17th July 2009

Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July 2009 - St Ann’s Square, city centre Manchester

The Manchester Book Market, which first took place in Sep 2006, returns this summer as part of the Manchester International Festival for a three-day market accompanied by back-to-back performances from the cream of Manchester's spoke word scene. The market will give the public the opportunity to buy books directly from the UK’s leading independent publishers, as well as sample the latest emerging talent in spoken word from the North West. The market will feature over 20 presses, with publishers coming from all over the UK to take part.

This is a unique opportunity for readers to discover new writers and to support publishing and writers working at the grass roots, as well as a chance to meet young editors working at the cutting edge. Taking place in the heart of the city, the three-day event will feature some of the leading lights in the UK’s independent sector, covering a wide range of genres and interests, from award-winning producers of poetry and short fiction (such as Route Publishing, Crocus Books and Comma) to international pioneers in science fiction and fantasy (such as Interzone, TTA and Ballista), as well as publishers of comics (Small Zone and Engine Comics), and pioneering new magazines from the region (Transmission, Bewilderbliss and others).

In a special café area each day, some of the north west’s leading live literature/spoken word artists will perform throughout each day. Readers so far include Joe Stretch, Tony Walsh, Julian Daniel, Mike Garry, Akiel Chinelo, Elizabeth Baines, Louise Wallwein, Conrad Williams, Ailsa Cox, Zoe Lambert, Eleanor Rees, Mike Duff, Tim Lees, Annie Clarkson, Segun Le French, Tom Fletcher, Lula Blue and many, many more.

The Manchester Book Market features books suitable for all readers. It is an ideal opportunity to buy the perfect summer read, one off gifts for book lovers with bespoke collectible treats for sale as well as rare comicbook editions.