28 October 2011

Dundee Literary Festival - weekend events

The Dundee Literary Festival 2011 draws to a close this weekend with an exciting programme covering everything from forensics to food, music to murder, stanzas to psychology, comics to comedy, and the unpublished to the undead.

No fewer than 10 events will take place at University of Dundee venues during Saturday, while the following day will see this year’s festival sign off in style when some of the biggest names from the world of comics assemble for the Dundee Comics Day 2011.

Saturday's events kick off with advice for those looking to get their work into print when a panel of experts from the publishing industry discuss the merits of the 'Self-Publish And Be Damned' option.

The ever-popular 'Poem and a Piece' series concludes when Chris Powici discusses how the man-made and natural worlds overlap in his poetry, while a hilarious spoof lecture ‘Zombies IZ’ will see Theoretical Zombiologist Dr Austin explain how an attack by the undead might occur, and how we might stop it.

The University's 'Million For A Morgue' appeal will receive a boost when the husband-and-wife team Nicci French and best-selling crime author Val MacDermid take part in fundraising events for the campaign, which is being spearheaded by Professor Sue Black, Director of the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID).

The fundraising aims to enable the University to build a new morgue, which will allow researchers to adopt the Thiel method of embalming to give surgeons, dentists, students and researchers a more realistic method of testing techniques, practising procedures and developing new equipment and approaches.

Professor Black provides expert guidance to some of the world’s leading crime writers, including Val MacDermid. The ‘Criminally Good’ event will see the duo form a darkly comic double act to discuss their working relationship, the scientific accuracy of Val’s work and the importance of the campaign.

Lorraine Wilson, Tom Doyle and Allan Brown, who have all written books about their musical passions, will discuss the perils and pleasures of music writing when they come together for 'The Soundtrack To A Country'.

Music continues to play an important part to the day when two books are officially launched to round off the day. International short story anthology New Writing Dundee 6 will be launched with readings from some of its contributors, while the long-awaited 'Parlour Café Cookbook' will also be unveiled, with food, wine and music from Panda Su and AutoDisco DJs helping to celebrate the event.

'It's a hectic schedule, but one which has something for everyone,' said Festival Director Anna Day. 'We'll be welcoming some huge names to Dundee and inspiring others to realising their literary dreams. There's a great line-up to bring the Festival to a conclusion for another year.'

Judge Dredd creator John Wagner, and Frank Quietly, one of the world’s most sought-after comics artists, are among the top names appearing at this year’s Dundee Comics Day.

Wagner started his long career as a writer at DC Thomson in Dundee before going on to revolutionise British comics in the late 1970s with the creation of Judge Dredd. Quietly has worked on a number of leading titles and collaborated with some of the world’s top comics writers. His stylish artwork has made him one of the most celebrated artists in the comics industry.

Comics Day 2011 will be asking the question, ‘what can comics teach us?’ Among the other leading industry figures giving their views on that subject will be former DC Thomson, Marvel, Dark Horse and DC Comics artist Cam Kennedy, Colin MacNeil, who worked on various 2000AD, Marvel and DC Comics publications, and Robbie Morrison, creator of Nikolai Dante, one of the most beloved characters in British comics.

Comics historian Paul Gravett will be talking about his new book ‘1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die', while Martin Conaghan and Will Pickering, the creators of the Burke & Hare graphic novel, will also appear. Phil Vaughan and Jamie Bryan, who work on the interface between comic, computer games and animation, will discuss this aspect of the industry.

Dr Chris Murray, event organiser and Mlitt in Comic Studies programmer leader at the University of Dundee, said this year's theme is intended to provoke discussion of comics as educational and instructive tools.

'We have managed to put together an absolutely fantastic line-up of renowned international speakers that we're very excited about,' he said. 'John Wagner, Frank Quietly and the other speakers are some of the most sought-after names in the industry. The speakers will reveal what they have learned from a career in comics, and will share their thoughts on the instructive potential of the comics medium.'

An exhibition of artwork and rarely seen items from the popular DC Thomson war comic Commando accompanies the event. Commando is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. The winner of the Dundee Comics Prize will also be announced.

'Wot Comics Taught Me...Dundee Comics Day 2011' takes place at the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, University of Dundee, from 11am-6pm on Sunday, 30th October. Admission is £10/£5 (under 13s) for the whole day, including refreshments.

The fifth Dundee Literary Festival has seen some of the biggest names from the world of fiction, poetry, journalism and the publishing industry take part in a series of workshops, talks, book signings, and readings.

Tickets for all events will be available at the venue on the day.

Notes to editors:

The full programme of Dundee Literary events for Saturday, 29th November is as follows. All events take place at the Dalhousie Building unless stated.

• 9am - 'Self-Publish And Be Damned' with the Publishing Panel (Two-hour event) Tickets cost £5.
• 11am - 'Fiction, Fiction' with David Miller. £3/£2 concessions.
• 12noon - 'Poem and a Piece' with Chris Powici. £5 inc. a sandwich and hot drink.
• 2pm - 'Zombies IZ' with Dr Austin. Free. This event is over-13s only.
• 3pm - 'Chasing the Story' with Andrew Nicoll and Mark Douglas-Home. £3/£2.
• 4pm - 'Blue Monday' with Nicci French. £4. All proceeds go towards the Million For A Morgue Campaign.
• 5pm - 'Criminally Good' with Val McDermid and Sue Black. £5. All proceeds go towards the Million For A Morgue campaign.
• 6pm - 'The Soundtrack To A Country' with Lorraine Wilson, Tom Doyle and Allan Brown. £3/£2.
• 7pm - 'Zombies IZ' with Dr Austin. Free. This event take splace at Dundee University Students Association and is for adults only.
• 7.30pm-late - 'Books, Food and Music' launch of New Writing Dundee 6 and The Parlour Café Cookbook. Free.

The Dundee Comics Day 2011 programme is as follows.

• 11am - '1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die' - Paul Gravett
• 11.30am - 'Burke & Hare' - Martin Conaghan and Will Pickering
• 1pm - John Wagner
• 1.30pm - Robbie Morrison
• 2pm - Colin MacNeil
• 2.30pm - Book signing
• 3pm - Gallery talk on Battlelines exhibition, featuring artwork from Commando Comics
• 3.20pm - Phil Vaughan, Jamie Bryan and Tiger Games
• 3.50pm - Cam Kennedy
• 4.20pm - Frank Quietly
• 5.30pm - Announcement of Dundee Comics Prize Winners and wine reception

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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