Bestselling authors and inspirational thought leaders announced in UEA Live’s spring line-up
By: Communications
Photo: (L-R) Monica Ali. Photographer: Yolande de Vries. Raven Smith. Photographer: Richard Dowker. Courttia Newland. Photographer: Sharron Wallace.
With headliners ranging from literary heavy hitters to up-and-coming social activists, and books that include memoir, political commentary, thriller and speculative fiction, the University of East Anglia’s (UEA’s) UEA Live spring festival returns with a broad spectrum of writers, with tickets going on-sale today (Thursday 16 December).
UEA Live’s spring programme will run from Wednesday 2 March to Wednesday 18 May and sees Festival Co-director KR Moorhead joining forces with bestselling writer Christie Watson, to curate an exceptional series of events featuring some of the most significant working writers in the world today, alongside inspirational thought leaders, whilst also championing inclusivity and accessibility.
To open the season, three-time Booker long-listed author Jon McGregor returns to his childhood home of Norfolk to celebrate the paperback publication of his fifth novel, Lean Fall Stand, which centres around an Antarctic expedition gone wrong. Award-winning, best-selling novelist, Monica Ali, follows with a discussion of her latest novel, Love Marriage, a story about who we are and how we love in today’s Britain.
Third guest, Courttia Newland, is well known for his acclaimed episodes of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe. His latest novel, A River Called Time, is a monumental speculative fiction story of love, loyalty, politics and conscience set in parallel Londons. Next up, New York Times best-selling author Kate Bowler joins from the United States to share her memoir, No Cure for Being Human, which explores how we can find beauty, meaning and truth without having to pretend that life is always getting better.
Joanna Cannon’s first two novels were Sunday Times bestsellers and Richard & Judy Book Club picks, so don’t miss out on an early look at her latest work, the ‘deliciously sinister and irresistibly tense’, A Tidy Ending.
Shon Faye’s writing has appeared in the Guardian, the Independent, and Vice. Her first book, The Transgender Issue, shares how Trans liberation offers the possibility of a more just, free and joyful world for all of us. As the ‘funniest person on Instagram’, it’s no surprise that Sunday Times best-selling author Raven Smith brings humour to his pin sharp, incisive exploration of what it means to be a man in the modern day in Raven Smith’s Men.
Last, but certainly not least are the brilliant sisters Natalie and Naomi Evans, founders of the anti-racism platform, Everyday Racism, to finish off the season with a discussion of their debut book, The Mixed Race Experience, in which they share their experiences of growing up mixed race in Britain.
Christie Watson came to UEA to study Creative Writing in 2007 and is currently Professor of Medical and Health Humanities. She is an award-winning, best-selling writer of fiction and non-fiction and her works have been translated into 23 languages.
Prof Christie Watson said: “I am delighted to be part of the team curating such a special and diverse line-up of incredible writers, thinkers, and change-makers.”
Festival Co-director KR Moorhead said: "Spring is a time for newness, growth, hope, excitement and love, and we here at UEA Live look forward to celebrating all of these things with you, through our spring 2022 programme.”
The UEA Live spring 2022 line-up in full is:
- Wednesday 2 March – Jon McGregor
- Wednesday 9 March – Monica Ali
- Wednesday 16 March –Courttia Newland
- Wednesday 23 March – Kate Bowler
- Wednesday 27 April – Joanna Cannon
- Wednesday 4 May – Shon Faye
- Wednesday 11 May – Raven Smith
- Wednesday 18 May – Natalie and Naomi Evans
Tickets are on sale now at £9 per ticket or £5 for students. Season tickets are available at £63 full price or £54 concessions for all 8 in-person events. There will also be Digital Season Tickets on offer to playback all 8 events online for £30, and book and ticket bundles in collaboration with Jarrold. To book, visit the UEA Live website.
All events will be live in-person at the UEA Lecture Theatre (unless government guidelines advise otherwise) from 7pm-8pm. There will also be author Q&As and the opportunity to buy signed copies of the authors’ books.
For more information on the festival, visit uealive.com
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