March 2009

'Writers in the Community' Showcase
Central Library, Derry
Thursday 2 April
7:30pm - 9:30pm

WELB’s Central Library in Derry is pleased to announce the latest Writers in the Community showcase on Thursday 2 April from 7:30 – 9:30pm that will feature local writers Ellen Factor, Jenni Doherty and James King, hosted by Eamonn Baker from Yes! Publications.

Ellen Factor

Ellen hails from New York but has lived in Derry for sixteen plus years. Poet, filmmaker and dancer Ellen has been working in the arts since the 1980s and has the leg warmers to prove it. For the last three years she has worked with the innovative poetry group Scream Blue Murmur

Originally planning to work as a glamour model, Ellen claims that the economic recession has interfered with her ability to exploit herself for financial gain, so she has turned to poetry instead.

This review of Scream Blue Murmur's performance on their 2008 tour of New Zealand gives an idea also of her solo performance work:

“It is rare for the Howick Library (in New Zealand) to put on poetry shows. We are much more familiar with readings, standard and conventional. But that's not what you get here. With Scream Blue Murmur it's a different breed altogether. The five poets were a delight to watch... We, the audience, were spellbound and involved. It was a 'live show' which lived on long after the hour was over.”

Jenni Doherty

Jenni, originally from Greencastle, Co Donegal, now resident in Derry, is a published poet and author, plus co-editor and contributor to That Land Beyond (1993), Eve... A Celebration of Creative Women (2006), Wonderful World of Worders (2007) and City of Music (2008) all published by Guildhall Press. Her background ranges from bookselling, the public library service, publishing, journalism, performance poetry and organising arts events, (as well as playing pool, walking the dog and refusing to cook).

“What a wonderfully direct yet lyrical poet.” David Stavanger, Australian poet.
“A joy to savour… a lilting euphony, brilliantly observed and translated to rhythmic rhyme… a multi-media experience. ” Wordsart, UK.
“Beautiful and Muse-cruel. If I could show the world what poetry was, I'd show them [her] work.” Rehan Qayoom, London writer.
“Jenni Doherty’s rendition of This Fear of Gods swept [me] along in a torrent of images and fierce emotion.” TM Satterthwaite, WebWorlds.
“[Her] poetry is extraordinarily moving.” Rose Doyle, best-selling Irish Author.

James King

Well-known and respected performance artist and former drama lecturer at the University of Ulster, James King will be reading and performing from his book Moving Pitches recently published by Yes! Publications at the end of 2008.

The book is an exhuberant and colourful record of all his street art performances, mainly in Derry, spanning two decades from 1988 - 2008. During these years, James has performed literally hundreds of street events in the city. His book documents these sometimes controversial, certainly idiosyncratic, street exploits in an unique large format full colour collage of back stories, photos, poems and drawings. His quirky performance work is influenced by the surrealists and Dadaism and may also remind his audience of Spike Milligan’s zany style of performance and word-play plus Banksy’s graffiti art work. James was usually accompanied on the street by his intrepid colleague and great friend, youth and community activist, Eamonn O’Donnell who is prominently featured in Moving Pitches and, pound to a penny, may well put in a shift on the night!

Everyone is welcome to what promises to be a very enjoyable evening. Admission is free and light refreshments are available. Featured books will also be on sale.


For more details please contact Maura Craig at the
Central Library Tel: 02871-272300