The Novel Voices series features Ellah P Wakatama (Senior Research Fellow) in conversation with debut authors about their craft and the journey to shaping their first, published full body of work. These works will span across genres as the series seeks to explore a range of narratives that reflect the new voices that have and will be shaping the literary landscape of 2021.

The third online event in the series welcomes novelist Nicola Garrard and editor, Joan Deitch. Nicola has taught English in secondary schools for twenty-three years, including fifteen years at an Islington comprehensive. Shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize and the Mslexia Children’s Novel competition, 29 Locks is Nicola’s first book, and is dedicated to the memory of her former pupil, Mahad Ali, who was brutally murdered by a gang in 2017 at the age of 18. Nicola lives in Sussex with her wife, three children and a Jack Russell terrier called Little Bear. Her family is typical of modern Britain, with roots in England, Scotland and Trinidad.

Joan Deitch’s first publishing job was as a lowly editorial assistant for WH Allen, now part of the Virgin publishing empire, and it was there that she started to learn her trade. After becoming a freelance, Joan worked for several big publishers as a regular copy editor and proof-reader, specialising in crime and ‘women’s fiction’. While volunteering at Women in Publishing, Joan met Rosemarie Hudson, pioneering publisher of Black and Asian writers since the 1990s, and the founder and publisher of HopeRoad. They became friends and collaborators, and early on were proud to publish beautiful titles like One Bright Child by Patricia Cumper, and the seminal Brixton Rock by Alex Wheatle CBE. Joan copy edited those books and went on to work with Rosemarie on many others, including the very recent – and unforgettable – In the Company of Men by Veronique Tadjo, and 29 Locks.

This event is presented in partnership with Creative Manchester and the Centre for New Writing.

Tickets are £3 or free for students. You can also add a copy of either or both novels at a 15% discount. Shipping is included to the UK only.

Please note: this event will be live-streamed. You will be sent a link to join this online event when ticket sales end at 5.30pm on the day.

Please note you must log into Zoom before clicking the joining link and use the same email address to book your tickets as you use for your Zoom login.