October is Black History Month, but then there's November...

Last week I was fortunate to go on a Newham Olympic Regeneration tour with the St Luke's Over 60's Club. Standing 21 floors up in the air seeing the vast expanse of construction work taking place below me was awe inspiring. It looks like they're building a brand new city!

It was great hearing opposing views from members of the group: some lamented on the amount of money being spent and the numbers of people forced to move from their homes or lose their business until it was pointed out that nigh on all the work is being carried out on what was contaminated wasteland. I was amazed seeing the giant washing machines... huge machines used to wash the earth during its decontamination. To say I was impressed was an understatement.
The whole trip also left me in no doubt as to whether the 2012 Olympics will be a success. I'm really looking forward to it... and to all the doubters out there - do you remember the Manchester Commonwealth Games?
In the months preceding the opening ceremony there were cries of discord coming from the doubters and cynics saying, "It'll never open on time"... "The stadiums won't be ready"... "It's going to make Britain a laughing stock"... "It's cost too much money"... "What about the local people after the Games are finished?"
I've got 2 words: Manchester City.


Right, back to business. Had a great time hosting a writing career workshop at Green Street Library last week. There was a nice group of writers in attendance and before I knew it, we quickly ran out of time and found ourselves being ushered out through the door, as like Tuesday 14th at The Gate...

However next week the gloves come off. Tuesday 21st October sees erudite novelist and screenwriter, Candace Allen as our guest at Stratford Library at 7pm.

This is just 2 weeks before the US Presidential elections and Candace, a former representative for Barack Obama, scrutinises the chances of him becoming the first black man to hold the keys to the White House. Candace will also discuss her own writing, reading from her novel, Valaida, as she explores her inspirations and motivations in a fascinating look at the late-starting author.

In November we have 2 events to look forward to.

On Wednesday 19th November at 7pm Stratford Library hosts poet, novelist and playwright, Maureen Duffy reading some of her prose as well as poems from her latest collection, Family Values, which is published by Enitharmon Press. Family Values is Maureen's 30th publication and her first poetry collection in over twenty years.

The very next evening, 6.30pm Thursday 20th November, prolific Newham born playwright, Georgia Fitch comes to The Gate Library to talk about writing plays. She will talk about her introduction into the world of theatre and how playwrights maintain their equilibrium in a fast changing landscape.

As I write I'm building up for a major announcement towards the end of the year but right now, hold your horses and don't forget to keep tabs on the blog.

Adios