Thomas Glave and Stephen Small join Dr Amal Abu-Bakare, Lecturer in the Politics of Race and Decolonial Studies at the University of Liverpool.
Thomas Glave is a Professor in the English Department at Binghamton University, State University of New York, author of five books and editor of Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Lesbian and Gay Writing from the Antilles. A two-time Fulbright Scholar and honorary visiting professor at the University of Liverpool, he serves on the editorial board of Wasafiri and is a trustee of Writing West Midlands and Peepal Tree Press. His latest essay collection, published by Jacaranda Books, will be out in the autumn.
Liverpool 8 born, Stephen Small is a Professor of the Graduate School in the Department of African Diaspora Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He researches the history and sociology of Black people across the diaspora and his most recent book Black Liverpool: ‘the real thing’. West African, West Indian and Afro-American culture at the end of the twentieth century was published by Liverpool University Press.
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Recapture is a yearlong publishing mentorship that takes budding writers with previous drug and alcohol dependency or mental health issues through the process of becoming a self-published writer. Within the year we have worked with industry professionals, created community workshops and submitted artist grants in the build-up to a public release and launch of full collections of writing: “Black, White and Rainbow Chaos” by Chloe Jones “Little Life Musings” by N.S G “What ye Doin Today?” by Jaimie Cannon “1095” by Simon Taylor These books will go on sale from the Tuesday 24th November , with all proceeds going towards the writers themselves to continue their craft. The first sale will be at the book launch happening at Make: Hamilton on Tuesday 24th November, 1-4pm. This day will also have exhibitions from the illustrators, guest music and poetry performances, talks around how to start your writing journey and how to network within the creative writing world, no matter your background or literacy level. This an abstinent celebration of the recovery community of Wirral and is welcome to all! Tickets are free and can be booked through this link, Recapture: Book launch Tickets, Tuesday, November 24 • 1 PM – 4 PM | Eventbrite If you are unable to or have issues with Eventbrite, you can email hannah.weiner@spiderproject.org.uk or call 0151 647 7723 Our first cohort are ready to read extracts from there new publications at this community launch event, and would love to invite yourself, or anyone who you may know that would enjoy this event. If you have any questions, please email hannah.weiner@spiderproject.org.uk or call 0151 647 7723
Our annual celebration of Wirral-born writer Malcolm Lowry focuses on three new books.
Helen Tookey will discuss her new book ‘Outward Bound from Liverpool: Reading Malcolm Lowry‘, Mexican academic and writer Alberto Rebollo will talk about his novel, ‘The Demons of Mezcal’, along with the annual Lowry Colloquium he organises in Cuernavaca, and Mark Valentine (editor), Mark Goodall, Jonathan Wood and Michael Romer will discuss ‘The Magus of Mexico: Malcolm Lowry, Magic and Myth‘, which they contributed to.
£8 (booking required)
The Windows ProjectWRITING ADVICE DESK
WEDNESDAY 7th OCTOBERat Liverpool Central LibraryWilliam Brown Street L3 8EW
Drop in between 5.30pm and 7.00pmfor one-to-one appraisal of scripts, stories, poemsand details of publishing opportunities, performance venues, workshops and courses
with
ALISON DOWN Screenwriter and poetBAFTA Rocliffe’s Emerging Children’s Writer.
DAVID WARDAuthor and poetEditor ‘Smoke’ magazineNominated for Carnegie Medal
Please book in on arrival. Each individual session usually lasts 20 minutes.
Masterclasses offer an inspiring deep‑dive into literature, giving you the space to discover great stories, spark new ideas and share the experience with fellow book lovers. It’s a rewarding, energising way to take your reading to the next level in friendly and open-minded company.
Join us for a thought-provoking Shared Reading Masterclass exploring Gerard Manley Hopkins’ The Wreck of the Deutschland, a dramatic and deeply moving poem inspired by the real-life shipwreck of the SS Deutschland in 1875 and the loss of five Franciscan nuns fleeing religious persecution.
Led by The Reader’s founder, Jane Davis, we will delve into Hopkins’ vivid imagery, innovative language, and emotional intensity as he grapples with themes of faith, suffering, courage, and the search for meaning in the face of tragedy.
Join us to celebrate love and light with a very special Diwali session in collaboration with MILAP. There’ll be time to explore the magical Storybarn, and share Diwali inspired stories and crafts.
We strive to make all of our spaces and events as accessible as possible to all, please see our accessibility page to help you plan your visit.
Dare to discover your next chilling read this Halloween…
Whether you’re a curious newcomer looking for a gentle shiver or a seasoned horror fan hunting for your next nightmare, our Bookshop team will guide you through the dark and delightful world of spooky fiction.
To start the evening, we will chat through some beloved gothic and horror titles, from ghostly classics to modern chills, helping you discover your perfect spooky read. Then it’s time to explore our specially curated shelves, where haunted houses, vengeful spirits, gothic mysteries and creatures lurking in the dark await.
Who knows which book will call out to you…
Your ticket includes:
A glass of fizz on arrival
Recommendations from our Bookshop team
15% off all book purchases on the evening
A £5 National Book Token
Join us for a night of thrills, chills, and unforgettable stories, if you dare…
We strive to make all our spaces and events as accessible as possible to all, please see our accessibility page to help you plan your visit.
Join us for an engaging Shared Reading Masterclass exploring Janet’s Repentance by the prolific George Eliot, a remarkable novella that tells the story of Janet Dempster’s struggle with addiction, domestic abuse, isolation, and ultimately, hope and renewal.
Through guided close reading and discussion with The Reader’s founder, Jane Davis, we will explore how Eliot crafts a profoundly human portrait of a woman facing personal crisis and social judgement. Together, we will consider themes of empathy, resilience, forgiveness, and transformation, examining why Janet’s story continues to resonate with readers today.
Whether you are a lifelong Eliot reader or discovering her work for the first time, this session will provide fresh insights into a powerful text that challenges us to look beyond judgement and recognise the complexity of human experience.
Come and join the conversation as we uncover the enduring relevance of Janet’s Repentance and experience the unique connections that Shared Reading can create. Tea, coffee, cakes and a vegan friendly light lunch included.
We strive to make all our spaces and events as accessible as possible to all, please see our accessibility page to help you plan your visit.
‘Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall’ F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
As the leaves in the park turn golden brown and the air becomes crisp, join us for an afternoon dedicated to slowing down and spending time with autumnal literature.
Throughout the afternoon, we will explore a curated selection of autumn–themed prose and poetry including Wendell Berry, Rita Dove, Walter De La Mare, Emily Dickinson and many more. The workshop will give the group a moment to reflect, share and discuss what this change of season means and will include a short walk in Calderstones Park to return to nature.
All reading material will be provided. Tea and coffee are included, plus a selection of poetry to choose and take home.
BlackFest 2026 presents a special visual arts workshop with artist, writer and urban design activist Nina Edge at Granby Winter Garden.
Join Nina as she shares her artistic practice and explores different approaches to creativity, materials, community and public art.
Nina Edge is a visual artist, writer and urban design activist whose multidisciplinary practice spans radical textiles, ceramics, street performance, public art and short films. A dual-heritage British Asian woman, Nina trained as a ceramicist and became known for using low-status craft materials to challenge established artistic hierarchies.
Her practice developed alongside the political Black British Art movement of the 1980s, leading her to work across textiles, performance, film and sculpture.
Nina has also worked extensively with communities to develop individual and collective creative interests. Her collaborative work can be seen in projects including Princes Park Health Centre and Granby Winter Garden in Liverpool, as well as West Close in Cardiff Bay.
This workshop offers participants an opportunity to connect with Nina’s practice, explore creative ideas and engage with the possibilities of visual art, materials and community-led creativity.
