West Midlands Writers’ Guild presents Writing For Publication

The West Midlands branch of the Writers’ Guild presents: Writing For Publication

When: Friday 22nd January, 7.30pm
Where: Centenary Suite, Birmingham Rep Theatre
Cost: Free to Writers’ Guild Members; £5 for non-members, payable at the door
Please email WMidWritersGuild@aol.com to confirm your attendance.

The panel comprises:

Laura Longrigg, director of MBA Literary Agents. Laura has worked in publishing for nearly 25 years. As an editor, mostly in the genre of popular fiction, she worked for HarperCollins, Heinemann and Penguin. She became an agent in 1994, working first with Jennifer Kavanagh, and in 1997 she joined MBA. Since becoming an agent, her interests have broadened to include literary fiction and non-fiction, including history, biography, travel, self-help, health and parenting. She has also worked with children’s authors.

Alan Mahar, publishing director of Tindall Street Press, an independent publisher of regional literary fiction with a national reputation for excellence and a prize-listing record that is the envy of many established imprints (including three Booker nominations and two Costa first novel awards - its 2010 award just announced). Based in Birmingham, Tindal Street Press aims to find writers of national and international significance from places other than London and the South East.

Jane Commane, the co-director of Nine Arches Press, an independent and innovative poetry publisher based in the West Midlands that aims to bring you the best in contemporary British poetry. It publishes Under The Radar magazine as well as poetry books and pamphlets.

Jacqui Rowe, the Co-Director of Flarestack Poets, a new venture under the Flarestack imprint. Following its launch anthology in November 2009 it will be publishing six poetry titles in 2010. Flarestack pamphlets have a reputation for quality and diversity, and for encouraging work from new and established voices.

Dave Reeves, the director of Radio Wildfire, which broadcasts from the West Midlands via the internet live on the first Monday of each month. It focuses on live literature, spoken word performances and oral art.

The panel will be chaired by Helen Cross, the author of three novels: The Secrets She Keeps, My Summer of Love (which won a Betty Trask Prize and was made into an award-winning film) and Spilt Milk, Black Coffee, published by Bloomsbury in May 2009.