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National Centre for Writing

@writerscentre

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A literature development agency based in Norwich, UNESCO City of Literature.

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Absolutely over the moon that Tiger’s Last Roar has been shortlisted for the East Anglian Book Awards, alongside so many brilliant books. Especially in 2026, The National Year of Reading!

The story was originally inspired by our little local rescue cat, so it feels extra special to be part of a list shining light on our region.

I’m still pinching myself that I get to work with the utterly incredible @_katiecottle , whose illustrations knock my socks off every time I see them! Making this book with Katie and the fab folk @templarbooks was a dream come true, and being shortlisted is the icing on the cake!

Thank you so much to @writerscentre and @eadt24 . 📚 🐯 🐈 🥰

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friends, artists, dreamers old and new across London, Norwich, and Geneva

hugely grateful to have been able to meet @nashwanasreldin and her team at @writerscentre in Norwich, and to speak at the Dragon Hall Social. glad to hang out with fellow (physical) residents @aj_low_writers and @ernisallehauthor and bring along work by fellow (virtual) residents @shertinggg and @chrysrambles. lovely catching willjharris123 not long after

sheer joy to meet @melhan, my intrepid editor from @gasherpress who helped shepherd ‘azalea dialogues’ into existence, in London. pure coincidence to be able to meet up with @nicolehur and to chat about @hanokreview and poetry.

great honour being able to meet and chat with Dr Ang Swee Chai with @joanofradius about faith, the church in Singapore, and her ongoing work of advocacy for Palestinians

and stalwart friends working in poetry, fiction, theatre, film: @jerroldyam @gaosiudai @sara_merrycan @adedamolalaoye @claireion

and art and extras!

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FROM INDONESIA TO THE WORLD. 🌍

Truly honoured to be featured in ILX Insights 2026, published by the National Centre for Writing, UK, as one of three emerging writers from Indonesia, alongside Teguh Afandi and Ng Lilis Suryani.

Through my essay on storytelling and healthcare, I share a simple belief: Literature and medicine are connected through empathy and humanity.

My heartfelt gratitude to the National Centre for Writing, International Literature Exchange, and Jakarta City of Literature for this wonderful opportunity.

May our stories continue to transcend borders and connect humanity.

#ILXInsights2026 #NationalCentreforWriting #IndonesianWriters #Storytelling #LiteratureAndHumanity

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What a week we've got ahead 😍📚 NBF26: Saturday 24-Friday 30 October.

So much talent and creativity in The City of Stories, come and enjoy! There's a huge variety of events for all types of readers.

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Norwich, join us tonight at 7.30pm for Walk Good: An Evening with @kwame.dawes at Dragon Hall! ✨
Renaissance One presents an evening of poetry, conversation and connection in partnership with National Centre for Writing, with Kwame Dawes reading from across his acclaimed body of work, including his latest book, ‘Sturge Town: Poems’, and the Forward Prize-winning ‘Progeny of Air’. The reading will be followed by a Q&A chaired by curator-producer @melanieabrahamsig 🌟
Taking its title from the warm Jamaican parting blessing
“Walk Good”, the evening will reflect on journeys, literature, acts of blessing and the connections we carry across time and borders. 📖
Grab a ticket if you haven’t already and find event info below, and we’ll see you there! 👇
Tuesday 20 October 2026
7.30-8.30pm
• National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall
115-123 King Street, Norwich, NR1 1QE
Tickets: £10 / £5 concessions
https://bit.ly/4ebG8pu
Programmed in partnership by National Centre for Writing and Renaissance One. Supported by Peepal Tree Press.
@writerscentre @peepaltreepress
#KwameDawes #Literature #Poetry #CarribeanPoetry
#Norwich

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Who Represents the Translator?

I’ll be joined by translator superstars Anton Hur and Sawad Hussain TONIGHT at the National Centre for Writing for a free online conversation about one of the most pressing questions facing literary translators: should translators work with agents? Or do we need something else?

Grab the livestream link here, or watch the recording later:
https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/events/who-represents-the-translator

Tuesday 20 October @ 7-8pm BST

This event is part of my wider advocacy work examining translator working conditions and looking for pragmatic ways to improve the infrastructure around our profession.

And, while I’m here doing a tiny bit of campaigning: if you’re a member of the Society of Authors, you can currently vote in the TA Committee election. If you’d like to see more work on the practical, structural things that shape translators’ working lives, vote Ecre and all your dreams (might) come true! ✨

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What if dystopia is becoming our reality?
What if the promise of a perfect society demanded your silence?

As Brazil returns to the polls, I’m revisiting an article I wrote for Le Monde Diplomatique Brasil last year about my novel, Verty Society, and the fragile boundary between dystopia and reality.

In Verty, peace comes at the cost of freedom. Political and religious power dictates which identities are accepted, which desires are permitted and which voices are heard.

If we elect a far-right candidate, could this dystopia become reality? I hope not.

I imagined this future while looking closely at the present. Writing it was also an act of hope: I believe we can still choose a path that protects democracy, diversity and our freedom to think differently.

I’ve translated the article into English, and you can read it on my Substack:
https://fenelontartari.substack.com

If you enjoy it, I’d love you to subscribe for more fiction, poetry and reflections on technology, identity and what makes us human.

Where do you see the boundary between dystopia and reality becoming blurred? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

#VertySociety #SpeculativeFiction #Literature #Democracy #Substack

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Norwich! Join us for Walk Good: An Evening with @kwame.dawes ✨
On Tuesday 20 October, Jamaica’s Poet Laureate comes to Dragon Hall for an evening of poetry, conversation and connection. Kwame Dawes will read from across his acclaimed body of work, including his latest book, ‘Sturge Town: Poems’, and the Forward Prize-winning ‘Progeny of Air’. The reading will be followed by a Q&A chaired by curator-producer @melanieabrahamsig . Taking its title from the warm Jamaican parting blessing “Walk Good”, the evening will reflect on journeys, literature, acts of blessing and the connections we carry across time and borders. 📖
📅 Tuesday 20 October 2026
7.30–8.30pm
📍 National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall
115–123 King Street, Norwich, NR1 1QE
🎟️ Tickets: £10 / £5 concessions👇
https://bit.ly/4ebG8pu
Programmed in partnership by National Centre for Writing and Renaissance One. Supported by Peepal Tree Press.
@writerscentre @peepaltreepress
#KwameDawes #Literature #Poetry #CarribeanPoetry #Norwich

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Thinking about exploring UNESCO Cities of Literature across the British Isles? We’ve got a curated list just for you:

1. Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo Credit: @canadaintheuk)
2. Dublin, Ireland. (Photo Credits: @chrishillphotographer and @jack_caffrey)
3. Manchester, England. (Photo Credits: @marcos.thatcher and @chethamslibrary)
4. Norwich, England. (Photo Credit: The Forum)
5. Nottingham, England. (Photo Credit: Bromley House Library)

Discover the full list in Link in Bio 🔗

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In the news! @samanthamattockswrites explains why confidence, curiosity, and enjoyment matter in reading far more than what is on the page 👏

What a great message for the National Year of Reading! @go_all_in_2026

Samantha is the author behind the Mister Mishkins series which we're proud to distribute.

Her third book, The Kindness of Mister Mishkins has just been released and is available now from Bookshop.org and other great retailers.

Thanks @eastern_daily_press for the coverage!

#NationalYearOfReading #ChildrensBooks #CatsOfInstagram

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Happy #BookshopDay 📚

We love any excuse to celebrate the incredible bookshops in Norwich City of Literature!

Wherever you are based, we encourage you to #ChooseBookshops and show some love to your local booksellers this weekend.

@BooksAreMyBag

📸 @andisapey Independent brick-front bookshop storefront with large black sign reading "CITY BOOKSHOP", window displays of books, a pavement sandwich board advertising titles, and an adjacent "BOOKS WANTED" notice.

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Some final events for 2026:
1. 28 Oct @backstory.london, Balham. With Roisin Lanigan
2. 6 Nov @stroudbookfestival with @leighauthor
3. 7 Nov @writerscentre with @tomhuddleston_
4. 14 -19 Dec @arvon__ The Hurst, Shropshire, teaching fiction

Hope to see you at one of these!

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