Damian announced as Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Damian announced as Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature

So here’s some news I never imagined sharing. I’ve been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Some days I still can’t believe I get to be a writer: to have my books on shelves with names who change the world & how I see it. I grew up in a council house - today I’m a Fellow of the RSL. So thank you to them and the board. And thanks to my agent Clare Conville for always inspiring me and to every editor and reader who has taken a punt on my words. And thanks most of all to my Mum for showing me everybody has a story.

Read More
Guest UserRoyal Society of Literature, FRSL, RSL, Damian Barr
Damian Barr, Catherine Cho, Frances Wilson to judge Life Writing Prize 2021
Damian Barr, Catherine Cho, Frances Wilson to judge Life Writing Prize 2021

Damian Barr, Catherine Cho and Frances Wilson are to judge Spread the Word’s Life Writing Prize 2021, which opens for entries on 2nd November 2020.

The prize, which is in its fifth year, offers the winner £1,500, an Arvon course, a writing mentor, two years’ membership of the Royal Society of Literature, and an optional development meeting with an agent and editor. Two highly commended writers each receive £500 and mentoring. It is for emerging writers who have not yet published full-length works and are not represented by literary agents.

The closing date for entries is 1 February.

For more info on how to enter click HERE.

Read More
Guest UserLife Writing Prize 2021, Life Writing Prize, Damian Barr, Catherine Cho, Frances Wilson, Spread the Word, Arvon course
The Big Scottish Book Club is back and this time it’s even bigger!
The Big Scottish Book Club is back and this time it’s even bigger!

Following the critical success of the first series, Series Two will have eight episodes. The show will feature writers from across Scotland and around the UK, representing a thrilling spectrum of styles and genres, from fiction to non-fiction and poetry. We’ll hear from some world-famous writers as well as celebrating emerging talents, including world premieres of new books. Here's the full line up for the series:

Read More
Big Scottish Book ClubAmy VeryBBC, BBC Scotland, The Big Scottish Book Club, Damian Barr
Salon LIVE Online: Dolly Alderton with Damian Barr
Salon LIVE Online: Dolly Alderton with Damian Barr

Friday 23rd October 8-9pm (UK time)

Dolly Alderton goes deep on love, laughter and loss in her debut novel Ghosts.

Dolly Alderton really is our Nora Ephron – her observations, in her writing or on the High Low podcast, go right to the heart of whatever she’s trained her generous attention on. She makes us laugh and she makes us think and she reveals the profundity of seemingly everyday dramas. Her first novel, Ghosts, follows the runaway success of her memoir Everything I Know About Love.

Read More
Guest UserDamian Barr, Dolly Alderton, Salon LIVE Online, Ghosts, Debut novel, YouTube
Creative Conversations: Damian Barr
Creative Conversations: Damian Barr

The University of Glasgow is at the forefront of the flourishing creative writing scene in Scotland, so it’s a particular honour to be invited to take part in their Creative Conversation series. This year’s program features Bernardine Evaristo, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and Sandy NicDhòmhnaill Jones, among others.

You can register for this free event HERE.

Read More
Guest UserUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow, Creative Conversations
Shelf Isolation nominated at Edinburgh TV Festival Awards!
Shelf Isolation nominated at Edinburgh TV Festival Awards!

Thrilled that Shelf Isolation is up for an award at the Edinburgh TV Fest. Thank you to all my guests and biggest thanks of all to you for watching and sharing your enthusiasm for books and other joys on telly.

Edinburgh TV Awards 2020 nominees for Creativity In Crisis are:

Grayson's Art Club

History Hit Live

Hospital: Fighting Covid-19

Shelf Isolation

The Martin Lewis Money Show: A Coronavirus Special Live

The Big Night In

The Creativity in Crisis Award recognises the amazing content which is emerging at such a moment of crisis; stand out programming that has defied the odds and showcased creative brilliance.

Read More
Guest UserShelf Isolation, Edinburgh TV Awards, IWC Media, BBC Scotland
Damian Barr Longlisted for HWA Debut Crown Award 2020
Damian Barr Longlisted for HWA Debut Crown Award 2020

I'm honoured to be longlisted for 'HWA Debut Crown for the best work by a first-time historical fiction author' alongside: Rosanna Amaka, Sara Collins, Anita Frank, Juliet Grames, Louise Hare, Jane Healey, Tomasz Jedrowski, Jing-Jing Lee, Elizabeth Macneal, Kate Morrison and Lauren Wilkinson.

Congratulations all and thank you to the judges! Discover more about the awards at www.historiamag.com/hwa-crowns-longlists-2020.

Read More
Guest UserDamian Barr, HWA Debut Crown Award 2020, HWA Debut Crown Award 2020 longlist, You Will Be Safe Here, Bloomsbury
Salon On Demand!
Salon On Demand!

In VERY exciting news you can now watch full Salon interviews, including the Q&A, with Salon On Demand! Don’t worry if you missed it live, you can still buy a ticket and access a special private YouTube film of the event. Now you can pause mid-thought to put the kettle on or fix yourself another cocktail. For just £5 you can watch anywhere, anytime, as many times as you like.

In our first Salon on Demand, Damian interviews SJ Watson, author of the global smash Before I Go To Sleep, about his dark new novel Final Cut. They also talk about breaking into publishing, being a working-class writer and how to plot a thriller.

SJ's jumpy new story is all about time and memory - how and what we remember and how and what we try to forget. It follows ambitious young documentary filmmaker Alex who wants to document life in a small village and finds herself mysteriously drawn to Blackwood Bay. Once prosperous it’s now run-down, and behind the faded facades there are more secrets than Alex could ever hope to find… Nothing exciting ever happens in Blackwood Bay – or does it?

It's a joy to have SJ back at the Salon as he continues pushing the boundaries of the genre he’s celebrated for reinvigorating.

Salon On Demand tickets are just £5 and available here. Enjoy!

Read More
Guest UserFinal Cut, Damian Barr, Damian Barr's Literary Salon, SJ Watson, YouTube, Salon On Demand
Edinburgh Book Festival Online 15th-31st August 2020
Edinburgh Book Festival Online 15th-31st August 2020

This year the Edinburgh International Book Festival will be curating a special online edition of the festival from 15th-31st August, enjoy events for adults and children for free. Through the magic of technology, they’ll be crossing continents and time zones to beam events from more than 30 countries straight into your home. There will also be digital chatrooms and Q&A sessions, and you'll even be able to meet the author and get your books signed (selected events).

You can catch Damian throughout the festival when he’ll be talking to Garth Greenwell, Douglas Stuart and Andrew O’Hagan.

Click HERE for more info on how to watch the events.

Read More
Guest UserEdinburghAndrew O'Hagan, Damian Barr, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Book Festival Online, Douglas Stuart, Shuggie Bain, Garth Greenwell, Cleanness
A conversation between Armistead Maupin and Damian Barr
A conversation between Armistead Maupin and Damian Barr

To commemorate London Pride 2020, the British Library have released a conversation between Armistead Maupin and Damian Barr, recorded at the British Library Knowledge Centre on 10 February 2014. Maupin was touring the world promoting the final instalment of Tales of The City, which was entitled The Days of Anna Madrigal.

Read More
London PrideAmy VeryArmistead Maupin, Tales of the City, Damian Barr, British Library, The Days of Anna Madrigal, London Pride 2020
Salon LIVE Online: SJ Watson with Damian Barr
Salon LIVE Online: SJ Watson with Damian Barr

Salon LIVE Online: SJ Watson with Damian Barr

Thriller time! And another world premiere! Damian Barr interviews SJ Watson, author of Before I Go To Sleep, about his dark new novel Final Cut.

This jumpy new thriller is all about time and memory - how and what we remember and how and what we try to forget. Flitting between Now and Then, the story follows an ambitious young documentary filmmaker who’s struggling to live up to the promise of her first hit. She gets the idea of making a film about life in a small, northern village and finds herself mysteriously drawn to a town called Blackwood Bay. Once gilded and busy it’s now run-down and ghostly and behind the faded facades there are more secrets than our filmmaker could ever have hoped to find… Nothing exciting ever happens in Blackwood Bay – or does it?

We’re delighted that SJ Watson is returning to the Salon for another world premiere, as he continues pushing the boundaries of the genre he’s celebrated for reinvigorating. Here he returns to his favourite themes: memory and identity.

Join SJ Watson and Damian Barr for a thrilling conversation online, Friday 7th August from 8 to 9pm (UK time).

This event will happen via online video platform but only SJ & Damian will be visible and audible and the audience will remain entirely anonymous (so you can wear what you like!).

Tickets are £5 and every ticket bought enters you for the chance to win a copy of Final Cut. Damian will announce the winner at the end of the event.

We look forward to you joining us.

GET TICKETS

Read More
Guest UserDamian Barr's Literary Salon, Damian Barr, Salon LIVE Online, Glasgow, SJ Watson, Final Cut
Imagine Anthology podcast for World Refugee Day
Imagine Anthology podcast for World Refugee Day

Right now, there are, according to the UNHCR, at least 25.9million refugees in the world—the most ever recorded. Every single one of these people has a past and present. Every single one of these people deserves a future. Every single one of these people has a story and some of these feature in a bold new anthology called 'Imagine' and the Salon is sharing some of them in a special episode of our podcast.

The 'Imagine Anthology' is a publishing collaboration between Counterpoints Arts and Visual Editions as part of Refugee Week, featuring poems, stories and essays from diverse voices. Authors including Edmund du Waal, Himesh Patel, Dina Nayeri and Rupi Kaurand have been asked to explore one thing they would most like to change about humanity's future, to consider "making the invisible visible". Themes address global issues such as open borders, hunger, power and shame, as well as reflecting on how our everyday lives - Taekwondo, beekeeping or a front door key - have the potential to be life-changing. Each piece is distinct but collectively they show how we are united in difference.

On June 20th, Damian Barr's Literary Salon will be launching this very special podcast as part of World Refugee Day, you can listen at www.theliterarysalon.co.uk/podcast. You can also read the full anthology at www.imagineanthology.com.

Read More
Guest UserRefugee Week, World Refugee Day, Imagine Anthology, Damian Barr's Literary Salon, Edmund du Waal, Himesh Patel, Dina Nayeri, Rupi Kaurand
How to celebrate Independent Bookshop Week
How to celebrate Independent Bookshop Week

Damian Barr’s Literary Salon will be hosting a virtual bookshop tour during Independent Bookshop Week (20th-27th June) across all their social platforms, celebrating some of the best indies from across the UK.

Every day at 4pm Damian Barr will go live on Instagram with a different independent bookshop, getting a glance at their bookshelves, discussing their ethos, how they’ve coped with lockdown, their favourite books, and more literary loveliness.

Follow @damianbarrliterarysalon on Insta and keep an eye out at 4pm each day to join in.

Click HERE to read the full article about Independent bookshop Week.

Read More
Guest UserDamian Barr, Damian Barr's Literary Salon, Independent Bookshop Week