Open Book Timings

The first ever Open Book event, a one-day literary extravaganza featuring top names from the world of words, is taking place in Hitchin, Hertfordshire on Saturday, 29th July.

The times for specific Open Book events have now been published and can be found here.

If you are hoping to attend the creative writing workshop being run by J.S.Watts or listen to the interactive poetry reading she will be giving with fellow poet Rowena M. Love, these are the times you need to know:

Creative Writing Workshop, Writing With Your Senses: 3pm - 4pm

Poetry Reading, Chalk and Cheese: 5pm - 6pm

Hope to see you there!

Open Book 2017 - Books, Beers and Banter

July is almost upon us, and July sees the return of the annual Hitchin festival.

As part of the festival there is a rather exciting first: the first ever Open Book event, a one-day literary extravaganza featuring top names from the world of words including:

• London literary agent Ella Kahn, “How to hook an agent”
• Best-selling author Allan Esler Smith, “Can you retire early, rich and happy?”
• Renowned speaker Terry Gillen, “Unlock the more confident you”
• Award winning poet and novelist J.S.Watts, running both a creative writing workshop, "Writing With Your Senses" and a joint, interactive poetry event with poet Rowena M. Love, "Chalk and Cheese".

Plus there will be historical talks from Dr J. D. Davies, Hugh Bicheno and royals expert Jane Dismore, workshops, publishing advice, poetry readings, cake icing demonstrations, fascinating family research tips and murder - how one man made his living from it!

Come and join the writers as we share our passion for books! On-site beer and wine tent, BBQ, book signings and banter with the authors!

For more info on the writers, who will be attending the event and which 'zone' they will be in click here

All day tickets £4. Under 16's FREE

Buy tickets here

Stem Cells and Poetry

Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute is hosting a special

event: Stem Cell Culture

Thursday 29 June , 6.30 - 8.30pm at Michaelhouse, Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1SU. Admission is FREE.

Join them to mark the finale of the art and stem cell exhibition with an evening of stem-cell inspired performance poetry, including a brand new poem from J.S.Watts and equally shiny new poems from some of Cambridge's stellar performance poets.

A Rare Chance To Hear The Songs Of Steelyard Sue

As part of the 2017 In Other Words alternative literary fringe festival, J.S. Watts will be giving a performed reading of Songs of Steelyard Sue on Saturday, 17th June.

This will be a rare opportunity to hear J.S.Watts perform the entirety of her award-nominated (Saboteur Awards 2013 and SFPA Elgin Awards 2013) SF poetry sequence, Songs of Steelyard Sue.

Scratching out an existence on a world humanity has trashed and left to rust, Steelyard Sue is a future everyman (or, to be precise, a future-world every mechanoid female) trying to make a place for herself. Expect humour, pathos and robots.

“Funny and sad, these poems are a real achievement” – Handshake

“There’s nothing mechanical about J. S. Watts’ poetry. It has heart and soul, and it sings” – Science Fiction Poetry Association

“poetic parables filled with pathos and wit… the verve and imagination of Watts’s Songs make this pamphlet unique.” Cameron Brady-Turner for Sabotage Reviews

The performance will take place in the basement of the CB2 Bistro, 5 -7 Norfolk Street Cambridge, CB1 2LD, on Saturday, 17th June, starting at 4.25pm and finishing around 5.10pm. Entry is free, but a collection will be taken at the end of the reading. Click here for further details and information about In Other Words

Another One That Almost Escaped!

J.S. is very chuffed to find that she has a poem in the latest issue of Acumen (issue 88, May 2017). She hasn't received a copy of the magazine yet, but she's guessing the poem is "I am not yet ready to be bird".

If you have seen May's Acumen and therefore know if J.S.'s guess is correct, do let her know.

One That Almost Escaped

Weirdbook #35 is now available and we hadn't noticed, which is a shame as it has a stellar line up, including a brand new short story by J.S.Watts, "In The Shadows".

The full line up is as follows:

The Pullulations of the Tribe, by Adrian Cole
The Dead of Night, by Christian Riley
Mother of My Children, by Bruce L. Priddy
The Man Who Murders Happiness, by John R. Fultz
A Handful of Dust, by Tom English
Revolution à l’Orange, by Paul Lubaczewski
Fiends of the Southern Plains, by Patrick Tumblety
The Pyrrhic Crusade, by Stanley B. Webb
The Migration of Memories, by Charles Wilkinson
Maquettes, by Paul St John Mackintosh
In the Shadows, by J.S. Watts
“The Spot,” by C.R. Langille
Schism in the Sky, by Donald McCarthy
To Roam the Universe, Forgotten and Free, by Janet Harriett
Rejuvenate, by Lily Luchesi
Vigil Night, by Lorenzo Crescentini
Dead Clowns for Christmas, by L.J. Dopp
The Tale and the Teller, by Darrell Schweitzer

Plus poetry by K.A. Opperman, Frederick J. Mayer, James Matthew Byers, and Jessica Amanda Salmonson

For further details see here     

Wild Strawberries at Strawberry Fair 2017

J.S.Watts will be performing poems and stories on the Wild Strawberries Stage, TOMORROW, at Cambridge's very own Strawberry Fair.

You'll find the Wild Strawberries Stage in the Eastern Bloco section of the Fair. You'll find J.S. on stage at 14.55, tomorrow, Saturday 3rd June.

Hope To See You There!