Some news: on Friday I will be travelling to Berlin to take part in the Internationales Literaturfestival 2017. The story of how I came to be going to this festival is quite an indirect one... A few months ago, along with some other female writers from various countries who I know via social media, I was trying to figure out whether there was anything we could do in the current political climate to start a network of writers committed to taking action on issues of democracy and human rights. It was during this time that one of these writer friends, Vanessa, who is also chair of Irish PEN, told me about an event being organised in Berlin this autumn, a Congress for Democracy and Freedom, which seemed to have exactly the same aim: writers from all over the world coming together to discuss what could be done to uphold values of equality and international human rights, and to share perspectives from their own countries.
A few weeks later, after reading the updates on this new event, I contacted the organisers to ask if I could visit to listen to the discussions, and the Berlin Literaturfestival and the British Council invited me to attend as a guest instead. I'll be there mostly in my capacity as a British writer, since the British Council are very kindly sponsoring my visit, but also as a member of PEN Writers' Circle, a human rights group which I decided to join this year, and also (if that isn't already too confusing), as a joint delegate from Italy since I sort of belong to both countries as a writer. I'm really honoured to be part of this event - partly for the opportunity to speak about my work, but mostly for the chance to listen to what these other writers from all over the world have to say. German readers, here's what I'll be involved in during the weekend:
On Saturday 9th September at 10:30pm, a reading and discussion of The House at the Edge of Night / Die langen Tage von Castellamare at the Upper Foyer of Haus der Berliner Festspiele. Details here.
On Sunday 10th September at 7:00pm, a panel of international writers and artists discussing the question 'What Can Art Do?', in the same location, as part of the Congress for Democracy. Details here.
And if you'd like to know more about the congress, here is an article. It would be wonderful to see you there!
A few weeks later, after reading the updates on this new event, I contacted the organisers to ask if I could visit to listen to the discussions, and the Berlin Literaturfestival and the British Council invited me to attend as a guest instead. I'll be there mostly in my capacity as a British writer, since the British Council are very kindly sponsoring my visit, but also as a member of PEN Writers' Circle, a human rights group which I decided to join this year, and also (if that isn't already too confusing), as a joint delegate from Italy since I sort of belong to both countries as a writer. I'm really honoured to be part of this event - partly for the opportunity to speak about my work, but mostly for the chance to listen to what these other writers from all over the world have to say. German readers, here's what I'll be involved in during the weekend:
On Saturday 9th September at 10:30pm, a reading and discussion of The House at the Edge of Night / Die langen Tage von Castellamare at the Upper Foyer of Haus der Berliner Festspiele. Details here.
On Sunday 10th September at 7:00pm, a panel of international writers and artists discussing the question 'What Can Art Do?', in the same location, as part of the Congress for Democracy. Details here.
And if you'd like to know more about the congress, here is an article. It would be wonderful to see you there!
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