As part of this year’s Bookfest programme, Jacob Ross will be chairing an evening of readings from contributors to Closure, a new anthology of contemporary Black British short stories, followed by a Q&A session and a discussion on writing and editing short fiction.
Whether you’re an author of short stories or novels, or a lover of wonderful writing, come equipped with your notepad and pen to this evening of readings from anthology Closure and a discussion with some of its writers. The event features two Portsmouth writers, Lynne Blackwood and Sylvia Dickinson alongside internationally published authors Patrice Lawrence and Karen Onojaife, all of whose work is featured in the anthology itself.
Closure was listed in BuzzFeed’s ‘22 Brilliant New Books You Should Read This Autumn‘ and The Guardian’s ‘Best Books of 2015‘, in which writer Maggie Gee described it as “The most important and exciting anthology of short stories published this year.”
Developed by Kadija Sesay, Closure follows another recent anthology, Red: Contemporary Black British Poetry in showcasing the diversity of literature by British writers of African and Asian descent. The anthology itself emerges from publisher Peepal Tree Press’ Inscribe programme – both a professional development scheme for writers, supported by Arts Council England, and a publishing imprint highlighting new British talent.
Each story in Closure aims to provoke the full range of emotions and thoughts about life and what inspires Black British writers. Publisher Peepal Tree Press describes the anthology as ‘essentially about human striving … Humans have always valued the short story as a way to make sense of the world, and their place in it. The first Black British short story anthology since IC3 (2000), Closure offers contemporary conversations of ‘Black Britishness’ – a lived reality that is like air or breath or blood. The breadth of this experience is expressed through a variety of form and tone; of stylistic ranges and the richness of diverse themes.’
The Closure launch takes place on Saturday 20th February 2016 at the Menuhin Theatre, Portsmouth Central Library, at 7pm. Tickets £5 and include tea/coffee, and the Closure anthology will be on sale at the event. Book your tickets here and see the whole Bookfest programme here.
