Legendary Irish DJ Annie Mac is set to launch her debut novel ‘Mother Mother’ at this year’s Belfast Book Festival 2021 10-13 June.
Annie Macmanus unveils her debut novel ‘Mother, Mother’ in conversation with Wendy Erskine (June 12th). The DJ and TV presenter recently announced that she was leaving BBC Radio 1 to spend more time with her family, but now it looks like we will be able to spend a different type of quality time with our favourite DJ turned novelist.
Other highlights of the festival include Ian McElhinney (‘Derry Girls’) and literary biographer Roy Foster exploring the work of Seamus Heaney; Glenn Patterson (‘The Northern Bank Job’) in conversation with author Conor O’Callaghan; Colm Tóibín (‘Brooklyn’), reading from ‘Queer Love: An Anthology of Irish Fiction’ and a special recorded performance from the official poet of the 2012 London Olympics, Lemn Sissay. – Tickets here
Photo – Stephanie Sian Smith.
Thursday 10 June
Poetry in Focus: Panel Discussion
4pm | A Free Event
Niamh O’Donnell
Maria McManus
John Walsh
Judith Palmer
Manuela Moser
Led by Chair Martin Doyle
Panel Discussion: Perspectives on Publishing
5.30pm | A Free Event
Ciara Doorley
Victoria Haslam
Emma Warnock
Wendy Erskine
With Chair Lamia Dabboussy
In-Conversation on the Short Story
Plus the announcement of the Winner of the Mairtin Crawford Award for Short Story 2021
7pm | £3
Lucy Caldwell
Louise Kennedy
Mira Sethi
With Chair Alison Flood
In-conversation: Naoise Dolan & Joanna Walsh
8.30pm | £3
With Chair John Self
Friday 11 June
Her Other Language: Northern Irish Women Writers Address Domestic Violence & Abuse
11am | A Free Event
Ruth Carr
Natasha Cuddington
Rainbow Ashwood Jamaican
Trish Bennett
Jo Burns
Florence Heyhoe
Bernie McGill
Cherry Smyth
Adrian Duncan in conversation with Wendy Erskine
12.30pm | £3
The Interview: Amanda Ferguson with Susan MacKay
3pm | £3
Magical Realism in Modern Literature
5.30pm | A Free Event
Jan Carson
Deirdre Sullivan
Cathy Sweeney
With Chair Peter Murphy
Life, Death and the Body in Ireland
7pm | £3
Doireann Ní Ghríofa
Sophie White
Aine Toner
In Conversation: Elizabeth McCracken & Molly McCully Brown
8.30pm | £3
With Chair Marie Louise Muir
Saturday 12 June
Conor O’Callaghan in conversation with Glenn Patterson
12.30pm | £3
Understanding Our Stories, Understanding Ourselves: How Narrative Can Build Resilience
2pm | A Free Event
Lemn Sissay
Dr William Coman
Alex Kane
With Chair Michele Janes
Writing the Teen Voice
A Facilitated Discussion with the team from teen and Young Adult literary Journal Paper Lanterns
3.30pm | A Free Event
Amy O’Sullivan
Grace Kelley
Maggie Masterson
With Chair Sheena Wilkinson
Seamus Heaney’s Belfast & Beyond
5pm | £3
Roy Foster
Ian McElhinney
With Chair Connal Parr
Annie Macmanus in conversation on debut novel ‘Mother Mother’
6.30pm | £3
With Chair Wendy Erskine
Queer Love: An Anthology of Irish Fiction
8pm | £3
Colm Toibin
Shannon Ye
Paul McVeigh
Sunday 13 June
Lemn Sissay presents ‘Gold from the Stone’
11am | A Free Event
Poetry Focus: Doire Press Presents
Plus the Announcement of the Winner for Mairtin Crawford Award for Poetry
2pm | £3
Moyra Donaldson
Dimitra Xidous
Colin Hassard
With Chair Paul Maddern
Joseph Coelho: Reading from Zombierella & chats about poetry
4pm | A Free Event
Recommended Age 7+
Novel Memories: Reading & Remembering in Northern Ireland
5pm | A Free Event
Jan Carson
Dr Eli Davies
Professor Sebastian Groes
Irish Poets From Carcanet’s New Writing Anthology: New Poetries VIII
6pm | £3
Victoria Kennefick
Padraig Regan
Joe Carrick-Varty
Conor Cleary
With Chair Kathleen McCracken
Poetry NI presents the Belfast Book Festival Poetry Slam
8pm | £3