Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Defining Leeds writers
The event, a collaborative venture by the School of Cultural Studies and Humanities at our University and The Leeds Library, took place on Tuesday 17 November. Once again a packed house enjoyed an evening of lively discussion and insightful anecdotes from writers who have both featured Leeds as the backdrop to their short stories and novels.
Dr Rachel Connor, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, organiser of the event and chair for the evening, said: “We were very fortunate to host Andrew and Richard. Both writers are prolific in their fields: Andrew is the author of six novels, including crime thriller, The Magpie Trap, and has written over 40 short stories, whilst Richard is a novelist, historian and journalist whose work has appeared in the Times Literary Supplement and The Author among others.
“It was interesting to hear their views on a number of posed questions given their experience as Leeds writers; including is there such a thing as a Leeds writer? And how is Leeds represented both locally and globally?”
The (Re)Writing Yorkshire series sees academic researchers, established writers and creative practitioners examine new representations of Yorkshire in Literature, Television, Film, Music and Art.
Dr Connor added: “The programme was established because we wanted to host a live event that connected Leeds Beckett with the wider reading and writing community, and also explore our fascination with representations of 21st century Yorkshire across the creative and critical domain.”
The series has already played host to Yorkshire-based poets, Tara Bergin and Helen Mort, and next month, Man Booker Prize shortlisted author, Sunjeev Sahota, will be addressing the representation of the North of England in British Fiction. For more information and to book your place go to http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/#events.
L-R A J Kirby, Richard Smyth and Dr Rachel Connor