Manchester Independent Books And Arts Fair at PLANT NOMA

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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Manchester Independent Books And Arts Fair

28 July 2018

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Dostoyevsky Wannabe Editor Victoria Brown.
Dostoyevsky Wannabe Editor Victoria Brown.
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Earlier this year, Claire Armitstead said in The Guardian: ‘…any publisher called Dostoyevsky Wannabe, frankly, has to be worth a ticket to Manchester, which – along with Sheffield and Norwich – is becoming a soul city of micropublishing’ – and who, frankly, are we to argue?

As well as national press coverage, largely as a result of finding their way onto the boutique 2018 shortlist of über-on-trend the Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses, the two-strong team at staunchly indie publishing house Dostoyevsky Wannabe are making waves from their base in Manchester with a burgeoning list of novels, non-fiction titles and collections. Since getting underway four or so years ago, Victoria Brown and Richard Brammer have published 51 or so books, under different imprints (Original, Experimental, Cities, and so on). They’ve just enjoyed two weeks on The Publisher’s Table at the South London Gallery. They’re being interviewed right now over at 3:AM. Hell, they even have button badges.

Isabel Waidner’s Gaudy Bauble – a Dostoyevsky Wannabe Original – got them on that RoC list (won, incidentally, by Influx Press for Attrib. and other stories by Eley Williams, so we won’t complain too loudly). Manchester-based Richard Barrett and Steve Hanson’s co-authored and hot-of-the-press The Acts – a Dostoyevsky Wannabe Experiment – will be showcased at the Manchester Independent Books And Arts Fair (aka Dostoyevsky Wannabe Goes To Manchester).

Look out also for the even-hotter-off-the-press anthology Dostoyevsky Wannabe Cities: Manchester, featuring contributions from prose and poetry writers Bryony Bates, Tristan Burke, Sian Cummins, Valerie O’Riordan, Lee Rourke, Anthony Trevelyan and Peter Wild. Oh, and your favourite Creative Tourist Literature Editor. It’s the latest in an international DW series so far featuring Bristol and aforementioned and fellow UNESCO City of Literature Norwich, with Brooklyn, Coventry, Dundee, Glasgow, London, Madrid, Nottingham and Santiago hot on its heels.

Alongside Dostoyevsky Wannabe, there’ll be a stall run by London-Manchester publisher Dodo Ink (whose Thom Cuell commissioned Dostoyevsky Wannabe Cities: Manchester), representatives of some of Manchester’s finest indie presses, including if p then q, Knives Forks & Spoons and ZimZalla, and Manchester-based arts collective Generic Greeting.

Basically, you can go home happy with armfuls of lovely books, pamphlets and zines, tees and maybe some cassettes. We’re heading towards Christmas – what are you waiting for?

Where to go near Manchester Independent Books And Arts Fair at PLANT NOMA

Testbed Main Space
Leeds
Event venue
TESTBED

TESTBED is a newly renovated 10,000 sq foot event venue in Leeds that offers endless possibilities for creating unique and inspiring experiences.

Manchester
Restaurant
Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
Leeds
Event venue
The Warehouse In Holbeck

Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.

Leeds
Event venue
The Attic

Tucked away above the bustle of Merrion Street, The Attic is one of Leeds’ most distinctive small venues – intimate, unpretentious, and steeped in DIY spirit.

The Chevin is a great place for visitors to do lots of different activities and is open all year round with 5 free car parks. To help you find out whatís best for you we have divided this section up into some of these different activities.Please be aware that The Chevin is a working estate so you may see vehicles including timber-extraction lorries using some of the tracks.Self-guided WalksThe Chevin is a big place and there is a good network of paths to make your own circular walk, but if you want to follow a themed trail there is a Geology Trail, Heritage Time Trail and a route for Tree Spotters.Bikes & HorsesThere is an extensive bridleway network on the eastern parts of The Chevin that caters for a range of abilities.Orienteering and GeocachingTwo orienteering courses and a number of geocache sites are waiting to be discovered.Climbing & BoulderingThere are many fantastic crags for climbing and boulders for bouldering.Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs
Leeds
Restaurant
Oporto

For many years, Oporto has been a beacon of alternative energy on Leeds’ Call Lane – serving up great food and drink alongside resident DJs and live music.

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