January 2006
Men's Night was a great night with fine readings, and music, and an inspirational poetry workshop lead by Brendan Cleary.
Brendan Cleary . It was good to hear one of poetry's finest performers and craftsmen. He has produced countless collections of his own work, most notably The Irish Card and Sacrilege both Bloodaxe publications.
Michael McCarthy What a reading! Michael held the Blue Room audience spellbound. Copies of his first Collection Birds' Nests and Other Poems were going like hot cakes. Michael was winner of The Patrick Kavanagh Award. He has also published two books of verse for Children. The Story of Noah and the Ark which has been translated into sixteen languages, and The Story of Daniel in the Lions Den. He currently lives in Sherburn in Elmet North Yorkshire where he works as a Priest, Counsellor and Spiritual Director.
Mark Hindle The Blue Room audience listened attentively to Mark's riveting short story, specially written for the occasion. He was originally born in Mississippi, but has lived in the North East since he was four. In 2004 he entered a short story competition that was run in conjunction with the Fresh Fiction festival. As one of the five finalists, his story, The Bankruptcy of Phillip H. Stone was printed in the Journal. Early in 2005 another of hid short stories was published in The Big Anthology a collection of selected works written by current students and past graduates of Northumbria University's MA in creative writing. He is currently working on his first novel.
Barrie Darke Another fine prose reading which added to the mix that went to make up a great night.In 2002 Barrie won a Northern Promise Award from Northern Arts/New Writing North. Recently, two short stories were shortlisted in the 10th Real Writers Awards. Another short story is published in the latest Magnetic North Anthology.As a playwright,he has worked with many of the region's theatre companies, as well as Paines Plough touring company. In 2003, he wrote a monologue to be performed at Live Theatre's 30th anniversary celebrations. His latest play is being staged by Theatre Cap-a-Pie, and will tour the region. In 2001, Barrie graduated from the MA in Creative Writing at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle. He teaches two Creative Writing classes.
John Egdell A musician and a prolific writer who produced a wonderful set to end off the evening. John's songs are small tender pictures of life, some just touching on a minute long. He describes his songs as "diary entries and unsent letters".His debut album Your Big Day was released on 11 July 2005, on Kathryn Williams' micro label, Caw Records .
