Barnstaple and Paignton libraries welcome acclaimed authors Arifa Akbar and Michael Malay as part of the Words Alive in Libraries tour. Words Alive in Libraries is a partnership between Literature Works and the South Western Regional Library Service.
This tour brings workshops and author talks into libraries exploring themes of life writing, wellbeing, and nature. Two author events will be taking place in Libraries Unlimited libraries in Devon and Torbay.
Arifa Akbar is coming to Paignton Library on Thursday, 19th March. Arifa Akbar is an author and the Guardian’s chief theatre critic; her latest book is Wolf Moon: A Woman’s Journey into the Night. Michael Malay, author of Late Light, will visit Barnstaple Library on Thursday, 7th May.
Blending memoir and reportage, Arifa Akbar’s Wolf Moon explores women’s relationships to night and its darkness. From the hidden labour of female night-shift workers, like carers, and the unseen experiences of women after dark. Sharing how cultural and environmental forces shape women’s nights.
Late Light by Michael Malay traces his journey from Indonesia and Australia to England, offering a new perspective on the British countryside, its landscapes and wildlife. Focusing on four frequently overlooked animals – eels, moths, mussels, and crickets – he highlights how political, economic, and cultural events have shaped Britain’s landscapes. Connecting its nature to wider cultures and histories and to his own experiences of migration and belonging.
Helen Chaloner, Literature Works CEO, said: “The new tour will bring diverse writing talent to the doorstep of local libraries across the region: public libraries, college libraries and university libraries. Audience feedback from the 2023 tour was fantastic, and we’re excited to reach even more communities that otherwise might not get the chance to meet and work with writers like these.”
Alex Kittow, Chief Executive Officer at Libraries Unlimited, shared: “It’s so exciting to have such talented authors visit our libraries. Libraries are venues for creativity, discussion, and engagement. From the arts to the environment, the library is a space open to everyone, and a space to learn and discover stories, both fictional and factual. What an incredible opportunity this is to hear from these two authors.”
Words Alive in Libraries is funded by an Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant.
Book tickets to Words Alive in Libraries here: https://literatureworks.org.uk/projects/words-alive-in-libraries/
