Dive into the raw, untamed heart of storytelling with ‘Wild Writing,’ a festival exploration of memoir, fiction, and the spaces in between. Join JP Maxwell, navigating fiction meeting true history in Water Street and The Americans of Abercromby Square; Jake Morris-Campbell, charting a poetic pilgrimage through Northumbria in Between the Salt and the Ash; and Tony Wailey, evoking the maritime rhythms of Liverpool’s past in his series The Diary of the Smyth-Wailey’s. Discover how these writers push the boundaries of form, blending fact and feeling to forge new, powerful ways of telling our stories. From personal journeys to regional odysseys, experience the wild, transformative power of words.
J.P. Maxwell studied Russian at UCL, worked in software in California, and ran a newspaper kiosk before settling in Liverpool in 2001. He now teaches Screenwriting and Digital Writing at Liverpool John Moores University. His fiction draws on his Irish and African roots in Liverpool’s Toxteth, dating back to the 1800s. Author of Water Street and The Americans of Abercromby Square (BK Fiction), he is currently working on Camper Van Woman, a spy/crime novel inspired by his experiences in Eastern Europe and 1980s Liverpool. An award-winning filmmaker, he has made 16 shorts and 3 features, showcased at top festivals and broadcast on the BBC.
Tony Wailey is a Liverpool-born writer and former seaman. His work, including his forthcoming book, Rhythms That Carry, explores maritime history and identity, with a focus on Liverpool’s seafaring past entwined with the personal stories of those who lived it.
Jake Morris-Campbell is a poet and BBC New Generation Thinker from South Shields. In Between the Salt and the Ash (March 2025), he embarks on a pilgrimage across Northumbria, exploring history, identity, and cultural change.
We encourage people to use public transport to travel to events where possible.
The following transport lines have routes that pass near Quaker Meeting House. Bus: 15, 21, 471, 54A, 7
Nearest bus stop(s): College Lane (Stop HA) (Approx. 3 min walk), School Lane (Stop HB) (Approx. 3 min walk), Gradwell Street (Approx. 4 min walk) Nearest train station(s): Liverpool Central (Approx. 3 min walk), Liverpool Lime Street (Approx. 8 min walk)
*These are difficult times. We know some people may struggle to afford full price tickets. If you would like to attend this event but can’t afford to, please contact info@writingonthewall.org.uk. All queries will be treated in confidence.
Quaker Meeting House: 22 School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BT
£5.00
Date: May 12, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Ends: 9:30 pm
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