Lockdown Literature coming to Leicester

At a book fair last month, I finally achieved a goal I’d set myself more than five years before. Yet, until the opportunity arose, I’d forgotten it was ever on my to-do list.

I’d set this as a target for 2020 – but we all know what became of live gatherings that year. Amid the devastation of the pandemic, missing the chance to take the stage with one of my very short stories was a trivial matter. And then, I suppose, I grew accustomed to doing events online instead.

The story I finally got to read at the open mic (a recording from before the pandemic)

But the open mic session at the book fair reminded me how much I appreciate reading to an in-room audience and listening to other writers reading their work. It also reminded me of the subtle and not so subtle changes wrought by that surreal episode of history and how easy it can be to forget.

So I’m very much looking forward to doing a live event this summer with fellow Inspired Quill author, Clare Stevens. As both of our latest novels are partially set during the Covid 19 pandemic, we’re taking that as our theme. We’ll be discussing our own novels along with some from other authors. If you can get to Leicester in August, we’d love to see you there. Click below for details.

Clare and I plan to explore how that strange slice of history we all lived through has been represented in fiction and would welcome your input.

• Can you recommend any novels set during the Covid 19 pandemic that we ought to include?

(I’ve read several but always have shelf space for more.)

• What aspect of the Covid 19 pandemic do you think would make for good fiction?

All ideas welcome.