Ghosts in York and Haworth, Counter-culture in Shipley

Spooky goings on will be taking place in York and Haworth during Halloween week, thanks to Ings Press!

Firstly, Carole Bromley will be reading from her poetry collection, Ghosts and Ginnels, at the wonderful Poetry Pharmacy in York on Wednesday 28th October at 7PM. Carole describes her collection, which is aimed primarily at children and families visiting the city as ‘a poetic treasure hunt’ of York.

With guest readers Nicky Kippax and Charlotte Oliver, the event is free, the only bad news being that tickets for the reading are currently sold out, but it may be worth contacting the venue in case of returns.

Over in Haworth, at Wave of Nostalgia bookshop, Michael Stewart will be in conversation with David Barnett on Thursday 29th October, again at 7PM. This will include the first public reading and the sales launch of Michael’s short story, The Ballad of Nancy Fullgood. A small volume in the style of the old Penguin 60s, The Ballad… is a standalone ghost story for the winter season, ideal at Halloween or as a stocking filler for Christmas. And, in an edition limited to 200 signed and numbered copies, you will be getting something utterly unique.

As we move even further into the darker months, November will also see the launch of Bill Broady‘s novella, Women Will Save Us. This will take place at The Triangle, Shipley, on Thursday 26th November at 7PM, where Bill will be in conversation with Ings Press publisher, Mike Farren. Blending bildungsroman with shaggy dog story, Women Will Save Us moves through sixties and seventies counter culture as it runs headlong into the gender politics prevailing at the turn of the eighties. Frank and funny in the way it dwells in the realms of high and low art, Broady ponders in his inimitable prose on male privilege and why it took so long to be challenged!

Women Will Save Us is Broady’s fifth published novel, following hard on the heels of There’s No ‘F’ In Wonderful (Salt), a novel set in the world of Northern Soul and Yorkshire casinos in the 1970s. His earlier works are: Swimmer; In This Block There Lives A Slag (winner of the PEN short story prize); Eternity Is Temporary; and The Night-Soil Men. Bill is a welcome addition to the Ings roster.

Watch this space for more news and events, and if you can’t make to an event in person, order the book from the Ings Press website!

Bill Broady. Photo credit Adiam Yemane.