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Wiglanta

@wiglanta

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50% Wigan / 50% ATL ✊🏽
Hear me talking about my unpublished memoir below or watch me discussing my DNA journey on Youtube👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

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In May 2019 I first went to Cultureword (then known as Commonword). I had been writing on and off long before then but the minute I walked into the room I knew I had found my writing home.

Every Wednesday I turned up to the Identity workshop (which I think has been running for almost 30 years now) and read out my work. I listen to the feedback and rewrote for the following week.

It was a long hard slog but I don't think I would ever have finished my first novel without many of the people in the pictures above. In particular Peter Kalu, (in the middle), who is just the most enthusiastic and generous writer. (And his memoir Act Normal is a roller-coaster of a must-read)

They have all become friends over the years and when I'm not on tour I still drop into the Identity workshops.

#TheMercyStep #Debutnovel #womensprizeforfiction

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When Oprah announces that she's reading your book, all you can do is grab your friends and party! Thanks to fifty of my closest confidants who came out last night to help me celebrate.

#oprah #TheMercyStep #DebutFiction #womensprizeforfiction

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A great turnout for this evening's talk at Haydock Library with David Yeates, as he tells his story of 'From Wigan to Atlanta' 😊

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Join us at the Museum at 4.30pm on Saturday, 7 November, for a fascinating talk by David Yeates.

In 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑾𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝑨𝒕𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂, he'll share his life story and reflections on his heritage and identity which form the basis of his upcoming memoir 📖

David Yeates grew up in 1970s Ashton-in-Makerfield knowing he was different... but not knowing why.

In early adulthood he discovered he was the son of Steve Belcher, a black GI based at Burtonwood Air Base 🪖

In 2002, David travelled to Atlanta to meet his father for the first time, took a DNA test, and was welcomed into his extended African American family.

Tickets are FREE but must be booked in advance. Visit wmag.culturewarrington.org/whats-on

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John Lennon Isolation Cover Live at Miami, FL (Nov. 9th, 2020).

John Lennon's *Isolation* is one of the most intimate and emotionally vulnerable songs ever written.

For this cover, I recorded **every instrument myself**—lead vocals, piano, bass and Hammond organ—trying to stay as faithful as possible to the spirit and arrangement of the original recording.

🎧 **Headphones are highly recommended** for the best experience and to fully appreciate the multitrack production and stereo mix.

If this performance moved you, I'd truly appreciate a **Like, Comment, Share and Save**. Every interaction helps this music reach more people who love John's incredible legacy.

Which John Lennon solo song should I record next?

#johnlennoncover #plasticonoband #johnlennontribute #johnlennonplasticonoband #johnlennonsolo #johnlennonbeatles #johnlennonimagine #johnlennonwall #workingclasshero #watchingthewheels #johnlennonfans #johnlennonforever #gimmesometruth

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What is it like to have your family story go viral?

David Yeates (@wiglanta) is a cold war 'brown baby' who took part in our Reclaiming History Through Science project. His video interview telling of his search for his biological father has had over 500k YouTube views since it was published in April last year.

Read David's reaction to so many people engaging with his life history on @themixedmuseum's blog and watch the full video on TMM's YouTube channel, along with other wartime and postwar 'brown babies' stories. Links in TMM bio!

#mixedrace #BlackGIs #wigan #atlanta #dnatesting

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I've been attending Cultureword's weekly writing workshops for almost seven years now.

There's nothing like spending all day working on a new chapter and then getting to read it to your writing peers in the evening.

I have been reading my work to this group for so long that I know and trust their opinions.

Everybody loved the first chapter of my new novel (which is unusual, as they all usually tell it like it is 😯).

So I'm ending the day on a fabulous writers high! (Just got to write the rest of the book now 🤣)

#themercystep
#debutnovel
#womensprizeforfiction
#booksellerdiscoveraward

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A tribute to Alfonso Buller RIEP,- a story from his early years when he danced up a youth club storm! The full version is on my Substack. His family has a fundraiser on gofundme for his final farewell. For all the happiness he brought us, donate if you can!

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The best wedding with the best people

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A brilliant evening at the house of books and friends for the launch of Pete Kalu's Memoir Act Normal. it was also his birthday, Happy birthday Pete!

#ManchesterWriters #Blackwriters #ActNormal #BlackHistoryMonth

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If you have a spare ten minutes head over to the Brown Babies Project. I met David in a creative writing class. He's writing his memoir. He grew up as the only brown child in a very white Wigan family with no one saying a word, for over twenty years.

When he was seven he asked his dad why he was a different colour and his dad burst into tears and said 'ask you mum'. When he asked his mum she said, 'now look what you've done!'

#mixedrace
#mixedracebabies
#memoir
#memoirwriting

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#family
#Atlanta
🍑
#ATL
#atlantageorgia #SWAtlanta #eastpoint
#atlga #georgia #GA
#middayplanetogeorgia

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