The Manchester Writing School at Manchester Met and the International Anthony Burgess Foundation are delighted to present special guests Mary Jean Chan, André Naffis-Sahely and David Shook to celebrate International Mother Languages Day and Manchester’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. Hosted by Helen Mort.

Mary Jean Chan’s debut pamphlet will be published by ignitionpress (Oxford Brookes Poetry Centre) in February 2018. Her poem ‘//’ was shortlisted for the 2017 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem.

André Naffis-Sahely translates from the French and the Italian and forthcoming titles include The Rule of Barbarism (Pirogue Poets Series). His first collection of poetry is The Promised Land (Penguin, 2017).

David Shook’s debut collection, Our Obsidian Tongues was published by Eyewear in 2013. He is a translator and filmmaker. His short documentary film, Kilometer Zero, records the poetry of Equatorial Guinean poet Marcelo Ensema Nsang.

Manchester Writing is a series designed to explore the techniques authors use and choices they make when writing, and debate issues arising from their work. Mary Jean, André and David will be reading from and talking about their work and in conversation answering questions from the audience. Doors at 6.30pm: the event is free but booking is advised. Drinks will be available to purchase from the bar, and there’ll be a special bookstall, with signing after the event.

There will be a day of Poetry Translation Workshops preceding this event  – details here.