube and his moves were just as polished in real life. The unimpressed 4-year-old was now suitably impressed and wanted to know what other animals could dance. 

A decent-sized crowd had gathered for the book signing, in addition to the those who has tickets. There are always those that will push and scrum to get a book signed by a dog, but Waterstones staff were well organised and only a couple of people were let through to the desk where Pudsey and Ashleigh were at a time.

The book - well it's a pretty big hardback and Ashleigh personalised and signed it, before another lady stamped the official Pudsey pawprint on it. 

A big thanks to Waterstones Peterborough for inviting us, and for hosting an event like this - it will be viewed negatively by some - but having a bookshop, with a huge range of books, knowledgeable and friendly staff who offer events all year round that cater for all ages and reading interests is an asset to our city. We look forward to the next book signing!

Further news on the event from Peterborough Evening Telegraph.

Find out more about 'Pudsey, My Autobidography' at the Waterstones website.