Author appearances, poetry and spoken word events in London this week
Thursday 1 August
James Bowen and his cat Bob are signing copies of their follow-up memoir, The World According to Bob, at Waterstones Covent Garden from 12.30pm.
Paul McGrane hosts an open mic at the Poetry Cafe from 3pm, free.
Bring a short story to the Farrago Flash Fiction SLAM at the Poetry Cafe (8pm, £6 / £5).
James Dawson launches his new Young Adult thriller Cruel Summer at Waterstones Clapham (7pm).
Friday 2 August
The Word’s a Stage features new work from Dean McCaffrey, Jason Pilley and Niall O’Sullivan, and best-ofs from Keith Jarrett and Esther Poyer, all at the Gallery Cafe (7.30pm, £4 / £3).
Mark ‘Mr T’ Thompson and Sarah Thompson host Lipped Ink at the Poetry Cafe (7.30pm, £5).
Saturday 3 August
Hear hip-hop inspired poems at the Southbank Centre from Inua Ellams, Tim Clare, Patience Agbabi, Salena Godden, Sabrina Mahfouz, Dan Cockrill, Anthony Anaxagorou and more (8pm, £12.50).
There’s a launch of 100 best books from Africa and the Caribbean at Brixton Library from 8pm (free).
Rebecca Donovan is signing copies of her Breathing series at Waterstones Trafalgar Square, from 1pm.
If you’re passing the Southbank Centre over the weekend check out their temporary basketball court, which will feature poetry as well as sport (free).
Nihat Tsolak hosts a Sufi music and poetry night at the Poetry Cafe (7.30pm, £10 / £8).
Sunday 4 August
Daunt‘s Walking Book Club roams Hampstead Heath discussing Rumer Godden’s Breakfast with the Nikolides (11.30am).
Monday 5 August
Graham Buchan performs his poetry at the Camden Fringe, with music from violinist Angela Jung. Head to The Sheephaven Bay (9pm, £7 / £6).
Shirin Razavian, Khayke Beruriah Wiegand and members of the Freedom from Torture ‘Write to Life’ group read at Exiled Writers Ink at the Poetry Cafe, hosted by Hasani Hasani (7.30pm, £4 / £2).
Olympic gold medal winning rower Katherine Grainger is signing copies of her autobiography at Waterstones Leadenhall Market from 12.30pm.
Tuesday 6 August
Catherine O’Flynn, author of the brilliant What Was Lost a few years ago, is at Bookseller Crow in Crystal Palace to talk about her new novel Mr Lynch’s Holiday (7.30pm, £3).
Robert Adam argues that globalisation is driving the character out of our cities. Agree? Disagree? Put your point at Foyles (6.30pm, free).
Niall O’Sullivan hosts Poetry Unplugged open mic night at the Poetry Cafe (7.30pm, £5 / £4).
LLL, Wayne Clements and Juliet Troy read at The Blue Bus, at The Lamb (7.30pm, £5 / £3).
James Davies, Ulli Freer, Chris Gutkind and Rhys Trimble read poetry at the Footsy Index in Camberwell (7.30pm).
Wednesday 7 August
Editors of if p then q, Penned in the Margins and Veer Books offer an alternative guide to poetry at the Southbank Centre (8pm, free).
Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler talks about Dark Lands, journeys in countries like Palestine, Zimbabwe and Abbottabad, at Stanfords (7.30pm, £5).
John Wischmeyer from the BFI/City Lit archives presents poetry and clips from Hitchcock films at the Poetry Cafe (7pm).
Patric Cunnane, Sue Johns, Liz Bentley and Project Adorno perform poetry of politics and passion at Colour House Theatre (8pm, £7 / £5).
Joe Gardner launches his debut novel The Life and Loves of Jet Tea at Ribeira Shoreditch (7pm, free).
Follow @LondonistLit for our pick of that day’s literary events.