Book Fair Program
Multicultural Book Fair, Conway Hall
Red Lion Square WC1R 4RL
This year’s lots of publishers and their authors are reading on the main stage.
Performances start at 11 am for one hour
and again at 13.30 for one hour.
Gala Show
more readings and open mic
Sign up on the day, Doors open at 6 pm,
The Square Pig 30-32 Procter St,
London WC1V 6NX
Saturday 6th Sept Ticket Eventbrite
11am Main Stage
Amy Neilson Smith
Amy is a poet & Director of A Blind Bit of Difference (Insta) inclusive arts charity (Arts Council/British Council). She’s led disability ‘Sensory Spoken Word’ projects in Brazil, Africa & Bangladesh – her book profits (#DarkMatter) go to #Leedo, a Bangladeshi orphanage! As an activist poet, Amy’s performed at #HouseOfCommons (Saudha Arts), Sensory Artist: #RoyalAcademy & #WestEnd in the #PoetryBrothel.
1:40pm Main Stage
Molly
Molly Arbuthnott is a teacher, author, editor, and academic from Scotland. She is passionate about the promotion of children’s literature and has published seventeen award winning picture books. Molly crafts narratives based on people that have been important in her life and that are simultaneously honest and gentle, teaching children about empathy, teamwork and moral courage.
Find out more about her writing through her website- www.mollyarbuthnott.co.uk
Timothy Adès
Agenda Poetry 11:30 am Main Stage
rhyming translator-poet, is a Trustee of Agenda Editions, with two bilingual French books from Agenda: Storysongs/Chantefables for children, by Robert Desnos with art by Cat Zaza, and The Madness of Amadis, by Jean Cassou. He has awards for both poets, and for others, and is on Facebook and YouTube.
Elizabeth Barton
Agenda Poetry 11:30 am Main Stage
Elizabeth Barton is the Stanza Rep for Mole Valley Poets, in Surrey, and editor of their anthologies. She has a Cambridge degree and has lived in Madrid and Virginia, taught in secondary schools, and volunteered for overseas aid and environmental charities and for the Surrey Wildlife Trust. She reads from her debut pamphlet, If Grief were a Bird, 2022, from Agenda Editions.
Caroline Maldonado
Agenda Poetry 11:30 am Main Stage
Caroline Maldonado, poet & translator, lives in London and Italy, and was chair of the Trustees for Modern Poetry in Translation. Laura Fusco’s Liminal about refugees (followed by Nadir) won her a PEN (UK) Translates award; she translated Isabella Morra and Rocco Scotellaro; in Mirror and Stone she translates Michelangelo.
Liz Kendal
2 pm Main Stage
Liz Kendall is a poet and non-fiction writer based in Surrey. With Vilma Bharatan she co-authored Meet Us and Eat Us: Food plants from around the world, which celebrates biodiversity in poetry, prose, and fine art photography. Liz’s poetry is published in anthologies from Candlestick Press and The Hedgehog Poetry Press, and in journals including Mslexia, Flights, Clarion, The Dirigible Balloon and Amethyst Review. For Meet Us and Eat Us and a free monthly newsletter visit meetusandeatus.co.uk, and to read a selection of Liz’s poems visit theedgeofthewoods.uk. She is on Instagram @meetusandeatus and Facebook @rowansarered.
Kathy Casimir MacLean
Kathy Casimir MacLean is the author of “Black Man Listen”, the biography of her grandfather JR Ralph Casimir who was a Garveyite and Pan-Africanist from Dominica. Kathy was born in Dominica, but has lived and worked as an educationalist in London for most of her adult life.
Jane Ulysses Grell
Jane Ulysses Grell is a London-based storyteller, writer, teacher and poet. Her books of poetry include “White River Blues” and, for children, “Mosquito Bounce”. She was born and grew upon Dominica. Her work also features in the international anthology, “New Daughters of Africa”.
Time slots
Conway Hall & Gala Show Readings
| Day Readings – Conway Hall | Timings |
| Amy Neilson Smith – S London Books – 5-7 mins | 11.00am |
| Alex Grehy – S London books – 5-7 mins | 11.10am |
| Utopians – Yasmin Heinz – 5-7 minutes | 11.20am |
| Agenda Poetry – Timothy Ades + Elizabeth Barton – 5-7 minutes | 11.30am |
| Bettina Schroeder – S London books – 5-7 mins | 11.40am |
| James Smith – S London books – 5-7 mins | 11.50am |
| Adelaida Monguillot – Amatista Books – 5-7 minutes | 12.00pm |
| Suresh – 5-7 mins | 12.10pm |
| BREAK FOR LUNCH 12.30 – 13.30 | |
| Molly Arbuthnott – Arbuthnott books – 5-7 mins | 1.40pm |
| Patricia Flowers – S London books- 5-7 mins | 1.50pm |
| Liz Kendall – 5-7 minutes | 2.00pm |
| Jane Ulysses Grell. – Papillote Press | 2.10pm |
| Rafa – Goat Star Books – 5-7 mins | 2.20pm |
| Keith Bray – S London books – 5-7 mins | 2.30pm |
| Alain English – S London books – 5-7 mins | 2.40pm |
| Colin Osborn – S London books – 5-7 mins | 2.50pm |
| Kathy Mclean – Papillote Press – 5-7 minutes | 3pm |
| Lizzie Rose – S London Books – 5-7 mins | 3.10pm |
| Errol McGlashan – Insurgent Press – 5-7 minutes | 3.20pm |
| Rene S Perez II – Insurgent Press – 5-7 minutes | 3.30pm |
| Iris Sala – Insurgent Press – 5-7 minutes | 3.40pm |
| JD Halcro – Insurgent Press – 5-7 minutes | 3.50pm |
| Gala Show Readings – The Square Pig | Timings |
| Assorted Translations – Timothy Ades + Caroline Maldonado – 5-7 minutes | 7.00pm |
| Open mic – Number 1 – | |
| Open Mic – Number 2 – | |
| Bettina Schroeder – S LONDON BOOKS – 5-7 mins | 7.15pm |
| Open Mic – Number 3 – | |
| Open Mic – Number 4 – | |
| George Harris – S LONDON BOOKS – 5-7 mins | 7.30pm |
| Open mic – Number 5 – | |
| Open Mic – Number 6 – | |
| Patricia Flowers – S LONDON BOOKS – 5-7 mins | 7.45pm |
| Open Mic – Number 7 – | |
| Open Mic – Number 8 – | |
| Open Mic – Number 9 – | |
| Open Mic – Number 10 – | |
| BREAK 8.10pm for 20 minutes | |
| Rafa – Goat Star Books – 5-7 minutes | 8.30pm |
| Open Mic – Number 11 – | |
| Open Mic – Number 12 – | |
| Colin Osborn – S London books – 5-7 mins | 8.45pm |
| Open Mic – Number 13 – | |
| Open Mic – Number 14 – | |
| Alain English – S London books – 5-7 mins | 9pm |
| Open Mic – Number 15 | |
| Open Mic – Number 16 – | |
| Keith Bray – S London books – 5-7 mins | 9.15pm |
Multicultural Book Fair 2025
