Book launch: Things I Did While I Was Dead by Rosie Garland
Tue 23 February, 1pm - 2pm, Manchester Central Library
Free event. All welcome. Refreshments provided.

Powerfully articulating themes as diverse as relationships, childhood, serial-killers and gender, this passionate and thought-provoking new collection showcases Rosie's affecting and award-winning poetry. And, as with her previous collections under the guise of alter-ego Rosie Lugosi, it has a deliciously determined bite.
This is Rosie's first performance of 2010, following her successful fight against throat cancer.
Supporting Rosie, friends and fellow Flapjack poets Gerry Potter, Dominic Berry & Jackie Hagan.

'Hugely entertaining, tough-talking ... a celebration of female sexuality, of power and liberation' - Carol Ann Duffy
'One of the country's finest performance poets' - Apples and Snakes
'She is the mistress of language, whether it's making you laugh or informing your emotions. Here is a courageous artist with guile and expertise in equal measure' - Gerry Potter
'A national treasure' - Dead Good Poets Society

Rosie has an eclectic writing and performance history, ranging from singing in 80s Goth band The March Violets to electrifying performer-poet, compere and singer Rosie Lugosi the Vampire Queen. She has performed at events as diverse as The Cheltenham Literature Festival, Kinkfest and Stockholm Gay Pride. As well as 3 previous solo collections of poetry ('Hell and Eden', 'Coming Out At Night' & 'Creatures of the Night'), her award-winning short stories, poems and essays have been widely anthologised. She has won both the Erotic Oscar for Performance Artist of the Year and the Diva Award for Solo Performer.
She is also a workshop facilitator with many years' experience, and has worked with adults and young people in areas as diverse as listening and communication, writing, performance and compering skills.

Words by the Water Festival: Northwest Voices
Mon 8 March, 11am - 5.30pm, Studio, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Cumbria
Day ticket £20 

Readings and discussions from Northwest writers, celebrating the strength and diversity of the region's wide-ranging literary output, covering poetry, short fiction and novel writing.

Events during the day:
• John Murray talks to Sue Allan - Comedy, Cumbria and Dialect
• POETRY SHOWCASE - Flapjack Press presents Jackie Hagan, Gerry Potter and Helên Thomas
• SHORT STORY SHOWCASE - Comma Press presents Zoe Lambert and Annie Clarkson
• NOVEL SHOWCASE - Literature Northwest presents Jenn Ashworth and Brigid Rose
• SURVIVING AS A WRITER - To round off the day, publishers Ra Page (Comma) and Paul Neads (Flapjack) lead a discussion on the pitfalls and practicalities of surviving as a writer, finding an audience for your work, and most important of all developing a voice.

In association with Slate. A full list of the week's events can be found at http://www.wayswithwords.co.uk/festivals/cumbria-23