Salon LIVE Online: Douglas Stuart with Damian Barr, June 26th
Salon LIVE Online: Douglas Stuart with Damian Barr
Join Douglas Stuart and Damian Barr for a trip to 1980s Glasgow and the world of Shuggie Bain.
Shuggie Bain is a little boy growing up in 1980s Glasgow. And his world is Agnes Bain, his glamorous, calamitous mother, drinking herself ever so slowly to death. Shuggie tries to save her and finds himself in a city that’s both bleak and dazzling. This novel will break your heart only to mend it again bigger and stronger and more generous. It’s the world I grew up in and wrote about in Maggie & Me but here it’s brought to life in fiction, albeit partly autobiographical. The New York Times Book Review said: "The book would be just about unbearable were it not for the author’s astonishing capacity for love. He’s lovely, Douglas Stuart, fierce and loving and lovely. He shows us lots of monstrous behaviour, but not a single monster―only damage. If he has a sharp eye for brokenness, he is even keener on the inextinguishable flicker of love that remains.” Douglas, born and brought up in Glasgow, now lives in New York. He was chosen as one of the Observer's 'best debut novelists' earlier this year and had his first story published in the New Yorker in January. 'Found Wanting' is about growing up queer before the internet and it is INCREDIBLE. I can’t wait to talk him about all of it!
Join Douglas Stuart and Damian Barr for a conversation online from 8-9pm (UK time). Tickets are £5 plus £0.98 booking fee. CLICK HERE to get tickets.
We look forward to you joining us.
Read More
"We are not all in the same boat. We are all in the same storm. Some are on super-yachts. Some have just the one oar."
This illustration was done by Barbara Kelley to accompany a quote of mine used by a columnist in The Wall Street Journal, “We are not all in the same boat. We are all in the same storm. Some of us are on super-yachts. Some have just the one oar.’ My quote also popped up on Oprah’s podcast! Along with Dolly, Oprah is one of my icons. Here she is talking to Dr Alan Lightman about coronavirus and collective experience and consciousness. Storms and seas and boats and all that. Wow!
Read More
We’re bringing you another two episodes of Shelf Isolation!
Damian is joined by Alan Cumming and also by Kirsty Wark as they recommend what to binge, read and enjoy as lockdown rolls on. Catch them and all our previous episodes on BBC Scotland and on iPlayer.
Read More
Damian shortlisted for Indie Book Awards 2020
I am delighted to join the other shortlisted writers on this list. Indie Bookshops are, along with libraries, a real refuge and to get recognition from booksellers means so very much to me.
Read More
SHELF ISOLATION - A new series for BBC Scotland produced by IWC and presented by Damian Barr.
You can catch episodes 1 and 2 on BBC iPlayer now.
The books, films and music we love say so much about us – every time we pick up a novel or sit down to another box set we add another chapter to the story of ourselves. And they give us the chance to forget about the world around us and disappear somewhere else, if only for a while. Right now we can’t leave home but we can still travel and meet new people and have new experiences in books, tv and film.
Read More
Kim Hill talks to Damian on RNZ
An honour to be interviewed by the legendary Kim Hill who brings her particular wit and years of wisdom to every encounter. I will happily admit I was nervous before this and excited--all I really wanted to do was listen to her. In the we had a generous and rigorous conversation. Thank you Kim and thank you for listening.
Click here to listen to the full interview.
Read More
Salon LIVE Online: Garth Greenwell and Damian Barr, May 15th 9pm
Salon LIVE Online: Garth Greenwell and Damian Barr talk writing, queerness and 'Cleanness'. May 15th 9-10pm (UK Time).
GET TICKETS
Garth charmed us all at our Salon at the Savoy in 2016 with his debut novel What Belongs to You. He reads his prose as beautifully as he writes it. His next book, Cleanness, places its arms around the shoulders of his handsome sensuous debut and confronts many of the same themes and concerns, yet is very much its own thing.
Read More
Maggie O'Farrell and Damian Barr in conversation for The Big Book Weekend
Maggie O'Farrell and Damian will be in conversation as part of The Big Book Weekend; a three-day virtual festival that brings together the best of the cancelled British literary festivals.
You can watch Damian and Maggie and take part in the live Q&A at 10am on Friday 8th May.
The full festival programme has been announced today. There are sessions planned for both adults and children, the event has been co-founded by the authors Kit de Waal and Molly Flatt, is supported by BBC Arts and will be hosted by MyVLF.
Click here to read the full programme.
Read More
Stories of Splendid Isolation
Stories of Splendid Isolation creates moments of literary respite in the wake of Covid-19. I’m delighted to have added some of my thoughts alongside Olivia Sudjic, Joe Dunthorne and others. You can listen by activating Google Assistant - listeners can hear writers from around the world share their reflections during a time of uncertainty, like a literary version of Thought for the Day.
Read More
SHELF ISOLATION - A new series for BBC Scotland produced by IWC and presented by Damian Barr.
The books, films and music we love say so much about us – every time we pick up a novel or sit down to another box set we add another chapter to the story of ourselves. And they give us the chance to forget about the world around us and disappear somewhere else, if only for a while. Right now we can’t leave home but we can still travel and meet new people and have new experiences in books, tv and film.
Read More
Damian Barr: You don’t need to come out of this crisis with a six pack and crafting skills
I've been overwhelmed by the response to this piece that I wrote for the i newspaper.
Thank you for sharing your stories and coping strategies. Let's support each other hour by hour, day by day.
Read More
The Inspiration Behind You Will Be Safe Here
Many of you have got in touch about my way into writing this novel - I never intended to write this novel.
I had my heartbroken with the story of a murder of a boy - who looked like a long lost friend of mine. That boy was Raymond Buys, he was 15 when he was killed at Echo Wild Game Rangers camp in South Africa. I wrote about the contemporary history, The Boer War and the growing right wing power now.
Read More
You Will Be Safe Here Blog Tour 2020
I've never taken part in a blog tour before and I'm really excited that these bloggers have chosen the paperback of You Will Be Safe Here. It is quite the blog tour! Check out their thoughts and feelings, you can see all of the dates and blog names below. Thanks to Georgina Moore for inspiring this and Anne Cater for organising.
Read More
You Will Be Safe Here paperback published!
You Will Be Safe Here paperback published!
Today is the publication day for the paperback of You Will Be Safe Here, published by Bloomsbury. You can buy your copy now!
Read Damian's interview with Lisa O'Kelly for The Observer to find out more about his debut novel and the research behind it.
Click here to buy your paperback copy of You Will Be Safe Here!
Read More
Damian Barr: ‘Give voice to those with unwritten stories’
Damian talks to Lisa O’Kelly for The Observer about researching his first novel set in South Africa, being edited by Diana Athill, and the book he can’t bear to finish reading.
Click here to read the full article.
Read More
The Authors' Club Best First Novel Award 2020 - You Will Be Safe Here Shortlisted
I’m delighted that You Will Be Safe Here has been shortlisted by the The Authors' Club for their Best First Novel Award 2020. Peer recognition this profound is rare and I couldn’t be in finer company - thank you.
Read More
From Our Home Correspondent
Mishal Husain presents pieces by writers and journalists across the UK presenting portraits of life today. This episode will feature pieces by Andrew Green, Garry Owen, Andy Kershaw, Ian McMillan and Damian Barr.
Damian takes us to north Lanarkshire and the South Downs in his quest for glow worms. His search is part journey of discovery and part self-revelation. Along the way, he explains the enduring appeal of these elusive insects at this - or, indeed - any time.
Listen from 1.30pm on Sunday 22nd March 2020.
CLICK HERE to listen.
Read More
Windham-Campbell Prizes - Join us for the live announcement livestream
Established in 2013 with a significant gift from Donald Windham in memory of his partner of 40 years, Sandy Campbell, the Windham-Campbell Prizes are among the richest and most prestigious literary prizes on earth. The community, camaraderie, diversity, and inclusive nature of the Prizes honors the spirit of their lives. Eight prizes of $165,000 are given covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama.
Join us for the live announcement, hosted by Damian Barr, streamed on windhamcampbell.org
Tune in 19th March: 7PM GMT, 3PM EDT, 12 PM PDT, 12:30. AM (Friday) IST, 6AM (Friday) NSW
Read More
Damian Barr, author of the poignant debut novel - You Will Be Safe Here chats to John Maytham
It was a pleasure to be interviewed by John Maytham on my recent tour of South Africa. You can really tell when someone has read you *very closely* and he certainly did. We get through a lot in seven minutes. Thanks for listening. http://www.capetalk.co.za/podcasts/144/the-john-maytham-show/297362/profile-damian-barr-author-of-the-poignant-debut-novel-you-will-be-safe-here-chats-to-john
Read More
Imagine A Country:Ideas For A Better Future
Delighted to have a piece in this collection edited by Val McDermid and Jo Sharp. Imagine A Country: Ideas for a Better Future offers visions of a new future from an astonishing array of Scottish voices, from comedians to economists, writers to musicians. Featuring Ali Smith, Alan Cumming, Kerry Hudson, Jackie Kay, Louise Welsh and many more. I wrote about how it’s hard to imagine the future when we haven’t been taught our own history. Royalties will be split among five Scottish charities: Shelter Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid, Scottish Book Trust, Refuweegee and Reforesting Scotland.
Read More
