“Push the boundaries, challenge yourself about difficult issues. Try not to be twee.” These were some of the first few words of advice and encouragement that poet, Daljit Nagra, gave to us during the writing workshop on the Swindon Festival of Literature’s finale. And what good advice. How many of us are guilty of only writing in our comfort zone; not willing to explore further through fear of what it would make us socially or politically?

The workshop began in earnest when about 20 writers – ranging from practising writers to a lady who confessed that she hadn’t written since her school days – sat down to a wholesome lunch. This was followed by tea, a slice of lemon cake and those all important introductions. With the workshop soon underway, Daljit explained that the theme of the afternoon was ‘controversial context’, and made us consider that within art there is also controversy, whether it is subtle or outright crude.

To help us engage, Daljit’s first exercise was for us to jot down what made us angry. And interestingly, being predominantly a prose writer, I found myself trying out poetry by the second exercise. The workshop was experimentary; we discussed pieces of poetry – some of which we found shocking, and there were interesting discussions to follow.

By the end of the day we each had to read out an extract – daunting, yes, but it was fascinating to hear some pretty impressive work which was already taking shape from some of the members of the group. And of course Daljit posed some more interesting questions, some of which I hope will make me think not only about what I’m writing, but how I’m writing it. And what, if at all, am I debating about in my work.

Julie Venis for the Swindon Festival of Literature

Find out more about the Swindon Literature of Festival here:

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The Swindon Festival of Literature featured a creator of detectives on 11 May at the Central Library.

The author of the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mystery series, as well as more than 100 historic romantic novels under various pseudonyms, charmed the audience instantly with her stories and amusing anecdotes.

Born and raised in Glasgow, and having lived in London, the United States of America, the Highlands of Scotland, and now sharing her time between the Cotswolds and Paris, the 74-year-old has travelled a fair bit, perhaps allowing her inspiration for her many novels to ever increase.

Her love of reading was clear, as she explained that she was a part of the reading generation, a great escape pre-TV.

She is clearly not the “moron of the family” as she was once described by her mother, creating characters that have touched the hearts of people worldwide. Moving from journalism into novels, she claims the transition was easy – “You just report what’s in your head”. Her first effort was a Regency novel, written after reading one and thinking that she could do better.

However she claims to have “no literary ambitions” and just wanted to plug a gap in the market at the time for something between Mills and Boon and the Booker Prize.

No one could fail to be drawn in by this warm, interesting woman, and I look forward to seeing if this is matched in The Agatha Raisin companion and Busy Body which will be released in October this year.

By Jennifer Ockwell, Swindon Festival of Literature

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The only professor in gothic studies, William Hughes had a lot to live up to when he gave a talk at the Highworth Library on Monday 10 May for the Swindon Festival of Literature. And he didn’t fail to please the 35-strong crowd.

It was clear from the start that this man knew what he was talking about, as he took the group through from the start of gothic fiction – The Castle of Otranto in 1765 to the more recent Alien trilogy and Resident Evil films.

William Hughes

To help the audience understand the genre better, William set the scene – explaining the reasons for gothic fiction’s rise in the 18^th century while the world was very serious and sombre.

And it seems that the beginning of new centuries bring new outbursts with different themes as the world becomes fearful of the unknown and current events spark unease, at least beneath the surface, of the population. It was certainly an interesting event, and one that will make people read gothic-themed texts with a fresh viewpoint.

William is professor of gothic studies at Bath Spa University and has penned books such as Beyond Dracula: Bram Stoker’s Fiction and its Cultural Context and co-authored many others on the gothic genre and Dracula.

By Jennifer Ockwell, Swindon Festival of Literature

The Swindon Festival of Literature is taking place now (3rd to 15th May 2010). Find out more about the Swindon Literature of Festival here:

http://www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk/

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Stanley Wells, renowned Shakespeare expert graced the stage at the Arts Centre, Swindon on 7 May.

Promoting his new book Shakespeare, Sex and Love he took the audience through his view of the portrayal of sex in his plays. Something which he didn’t feel could be talked about in isolation of love.

Stanley Wells (photograph Ben Cavanna)

His motivation for his latest study is in irritation with the ever popular view that Shakespeare’s work was a filthy enterprise.

Shakespeare certainly developed early, with his wife pregnant when they walked down the aisle, and he was one of the youngest to wed in Stratford for a 60 year period. However, Wells argues against other critics that search for sexual undertones at every sentence and denies that the bard was as bawdy as they make out.

After giving a talk about his book and the themes explored, he took questions from the audience answering questions about his works and Shakespeare in general, including revealing his favourite play to watch, and his favourite play as a piece of work.

An interesting talk, Wells showed that he is still sharp and strong at 80, with a love for Shakespeare that is demonstrated in his intelligent words on the subject. Sitting there listening, one could easily imagine to be in a lecture hall with no-one’s knowledge greater than the speaker’s.

By Jennifer Ockwell, Swindon Festival of Literature
Find out more about the Swindon Literature of Festival here:

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“I don’t like the horror genre much” – one of Tariq’s opening statements at the West Swindon Library Swindon Festival of Literature event on 5 May. For an author whose latest book falls under this category, this seems quite a strange comment to make.

Claiming to be a book that combines literary fiction with the horror genre, Tariq Goddard is setting out to break down boundaries, and doesn’t care if he has fewer fans than the more traditional horror writers, like Stephen King.

Swindon literature festival attendees experienced a couple of readings from his book, The Picture of Contented New Wealth, and explored his reasoning behind choosing the horror genre. They also discovered his strong stance in the publishing world, with a company called 0 Books which operates: “both as a general trade and specialist publisher, but have set out to be a different kind of house, organised around a co-operative relationship between publisher and author, and between authors, rather than an adversarial or competitive one.”

Set in the 1980s, his book explores the origins of true evil – thing even more horrifying than fiction created with monsters, exploring something that is more real and tangible.

In all, a good event, and I wouldn’t have swapped it for a larger audience as the intimate group allowed a feeling that you were even closer to the author, and closer to his ideals.

By Jennifer Ockwell, Swindon Festival of Literature

The Swindon Festival of Literature is taking place now (3^rd to 15^th May 2010). Find out more about the Swindon Literature of Festival here:

http://www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk/

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literaturejenn@yahoo.co.uk