Award-winning Birmingham author celebrates new novel with special city event

Kit de Waal will mark the publication of Best of Everything with a special event at Artum, Hockley Social Club, on Monday, April 14.

The acclaimed Birmingham writer, whose 2016 work My Name is Leon won her the Irish Novel of the Year Award, will appear at a one-off evening of conversation with host and interviewer Lyle Bignon, in partnership with The Heath Bookshop.

Revisiting the influences of her working class Irish roots, and exploring societal issues which defined and framed her upbringing in Birmingham during the 1970s, Kit de Waal will use the event to discuss her life and work.

From growing up in the South Birmingham suburb Moseley to her education in inner-city district Small Heath, Kit de Waal’s entry point into literature, which coincided with a job working in a criminal defence legal firm in Handsworth, has been heavily influenced by working class authors, narratives, perspectives, and works. 

The author will also visit the British Black Book Festival in Manchester, Forthwrite Festival in Crawley, Southbank Centre London, Waterstones Leamington Spa, The Portobello Bookshop Edinburgh, and The Irish Centre London as part of a tour celebrating the arrival of Best of Everything.

Speaking ahead of the event, Kit de Waal said: “It’s always great to be back home and I can’t wait for this event to talk about my work and writing in such a great venue with people from the Heath Bookshop too. 

"The Best of Everything, my new novel, covers all the themes that are close to my heart and it will be wonderful to talk about them in front of a home crowd.”

Tickets for An Evening with Kit de Waal at Artum, Hockley Social Club, cost £11 including booking fee and are on general sale via Skiddle.

Copies of ‘The Best of Everything’ will be available to purchase at the event, with an option to meet the author and have the copy signed.