dinburgh-based poet and essayist Nadine Aisha Jassat, writer of the poetry collection, Let Me Tell You This, discusses all things feminism and Islam with world travelling memoirist and writer Zeba Talkhani, author of My Past Is a Foreign Country.

Both women were contributors to the hugely successful feminist essay collection Nasty Women, and have written widely on feminism, race, identity and intersectionality.

Event info: https://www.bookfringe.com/whatson/nastywomen

Two novelists discuss timely, provocative books about youth, gender politics and violence with author Helen McClory. Sarah Henstra’s searing examination of rape culture on college campuses, The Red Word, won Canada's prestigious Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction when it was first published in 2018. Elle Nash’s Animals Eat Each Other takes an unflinching look at obsessive love and has been described as a ‘heart bomb.’

Info & tickets: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/sarah-henstra-elle-nash-13481

Anthony Anaxagorou was part of the team behind an unforgettable Out-Spoken Press takeover in our 2018 Unbound programme. Today he launches After the Formalities, a sharp examination of class, race and masculinity. He’s joined by Nadine Aisha Jassat, a new star in Scotland whose powerful poems address gender-based violence and the bonds between women. Her debut collection Let Me Tell You This is a force to be reckoned with.

Info & tickets: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/anthony-anaxagorou-nadine-aisha-jassat-13428

Join Elle Nash for her first ever UK visit celebrating her debut book Animals Eat Each Other, in conversation with Ruby Rare.

Elle Nash is a founding editor of Witch Craft Magazine, and a fiction editor at Hobart Pulp. Her work has been featured in publications including Cosmopolitan, Elle, Literary Hub, The Fanzine, The Offing and Enclave. Animals Eat Each Other is her debut novel. Ruby Rare is a sex educator on a mission to engage people of all ages in positive conversations about sex and relationships. She does this by facilitating events and workshops, as well as sharing her life experiences online. Her work is influenced by her experiences as a queer, non-monogamous, dual-heritage woman. She’s spoken at Women of the World, Summerhouse Festival and on BBC4’s Woman’s Hour, and has been featured in Time Out, Huffington Post, MTV, and Pink News.

Event & ticket info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/animals-eat-each-other-elle-nash-and-ruby-rare-in-conversation-tickets-67205285819

Meet two activists who dig beneath the stereotypes to real lived experience. Jemma Neville campaigned for human rights law, and in Constitution Street explores global rights issues through the stories of the residents of one road in Leith. ‘Think Global, Act Local’ is the inspiration for artist-activist Ellie Harrison, and in her new book The Glasgow Effect she sheds light on the inequality and disconnection of people in Glasgow communities, putting forward a new vision for sustainable living. The two authors discuss their ideas with fellow writer and social historian Daniel Gray.

Info & tickets: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/ellie-harrison-jemma-neville

Writers at the Fringe brings you, once again, the best in Scottish writing. Every Thursday new and unpublished works of literary art stand alongside established novelists. On 15th August, a panel of short fiction writers will give readings, followed by a panel discussion chaired by Beth Cochrane. Featuring Chris McQueer, Janice Galloway, Eris Young, Christina Neuwirth and Angela Meyer.

Ticket & event info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writers-at-the-fringe-short-fiction-tickets-66578404801

Chris McQueer’s short, side-splitting stories keep coming in HWFG, the follow-up to debut Hings. Nurtured in Scotland’s spoken word scene and described as ‘Charlie Brooker on Buckfast’, his stories illuminate lives on the margins. Novelist Russ Litten foregrounds working class lives in We Know What We Are. His first story collection centres on Hull in its City of Culture year, and has drawn comparisons to James Kelman.

Info & tickets: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/russ-litten-chris-mcqueer-13224

Writers at the Fringe brings you, once again, the best in Scottish writing. Every Thursday new and unpublished works of literary art stand alongside established novelists. On 8th August, a panel of poets will give readings, followed by a discussion chaired by Beth Cochrane. Featuring Nadine Aisha Jassat, Rachel Plummer and Ross McCleary.

Event & ticket info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writers-at-the-fringe-poetry-tickets-66821598199

From a queer poetry scene that is bursting with talent, we've gathered poets AR Crow, Jeremy Dixon and Freddie Alexander to share thoughts on the LGBTQ+ literary landscape.

Jeremy Dixon’s brilliantly witty first collection In Retail is published by lesbian owned poetry publisher Arachne Press. 

AR Crow is a poet and performer whose work recently appeared in the celebrated We Were Always Here anthology from 404Ink. 

Last but not least Freddie Alexander has been published by Edinburgh-based queer publisher Knight Errant Press, as well as 404 Ink, Scotsgay and Gutter Magazine. He also hosts the famous Inky Fingers, one of Edinburgh’s hottest Spoken Word events, which takes place each month at Lighthouse.

Event info: https://www.bookfringe.com/whatson/queerwords

Reclaiming narratives with Zeba Talkhani and Nadine Aisha Jassat

Continuing with our July Hub Talks programme, we have 2 fabulous guest writers; Zeba Talkhani will be in conversation with poet Nadine Aisha Jassat. Both writers will sharing their debut books of memoir and poetry exploring their own personal narratives as Muslim women and writers of colour.

In an eye-opening and inspirational account, Zeba Talkhani offers a fresh perspective on living as an outsider and examines her relationship with her mother and the challenges she faced when she experienced hair loss at a young age. Rejecting the traditional path her culture had chosen for her, Zeba became financially independent and married on her own terms in the UK. Drawing on her personal experiences Zeba shows how she fought for the right to her individuality as a feminist Muslim and refused to let negative experiences define her. My Past Is a Foreign Country is an inspirational tale of how Zeba came to claim her own narrative and construct her own identity in light of the challenges faced.

Nadine Aisha Jassat's Let Me Tell You This is a vital exploration of racism, gender-based violence, and the sustaining, restorative bonds between women, told with searing precision and intelligent lyricism. Nadine takes you on a journey exploring heritage, connection, and speaking out. These poems demonstrate the power of heart and voice, and will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

Get tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hub-talks-reclaiming-narratives-with-zeba-talkhani-nadine-aisha-jassat-tickets-61576370582

Revamped and revived, the 404 Ink Magazine showcases writing as diverse as the galaxy itself. Fiction, poetry, non-fiction, interviews & more combine to offer an eclectic collection of space-themed musings.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/404-ink-magazine-launch-writing-across-galaxies-tickets-63555682758

Over half a century after her death, Frida Kahlo has achieved iconic status, with her evocative paintings, compelling biography, and signature style. But what happens when we take away Kahlo’s celebrity and focus solely on her work?

With an introduction to the artist and her work offered by Juan Felipe Herrera, we gather three poets to create their lyrical responses to three of Kahlo’s most resonant paintings: Roots, The Broken Column, and The Two Fridas. Tishani Doshi, Sabrina Mahfouz, and Nadine Aisha Jassat offer their impressions, presenting their poems alongside short films crafted to complement the poem and the original painting. This mesmerising juxtaposition of poetry and art showcases Kahlo’s ongoing influence on contemporary writers, providing them with endless sources of inspiration, wonderment, and questions.

Full info: https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/event/poetic-responses-frida-kahlo/

Are you looking to be inspired, entertained, and even enlightened?

Then join us for our annual candle-lit celebration of lyrical poetry. In the homes and palaces of South Asian nobility, mehfils were gatherings where audiences would be treated to intimate evenings of courtly entertainment. Today, our mehfil infuses the traditional event with a diverse set of voices and innovative performances that will stay in your mind long after the night is over. We’re joined by Nadine Aisha Jassat, Charly Cox, Sophia Thakur, Sabrina Mahfouz and Juan Felipe Herrera. The evening will conclude with a performance by award-winning poet Imtiaz Dharker.

Full info: https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/event/lyrical-mehfil-4/

By turns serious and fantastical, hilarious and confrontational, We Were Always Here is a snapshot of current Scottish LGBTQI+ writing and a showcase of queer talent.

From drag queens and discos, to black holes and monsters, these stories and poems wrestle with love and loneliness and the fight to be seen.

The anthology features experienced writers rubbing shoulders with people being published for the first time and a few of the contributors share their work and talking about bringing the collection together.

Line-up: Harry Giles, Etzali Hernández & Michael Lee Richardson

Followed by a screening of the BAFTA award-winning short film My Loneliness is Killing Me.

Full event info: https://www.ayewrite.com/pages/event-details.aspx?event=1/harry-giles-etzali-hernndez-michael-lee-richardson

Tix: https://tickets.glasgowconcerthalls.com/single/PSDetail.aspx?psn=17933

Poets take on the modern world.

In She Must be Mad, Charly Cox captures the formative experiences of today’s young women from the poignant to the prosaic in writing that is at once witty, wry and heartfelt. Written for every woman surviving and thriving in today’s world, for every girl who feels too much, her poems say ‘you are not alone’.

Nadine Aisha Jassat was recently named as one of 30 inspiring young women under 30 in Scotland. Her spoken-word piece Hopscotch was made into a film in 2017, and Let Me Tell You This is her debut poetry collection. 'A punchy, powerful debut' - Jackie Kay

Full event info: https://www.ayewrite.com/pages/event-details.aspx?event=1/charly-cox-and-nadine-aisha-jassat

Tix: https://tickets.glasgowconcerthalls.com/single/PSDetail.aspx?psn=18176

With Lighthouse Books. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/let-me-tell-you-this-nadine-aisha-jassat-launch-tickets-55109837006

Nadine Aisha Jassat’s debut collection Let Me Tell You This is a vital exploration of racism, gender and the sustaining, restorative bonds between women, told with her searing precision and lyricism. It is one of the most hotly anticipated books of 2019 with early praise from Jackie Kay, Hollie McNish and Nikesh Shukla.

These poems seep into the reader as they navigate the lived experience, seeking answers to questions that shouldn’t need to be asked, guiding the reader on a journey that delivers a punch to the chest that sits with you long after the final page is turned. Nadine is a rare and exciting talent.

In keeping with the spirit of her poetry and performance the launch of Let Me Tell You This is also a showcase of some of Scotland's most talented and compelling women in the arts. Stay tuned as we announce our all women of colour line up in February!

'Nadine is a writer whose graceful, honest words somehow hit you with all the force of a sucker punch. I felt read by this collection. Nadine excavates a certain trauma and pain that lies latent in the experiences of so many women with breathtaking precision and care, lifting our voices and tenderly giving weight to our buried truths. If you read one poetry collection this year, let it be this.' - Sabeena Akhtar

Nadine's work has been published online and in print, including in 404 ink’s acclaimed Nasty Women, the Dangerous Women Project, and New Writing Scotland. Her pamphlet, Still, was launched at the Scottish Poetry Library in 2016, and her spoken-word piece, ‘Hopscotch,’ was made into a film-poem by award-winning filmmaker Roxana Vilk, and has been shown at festivals across the UK.

Nadine has performed solo spoken-word shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Just Festival, and the Audacious Women Festival, as well as performing at literary cabarets such as Flint & Pitch, and Sofar Sounds Edinburgh. She has appeared at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Aye Write, and Glasgow Women’s Library’s Festival of Women Writers, and was the debut writer in residence for YWCA Scotland - The Young Women's Movement.

Nadine has worked extensively as a creative practitioner focusing on social justice issues, and in particular delivers workshops and projects with young people; using drama, creative writing, and storytelling to explore Racism, Islamophobia and Gender-Based Violence. In 2017, Nadine was named as one of thirty inspiring young women under thirty in Scotland.

The Assembly Roxy is wheelchair accessible and speakers will be using microphones at this event. If you have any access needs do give the bookshop a shout (email us a books @ Lighthousebookshop .com) and we'll try to accomodate you however we can.

We have 20 free tickets availble for this event, intended to make the evening accesible to those who are unwaged/ on benefits/ might not otherwise be able to attend - If you can afford a £3 ticket please book one as this supports the bookshop and allows us to save free places for those who can't, thanks!

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/let-me-tell-you-this-nadine-aisha-jassat-launch-tickets-55109837006

A reading and discussion panel in honour of International Women’s Day with Siobhan Campbell, Nadine Aisha Jassat and Therese Kieran.

In Belfast. Full information: https://linenhall.com/events/of-mouth-reading-dissent-assent/

Nadine Aisha Jassat (Nadine Aisha) is a writer, creative practitioner and educator in the field of challenging Gender -Based Violence, known for combining the creative arts with social justice. In 2017 she was named as one of '30 Inspiring Women Under 30' by YWCA Scotland, and in 2018 she was awarded a prestigious New Writers Award from the Scottish Book Trust, and shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award. Her debut collection, Let Me Tell You This, is forthcoming from 404 Ink in March 2019. She has been published widely online and in print; including by New Writing Scotland, Litro Magazine, The British Council's 'Discover' Project (for which she won the UK Open Call), 404 ink's acclaimed Nasty Women, and she has appeared at numerous literary festivals including Aye Write: Glasgow's Festival of Literature, and Edinburgh International Book Festival.

As part of the on-going Creative Conversation speaker series poet and educator Nadine Aisha Jassat comes to campus to chat about her writing. Bring your lunch and burning questions!

Sponsored by the Ferguson Bequest and programmed by Creative Writing at University of Glasgow.

Full information: https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/creativeconversations/index.html/event/11187

Glasgow Women’s Library bring their Story Café to StAnza

In this, the second event of this year’s early evening Poetry in Conversation strand, Glasgow Women’s Library host a story café, a relaxed space with a chance for folk to come together and listen to and discuss women’s writing.

Led by Nadine Aisha Jassat, today's Story Café centres around women poets of colour in Scotland, including the writing of poet, artist and curator Maud Sulter. We'll also hear from St Andrews-based poet Zein Sa'dedin, who writes in English and Arabic.

Check out our other Poetry in Conversation events on Thursdayand Sunday nights.

In association with Glasgow Women’s Library and A Year of Conversation 2019.

Full information: http://stanzapoetry.org/festival/events/poetry-conversation-story-caf

Join us in this Border Crossings session to hear from two poets reading from their hotly anticipated debut collections. Nadine Aisha Jassat was named as one of 2017's ‘30 Inspiring Young Women Under 30’ by YWCA Scotland, and was shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award. Her debut collection will be out with 404 Ink in March 2019, and explores themes surrounding race and gender. She will be reading alongside Mary Jean Chan, the author of the pamphlet A Hurry of English(PBS Summer Pamphlet Choice), published by ignitionpress in 2018. Her first full-length collection is forthcoming from Faber & Faber (2019). She has won numerous awards, including the Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition (ESL), the Anne Born Prize, and the 2017 Psychoanalysis and Poetry Competitions.

Full info: http://stanzapoetry.org/festival/events/border-crossings-35