The Manchester Writing School at Manchester Met is delighted to present this special event to celebrate and launch Antony Rowland's latest poetry collection, M, published by Arc, and Tony William's debut novel, Nutcase, published by Salt.

Antony Rowland has published two collections: The Land of Green Ginger - which was shortlisted for the Michael Murphy Award - and I Am a Magenta Stick, which was described by Peter Riley in The Fortnightly Review as ‘an original and thoughtful handling of a major European modernist mode’. He was awarded the Manchester Poetry Prize in 2012. His poems have been anthologised in Identity Parade: New British and Irish Poets and Carcanet's New Poetries III. The Dutch government elected him as a UK poetry ‘ambassador’ for 2016: his poetry was read on national television, and shown on screens at Schipol airport and Amsterdam Central Station. He is Professor of Modern & Contemporary Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Tony Williams' debut novel Nutcase tells the story of Aidan, a vigilante and young offender from one of Sheffield's roughest estates. Aidan's world unravel as he goes from hero to outlaw, fighting against all-comers and the circumstances he can't escape. Nutcase is a contemporary re-telling of the medieval Icelandic Saga of Grettir the Strong, and a study of violence as a part of people's everyday lives - not a crime novel but a novel about crime. Williams is also a poet and short story writer. His first book The Corner of Arundel Lane and Charles Street was shortlisted for the Aldeburgh and Portico Prizes, while All the Bananas I've Never Eaten won the Saboteur Award for best short story collection. He teaches creative writing at Northumbria University.

Antony and Tony will be reading from and discussing their work, and copies will be on sale with signing after the event. The evening is free to attend, and all are welcome, but booking is essential. Refreshments will be available on arrival.

Date: Thursday 28th September 2017
Time: 6.00pm (venue open from 5.30pm)
Entry: FREE – but booking essential: reserve seats via EventBrite

Salt Publishing: www.saltpublishing.com

Arc Publications: www.arcpublications.co.uk