Holywell Trust presents ‘An Audience with the Authors’ – an inclusive evening event, in conversation with local authors whose work addresses important community relations and cultural heritage themes. Authors will read extracts from their books and discuss their work, the context in which they were written and the role that literature plays in relation to culture on this island and beyond.
The conversation will reflect diverse perspectives as well as examine the themes of identity, legacy and diaspora in cultural produce. The event will provide an opportunity for the audience to hear from diverse perspectives, celebrate culture and consider the role that literature can play in advancing peacebuilding and community relations.
About the authors
Damian Gorman is a poet and playwright from Newcastle, Co. Down who has just moved to rural Donegal. His most recent work for the stage - BEYOND BELIEF, a musical drama about John and Pat Hume - had a sold-out run in Derry's Guildhall this spring, and its final performance was livestreamed across the world. In the mid-1990s he was founding director of AN CRANN/ THE TREE, the purpose of which was "to help people tell, and hear, the stories of the Troubles" through the arts.
He is a Fellow of the Oxford Initiative for Global Ethics and Human Rights.
Sue Divin is a Derry based writer and peace worker, originally from Armagh in the North of Ireland. With a Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies and a career in Community Relations, her writing often touches on diversity and reconciliation. Her short stories, flash fiction and poetry, have been published in a range of literary journals.
Guard Your Heart is her first novel and is published by Macmillan (2021). In 2022 it won the Great Reads Award (Ireland) and was shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Award. Truth Be Told is her second novel, not a sequel, but a similar gritty, contemporary style packed with dry wit, strong emotions and challenging exploration of issues. Both novels are widely read by teenagers and adults. Thankful recipient of Arts Council NI SIAP award, Sue tweets @absolutelywrite
Rosemary Jenkinson was born in Belfast and is an award-winning playwright and short story writer. She won the 2001 Black Hill Magazine Short Story Competition, third prize in the Brian Moore Short Story Awards and was shortlisted for the 2002 Hennessy Award for New Writing. Her first collection of short stories, Contemporary Problems Nos. 53 & 54, was published in 2004 by Lapwing Press. Her second short story collection, Aphrodite’s Kiss & Further Stories, was published by Whittrick Press in 2016. She’s won many General Artist’s Awards from the ACNI and was awarded Artist-in-Residence at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.
Details
Venue: Holywell, Diversecity Community Partnership, 10 – 14 Bishop Street
Date: Friday 22nd September 2023
Time: 7pm
Accessibility: Fully accessible shared space in the city centre