2010-2015 Archive

Image of Joanne HarrisJennifer Robertson

A map dating from 1900 of Pomona Island, Manchester superimposed over a modern map

An illustration of a baby, Little Dean

Jenn Ashworth and Nermin Yildirim discuss Manchester Letters

Nicky Hardman & Ding Liying in Manchester Town Hall

  • Image of Joanne Harris
  • A map dating from 1900 of Pomona Island, Manchester superimposed over a modern map
  • An illustration of a baby, Little Dean
  • Jenn Ashworth and Nermin Yildirim discuss Manchester Letters
  • Nicky Hardman & Ding Liying in Manchester Town Hall

A Writer's Manifesto – Joanne Harris
A Writer’s Manifesto was an original provocation commissioned by Writers Centre Norwich and Manchester Literature Festival. It was delivered at Martin Harris Centre on 19th October 2015 as part of MLF’s 10th anniversary, and was followed by a panel discussion including Joanne Harris, Lemn Sissay, Geoff Ryman and chair Ellah Allfrey. The commission was part of WCN’s National Conversation, a year-long discussion about the issues that matter to writers and readers.

Pomona Fair – Claire Dean
Openstories and Manchester Literature Festival co-commission original writing to be performed at the Blog North Awards during the Festival. In 2014 we commissioned writer Claire Dean to write Pomona Fair, a short story which was read with accompanying illustration projections at the Blog North Awards evening at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, on 8 October 2014.

A Short Guide to The Future – Chris Killen
In 2013 we commissioned author and blogger Chris Killen to write A Short Guide to The Future, the following short story which was read with accompanying video and illustration at the Blog North Awards evening at Gorilla, Manchester on 16 October, 2013.

The Blog North Awards is supported by Arts Council England and sponsored by The Deaf Institute and 34SP.com. You can find out more about the competition and the event on the Blog North Awards website

Manchester Letters – Jenn Ashworth & Nermin Yildirim
In 2012 MLF commissioned an online correspondence between UK author Jenn Ashworth and Turkish writer Nermin Yildirim. Over the course of several months, they shared insights into their working lives; discussing works in progress, sources of inspiration and how their social and political environments impacts on their creativity. They also took part in joint events at MLF and ITEF Instanbul Tanpinar Literature Festival.

You can read about their correspondence on the Manchester Letters blogsite.

Manchester Translation – Ding Liying & Nicky Harman
Manchester Literature Festival commissioned the first English translation of the short story Family Secrets by Shanghai writer Ding Liying. The story was translated by Nicky Harman and presented at a live discussion event programmed in association with the Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester on October 19th 2010. You can download the English version of the story above. Family Secrets also featured in Shi Cheng, Short Stories from Urban China published by Comma press.