SATURDAY 31 MARCH:  

Join acclaimed novelist and short story writer VANESSA GEBBIE for a Creativity Boost Workshop, focussing on the processes of flash writing and finding inspiration – with plenty of time for a Q & A on getting published and how Vanessa did it.  Vanessa’s debut novel, “The Coward’s Tale”, is A N Wilson’s novel of the year from the Financial Times and her short stories have appeared in prize-winning anthologies from Fish to Bridport.  Vanessa is also a fantastic writing tutor whose “Short Circuit: a Guide to the Art of the Short Story” is now required reading on a number of university courses.  This is a special opportunity to work with Vanessa in a small and personal workshop.  The £25 fee includes plenty of tea and homemade cakes.  For more information and to book your place, email Peggy: peggy@hopeandanchorwriting.co.uk  The location, in central Whitstable, will be emailed to you upon booking.

Friday 30 March 2012, 8pm

To mark the event of the paperback launch of her debut novel, Vanessa will be reading from The Coward’s Tale,  A N Wilson’s novel of the year in the Financial Times, calling it “… an extraordinarily lyrical, moving, funny evocation of a Welsh mining town and its inhabitants as seen through the eyes of “the coward”, who witnessed the collapse of the Kindly Light pit. A poet’s novel, really.”  Opening for Vanessa will be Whitstable novelist and short story writer, Vinita Joseph.

As always, The Kitchen Sessions is free, but do please bring £7.99 for your copy of The Coward’s Tale, which Vanessa will happily inscribe.  To bag your seat, please email Peggy. You’ll then be given your invitation to the kitchen, located in central Whitstable.  Drinks available by donation. The event will last an hour or so.

Thursday 2nd February 2012, 8pm

To mark the event of her paperback launch, Betty will be reading from The 52 Seductions, and talking about the highs and the lows of writing such a confessional memoir.

To bag your seat, please email Peggy. You’ll then be given your invitation to the kitchen, located in central Whitstable.

The event is free, but please bring £5 cash if you’d like to buy a discounted copy of The 52 Seductions, which Betty will gladly sign for you. Drinks available by donation. The event will last an hour.

If you like the sound of The Kitchen Sessions, let us know.  Upcoming Spring Kitchen Sessions are being planned right now with writers including Vanessa Gebbie, author of The Coward’s Tale.