Henry Normal: Collected Poems and Other Landfill
Wednesday 4th October
From £12.00 @ The Old Woollen
The very latest and greatest poetry of Henry Normal. 90 minutes that’s been a lifetime in the making. Henry is a writer, poet and TV and Film producer and founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Literature festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival. In June 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to Television.
A Short History of Queer Women – with Kirsty Loehr
Tuesday 10th October
From £12.00 @ Truman Books
Dispensing with the patriarchal “drivel”, this is a little book that packs a big punch against centuries of outrageous straightwashing. The book that reinserts queer women such as Virginia Woolf, Anne Frank, and Lorraine Hansberry, back into history.
A Biography of Yorkshire with Rick Broadbent
Wednesday 11th October
From £5.00 @ Truman Books
Now Then is a biographical mosaic of Yorkshire. Broadbent, goes in search of the soul of England’s biggest county and produces an all-encompassing portrait of a place that has been victimised and stereotyped since the days of Williams the Conqueror. Incorporating social history, memoir, reportage and author interviews, Now Then paints a picture of what it means to be from Yorkshire – both now and back then.
The final installment from Chris Nickson
Thursday 12th October
From £5.00 @ Truman Books
We welcome friend of the shop, and celebrated author of multiple historical crime fiction series, Chris Nickson as he chats about his final book in the Tom Harper series, Rusted Souls. 1920, and Tom Harper is now the Chief Constable of Leeds, just weeks from retirement and a chance to look after his seriously ill wife. Leading the force through the war and the Spanish influenza has taken its toll on him. But three very different cases need to be resolved first: a gang of ex-servicemen committing armed robberies at jewellery shops in the city centre, the blackmail of a philandering Leeds alderman, and the prospect of a gang of shoplifters descending on the town.
Enchanting Beginnings: Promoting literacy through creative storytelling
Saturday 14th October
From £15.00 @ Scrap Creative Reuse
Join Consultant and Storyteller Stories with Liv for an immersive and dynamic workshop morning dedicated to nurturing the magic of literacy and storytelling in early education. Discover the power of open-ended resources to create captivating and interactive storytelling experiences that ignite young minds and foster a lifelong love for learning. Learn innovative strategies that transform storytelling into an immersive adventure, capturing the attention and imagination of even the youngest learners. Attendees will have exclusive access to the Enabling Learning Environment curated by the Leeds for Learning team.
The Mick Ronson Story – Book Tour
Sunday 15th October
From £14.00 @ The Old Woollen
Authors Rupert Creed & Garry Burnett present an evening of stories, archive photos and film clips portraying the life and music of Bowie’s essential sideman- the stunning guitarist, song arranger and album producer Mick Ronson. With musical insights from Ched Cheesman who shared a stage with Mick in the Rats, and the voice and guitar of Bobby Joyce. The authors will be available to sign copies of their new book.
An evening with Adrian Edmondson
Wednesday 18th October
From £20
*** SOLD OUT ***
Discover the story behind Adrian Edmondson’s journey to comedy in this riotous evening of storytelling to celebrate the release of his upcoming memoir, Berserker!
A Room of One’s Own
Sunday 22nd October
From £14.00 @ The Old Woollen
The award-winning Dyad Productions, previously seen at The Old Woollen with “Christmas Gothic”, return with a twenty-first century take on Virginia Woolf’s celebrated pre-TED talk.Take a wry, amusing, and incisive trip through the history of literature, feminism, and gender. Meet Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, Aphra Behn, and Shakespeare’s sister – Judith! Travel to the far-flung future of… 2028. But whatever you do, Keep Off the Grass. Rebecca Vaughan (Female Gothic, Orlando, Dalloway, Austen’s Women, Jane Eyre: An Autobiography) performs Woolf’s 1928 exploration of the impact of poverty and sexual inequality on intellectual freedom and creativity.
Recollections of the Greenham Pioneers with Rebecca Mordan
Monday 23rd October
From £5.00 @ Truman Books
Out of the Darkness reunites the women of Greenham to share their recollections of the highs and lows of camp life, explore how they organised, and uncover the non-violent ways they challenged military, police and cultural forces, all in the name of peace.
Ghost Story Writing An Introduction.
Monday 23rd October
From £15.00 @ The Bobbin Room
Learn to write your own ghostly tales of terror! Join Gothic writer and theatre-maker Adam Z. Robinson (writer of The Book of Darkness & Light, Shivers, Upon the Stair and host of The Ghost Story Book Club podcast) as he guides you through the fundamentals of writing ghost stories. Through a series of exciting writing exercises, you’ll look at ways into penning your own chilling tales, developing and unleashing your skills as a writer. Adam’s workshops are fun, engaging and productive. All you’ll need is a pen, some paper and a willingness to give ghost story writing a go.
Ghosts of Today: Gothic Fiction in 2023
Tuesday 24th October
From £8.00 @ The Old Woollen
We present a special panel with some of the best writers of contemporary Gothic fiction: Andrew Michael Hurley, Kirsty Logan and Lauren Owen.
Genre Bending – with Caroline Bond and Linda Green
Wednesday October 25th
From £5.00 @ Truman Books
Writing in one genre is not enough for these authors, Caroline and Linda both write across different genres – but how does that work? Find out how their books are positioned for different markets and how publishers and readers view a change of direction.
A Warning to The Curious – Candle-Lit Ghosts Stories for Halloween
Thursday 26th October
From £13.00 @ The Old Woollen
Two spine-chillers by M R James, the master of the English Ghost Story, performed in candlelight by Farsley favourite Robert Lloyd Parry of Nunkie Theatre, who appeared as the author in Mark Gatiss’s BBC2 Documentary ‘M R James: Ghost Writer.’ “Lost Hearts” was among the first stories the author wrote and it offers one of his most memorable villains, the predatory scholar Mr Abney. It is paired here with perhaps James’s most poignant and personal work, “A Warning to the Curious”, in which a young archaeologist is haunted and hunted by the guardian of an ancient treasure.
Writing and Publishing Short Stories – with Tom Conaghan
Sunday 29th October £10.00
Truman Books
Are you interested in writing and publishing short stories? Tom will talk about what makes the most accomplished stories; how best to listen to inspiration and then how to edit them to create rich and particular stories. Tom will also discuss magazines and journals to submit to, how to progress to increasingly prestigious periodicals and – once you have enough stories – how to approach agents and publishers with a collection.
An evening with Paterson Joseph
Tuesday 31st October
From £12.00 @ The Old Woollen
An evening with beloved British actor and writer, Paterson Joseph. Recently seen on Vigil and Noughts and Crosses, he has also starred in Peep Show and Law & Order UK and he plays Arthur Slugworth in the forthcoming Wonka movie. The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sanchois is Paterson’s debut novel.
Quantum Sauce Does Farsley Lit Fest
Wednesday 1st November
From £6.00 @ The Old Woollen
SCIENCE + ART + BEER = MIND EXPANSION
With a tie in to the themes inspired by Farsley Literature Festival, three experts speak for thirty minutes each on: Prof Ruth Robbins – “I wants to make your flesh creep…” – Haunting The Victorians. Dr Jim Leary – Footmarks: An Archeology of Movement. Prof Karl Sprachen – The Rise & Rise of Alternate Subcultures in Leeds
Let’s Get Lit: Family
Wednesday 1st November
From £5.00 @ The Bee Hub
Step into a world where imagination knows no bounds, where stories come to life with every twist and turn of the tale. Guided by our experienced storyteller, children will use the captivating objects from The Story Suitcase to weave their own unique story adventures. From a sparkling key that opens hidden doors to a mysterious map leading to uncharted lands, the possibilities are as limitless as their creativity. What will we discover? An enchanting session designed for young adventurers aged 2 to 8 years. Booking is essential.
Let’s Get Lit: Babies
Wednesday 1st November
From £5.00 @ The Bee Hub
Using the magic of stories we will explore the many ways we can bring books to life through storytelling and sensory play. The building blocks of communication start from the moment our little ones are born and through stories, play and song we will get them ready for the big adventure of life. These relaxed sessions are a chance for bonding time, memory making and connecting with other parents.
Kids Day!
Tom Palmer
Thursday 2nd November
From £2.00 @ The Old Woollen
10:00am – 11:00am
Join children’s football author (and Leeds Fan) Tom Palmer, to launch two new books, Football’s Greatest Moments and Soccer Diaries. There’ll be a quiz, a penalty shoot out and lots of chat about all the amazing fiction, non-fiction, magazines and websites you can read about the beautiful game.
Suitable for ages 7-12
Tickets for the full Kids day are available to purchase from the link below!
Kids Day!
Hannah Durkan
Thursday 2nd November
From £2.00 @ The Old Woollen
11:30am – 12:30pm
Join children’s author Hannah Durkan to design your own steampunk contraptions in a workshop. Hannah Durkan is the author of the Zeina Starborn series, a fantasy adventure series filled with inventions, explorers and mighty sea whales!
Suitable for ages 7-12
Tickets for the full Kids day are available to purchase from the link below!
Kids Day!
Kate Pankhurst
Thursday 2nd November
From £2.00 @ The Old Woollen
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Join best-selling illustrator and author of the best-selling Fantastically Good Women series, Kate Pankhurst fir this Fantastically Great draw-along workshop. Get your pencil cases ready as Kate explores how o bring the past to life with the time travelling power of a pencil. We’ll be sketching suffragettes in the Votes for Women newspaper, designing Mexican inspired self-portraits in the style of Frida Kahlo and TOP SECRET … creating case files to document the work of World War II undercover agent, Noor Khan.
Expect drawing games, doodle delights and lots of inspiration to change the world with your drawing skills.
Suitable for all ages
Tickets for the full Kids day are available to purchase from the link below!
Kids Day!
Phil Earle
Thursday 2nd November
From £2.00 @ The Old Woollen
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Reading and writing is simply playtime: the opportunity to go on any imaginative journey you please. Join, best-selling, award-winning author Phil Earle as he talks about where ideas come from, and how you can be a writer too.
Suitable for age 8+
Tickets for the full Kids day are available to purchase from the link below!
The Story Bus Visits Farsley Lit Fest
Thursday 2nd November
Free @ The Weavers Yard
Join us at The Weavers Yard just outside of The Old Woollen to visit the Story Bus on Kids Day! Bring along your library card and choose a fantastic book!
No need to book a ticket just come on down and discover the bus! Click on the link below to find out more information on the Story Bus and its origins.
Kate Pankhurst – We Are All Astronauts
Friday 3rd November
From £3.00 @ The Bobbin Room
Join best-selling author/illustrator Kate Pankhurst to meet the shining star of her latest book We Are All Astronauts – young astronaut in training, Luna Scope. Dive into into the Milky Way with Luna as she discovers exactly what it takes to become a space explorer. A session fizzing with space facts, female pioneers of STEM and space travel, dressing up and drawing.
Suitable for families with children aged 5-9.
An Evening with Lucy Cooke
Saturday 4th November
From £13.50 @ The Old Woollen
Lucy will be talking about her latest book, BITCH: A REVOLUTIONARY GUIDE TO SEX, EVOLUTION AND THE FEMALE ANIMAL, in which she introduces the animals and scientists who are reinventing the female of the species. This critically acclaimed best-seller will change how you think about sex, sexual identity and sexuality in all animals, including us. One of the Telegraph’s top 50 books of 2022, BITCH was adapted into the BBC Radio 4 series Political Animals and is now on the syllabus at UCL, Princeton and other major international universities.
Roma Agrawal: Nuts and Bolts
Monday 6th November
From £8.00 @ The Old Woollen
Roma discusses her new book Nuts and Bolts examining seven humble inventions that have made an extraordinary contribution to the world around us – the nail, the wheel, the spring, the magnet, the lens, the string and the pump. From the evolution of Egyptian construction to modern skyscrapers, Neanderthal string to musical instruments, Roma shows us how even our most sophisticated items are built on the foundations of ancient and fundamental breakthroughs. Whether you are an engineering enthusiast or just curious about the evolution of the world around you, be sure to book your ticket for this talk and hear from a true leader in her field.
Writers’ Open Mic Night
Wednesday 8th November
Free @ Farsley Library
Join us for a relaxed evening celebrating and sharing local writing. Whether you are a budding poet, have begun work on your own novel or are an experienced published writer, we want to hear from you. Writers are invited to read a 5 minute taster of their work. Tickets are also available for
audience members to enjoy the evening and be inspired.
Festive Late Night Book Shopping
November 9th
Free @ Truman Books
Join us for some mulled wine, mince pies and recommendations for the perfect book present for your loved ones.
Chris Kamara
November 10th
From £22 @ Truman Books
We are delighted to announce that former Leeds United and Bradford City footballer and broadcasting legend Chris ‘Kammy’ Kamara will be joining us in the shop to meet fans and sign copies of his book, KAMMY: MY UNBELIEVABLE LIFE.
Crime Night – The Psychologists View
Sunday November 12th
From £10.00 @ The Old Woollen
Join us in the Old Woollen for Crime Night – The Psychologists View with Leona Deakin and Lesley McEvoy, chaired by JM Hall. Ticket prices to our individual Crime Night sessions are £10. If you wish to attend both Crime Night sessions, you can purchase a ticket for just £15.
Crime Night – Yorkshire Crime
Sunday November 12th
From £10.00 @ The Old Woollen
Crime and Yorkshire Crime in particular, is always extremely popular with our customers at Truman Books. With that in mind we are bringing you an evening featuring some of Yorkshire’s finest crime writers, in a panel style event. Ticket prices to our individual Crime Night sessions are £10. If you wish to attend both Crime Night sessions, you can purchase a ticket for just £15.
An evening with Dr Amir Khan
Tuesday 14th November
From £12.00 @ The Old Woollen
we are excited to announce an evening with full-time Bradford GP, bestselling author and resident doctor for ITV’s Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, Dr Amir Khan. How (Not) To Have an Arranged Marriage, follows the adventures of a young Muslim student doctor as he is torn between his traditional family and his heart.
Treasures on Tour – Fantastical Collections
Wednesday 15th November
Free @ Farsley Library
Peer through portals, be unnerved by the uncanny, frolic with fairies or embark on an epic quest as we explore some of the treasures of Leeds Libraries’ special collections. This event is suitable for adults and young people.
An Evening with Professor Alice Roberts
Thursday 16th November
From £20.00 @ The Old Woollen
For this event Alice will be taking about her book “Ancestors: A history of Britain through burials”. What can a grave tell us about a person and past lives? From the Bronze Age to the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons, Alice Roberts explores how burial archaeology sheds light on ancient societies, and looks at how genetics is completely revolutionising what we know about the past.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock: The Art of Stargazing
Sunday 19th November
From £8.00 @ The Old Woollen
Maggie will take us on a tour of the constellations with her new book The Art of Stargazing, sharing her expertise and unique insights into the marvellous world of stars, exploring the science, history, culture and romanticism behind these celestial bodies. If you want to learn more about the night sky then book a ticket and let Dr Maggie take you to the stars.
Book Lovers Quiz Night!
November 19th
From £10 @ The Old Woollen
We are exited to bring you the return of Gary Wigglesworth, author of The Book Lover’s Quiz Book, who will be hosting our very own Book Lovers Quiz Night. Join us for what is sure to be a fun night with great prizes to be won!
The aim of all Gary’s quizzes, and this book, is that people should have fun and be able to guess (if they don’t know) as much as possible. There are lots of multiple-choice questions, some amusing answers, clever red herrings, little-known facts about authors and the much-loved Say What You See picture round.