Birmingham Literature Festival

One feature of the past year – for obvious reasons – has been the migration of live literature events to an online platform. It’s been a necessary response to the situation we’ve found ourselves in, and while we’re all looking forward to the (hopeful) return of festivals and readings as we once knew them, this new landscape has also opened up fresh opportunities, as it’s become possible to attend and take part in events anywhere in the world.

We’re delighted that our Ignite authors have embraced these new possibilities. In February, Emma Purshouse and Ian Elmslie took part in Wolverhampton Literature Festival’s online programme; last month, they both featured in the superbly-run Stay At Home Lit Fest, which was set up in response to the cancellation of so many other events last year, and which we recommend all of you put in your diaries for 2022.

Next Wednesday evening, as part of Birmingham Literature Festival’s ongoing programme of live talks, discussions, and readings, Emma Purshouse will be talking about her novel Dogged, the importance of regional representation, and the role of dialect in literature, in conversation with fellow authors Lisa Blower and Kit de Waal. It’s going to be a fascinating event, and we’re looking forward to it already. Tickets for the event are on sale here. Get yourself one, quick!