BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//House of Books & Friends - ECPv6.18.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for House of Books & Friends
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Europe/London
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20230326T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20231029T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20240331T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20241027T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20250330T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20251026T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20260329T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20261025T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20270328T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20271031T010000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260226T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260226T190000
DTSTAMP:20260118T084320Z
CREATED:20251110T155943Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260118T084320Z
UID:10714-1772128800-1772132400@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:AUTHOR EVENT: Helen Gaskell discusses 'The Regency Switch'
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is excited to welcome Helen Gaskell to the store on 26th February at 6pm to discuss her new book\, The Regency Switch. As well as a discussion on her new book\, there will also be a Q&A\, plus the chance to get your books signed by Helen. The evening will have drinks on arrival\, and goody bags provided for all our romance-loving bookworms. \nTickets \nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £9.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nEtta Moore expects nothing more from a Tuesday than another dull day in the office. But when her morning commute ends in Regency England\, she is forced to accept the impossible: she and her ancestor Miss Henrietta Bainbridge – or ‘Mad Hetty’\, as she’s known amongst the ton – have switched bodies. \nSuddenly Etta and Hetty must get to grips with the new worlds they find themselves in. For Etta\, it’s goodbye to dating apps and the daily commute and hello to the list of things ‘Ladies Do Not’ do. Luckily the dashing Lord Stanhope is on hand to aid her through even the most shocking of faux pas. \nMeanwhile Hetty\, who has always felt unseen and unknown\, finds her truest self blossoming with the help of 21st century medicine and the most welcome attentions of her rather beautiful Adult Learning teacher\, Stella. \nTwo hundred years away from everything they’ve ever known\, might Etta and Hetty have actually found a place where they each truly belong? \nAbout the author \nA member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association\, Helen writes Regency and contemporary romantic fiction with a twist. When not writing fiction\, Helen is a lead content designer. She lives semi-anonymously in deepest\, darkest suburbia\, splitting her time fairly evenly between sleeping\, eating raspberry trifle\, and over-thinking Oxford commas.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/author-event-helen-gaskell-discusses-the-regency-switch
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/REGENCY-SWITCH-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260217T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260217T190000
DTSTAMP:20260213T140158Z
CREATED:20260110T155347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T140158Z
UID:17211-1771351200-1771354800@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:AUTHOR EVENT: 'Broken Biscuits; and Other Male Failures' with Adam Farrer
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is thrilled to welcome Adam Farrer on February 17th at 6pm to discuss their paperback book\, ‘Broken Biscuits; and Other Male Failures’. The evening will involve a discussion\, a Q&A\, and a chance to get your book signed by Adam Farrer. \nTickets \nClick here to purchase a ticket only \nClick here to purchase a book and ticket \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nBroken Biscuits vividly recounts Adam’s struggles to live up to masculine expectations\, real or imagined. From the calamity of his first serious relationship to an obsession with Prince that sees everyone questioning his sexuality\, and from the repercussions of his adult circumcision to his doubts about his ability to survive the apocalypse\, this candid and personal collection of essays is astonishingly far-reaching and riotously funny. Holding up a mirror to Adam’s own body image\, his relationship with his family\, his sense of self-worth and the mortifying experience of arriving at a teenage party wearing strawberry-patterned short shorts\, this book is about growing up and trying to define yourself as a man but somehow always missing the mark. \nAbout the author \n\n\n\nAdam Farrer is a writer\, a lecturer and the editor of the creative nonfiction journal The Real Story. He has been a photo lab technician\, an illustrator\, a ceramicist\, a musician\, a music journalist and currently works at the University of Salford\, where he is the Writer in Residence for Peel Park. His first book\, Cold Fish Soup\, won the Northbound Book Award.\n\n\n\n\n 
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/author-event-broken-biscuits-and-other-male-failures-with-adam-farrer
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/BROKEN-BISCUITS-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260213T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260213T200000
DTSTAMP:20260109T125535Z
CREATED:20260107T141832Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260109T125535Z
UID:17150-1771005600-1771012800@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Book Swap with Fly on the Wall Press
DESCRIPTION:This ‘Palentines Day’\, why not spend it with your friends\, or make new connections! \nHouse of Books and Friends welcomes Fly on the Wall Press on Friday 13th of February (6-8pm) for an uplifting evening of connections\, friends and books! \nBring along a book you’d love to find an appreciative home for – perhaps one you’d like to tell people about. Or bring more than one to give away if you have too many! \nTickets include two books – one you can select from Fly on the Wall Press on the night\, and one you gain after having swapped a book with a fellow attendee. There are also tickets available to receive a tote bag on the night. \nTickets can be found here.   \nWe can’t wait to welcome everyone in our beautiful bookshop venue. Turn up any time from 6pm.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/book-swap-with-fly-on-the-wall-press
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/HOUSE-OF-BOOKS-FRIENDS-4.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260206T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260206T140000
DTSTAMP:20260107T140758Z
CREATED:20260103T162646Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T140758Z
UID:17078-1770382800-1770386400@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Lunchtime Lecture: Useful Art with John Byrne
DESCRIPTION:House of Books and Friends is bringing back their ‘Lunchtime Lecture’ series\, and are excited to welcome Professor John Byrne to discuss his book ‘Useful Art: How Activist Artists Can Change the World.’ The talk will begin at 1pm and last for 1 hour. \nTickets \nTicket only \nBook and ticket \nAbout the book \nDoes art have to be beautiful? What if it can be useful instead? In this cutting-edge book\, John Byrne shows how the concept of ‘Useful Art’ is helping artists and communities fight back against the neoliberal takeover of our spaces\, services and lives. \nExploring an international selection of projects\, exhibitions and activism\, this important new work champions the shift from aesthetics to use value\, challenging traditional ways of seeing the world symbolically through art. Reaching beyond the financial logic of the art world\, Byrne shows how Useful Art can offer an artistic toolkit for implementing radical change. \nJohn Byrne is Professor of Useful Art at Liverpool School of Art and Creative Industries. For over a decade he has been at the forefront of research into art and use value\, working with world-renowned artists and curators to explore how art can resist\, engage with or offer alternatives to the current conditions of global neoliberalism.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/lunch-time-lecture-useful-art-with-john-byrne
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/lunch-time.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260129T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260129T190000
DTSTAMP:20260118T084309Z
CREATED:20251203T112952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260118T084309Z
UID:16808-1769709600-1769713200@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:AUTHOR EVENT: 'Wayward Women' with Rhonda Carrier and Tracey Davies
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is thrilled to welcome Rhonda Carrier and Tracey Davies on Thursday 29th January at 6pm to discuss their new book\, ‘Wayward Women: Sex\, Friendship and the Midlife Reset‘. The evening will involve a discussion\, a Q&A\, and a chance to get your book signed by Rhonda and Tracey. \nTickets \nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £14.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nWayward Women is a unique\, searingly honest\, devastatingly raw two-person memoir about the friendship\, travels and sex lives of two fiftysomething women finding their way again after divorce. \nIt’s an entertaining\, emotional and geographical journey that bounces around the world from Florida to India\, Lapland to Hong Kong\, as the authors -both leading travel writers – relay their experiences as midlife women – love\, loss\, parenthood\, divorce\, menopause – along with the tales of the inspirational women they meet along the way\, and the growth of their friendship. \nAbout the authors \nRhonda Carrier \nRhonda Carrier is a travel and lifestyle journalist\, award-winning fiction writer\, literary translator and sometime poet. Having written for almost every national newspaper\, magazine and guidebook publisher over the last 30 years\, including the Guardian\, Red magazine. Condé Nast Traveller and Lonely Planet\, she’s roamed the globe taking in destinations as disparate as the icebergs of Antarctica and the Australian rainforest\, the fjords of Greenland and the Malaysian jungle. She has a special interest in women’s travel and women’s empowerment through travel. \nTracey Davis \nTracey is a veteran travel writer whose byline regularly appears in Metro\, the Daily and Sunday Telegraph\, The Times/Sunday Times\, the Guardian\, iPaper\, Country Living\, Red Online\, Good Housekeeping\, Platinum\, Breathe\, Teen Breathe\, and Travel Weekly. She was co-host of the Carry On travel podcast and is a regular panellist on radio and travel shows. She is also a stand-up comedian.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/author-event-wayward-women-with-rhonda-carrier-and-tracey-davies
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WAYWARD-WOMEN.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251122T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251122T150000
DTSTAMP:20251119T140921Z
CREATED:20251119T113530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251119T140921Z
UID:16681-1763809200-1763823600@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Manchester Winter Book Fair
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the House of Books & Friends for the Manchester Winter Book Fair! This exciting event will take place on Saturday 22nd November between 11am and 3pm. \nAt the fair\, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a wide selection of books and gifts from local publishers. Whether you’re a book lover or looking for the perfect holiday gift\, this is the perfect event to find something special. \nDon’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to support local publishers and discover new literary treasures. Mark your calendars and join us for the Manchester Winter Book Fair! \nRegister your attendance through Northodox Eventbrite here. \nThis is an externally managed event; please contact Northodox Press if you would like to discuss details/attendance.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/manchester-winter-book-fair-2
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/connection-counts-jessica-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251105T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251105T190000
DTSTAMP:20250917T134421Z
CREATED:20250910T130438Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T134421Z
UID:10123-1762365600-1762369200@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:AUTHOR PANEL: The Northern Weird Project
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends will be hosting three of the authors behind The Northern Weird Project on 5th November at 6pm. Gemma Fairclough\, Katherine Clements\, and Jodie Robins will be discussing The Retreat\, The Turbine\, and The Off-Season respectively. The event will be chaired by Robert Welbourn\, author of Belonging. The evening will consist of a discussion between our panel\, a Q&A\, and an opportunity for attendees to get their books signed. \nTickets \nAs there are multiple authors in discussion\, you can purchase a ticket-only option\, or you can purchase a copy of the book from us to act as a ticket; see options below: \n£5 Ticket only and the option to buy ONE of the titles available here \n£35 for all 3 books to act as your ticket here \nAbout The Northern Weird Project \nThroughout 2025\, Wild Hunt Books will publish six fantastic pocket-sized novellas from authors based in the North of England and who are also engaging with the North as setting\, subject and character. \nThe novellas incorporate eerie and uncanny incidents including a strange occurrence on a train\, a young boy’s disappearance in a village\, a grieving couple renovating a haunted house\, a group of mysterious strangers by the beach\, a sinister wellness retreat and the unearthed danger beneath an ancient peat bog. \nEditor Ariell Cacciola said of the project\, ‘Im so excited about this project. The novellas will transport readers into the strange and dangerous corners of the North\, and it will be impossible not to read each book in one sitting.’ \nAbout The Retreat \nRichard’s sister Julie returns home from a mysterious wellness facility in remote Cumbria in 1994. He’s convinced that this place was a cult and was the cause of his sister’s eventual suicide. Finally\, after years as an unaccomplished academic\, he decides to investigate the disturbing accusations against the Hartman Retreat Centre. Then he meets Lucy\, a young woman whose story is eerily similar to his sister’s decades before. Richard is determined to unearth what’s really been happening at the Hartman Retreat Centre but more importantly\, who is Charles Hartman\, the celebrated healer who casts a powerful hold over all who come to the retreat. \nTold through letters\, interviews and found texts\, lovers of Fairlcough’s Bear Season will be swept up in a sinister world of wellness gurus and mystery. \nAbout The Turbine \nIn the near future\, England is experiencing the hottest summer in living memory. An unnamed environmental scientist\, is tasked with evaluating the impact of a controversial new wind farm on the West Yorkshire moors. Camped out alone by the base of Turbine 34 – the most remote of the new turbines\, built on an ancient peat bog – she spends her days gathering samples. But when she discovers signs of the devastation caused by the construction\, she begins to see things – things that shouldn’t be there. \nShe has dedicated her life to protecting the moor\, but will it protect her? \nInspired by a real-life proposed wind farm in the North of England\, Turbine 34 is for readers of Dark Matter and Wuthering Heights with a dash of folk horror. \nAbout The Off-Season \nIt’s the off-season in the seaside resort town of Blackpool\, where Tommy never imagined he would return. His relationship has broken down\, so he returns home to keep an eye on his widowed father. While counting down the hours before attending the funeral of a well-loved friend\, a mysterious group turns up on the seafront. One by one\, the locals are entranced by their presence until Tommy and his father can no longer resist the allure. \nTommy soon discovers a secret desire his father has been harbouring for his entire life.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/author-panel-the-northern-weird-project
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Northern-Weird-Project-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251027T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251027T190000
DTSTAMP:20250930T140637Z
CREATED:20250927T174613Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T140637Z
UID:10248-1761588000-1761591600@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:AUTHOR EVENT: Park Seolyeon with Anton Hur 'Capitalists Must Starve'
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is excited to welcome Park Seolyeon to the store on 27th October at 6pm to discuss her new book\, Capitalists Must Starve. Seolyeon will be joined by her translator Anton Hur\, translator of Seolyeon’s previous translated title\, A Magical Girl Retires. The event will consist of a discussion between Seolyeon and Anton (with an interrpretor attending)\, a Q&A\, and a chance to get your copy signed. \nTickets \nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £14.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nWinner of Hankyoreh Literature Award  \nSet against the backdrop of Japanese-occupied Korea\, Capitalists Must Starve follows a sharp-tongued\, big-hearted heroine who dares to love\, rebel\, and carve out space for working-class women in a world determined to silence them. Echoing the unflinching narratives of Alias Grace and the sweeping historical vision of Pachinko\, this feminist historical novel balances raw grit with unexpected tenderness and a defiant streak of dark humour. \nA stirring portrait of resistance from below: fierce\, funny\, and full of fight. \nAbout Park Seolyeon \nBorn in 1989 in Cherwon\, Park Seolyeon made her debut winning the Silcheon Munhak New Writers Prize in 2015 for her short story “Mickey Mouse Club.” Her books include the novels The Job of Marta\, The Shirley Club\, A Magical Girl Retires\, Project V and Capitalists Must Starve\, which won the 2018 Hankyoreh Literature Prize\, as well as the story collections My Hormones Made Me Do It\, Your Mom’s the Better Player\, and Me\, Me\, Madeline. Her stories have been translated into Japanese\, French\, German\, and English. She lives in Seoul\, South Korea. \nAbout Anton Hur \nAnton Hur was born in Stockholm. He is the author of Toward Eternity and has been nominated for the International Booker Prize\, the National Book Award\, the National Book Critics Circle Award\, and the Dublin Literary Award for his various translations including Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park and A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon. He lives in Seoul.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/author-event-park-seolyeon-with-anton-hur-capitalists-must-starve
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/capitalists-must-starve.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251023T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251023T193000
DTSTAMP:20250918T113203Z
CREATED:20250917T125732Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T113203Z
UID:10184-1761242400-1761247800@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:AUTHOR EVENT: Act Normal with Pete Kalu
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is ecstatic to welcome Pete Kalu on 23rd October to discuss his memoir\, Act Normal. The event will begin at 6pm\, and will consist of a discussion between Pete and chair Esther Lisk-Carew\, a Q&A\, and a chance to get your copy signed. \nTickets\nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £14.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nThrough fragmented memories\, vivid imagery\, and introspective musings\, Kalu explores a range of themes\, from the joys and anxieties of childhood to the complexities of adult relationships\, career struggles\, and the enduring search for meaning. Act Normal invites readers to delve into the author’s inner world\, confronting universal themes of love\, loss\, identity\, and the search for connection. \nThrough his unique and insightful perspective\, Kalu challenges conventional narratives and encourages readers to question their own assumptions about life\, love\, and the world around them. \nAbout Pete Kalu \nPete Kalu is a 2024 winner of the Society of Authors Travelling Scholarship Award. He has previously won the BBC/Contact Dangerous Comedy Award and The Voice / Marcus Garvey Essay Award. He received his PhD in Creative Writing from Lancaster University in 2019. His essays can be found scattered in publications including Encounters with James Baldwin (Supernova Books 2024) and academic journals. His most recent short stories have been published by Peepal Tree. He is a Writers Mosaic alumnus and was writer in residence at University of West Indies\, Trinidad Campus. He is a Reading Fellow of Royal Literary Fund. \nAbout Esther Lisk-Carew \nBy day Esther Lisk-Carew works with Arts and Humanities Research Academics at Manchester Metropolitan University and by night works with cultural creatives as a events host\, network lead for Black and Global Majority professionals\, as a freelancer and as a careers mentor. She is also a board member for the Portico Library.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/author-event-act-normal-with-pete-kalu
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/act-normal-3.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251016T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251016T190000
DTSTAMP:20250906T095705Z
CREATED:20250903T113509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250906T095705Z
UID:10026-1760635800-1760641200@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:TASTING EVENT: Bold Bean Co 'Full of Beans'
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is overjoyed to welcome Bold Bean Co to discuss their new cook book\, Full of Beans. Lead by Hannah Wilding\, not only will we hear about some of the 70 new recipes\, the evening will include a cook-a-long of a recipe that features in this gorgeous cook book. Attendees will also receive free drinks on the night provided by Botivo\, and a goodie bag full of Bold Bean Co treats! \nTickets\nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £22\nClick here to buy a ticket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nGet ready to become bean obsessed!\n\nBack by popular demand\, here are 70 brand new\, individually photographed recipes from the trailblazing Bold Beans company. Following their Sunday Times Bestseller Bold Beans: Recipes to get your Pulse Racing\, a legion of ‘bean champs’ has sprung up via social media and supermarket shoppers\, independent food store aficionados and word-of-mouth enthusiasts to call for more fantastic bean recipes. \nOrganised by types of beans and featuring the brand’s newly launched black beans\, borlotti beans\, queen carlin peas and queen red beans\, new recipes include ‘beanottos’ and tray bakes for creating sensational\, super-healthy and totally unprocessed meals that are both planet-friendly and ultra delicious. \nAbout Bold Bean Co \nBold Bean Co. is on a mission to make the world obsessed with beans. They aim to showcase the best legumes can offer by offering slow-cooked heirloom beans produced for full flavour. The brand was born in 2021 and continues to champion and spotlight the creative ways beans can be used at the centre of a plate.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/tasting-event-bold-bean-co-full-of-beans
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BEAN-CO-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251008T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251008T190000
DTSTAMP:20250910T150458Z
CREATED:20250902T145323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250910T150458Z
UID:10014-1759946400-1759950000@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation: Anna Zoe Quirke 'Sad Girl Hours'
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is thrilled to welcome Anna Zoe Quirke to discuss their new YA title Sad Girl Hours. Anna will be in conversation with Josh Silver\, author of TraumaLand\, on Wednesday 8th October from 6pm – 7pm. As well as a discussion on their new book\, there will also be a Q&A\, plus the chance to get your books signed by Anna. \nTickets\nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £8.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nSaffron struggles with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and is dreading autumn and winter. She took time off in her first year at university and can’t afford to do the same this year if she’s going to achieve her dream of being an astrophysicist. She’s managed to keep it a secret from her friends – fearing that they won’t want to spend time with her if they see her at her lowest – but it’s getting harder. Especially when she meets Nell. \nNell – wannabe poet\, autistic and proud\, and lover of autumn and winter – is determined to show Saffron everything these seasons have to offer. The two grow close\, and when Saffron confides in Nell\, romance blooms. But with Saffron struggling to keep a lid on her mental health and Nell figuring out her own sexual identity\, things soon spiral out of control. \nA dual-perspective sapphic rom-com perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alice Oseman. \nAbout Zoe \nAnna Zoe Quirke is a queer and autistic author\, librarian\, and freelance writer from the North of England. They’ve written books\, scripts\, poetry (and much more). Their novel ‘Something to be Proud of’ won the Northern Writers’ Award for Debut YA Fiction in 2022\, was shortlisted for the PFD Queer Fiction Prize\, was published with Little Tiger in June 2024\, and was nominated for a Carnegie Award in 2025.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/in-conversation-anna-zoe-quirke-sad-girl-hours
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SGH-EVENT-NEW-DESIGN-3.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250719T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250719T160000
DTSTAMP:20250522T123941Z
CREATED:20250522T094721Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250522T123941Z
UID:8823-1752933600-1752940800@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:The Mercy Step launch: Marcia Hutchinson in conversation with Peter Kalu
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends are excited to be hosting Marcia Hutchinson in conversation with Peter Kalu on Saturday 19th July 2-4pm \nMarcia will be discussing her new book “The Mercy Step”. There will also be a chance for a Q&A\, and an opportunity to get your books signed. We will also be selling copies on the night. \nTickets \nYou can purchase a ticket-only option\, or you can purchase a copy of each book from us to act as a ticket; see options below: \n£5 Ticket only available here \n£16.99 Book and ticket available here (cost wise\, the book is your ticket!) \nAbout the book \nDecember 1962 in Bradford\, and the precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world\, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb and thrust into a life that feels far too big for her small body. Mercy craves her mother’s attention\, which she must share with the Church and her many siblings\, while dodging the fists and temper of her abusive father. Quick-witted and wise beyond her years\, Mercy feels like an outsider in her family\, with everyone else seemingly happy to ignore the precarious house of cards they live in. But Mercy is nothing if not resilient\, finding hope and escapism in books and learning\, as well as her faithful toy\, Dolly. She is determined to overcome her upbringing and save her family – no matter what it takes. \nAbout the author \nMarcia Hutchinson was born to Windrush generation Jamaican parents in the UK in 1962. She was the first pupil from her comprehensive school to go to Oxford\, where she gained an MA in Law. She worked as a lawyer before founding the educational publishing company Primary Colours\, which she ran until 2014. She was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to Cultural Diversity.\n \nShe will be in conversation with Peter Kalu. He is a poet\, fiction writer and playwright. He cut his teeth as a member of Manchester’s Moss Side Write black writers workshop and has had nine novels\, two film scripts and three theatre plays produced to date.  He gained his PhD in Creative Writing\, Lancaster University\, UK\, in 2019.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/mercy-step
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250408T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250408T190000
DTSTAMP:20250214T155555Z
CREATED:20250214T155555Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250214T155555Z
UID:8163-1744135200-1744138800@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation: Hanna Thomas Uose "Who Wants to Live Forever"
DESCRIPTION:House of Books and Friends are delighted to host Hanna Thomas Uose to talk about their new book\, Who Wants to Live Forever. The evening will start at 6pm and will consist of a discussion\, a Q&A\, plus the chance to get your books signed by Hanna! \nTickets\nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £16.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the Book: \nThis is the greatest romance you will ever read without the happily ever after.\n\nYuki and Sam are soulmates.\nThey are destined to spend the rest of their lives together.\nThey are supposed to love one another\, forever. \nBut when a miracle drug is released which can extend a human’s life indefinitely\, Sam chooses to live forever\, instead of loving Yuki forever – and the world they know is spun inside out. \nWho Wants to Live Forever plunges into a parallel universe where forever is on sale to the highest bidder. What comes next is a world-building epic narrated by an intersecting cast of characters that will drive you to the edge of reality and leave you to answer biggest questions of all: What is life without death? What is life without love?
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/in-conversation-hanna-thomas-uose-who-wants-to-live-forever
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250403T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250403T190000
DTSTAMP:20250212T150955Z
CREATED:20250212T145714Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250212T150955Z
UID:8155-1743703200-1743706800@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Reclaiming The Future: An evening with Simon Hannah
DESCRIPTION:House of Books and Friends are delighted to host Simon Hannah to talk about his new book\, Reclaiming The Future: A Beginners Guide to Planning the Economy. The evening will start at 6pm and will consist of a discussion\, a Q&A\, plus the chance to get your books signed by Simon. \nTickets\nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £16.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the Book \nIn a world gripped by endless crisis and climate breakdown\, the demand to reshape our economic system has never been more urgent. Reclaiming the Future by Simon Hannah is a beginner’s guide to planning the economy\, taking readers on a transformative journey towards a radically democratic society\, where the power and control over our lives are firmly in our hands. \nDecades of right-wing scaremongering has tried to consign economic planning to the dustbin\, but the need for it is greater than ever – it might be the only thing that can save us from climate catastrophe. In this myth-busting and accessible guide\, Hannah lays the building blocks for a grassroots economy that aligns our economy within human needs and environmental limits. \nAbout the Author \nSimon Hannah is a writer\, activist\, and trade unionist living in South London. He is an assistant branch secretary in UNISON and has written several books\, including A Party With Socialists In It: A History of the Labour Left\, which was a Guardian Book of the Day.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/reclaiming-the-future-an-evening-with-simon-hannah
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250311T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250311T190000
DTSTAMP:20250128T155651Z
CREATED:20250117T125535Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250128T155651Z
UID:7984-1741716000-1741719600@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:In conversation: Alex Bollen\, "Motherdom: Breaking Free from Bad Science and Good Mother Myths"
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends are excited to be hosting yourself and Alex Bollen on Tuesday 11th March from 6pm – 7pm to discuss her book\, Motherdom. \n\nThere will be a discussion with Alex\, a chance for a Q&A\, and an opportunity to get your books signed. We will also be selling copies of the authors works on the night. \nTickets \nYou can purchase a ticket-only option\, or you can purchase a copy of the book from us to act as a ticket; see options below: \n£5 Ticket only available here \n£22 for Motherdom to act as your ticket here \nAbout the book: \nBlaming\, shaming and flimsy evidence: welcome to the ugly world of Good Mother myths \nWhen Alex Bollen had her first baby\, the fear of being a bad mother made her guilty and anxious. A researcher with twenty years’ experience\, she went looking for answers. To her surprise the studies she looked at were exaggerated and misrepresented in the media\, forming the foundation for what she calls Good Mother myths. These myths are an assortment of narratives\, ideologies and stereotypes\, deployed to censure mothers and blame them for every societal ill. \nIncensed by the way bad science is used to shame mothers\, Alex Bollen decided to set the record straight. With meticulous research and keen insight\, Motherdom exposes both the shaky science and unjustified prescriptions about how mothers should ‘naturally’ behave. Competing visions of birth – ‘natural’ versus ‘medical’ – mean women can be criticised whatever happens\, raising the odds that birth will be a damaging\, even deadly\, experience. Mothers are judged and belittled whether they breast- or bottle-feed their babies. Bogus claims about brain development and dodgy attachment theories mean that whatever mothers do\, it is never enough. \nThis has to stop. We must replace Good Mother myths with a realistic approach to parenting. Alex Bollen proposes ‘motherdom’\, a more expansive conception of motherhood\, which values and respects the different ways people raise their children. Instead of finding fault with mothers\, Motherdom shifts our focus to the relationships and resources children need to flourish. \nAbout the author: \nAlex Bollen is a researcher with over twenty years of experience\, including as a former director of the research agency Ipsos MORI. She is a Postnatal Practitioner with the NCT\, the UK’s largest parenting charity\, and has been running postnatal groups for new mothers in South West London for over a decade. She is the mother of two children.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/in-conversation-alex-bollen-motherdom-breaking-free-from-bad-science-and-good-mother-myths
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250225T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250225T190000
DTSTAMP:20250131T140433Z
CREATED:20241211T114408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250131T140433Z
UID:7703-1740506400-1740510000@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Shoulder to Shoulder by Jake Hall Book Launch
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is excited to welcome Jake Hall to discuss their new paperback\, Shoulder to Shoulder\, on Tuesday 25th January. Jake will be in conversation with Grey\, the founder of Bender Zine and Grey Area Books. The evening will start at 6pm and will consist of a discussion\, a Q&A\, plus the chance to get your books signed by Jake. \nTickets\nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £10.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only (redeemable against a copy of the book on the evening) – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nThrough astounding research and fascinating storytelling\, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER\, transports us through time and into the world of these trailblazers\, bringing their tales to life and exploring both the inexplicable joys and brutal realities of their fights for justice. \nSpanning movements from the Black Panthers coalition with the Gay Liberation Front in the US to the Pride support for miners strikes in the UK\, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER shows how marginalised activists have always been intertwined in their pursuit of joint liberation. \nA beautiful celebration of our often chaotic\, and always messy\, human history and those incredible\, ordinary people who pushed for equality no matter the cost. SHOULDER TO SHOULDER is for anyone who loved BAD GAYS\, NATIVES or POVERTY SAFARI and is hungry for a fresh perspective on our shared human history. \nAbout the author \nJake Hall is a freelance writer and author based in Sheffield. Their first book\, The Art of Drag\, was published by NoBrow Press in 2020\, and their second book\, Shoulder to Shoulder\, will be released in paperback in February 2025. Jake has written for publications including Atmos\, Business Insider\, The Nation\, British Vogue and more\, with a focus on queer histories\, sustainability and pop culture.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/shoulder-to-shoulder-by-jake-hall-book-launch
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1-2.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250211T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250211T190000
DTSTAMP:20241224T102357Z
CREATED:20241224T102311Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241224T102357Z
UID:7811-1739296800-1739300400@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Rachel Thompson: The Love Fix
DESCRIPTION:Looking for bookish Valentines Day plans? House of Books & Friends are excited to be hosting yourself and long term dating columnist Rachel Thompson on Tuesday 11th February from 6pm – 7pm to discuss her book\, The Love Fix . \n\nThere will be a discussion with Rachel\, a chance for a Q&A\, and an opportunity to get your books signed. \nTickets \nYou can purchase a ticket-only option\, or you can purchase a copy of the book from us to act as a ticket; see options below: \n£5 Ticket only available here \n£18.99 for The Love Fix to act as your ticket here \nAbout The Love Fix \n‘Required reading for every person dating’ Beth Ashley | ‘Brilliant… has revolutionised conversations around love and modern dating ‘ Shahed Ezaydi | ‘So well-researched and insightful’ Radhika Sanghani | ‘An important feminist voice and a spectacular writer‘ Sofie Hagen | ‘The best sex and dating writer since Candace Bushnell Gigi Engle \nSwiping\, situationships\, love-bombing\, ghosting\, healing… Dating is hard. Why has making connections never felt so simple\, yet keeping them has never been so complicated? Sex and dating journalist Rachel Thompson has spent the past decade investigating how we seduce\, perceive and treat each other in our post-dating apps era. Written for all\, but with particular care for marginalised communities\, this book explores questions such as: \nWhy are our odds of finding someone compatible 1 in 562? What does ‘the spark’ actually mean from a scientific perspective? How does technology warp our communication\, standards and self-esteem? Why are we becoming more sensitive to rejection? What does real emotional availability look like? \nAbout the author \nRachel Thompson is a British author and journalist specialising in sex\, dating\, and relationships. Her first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It\, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Square Peg (Vintage) in August 2021. Stylist magazine called Rough “2021’s most important book about sex”. Rachel is the Features Editor at Mashable. She is a leading sex and relationships writer.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/rachel-thompson-the-love-fix
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1-6.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250203T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250203T190000
DTSTAMP:20250107T160634Z
CREATED:20241224T091813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250107T160634Z
UID:7806-1738605600-1738609200@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Ariana Reines: Wave of Blood
DESCRIPTION:‘Her writing is queer and raunchy\, raw and occult\, seemingly never pulling away from her deepest vulnerabilities. Yet Reines simultaneously maintains a feeling of epic poetry\, of ancient intention.’ – The New York Times \n‘Mind-blowing.’ – Kim Gordon \nJoin us for a night with one of the USA’s most evocative contemporary poets\, in one of a limited series of UK events. Reines is an award-winning poet\, Obie-winning playwright\, performing artist\, and translator. Ariana’s books include A SAND BOOK\, winner of the  2020 Kingsley Tufts Prize & longlisted for the National Book Award\, THE COW\, winner of the Alberta Prize\, COEUR DE LION\, MERCURY\, and The Origin of the World. \nHer new book\, Wave of Blood\, wrestles with the mind of war\, and is at times shocking in its self-analysis. Wave of Blood is a furious and sincere essay\, an eclipse notebook\, a family chronicle\, all told in the poetry of witness. It provides a fascinating account of speaking in public on art/poetry during a time of genocide. \nTo purchase the book and ticket\, with your ticket included in the price of the book\, click here \nTo purchase the ticket only\, click here
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/ariana-reines-wave-of-blood
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1-5.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250201T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250201T160000
DTSTAMP:20250130T093247Z
CREATED:20241217T101638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250130T093247Z
UID:7743-1738418400-1738425600@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:**SOLD OUT** The Blackbirds of St. Giles Launch- In Conversation with Lila Cain
DESCRIPTION:SOLD OUT\nHouse of Books & Friends are excited to be hosting yourself and Lila Cain on Saturday 1st February from 2pm – 4pm to discuss their book\, The Blackbirds of St. Giles. \n\nThere will be a discussion with both authors\, a chance for a Q&A\, and an opportunity to get your books signed! \nTickets \nYou can purchase a ticket-only option\, or you can purchase a copy of the book from us to act as a ticket; see options below: \n£5 Ticket only available here \n£18.99 for The Blackbirds of St. Giles to act as your ticket here \nAbout the book \nIt’s 1782\, Daniel and his sister Pearl arrive in London with the world at their feet and their future assured. Having escaped a Jamaican sugar plantation\, Daniel fought for the British in the American War of Independence and was rewarded with freedom and an inheritance. \nBut the city is not a place for men like Daniel and he is callously tricked and finds himself\, along with his sister Pearl\, in the rookeries of St Giles – a warren of dark and menacing alleyways\, filled with violence and poverty. \nThe underworld labyrinth is run by Elias\, a man whose cruelty knows no bounds. But under his dangerous rule is a brotherhood of Black men\, the Blackbirds of St Giles\, whose intention is to set their people free. \nCan Daniel use his strength\, wit and the fellowship of the other Blackbirds to overthrow Elias and truly find the freedom he fought for…? \nAbout the author(s) \nLILA CAIN is the pseudonym for two authors writing together. \nMARCIA HUTCHINSON worked as a lawyer before founding educational publishing company Primary Colours and was awarded an MBE for services to Cultural Diversity in 2010. Her solo debut novel Mercy is due for publication in summer 2025. \nKATE GRIFFIN won the Faber/ Stylist Magazine competition with Kitty Peck and the Music Hall Murders and went onto to write three more novels in the series before writing her first standalone novel\, Fyneshade.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/the-blackbirds-of-st-giles-launch-in-conversation-with-lila-cain
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1-4.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241029T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241029T140000
DTSTAMP:20240910T121233Z
CREATED:20240909T153457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240910T121233Z
UID:7062-1730206800-1730210400@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Lunchtime Lecture: Gloomth and the Six Pillars of Gothic
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends are thrilled to host a Lunchtime Lecture with author Pete Hartley\, one of the authors of the anthology Modern Gothic\, published by Fly on the Wall Press! Gloomth and and the Six Pillars of Gothic will include discussions on the six pillars of the genre\, extracts from the short stories in Modern Gothic\, and wider reference to the classics of the genre. There will also be an opportunity to ask Pete questions. Great for literature buffs\, fans of genre fiction\, and those who enjoy the weird – just in time for spooky season too! \nThis event will be taking place in store on Tuesday\, 29th October from 1-2pm. \nCopies of Modern Gothic will be available to purchase in store. \nTickets\nClick here to purchase a £3 ticket\nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs them. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout Modern Gothic \nModern Gothic is an anthology published by Fly on the Wall Press. Embark on a chilling journey through nightmarish tales that will captivate the ghoulish modern reader. Encounter landlords with sinister requests\, ethereal housemates\, and a glass-encased jungle built by an eccentric father. These gothic stories blur the lines between dreams and reality\, weaving a tapestry of macabre encounters and festering secrets. \nThe Contributors  \nLerah Mae Barcenilla \nLauren Archer \nRose Biggin \nMichael Bird \nPete Hartley \nEdward Karshner \nAbout Pete Hartley \nExtensive playwriting career. Award wins include BBC and Cheshire competitions. Acclaimed plays produced.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/lunchtime-lecture-gloomth-and-the-six-pillars-of-gothic
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/modern-gothic.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241015T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241015T190000
DTSTAMP:20240906T084040Z
CREATED:20240823T153902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240906T084040Z
UID:6869-1729015200-1729018800@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Louisa Reid in conversation with Amy Beashel: Handle with Care
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is excited to welcome Louisa Reid to discuss her new YA title\, Handle with Care\, on Tuesday 15th October. Louisa will be in conversation with Amy Beashel\, author of YA and women’s fiction. The evening will start at 6pm and will consist of a discussion\, a Q&A\, plus the chance to get your books signed by Louisa. \nTickets\nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £8.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only (redeemable against a copy of the book on the evening) – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nNo one knows Ruby is pregnant – not even Ruby herself. So when she gives birth at school on a miserable February morning\, her world is thrown into chaos. Keeping the baby isn’t an option\, but keeping quiet about who the father of her child definitely is; because if Ruby’s best friend Ashley finds out the truth\, then she’ll lose her too. \nWhen Ruby finally realises what she and her baby need\, somehow that doesn’t seem to matter any more. So Ruby must take matters into her own hands\, with tragic consequences… \nAbout the author \nLouisa Reid is the author of the YA verse novels Gloves Off\, nominated for the Carnegie Medal\, Wrecked\, which was selected for both the Read for Empathy collection and National Poetry Day and Activist. Her debut adult novel\, The Poet\, was published to critical acclaim. Louisa Reid has spent most of her life reading. When Louisa’s not reading she’s writing stories\, or imagining writing them at least. As an English teacher\, her favourite part of the job is sharing her love of reading and writing with her pupils. Louisa lives with her family in the north-west of England and is proud to call a place near Manchester home. \nAbout the chair \nAmy Beashel is an author of YA and women’s fiction\, writing stories she hopes will empower readers to make themselves and their needs heard. Having once sworn she’d never leave London or have pets\, she now lives in the Shropshire Hills with two cats and two dogs. She is also the fastest woman in the world on a space hopper.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/louisa-reid-in-conversation-with-amy-beashel-handle-with-care
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HANDLE-WITH-CARE.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241001T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241001T193000
DTSTAMP:20240817T144447Z
CREATED:20240626T110318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240817T144447Z
UID:6285-1727805600-1727811000@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation: Preeti Dhillon\, Sheela Banerjee and Lucy Fulford
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is overjoyed to announce Preeti Dhillon\, Sheela Banerjee and Lucy Fulford will be in conversation on Tuesday 1st October from 6pm – 7pm to discuss their works\, The Shoulders We Stand On\, What’s In A Name? and The Exiled.  \n\nThere will be a discussion between the three authors\, a chance for a Q&A\, and an opportunity to get your books signed. We will also be selling copies of each of the authors works on the night. \nTickets \nAs there are multiple authors in discussion\, you can purchase a ticket-only option\, or you can purchase a copy of the book from us to act as a ticket; see options below: \n£5 Ticket only and the option to buy ONE of the titles available here \n£31 for all 3 books to act as your ticket here \nAbout The Shoulders We Stand On: How Black and Brown people fought for change in the United Kingdom \nHave you heard of the Indian Workers’ Association? The Grunwick Strike? The Brixton Black Women’s Group? The Battle of Brick Lane? If the answer is no\, you’re not alone. The Shoulders We Stand On tells the stories of ten remarkable movements\, campaigns and organisations led by Black and Brown people across Britain from the sixties to the eighties that fought against racism and capitalism and impacted the way we live now. \nResearcher and historian Preeti Dhillon wants us to reclaim the history that has been kept from us\, and use these vital movements and inspirational moments to better understand the UK we live in today and how change happens. \nAbout Whats in a Name? Friendship\, Identity and History in Modern Multicultural Britain \nOur names are so mundane that we barely notice them. Yet each contains countless stories of tradition and belonging – be that a legacy of colonialism or persecution\, the desire to fit in\, or the complex cultural inheritance from one’s parents. \nIn What’s in a Name?\, Sheela Banerjee unravels the personal histories of friends and family through their names. And while tracing their heritage across centuries and continents – from west London to British India\, and from 1960s Jamaica to pre-Revolutionary Russia – Sheela also tells the story of twentieth-century immigration to the UK. \nAbout The Exiled: Empire\, immigration and Ugandan Asian \nAfter packing scant possessions and countless memories\, 50\,000 Ugandan Asians vied for limited space in countries including Canada\, India and the United Kingdom. More than 28\,000 expellees from Britain’s former colony arrived in the UK and began building new lives – but their incredible stories have\, until now\, remained largely hidden. \nFifty years on from the exodus\, The Exiled draws on first-hand interviews and testimonies\, including from the author’s family\, to illuminate a time of painful alienation and incredible courage. As an entire people stepped into the unknown\, a global diaspora was born\, and the fate of the United Kingdom changed forever.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/in-conversation-preeti-dhillon-sheela-banerjee-and-lucy-fulford
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SHOULDERS-WE-STAND-ON.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240920T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240920T140000
DTSTAMP:20240817T085257Z
CREATED:20240812T145738Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240817T085257Z
UID:6745-1726837200-1726840800@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Lunchtime Lecture: Thrillers and Psychopaths with Isabelle Kenyon
DESCRIPTION:We return with our Lunchtime Lectures this September\, and have the wonderful Isabelle Kenyon coming to talk on Friday 20th September about the UK’s fascination with thrillers and the literary psychopath. Not only is Isabelle a fan herself\, and a publisher of several titles of this genre including The Sleepless by Liam Bell\, but also an author of a thriller novel\, The Dark Within Them.  \nFor many\, books are used as a form of escapism. Why then\, are we drawn to the darker sides of reality? What is it as a reader makes us want to explore the terror and misery that can come from the actions of those we deem ‘psychopaths’? Isabelle will talk us through where the genre began\, what lead to the growth in the market\, and what makes a really good scary novel. \nThe talk will begin at 1pm and last for 1 hour. Tickets are £3\, and are available to buy here. \nAs always we have a handful of free tickets for those who would like them. Please email bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com to claim these.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/lunchtime-lecture-thrillers-and-psychopaths-with-isabelle-kenyon
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FOTW-3.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240917T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240917T190000
DTSTAMP:20240619T141629Z
CREATED:20240619T095337Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240619T141629Z
UID:6173-1726596000-1726599600@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Evie Muir in conversation with L'Oréal Blackett: Radical Rest
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends are thrilled to welcome Evie Muir to discuss their new book Radical Rest with L’Oréal Blackett on Tuesday\, 17th September! Radical Rest: Notes on burnout\, healing and hopeful futures is Evie’s first book which explores what radical rest would look and feel like\, through a Black Feminist\, abolitionist and nature-allied lens. Speaking to those who have been disproportionately affected by burnout\, Muir gives us hope that we can experience a healed future. This event will include a discussion between Evie and L’Oréal\, an audience Q&A\, and a chance to get your book signed. \nTickets \n£5 Ticket only (this is redeemable against a copy of the book on the evening of the event)\n£16.99 Book and Ticket (available to collect on the evening of the event) \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nWe’re burnt out. Exhausted; anxiety-ridden; over-worked and under-resourced. Yet the ‘solution’ cannot possibly lie in self-care\, yoga retreats or the odd massage when this bone-numbing fatigue is a symptom of a desperately unhealthy society. We cannot simply ‘fix ourselves’ under a system that demands and takes so much of us. What is needed is a complete reimagining that puts a thriving life of abundance first and foremost. \nThrough a Black Feminist\, abolitionist and nature-allied lens\, Evie Muir takes us on a journey of regeneration that reimagines what a world of true rest – radical rest – would look like\, how that would feel. As they look to activists and cultural influences past and present for guidance\, Evie explores the core emotions associated with burnout: moving from rage\, grief and anxiety to the hope\, joy and plenty that deep change can bring. \nAlong the way\, Evie speaks with those who have been disproportionately impacted by\, and working in resistance to\, burnout – Black\, queer\, disabled activists of colour. And what becomes clear as we hear about these lived experiences is that a world of radical rest must exist in community – with one another\, with our bodies\, and with the natural world. \nBold\, vulnerable and deeply honest\, Radical Rest is a blueprint for change and a salve for the soul. Step in and open the door to a hopeful and healed future. \nAbout the author \nEvie Muir is both a domestic abuse survivor and qualified domestic abuse specialist\, writer and the founder of Peaks of Colour – a Peak District based nature-for-healing community group\, by and for people of colour. \nHaving worked in the VAWG sector for over 10 years\, specialising in Black and queer survivors’ intersectional experiences of gendered and racialised trauma\, she left the sector when she became burnt out\, disenfranchised and disillusioned. Her work now sits on the intersections of gendered\, racial and land justice\, and seeks to nurture survivors’ joy\, rest\, hope and imagination as abolitionist praxis. As a Northern freelance writer\, she’s passionate about the liberating form of writing as healing and resistance. \n \nAbout L’Oréal Blackett \nL’Oréal Blacket is a journalist\, magazine editor and broadcaster from Manchester. In her current role as Unbothered UK editor at Refinery29\, L’Oréal’s work celebrates the multifaceted lives of Black women and also fosters a platform for underrepresented voices.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/evie-muir-in-conversation-with-loreal-blackett-radical-rest
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EVIE-MUIR.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240830T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240830T150000
DTSTAMP:20240802T112853Z
CREATED:20240726T120141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240802T112853Z
UID:6637-1725026400-1725030000@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:An Afternoon with Emma and Anthony Smith: Street Hearts
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is delighted to welcome Emma and Anthony Smith on Friday 30th August to discuss their book Street Hearts: An Extraordinary Story of Saving Street Dogs. The Smiths and co-writer Lisa Cutts will join us at 2pm to tell of their journey from Yorkshire to Bulgaria\, and some rescue dogs will be coming along to meet you as well! This one is perfect for dog owners or just dog lovers – please be aware that this is a dog friendly event so folks can bring their own pups along as well. \nTickets \nClick here to buy a book and ticket for £18.99\nClick here to buy a ticket only for £3 (this is redeemable against a copy of the book on the day) \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nAmong the cobblestone villages and towns of rural Bulgaria\, a dedicated team of unsung heroes led by Emma and Anthony Smith works tirelessly to change the destiny of street dogs. These animals are abandoned and neglected\, and sometimes in danger\, until Street Hearts step in to provide them with a second chance. \nIn this heartwarming and inspiring tale\, we meet the remarkable dogs they rescue and learn how an army of volunteers goes about it. Each with their own unique story of resilience and yearning for affection\, a cast of characters including Tipsy\, Big Lad\, Mr Wiggles and Roshy the Wonder Dog will steal your heart and challenge your preconceptions about what it means to love and be loved. \nThrough the eyes of these resilient canines and their heroic rescuers this book reveals the profound bond that develops between them and it follows the stories of those who have given the dogs new lives in Britain and elsewhere.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/an-afternoon-with-emma-and-anthony-smith-street-hearts
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DOG-DAY-2.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240829T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240829T193000
DTSTAMP:20240801T132942Z
CREATED:20240720T121435Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240801T132942Z
UID:6575-1724954400-1724959800@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:An Evening with Ragnar Jonasson: Death at the Sanitorium
DESCRIPTION:We are excited to announce Ragnar Jonasson will be coming to House of Books & Friends on Thursday 29th August to discuss his book Death at the Sanitorium. Ragnar will be in conversation with Chris McDonald \, author of the Stonebridge Mysteries and the Erika Piper series. The evening will involve a discussion\, Q&A and a chance to get your copy of Death at the Sanitorium signed. \nTickets\nClick here to buy a book and ticket for £20\nClick here to buy a ticket only for £5 (this is redeemable against a copy of the book on the evening) \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nHigh up in the most northern part of Iceland stands The Akureyri Sanatorium. Once a hospital dedicated to treating tuberculosis\, it now sits haunted by the ghosts of its past. One wing of the hospital remains open and houses six employees: the caretaker\, two doctors\, two nurses and a young research assistant. Despite the wards closing decades ago they remain at the hospital to conduct research. But the cold corridors\, draughty windows and echoey halls are constant reminders of the building’s dark history. When one of the nurses\, Yrsa\, is found brutally murdered\, they discover that death has never left this place – and neither did its secrets. None can escape this terrifying legacy. Despite just five suspects the case is never solved and remains open for two decades. Until a young criminologist named Helgi Reykdal attempts to finally lay the ghosts of the hospital’s past to rest . . . \nAbout the author \nRagnar Jónasson is an international number one bestselling author who has sold over three million books worldwide. He is the first Icelandic author to become a Sunday Times bestseller. He was born in Reykjavik\, Iceland\, where he also works as an investment banker and teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University. He has previously worked as a TV news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service and translated fourteen of Agatha Christie’s novels. His critically acclaimed international bestseller The Darkness is soon to be a major TV series\, and Ridley Scott will be producing Outside as a feature film. \nAbout the chair \nChris McDonald grew up in Northern Ireland before settling in Manchester via Lancaster and London. He is the author the Erika Piper series\, the Stonebridge Mysteries and Little Ghost. He also writes under the name Chris Frost\, with The Killer’s Christmas List published by HarperNorth. He is a script writer\, husband\, father to two beautiful girls and co-founder of Stockport Noir. He is a fan of 5-a-side football\, heavy metal and dogs.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/an-evening-with-ragnar-jonasson-death-at-the-sanitorium
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/INSTA-RAGNAR-JONASSON-DEATH-AT-THE-SANITORIUM.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240827T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240827T120000
DTSTAMP:20240729T165754Z
CREATED:20240729T134509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240729T165754Z
UID:6662-1724756400-1724760000@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Marvellous Myths with Ashley Thorpe
DESCRIPTION:We are so excited to bring back our sell-out kids event from last summer – Marvellous Myths! Join us at 11am on Tuesday 27th August where the incredible author Ashley Thorpe will be joining us to talk through all things Yoruba and West African mythology. Ashley’s expertise have lead to him releasing an incredible book this year\, The Boy to Beat the Gods. \nLearn about the Orishas\, who act on behalf of the almighty Olodumare\, the supreme creator. Discover the trickster Eshu\, the guardian of the dead Oya\, and Oshun\, so beautiful that a river in Nigeria gained her name. Ashley will also talk about how a love of manga and anthologies exposed him to mythology from across the world\, and how to create your own epic characters and stories. \nSuitable for 8-12 years old. \nRegistration of Interest \nThe event will take 1 hour in total\, and is FREE to attend. In order for us to track how many people are attending\, please register your interest for the event here. \nAdults accompanying children are welcome to sit in on the event or browse the bookshop\, but children must not be left unsupervised – adults must remain in the building.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/marvellous-myths-with-ashley-thorpe
CATEGORIES:Author Event,Children's Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/marvellous-myths-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240724T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240724T190000
DTSTAMP:20240609T131046Z
CREATED:20240604T111110Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240609T131046Z
UID:5880-1721844000-1721847600@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:Natalie Cawley in conversation with Alexandra Haddow: Just About Coping
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends are thrilled to welcome Dr Natalie Cawley on Wednesday 24th July\, who will be in conversation with comedian Alexandra Haddow to discuss Natalie’s new book Just About Coping! The event will take place from 6-7pm and will include a Q&A\, audience questions and the chance to get your book signed. \nTickets\n£5 Ticket only (redeemable against a copy of the book on the evening)\n£16.99 Book and ticket \nAbout the book \nAt the psychologist’s clinic of an NHS hospital\, Noah needs help with procrastination\, Bill compulsively lies\, Steph is coping with rejection and their therapist\, Dr Natalie Cawley\, is dealing with her own emotional crisis\, breathing into a paper bag between patient sessions. \nIn this honest\, often poignant and frequently funny memoir about training to be a psychotherapist\, we meet the patients grappling with mental health issues. From OCD and addiction to self-deception and toxic relationships\, Dr Natalie helps them understand and change these attempts to self-soothe. \nFull of lightbulb moments\, Just About Coping is a journey into our inner worlds\, where the drama of our break-ups\, breakdowns and breakthroughs takes place. In times of stress and suffering\, Dr Natalie reveals\, we are all just about coping. None of us is immune – not even your therapist. \nAbout the author \nDr Natalie Cawley is a psychotherapist and counselling psychologist with a BSc\, MSc and PsychD in psychology and has worked and trained in both the NHS and private practice\, within paediatric and adult services. Her experience covers a wide range of health conditions and clinical presentations in the community and within psychiatric hospitals. Her specialism in attachment theory\, the driving force behind our psychological and emotional functioning\, informs all her therapeutic work. Her hobbies include stand-up comedy – mostly watching\, although she has performed a set about bad dates that went better than expected. She lives and works in Manchester and can be contacted via www.nataliecawley.com. Just About Coping is her first book. \nAbout Alexandra Haddow \nA regular at comedy clubs all over the country\, Alexandra expertly walks the fine line between cheeky and outright smut. She has performed at Reading and Leeds festival\, Victorious Festival\, has supported comedy icons Frankie Boyle\, Bill Bailey and Tommy Tiernan\, and hosts Dulwich Hamlet Comedy every month.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/natalie-cawley-in-conversation-with-alexandra-haddow-just-about-coping
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NATALIE-CAWLEY.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240715T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240715T190000
DTSTAMP:20240619T155035Z
CREATED:20240609T133116Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240619T155035Z
UID:5997-1721066400-1721070000@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:An Evening with Daisy Buchanan: Pity Party
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends are excited to welcome back our friend Daisy Buchanan on Monday 15th July to discuss her new book Pity Party! The event will take place from 6-7pm and will include a Q&A and the chance to get your book signed by Daisy too. \nTickets\n£5 Ticket only (redeemable against a copy of the book on the evening)\n£18.99 Book and ticket \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nKatherine lives by the rules\, ticks all the boxes and prepares for the worst\, even while she hopes for the best.\nThen the worst actually happens and\, as she tries to navigate life as a young widow\, it turns out she was not prepared at all.\nNothing scares Katherine more than stopping\, but everyone insists she needs to take some time for herself. Head to a wellness retreat\, they said. Enjoy some me-time\, they said…\nExcept this retreat isn’t the pity party she was hoping for. Instead of massages\, she has erotic meditation\, and instead of spa treatments she has scream therapy.\nKatherine has never lost control in her life. In fact\, she’s fairly certain that if she starts screaming she might never stop. \nBut she’s about to let go\, and everyone had better stand back…\nHilarious\, heartbreaking and honest\, this is a story about learning how to stop playing it safe in a world that feels so dangerous – and showing up to the party\, even when it feels impossible. \nAbout the author \nDaisy Buchanan is an award-winning journalist\, author and broadcaster. Her books include the novels Insatiable (longlisted for the CWIP prize)\, Careering (as heard on BBC Sounds) and Limelight\, and the non-fiction titles How to Be a Grown Up and The Sisterhood. She hosts the Daisy Is… podcast series\, and the chart-topping podcast You’re Booked\, where she interviews legendary writers from all over the world about how their reading habits shape their work. You can also hear her on beloved podcasts including Comfort Blanket\, Cuddle Club and Crushed. Daisy has appeared on a number of TV and radio shows including Woman’s Hour\, The Today Programme\, Soul Music\, A Good Read\, This Morning and Good Morning Britain. She is a TEDx speaker and has guest presented the Booker Prize for BBC News.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/an-evening-with-daisy-buchanan-pity-party
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/11.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240705T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240705T210000
DTSTAMP:20240516T103121Z
CREATED:20240508T155755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240516T103121Z
UID:5507-1720204200-1720213200@houseofbooksandfriends.com
SUMMARY:The Bookshop Band Concert
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an intimate and magical concert with The Bookshop Band\, celebrating the release of their 14th studio album\, Emerge\, Return\, produced by legendary musician Pete Townshend. \nDoors are at 6pm\, with the show starting at 6.30pm. The evening will consist of 2 x 40 minute sets\, with an interval to allow guests time to browse the shop and buy band merchandise. \nTickets will be £15\, available to buy here. \nThere are a small amount of tickets available for those unable to afford them at the moment – please contact us directly at 07597365380 or email bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com. \nAbout The Bookshop Band \nThe Bookshop Band came to life as an artistic collaboration with their local bookshop Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in 2010. They write and perform songs inspired by books and released 13 book-inspired albums collaborating with over 100 authors.  No previous knowledge of the books is required as the band guide the audience through the stories behind each song’s inspiration. The album’s songs are inspired by books\, including The Book Of Dust\, by Philip Pullman\, The Testaments\, by Margaret Atwood\, The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell\, and Underland by Robert Macfarlane. The band are now based in Wigtown\, Scotland’s Book Town\, but will be on tour this year to promote the album\, playing in bookshops\, libraries and festivals all over the UK.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/event/the-bookshop-band-concert
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/The-Bookshop-Band-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR