Sunday 13 May 2018

F, M or OTHER - QUARRELS with the GENDER BINARY


Last night I attended the launch of this wonderful anthology of writing. The event took place at Lovecrumbs Cafe at the West Port in Edinburgh - plenty of coffee and cake on offer… indeed everyone was encouraged to eat more cake and more cake.

This was a sell-out event with over 60 people in the audience - all genders. The atmosphere was celebratory and at the same time intense. There were several readings - some from the anthology and some authors chose to read pieces not included in the anthology. I read my piece 'CAT OUT OF THE BAG'.

After the readings the readers formed an informal panel to answer questions (some submitted online prior to the event and some direct from the audience). This provoked some very intelligent debate around the issues of gender and society and acceptance - oh, and also anger… people who are not treated fairly and not treated like people do, I think, have reason enough to be angry.

This was such an important event and I hope this anthology goes on to do good things. We won't change the world overnight, but we will change it a little at a time. Lots of brave people at this event and I was so thrilled to be associated with what went on - even if my contribution was so small a piece.

You can get the anthology from Knight Errant Press (they have a webpage) or from Lighthouse bookshop in Edinburgh.


BRIGHTON PRIZE ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH


This year the people at The Brighton Prize decided to launch their new anthology from Edinburgh - the winner, Paula Hunter, hails from here and one of the runners-up is not far away (that's me by the way) and one of the shortlistees, Joanna Piesse, comes from the north, too, so it seemed like a good idea.

The event was held in the wonderful 'Golden Hare Bookshop' - I defy any booklover to go in here and not come out with a book or two or three to add to their bookshelves…a simply beautiful selection of books. The shops holds about 32 in the audience and the place was pretty full.

It is such an intimate and lovely venue to read in and the staff are so friendly and welcoming. It was a bright warm Edinburgh evening - and that always lifts the mood in the city. People shrug off their winter wardrobes and everywhere is lit up and filled with colour.

The readings went well - I really enjoyed hearing Paula and Joanna's stories read. Paula's is so beautifully understated and poignant; Joanna's has a punchy first page and a captivating voice. The readings were well received and the audience had time at the end to ask questions - good questions, too, something we could get our teeth into. And I believe we shifted some anthologies.

All in all, a successful launch to The Brighton Prize anthology.

Thanks to everyone.