I will be speaking at the National Writers’ Conference on July 16 2016 about  Writing Residencies and Fellowships. This year the event is held at the Bramhall Building at Birmingham University. You can book here.

This is  what they say about the event:

‘The event is chaired by Natasha Carlin. Panellists to include novelist Helen Cross, canal laureate Luke Kennard and Rachel Barnett all lecturers at University of Birmingham

Residencies and fellowships give writers an opportunity to develop their own interests and to work with other writers. Many – most – are paid and also provide a useful way to explore new writing areas. Novelist Helen Cross, poet Luke Kennard and Rachel Barnett -whose writing projects to date include original work, adaptations, translations, theatre in education projects, pieces for young audiences and young performers, and dramaturgy of collaborative devised work – will discuss how these opportunities are set up and run and give advice about working in this way.

Carol Adlam and I will be speaking about our forthcoming graphic novel, Ministry of Women, at Gosh Comics! on Monday May 16 2016

7.30- .9.00pm

1 Berwick St

W1F ODR

Artist Carol Adlam and I will be talking about our forthcoming graphic novel, The Ministry of Women,  at the Hay on Wye Literature Festival on Friday 3 June at 11.30am.   You can book tickets here.

I will be running a writing workshop called Inspiring Women in Leeds on Tuesday 29 March as part of F=  Festival of the Body.

Inspiring women are at the heart of many lives and stories. Who are the women who have inspired you in your life? Who are the inspiring female characters at the centre of your stories? In the first half of this workshop I will guide you in revealing or creating complex, memorable and inspirational women for all kinds of stories, from novels to radio plays and screenplays. In the second half of the workshop I will show ways of letting these women speak, in bold, brilliant and believable voices.

The workshop is free and all are welcome to welcome to attend.  More details and to book here.

F= is an interdisciplinary research group based at Leeds Beckett University exploring the significance of feminism in creative practices. The group is led by Jo Hassall, Dr Casey Orr, Laura Robinson and Dr Liz Stirling with associate members including cultural workers, mothers, academics, researchers, mothers.

I will be speaking at the University of Birmingham at the inaugural event of a new B-Film series dedicated to screen adaptations of literary works. The evening is dedicated to the work of Pawel Pawlikowski and we will talk about his adaptation of my novel, My Summer of Love.

The event will be presented by Dr Andrew Watts of B-Film, University of Birmingham. There will be a screening of MY SUMMER OF LOVE introduced by Dr JOANNA RYDZEWSKA of Swansea University, author of a new critical biography of Pawlikowski. Followed by round table discussion and Q A chaired by PROFESSOR ROGER SHANNON.

The event is Thursday 3 December at the University in Strathcona LT1 5-8pm – All welcome.

I’ll be back on tour with playwright John Godber and poet Peter Sansom for more Northern Voices readings in 2016.

Sunday 7th February 2016, Helmsley Arts Centre, Helmsley, North Yorkshire

Sunday 6th March 2016, Ropewalk, Barton on Humber, North Lincolnshire

The next stop for my tour of the North, with playwright John Godber and poet Peter Sansom,  is Sheffield’s Off the Shelf Festival on Tuesday 20 October 2016. More details and to book here.

Another date for the John Godber, Peter Sansom, Helen Cross tour.  Ilkley Literature Festival are promising ‘A brilliantly entertaining afternoon of readings and conversation with a trio of acclaimed writers – playwright, novelist and poet – as they talk about their relationship with the North.’  We’ll do our best!   You can book here.

Another outing for the John Godber, Peter Sansom and Helen Cross roadshow, Writing With a Northern Voice. The events have been very popular so far!  You can book here.

You can listen to actress Helen Baxendale and I discussing our favourite books with Harriett Gilbert on BBC Radio 4’s A Good Read  here.

The selection includes a treatise on re-wilding Britain by George Monbiot (‘Feral’), a novel about the culture clash between two women from very different backgrounds, ‘The God of Chance’ by Kirsten Thorup  (my choice), and an award-winning memoir, ‘The Three of Us’ by Julia Blackburn.