Author appearances, poetry and spoken word events in London this week
Penguins are the subject of a literary event at London Zoo on Wednesday
Plan Ahead
SHORT STORY FESTIVAL: The first ever London Short Story Festival takes place in June, with panel events, workshops and masterclasses, author Q&As, readings and inspiring writing activities. 20-22 June
Thursday 5 June
BOOK QUIZ: Green Inc, an Irish TV company, is looking for people who enjoy reading to take part in a new quiz on books and literature. It will take place in a Central London location from 9.30am, but will NOT be filmed. If you are interested in taking part, email marie@greeninc.tv. 9.30am
INDIAN ELEPHANTS: Waterstone’s Piccadilly hosts an evening with wildlife photographer Annette Bonnier, whose book, India’s Elephants, features more than 200 full-colour images from her travels through India. The evening consists of a talk illustrated by some of the photos. £5, prebook, 6pm
FAR EAST LITERATURE: Waterstone’s Richmond hosts an evening with authors Dinah Jeffries and Isabel Wolff, both of whom have written novels about the Far East. They discuss the themes of these novels, with readings and audience questions. £3, prebook, 6.30pm
FIRST NOVEL: New author Emma Healey is at Waterstone’s Piccadilly discussing her first novel, Elizabeth Is Missing. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
MOUNT LONDON: Meet Katy Evans-Bush, Gareth Rees and Tom Chivers, three of the contributors to Mount London, an anthology of writing looking at London’s high points. Takes place at Big Green Book Shop. Free, prebook, 7pm
STAND UP POETRY: Bang Said The Gun, billed as ‘stand up poetry for people who don’t necessarily like poetry’ takes place at The Roebuck on Great Dover Street. Tonight’s performers are Nathan Penlington and Captain Of The Rant. £7/£5, just turn up, 8pm
Friday 6 June
LIT FEST: Stoke Newington Literary Festival begins today, and we’re quite stoked (sorry) for this one. Hip-hop Shakespeare, food writers and a sci-fi vs fantasy debate are just some of the highlights of the weekend-long event. Various prices, prebook, until 8 June
LAURIE LEE: The British Library hosts an evening celebrating the life and legacy of Laurie Lee. The writer, poet and artist is probably best known for Cider With Rosie and Red Sky at Sunrise. At this event, well-known literary figures such as Louis de Bernières, Tim Dee, Adam Horovitz, PJ Kavanagh and Brian Patten read from his work and reflect on his life. £8/£6/£5, prebook, 6.30pm
POETRY EVENING: Burn After Reading is a poetry evening run by emerging young poets. This month features Roger Robinson and Will Tyas. Takes place at the Gallery Cafe in Bethnal Green. £3, just turn up, 7pm
ADULT STORYTELLING: The Tea Box in Richmond has an evening of adult storytelling. £6, prebook, 7.3opm
LIPPED INK: With open mic slots, a featured poet and a spoken word session, Lipped Ink at the Poetry Cafe has something for everyone. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm
Saturday 7 June
KEATS FESTIVAL: Ten days of poetry, spoken word, music, dance, film and family activities celebrating the 200th anniversary of Keats writing his first poem begin today. Find out more here and prebook here. Until 15 June
BIG NAME DEATH MATCH: Literary Death Match brings one of its events to Stoke Newington Literature Festival (above), and we have to say, we’re pretty impressed with the line-up. Writers including Joanne Harris (author of Chocolat) go head to head reading their work, to be judged by Viv Groskop and Michael Hogan. £8, prebook, 7pm
Sunday 8 June
SPOKEN WORD: Jazz Verse Jukebox is a variety evening of live music, poetry and spoken word performances at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. There is also an open mic spot for musicians and singers. £8, just turn up, 7.30pm
TORRIANO POETS: At this week’s Torriano Poets meeting, Alan Brownjohn and Leah Fritz read their poetry. £5/£4, just turn up, 7.30pm
SUFI POERTY: There is a Sufi Music and Poetry Night at Poetry Cafe £10/£5, prebook, 8pm
Monday 9 June
JOHN KELLY: Waterstone’s Gower Street host an evening with Irish author John Kelly to celebrate his new book, From Out Of The City. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
JASPER FFORDE: Bestselling author Jasper Fforde is at Wood Green Book Shop to talk about his career in writing and his most recent book, The Woman Who Died A Lot. £3, prebook, 7pm
VARIETY EVENING: Head to Rich Mix for Allsortz, an evening of performances including comedy and spoken word. There are main spots and open mice spots available to performers, more info here. Free, tweet @Allsortz1 to gain entry, 7pm
POETRY SLAM: Hammer & Tongue Poetry Slam returns to the Green Note in Camden. Tonight’s guests are Salena Godden and Paul Cree, plus there’s an open poetry slam. £6/£3, just turn up, 7.30pm
FATHER’S STORIES: Ahead of Father’s Day, Spark Storytelling at Hackney Attic has an evening themed around dads. Go along and listen yo other people’s stories, or get up and tell your own. £4, prebook, 7.30pm
COFFEE HOUSE POETRY: Spend an evening in the company of Pulitzer prize-winning poet and Editor of New Yorker, Paul Muldoon. He’s at Coffee House Poetry at the Troubadour on Old Brompton Road. There will also be live music from Christine Tobin. £8/£7, just turn up, 8pm
Tuesday 10 June
LITERARY SALON: Hidden Prologues, the new monthly literary salon at Radisson Blu Edwardian, takes on the work of author Nick Harkaway, including his latest book, Tigerman. £10, prebook, 6.45pm
LIARS’ LEAGUE: The theme of this month’s Liars’ League storytelling event is the Weird & Wonderful. Takes place at The Phoenix on Cavendish Square. £5, just turn up, 7pm
IMPERIAL PAST: MP Tristram Hunt is at Daunt Books in Marylebone to talk about his new book, Ten Cities that Made an Empire, which looks at Britain’s Imperial past. £8, prebook, 7pm
SPEAKEASY: Drink Shop Do in King’s Cross has a Speakeasy evening, with readings from authors such as MR Carey, Viv Groskop and Tyler Keevil. Free, prebook, from 7pm
EINSTEIN’S THEORY: Pedro Ferreira’s new book, The Perfect Theory, takes a look at Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, and Ferreira is at London Review Bookshop to discuss his book. £10, prebook, 7pm
Wednesday 11 June
FOYLES FESTIVAL: The Foyles Grand Reopening Festival kicks off today, with Michael Palin opening the travel section of the store. Throughout the festival, name such as Hilary Mantel and Jarvis Cocker will be getting involved in the big reopening. More information here. Various prices, prebook, until 5 July
PENGUIN WRITING: Sara Wheeler, a travel writer who has written much about the polar regions, is the latest writer to talk about her work at London Zoo, with specific emphasis on penguins. £12, prebook, 6.30pm
MEMOIRS: Bonnie Greer talks about her career as a playwright, essayist and novelist, and discusses the first volume of her memoirs A Parallel Life. £5, prebook, 6.30pm
SUFFRAGETTES HISTORY: Jill Liddington and Katherine Connelly are at Housman’s bookstore in King’s Cross to discuss their books about the Suffragette movement. Connelly’s book looks in detail at the life of Sylvia Pankhurst, while Liddington’s tells the story of the Suffragettes’ controversial campaign to boycott the census. £3, prebook, 7pm
SYRIA SPEAKS: Join Syrian artists and writers for a unique evening of readings and discussion of cultural resistance in the country. Takes place at Rich Mix. £4, prebook, 7.30pm
WOMEN ONLY: Loose Muse at Poetry Cafe is an event for women writers of all genres, hosted by Agnes Meadow. Open mic slots are available. £5/3£5/£3, just turn up, 8pm
Follow @LondonistLit for our pick of that day’s literary events.