Readings from Flash Dances

July 2024 at Camberwell Library

This was a special invitation to hear readings from Flash Dances to be given in the presence of the Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Sunny Lambe.

Editors Peter Scott-Presland and Stephanie Dickinson introduced the evening; they were joined by Richard Thompson, Philip Inglesant and Bodicea Bactawar reading a variety of short pieces.

These readings of short stories and poems by members of the Gay Authors Workshop were selections from the anthology '100 Little Queer Tales' to be published later in 2024, and supported by Southwark Council.

Readings in Haringey

July 2024 at Hornsey Library

Following our readings in February, GAW was invited back to Hornsey Library for another round.

Members Jeffrey Doorn, David Flybury and Richard Thompson read a selection of works in progress and passages from Paradise Press. 

Attendees, who are budding writers, were invited to bring and share their own work and consider joining Gay Authors Workshop.

Lost Places: GAW at South London Group

May 2024 at Bread and Roses

A bitter-sweet evening of reminiscence.

We all have places which hold special significance in our lives, places which often have disappeared, remaining only in our memories.

Lost Places is a collection of memories of such places by LGBT authors, published by Paradise Press. Poems, celebrations of collective endeavours, toilets, cinemas, bars ranging from Oxford to Paris.

Authors reading at this free event included Jeff Doorn, John Dixon, David Flybury and Peter Scott-Presland.

A special treat was the short film, Let Me In which is about closed or missing public lavatories, and made by GAW members Richard Thompson and Jeff Pickering. 

We also encouraged the audience to share their memories of places which were special to them, evoking some nostalgic discussion.

Lost Places Presentation

April 2024 at Somerset Day Centre

Jeffrey Doorn presented Lost Places to Older & Out, a meet-up group of 50+ LGBTQ+ folk.

Special focus was the writings of Jill Gardiner, who lived in Brighton and to whom the book is dedicated. 

Associates of Jill read her poems and sections of her prose piece Finding and Losing Lesbian Spaces in Brighton and Hove, and Beyond.

Adrian Risdon's Old Steine set poem One-way Transaction was also read and V G Lee join them from Hastings with a reading from The Last Gold Star Lesbian.

Poetry Evening

March 2024 at Camberwell Library

Founded in 1978, Gay Authors Workshop is a cooperative of LGBT+ creative writers who meet regularly to discuss and develop their work.

Members presented a variety of their published and unpublished poems as well as examples by other members. Budding LGBT+ poets attending were also be invited to share their original work.

Writing on Health And Mental Health

March 2024 at Westminster Reference Library

An evening of readings about LGBT+ health and mental health, headed up by Hastie Salih's presentation. Hastie is a semi-retired doctor who has specialised in this area.

She's also a member of GAW, a poet and author of the romantic lesbian thriller, Dahlia and Carys. Other GAW members read related stories and poems. Members of the audience were also invited to bring along their work and read short extracts from it.

Launch of Lost Places: An LGBT Anthology

February 2024 at Carnegie Library

We all have places which hold special significance in our lives, places which often have disappeared, remaining only in our memories. Lost Places is a collection of bitter-sweet recollections of such places by LGBT authors, published by Paradise Press.

Reading from the collection were writers Ian Townson on Railton Road, John Dixon on public conveniences, Jeffrey Doorn on The Biograph, Peter Scott-Presland on The Cape of Good Hope, Oxford, and poems by Beth Lister and Stephanie Dickinson.

This was the first airing of this haunting collection.

Readings and Promotion of Paradise Press

February 2024 at Hornsey Library

Jeffrey Doorn has been involved in the gay community for over fifty years. He was a regular at the Stonewall Inn before it became a world-wide symbol of resistance. He's edited several PP anthologies.

Attendees were encouraged to bring along a short sample of their own work to share with everyone.

Lost Places

February 2024 at Shoe Lane Library

A Lost Places presentation evening with V G Lee, Stephanie Dickinson, Jeffrey Doorn and Micky Silver.

Writing Proud

June 2024 at Hammersmith LIbrary

Various members of Gay Authors' Workshop will be reading from stories, poems and essays around the themes of Pride, self-respect and discovery. 

This was associated with an anthology called SHIFT_, about moments of change.