Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday 25th March 2022: 7.30pm @ The King’s Arms, Salford. Manchester Writers For Ukraine: An evening of spoken word raising funds for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. With Sarah Butler, Michael Conley, Fat Roland, Peter Kalu, John McAuliffe, Cheryl Martin, Reshma Ruia and Louise Wallwein. Book tickets here…

All funds raised go to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal

#StandWithUkraine

PAST EVENTS

Tuesday 9th March 2022: 7-9pm, Levenshulme Old Library, Cromwell Grove, M19 3QE. I’ll be reading alongside other fabulous female writers in celebration of International Women’s Day. Tickets here…

Thursday 26th November, 2020: 7.30pm, online. Join us to celebrate the launch of Manchester: Something Rich and Strange, edited by Sarah Butler and Paul Dobraszczyk, and immerse yourself in the city’s rich history, hidden spaces and neglected stories, hosted by the editors and featuring contributions from Nick Dunn, Peter Kalu and Morag Rose. Free, sign up here.

Tuesday 15th December, 2020: 1.00pm – 2.00pm, online.
Time to Read virtual events presents Sarah Butler: Ever been curious about how a book makes its journey from an idea in a writer’s head to the shelves of a bookshop or library? Join North West author, Sarah Butler to find out about her writing life and journey to publication. This is a free event, but you’ll need to sign up for a ticket. There will be time for questions. Plus BYOMP (Bring your own mince pies!) 

Thursday 29th October, 2020: 7pm, online. Hosted by The Manchester Writing School at MMU – I will be reading from Jack and Bet alongside Monique Roffey, author of The Mermaid of Black Conch. Tickets are free but you need to register to get full details of the event.

Tuesday 6th October, 2020: 6.30-7.30pm, online. Join me for an in-conversation event about Jack and Bet followed my a Q&A as part of Manchester Libraries’ celebration of Libraries Week. Free, but you need to register to get full details.

Wednesday 27th May, 2020: I’ll be reading at Manchester’s brilliant Bad Language – more details soon. (COVID CANCELLED)

Thursday 19th March, 2020: 6.00pm for 6.30pm start @ Manchester Met Number 70 Oxford Street, M1 5NH. Writers at MMU: I will be reading from my new novel, Jack and Bet, alongside the brilliant Okechukwu Nzelu. Free – tickets available on Eventbrite. (COVID CANCELLED)

Thursday 5th March, 2020: 7.30pm @ Simply Books, Bramhall, Stockport. Join me to launch my new novel, Jack and Bet!

17-18th November, 2018: Not Home exhibition of portraits and stories from people living in unsupported temporary accommodation in Manchester @ The International Anthony Burgess Foundation, 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester. 12.00-15.00 on Saturday; 12.00-16.00 on Sunday.

Saturday 1 July, 2017: 7pm @ The Old Parsonage, Stenner Lane, Didsbury, M20 2RQ. Free entry. Re/Place(d) – stories that are right up your street – From the Gates of Hell to a grand Victorian railway hotel, take a tour of local places through the site-specific short stories of critically acclaimed and award-winning writers Elizabeth Baines, Sarah Butler, Sarah-Clare Conlon, David Gaffney, Nicholas Royle and Adrian Slatcher, set against a backdrop of archive film and photography. Supported by Arts Council England.

Friday 22nd April 2016: 7.00pm @ Gorilla, Manchester: Literary Death Match

Sunday 4th October 2015: 11.00am @ Marlborough Literature Festival, Assembly Room, Town Hall, Marlborough: Breakfast with Tessa Hadley and Sarah Butler

Sunday 4th October 2015: 1.30pm @ Marlborough Literature Festival, Marlborough College, Bath Road, Marlborough: Creative Writing Workshop for adults: developing strong characters

Monday 26th October 2015: 7.30pm @ Verbose, Fallow cafe, 2a Landcross Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6NA: Headlining with Kate Feld and David Gaffney, revisiting our collaboration for the Re/Place writing project at this year’s Chorlton Arts Festival.

Sunday 6th September 2015: 4.00pm @ Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden: Writing and Place workshop for Gladfest.

Sunday 28th June 2015: 2.00-3.00pm @ The Parsonage, 853 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 2SG: Walking The Edge, a conversation about a new commission, walking the edge of Didsbury, for Didsbury Arts Festival

Tuesday 16th June 2015: 7.00pm (for 7.30 start) @ Booka Bookshop, Oswestry: Picador, Pizza and Prosecco, readings and conversation with Sarah Butler, Rebecca Wait and David Whitehouse

Wednesday 20th May 2015: 7.30pm @ PROOF, Manchester Road, Chorlton, Free entry: reading newly commissioned work. Part of Chorlton Arts Festival

Wednesday 15th April 2015: 7pm @ Waterstones, Piccadilly, 203/206 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HD: Supporting the launch of Paul McVeigh’s novel, The Good Son, alongside poet Jo Bell. RSVP: piccadilly@waterstones.com

Thursday 19th March 2015: 7pm @ Tea & Tipple, Forum Books, 18 Market Place, Corbridge: Picador Panel, readings and conversation with Sarah Butler, Emily St.John Mandel and David Whitehouse

Wednesday 18th March 2015: 7pm @ The New Bookshop, 42-44 Main St, Cockermouth: Pizza and Picador, readings and conversation with Sarah Butler, Emily St.John Mandel and David Whitehouse

Tuesday 17th March 2015: 7pm @ Urmston Books, 72 Flixton Road, Manchester: Picador Panel, readings and conversation with Sarah Butler, Emily St.John Mandel and David Whitehouse

Monday 16th March 2015: 7pm @ Pavillion Cafe, Ashton Gardens: Picador at The Pavillion, readings and conversation with Sarah Butler, Emily St.John Mandel and David Whitehouse

Thursday 12th March 2015: 7pm @ Waterstones, 91 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2BW: Launch of BEFORE THE FIRE with additional Manchester-inspired readings from David Gaffney and Kate Feld.

Saturday 7th February 2015: 3.15pm @ Gladstone’s Library Hearth Weekend: How Far Can You Go? What are the issues involved in creating characters who are ‘far away’ from the writer’s own identity and experience?

Monday 26th January 2015: 6.45pm @ Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London: Writing Climate Change, reading from newly commissioned work.

Sunday 15th June 2014: 6.00pm, Chateau de Lavigny, Lavigny, Switzerland: public reading as part of writing fellowship.

Thursday 27th March 2014: 7.30pm @ Blackwells Bookshop, The Precinct Centre, Oxford Road, Manchester. RUINED: Short stories from Long Lost Places, part of Manchester Histories festival. Free!

Monday 17th February 2014: 7.00pm @ The Case Restaurant, Leicester, with Tania Hershman, Diriye Osman and Dave Lordan for The Word Factory. Tickets available online.

Friday 1st November 2013: 10.00am – 4.00pm, writing live at Woolfson and Tay bookshop, 39 Bear Lane, London SE1 0UH as part of The Live Writing Series.

Sunday 29th September 2013: 12.00 @ Merchant’s House, Marlborough. Hiscox Young Authors event, with Peter Hobbs, chaired by Fanny Blake. Part of Marlborough Literature Festival.

Sunday 15th September 2013: 6.00-7.30pm @ Wise Words Festival, Canterbury. Ten Things I’ve Found: I will be paying attention to the lost, the discarded and the overlooked throughout the weekend. Join me for a candlelit discussion of my discoveries, plus readings from Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love.

Tuesday 30th April 2013: 6.30-8.00pm @ The Attic, 33-45 Parr Street, Liverpool. First Words; Debut Authors In Discussion as part of In Other Words, Liverpool Literature Festival.

Saturday 16th March 2013: 12.00-12.40 @ De Montfort University, Leicester. ‘Ten Things I’ve Learned About Literature’ – talk and reading at States of Independence event.

Saturday 2nd March 2013: 1.30-4.45pm @ Coventry University. Keynote speech for Student Writers’ Toolkit.

Wednesday 27th February 2013: 7.30pm @ The Castle Hotel, Oldham Street, Manchester, Guest slot at Bad Language

Wednesday 13th February 2013: 7pm @ The Platform Cafe, Hackney, London. Unvalentine’s Day, an evening of readings, music and comedy loosely themed around love. Free for Ministry of Stories volunteers, tickets £7 for everyone else (all proceeds go to MoS).

Wednesday 6th February 2013: 6.30pm @ International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester, Manchester Launch of Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love

Thursday 31st January 2013: 6.30pm @ Goldsboro Books, London, London Launch of Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love

Wednesday 23rd January 2013: Reading at The Society Club, Soho, with Emma Straub and Emma Chapman – details tbc

Tuesday 22nd January 2013: 7.30pm @ The Old Firestation, Oxford, Short Stories Aloud