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Conrad Astley: By the book
by Conrad Astley23/ 6/2005
THE CITY'S literary scene is in rude health, with plenty of new
works on the horizon.
Manchester-based
Crocus Books is planning an
anthology of short stories by women from northern England, and has
been asking for submissions.
Dubbed Bitch Lit, the anthology promises to be an antidote to
Bridget Jones-style victim literature, and the editors have been
encouraging women to seek inspiration from characters such as
Weldon's She Devil, Thackeray's Becky Sharp, and Lady
Macbeth.
Commonword, another arm of the publishing house,
is also holding its second poetry battle next week. The event -
Mars Versus Venus - will feature teams of poets battling it out on
the gender divide, with the audience deciding which sex has won,
and will be held at the Contact Theatre on Monday. Call the box
office on 274 0600.
Sci-fi fans can look forward to another offering from
Manchester-based writer
Richard Evans. The author,
whose novels Machine Nation and Robophobia have been published by
the city's Figo Books, has been granted Arts Council funding to
research his third book.
Exilium will again look at the problems faced by the android
characters Alex Sorber and Kim Fox, featured in his earlier
works.
The robots attempt to find a place they can live free from the
oppression of their human creators, who gave them emotions. Richard
has begun researched the novel at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in Boston, where cutting-edge robotics work takes place,
and has also been looking for locations in Manhattan.
The Moss Side born author began writing in 1998 after spending
years as a musician and songwriter in bands including James, and
his novels have become hugely popular in the USA and Japan.
His work could even be appearing on the big screen, as talks have
taken place with an American company who turn novels into film
scripts.
Meanwhile, Manchester vet
Eric Swanepoel has been
enjoying critical attention with his novel Saving The World And
Being Happy.
The novel, following its hero's rise from shy schoolboy to head of
a worldwide movement, deals with weighty issues such as ecology and
poverty, and takes regular swipes at greedy multinationals,
celebrity and advertising.
The 40-year-old is now working on a second novel, taking
inspiration from his experiences as a locum vet - but it is
unlikely to have much in common with James Herriot. The writer, who
has been involved in various European political movements, says his
veterinary work has made him aware of the vast differences in
living standards between the UK's haves and have-nots, adding:
"Only in my writing can I give full rein to my idealism and
unconventionality."
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