Northern Bookshelf Live 2026
Northern Bookshelf Live connects some of our region’s best writers with libraries and readers across the North of England. This year, authors Brian Groom, Marcia Hutchinson, Sheena Kalayil, Sarah Mellor, Sally O’Reilly, Caroline Roberts, Robert Rutherford and Daniel Tawse are heading to libraries across the North to share stories of migration, queer coming of age, a history of the British Isles and thrilling crime fiction.
Find an event near you
Marcia Hutchinson, Leeds, Thursday 21 May
When: Thursday 21 May, 6:30pm
Where: The Reginald Centre Community Hub and Library, Leeds
Price: Free
Book tickets
Leeds Libraries invites you to join us for this compelling event with Marcia Hutchinson to celebrate her latest novel, The Mercy Step, shortlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Marcia Hutchinson was born to Windrush generation Jamaican parents in the UK in 1962. She was the first pupil from her comprehensive school to go to Oxford, where she gained an MA in Law. She worked as a lawyer before founding the educational publishing company Primary Colours, which she ran until 2014. She was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to Cultural Diversity. Moving to Manchester in 2012, she became a community activist and was eventually elected as a Councillor in 2021.
Marcia will be in conversation with Lydia Williams. The conversation will be followed by audience Q&A and a book signing.
This is a pay as you feel event.
Brian Groom, Newcastle, Thursday 11 June
When: Thursday 11 June, 5:30pm
Where: Bewick Hall, Level 2, Newcastle City Library, Newcastle upon Tyne
Price: Free
Book tickets
Best-selling author of Northerners, Brian Groom gives an illustrated talk about the fascinating history of the British and Irish Isles.
This illustrated talk covers the history of the British and Irish Isles from the first human footsteps to the present day – including the role played by Newcastle. The talk is based on Brian’s new book These Isles: A People’s History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (HarperNorth).
Covering 900,000 years, Brian outlines the colourful and often-contested history of the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans and others who have occupied these islands, along with their culture, languages and passions. There will be an opportunity to purchase signed copies of These Isles following the talk.
Brian Groom is a journalist and historian, formerly assistant editor of the Financial Times and editor of Scotland on Sunday. His book Northerners: A History (2022) became a national bestseller.
Sheena Kalayil and Marcia Hutchinson, Bradford, Wednesday 17 June
When: Wednesday 17 June, 7pm
Where: Bradford City Library
Price: Free
Book tickets
Join us to hear Marcia Hutchinson and Sheena Kalayil in conversation. Sheena Kalayil’s The Others has been longlisted for the Women’s Prize in Fiction 2026, and Marcia Hutchinson’sThe Mercy Step shortlisted for the Women’s Prize in Fiction 2026!
Marcia Hutchinson, Marsden, Thursday 18 June
When: Thursday 18 June, 7:30pm (doors 7pm)
Where: Marsden Library, Marsden, HD7 6BW
Price: £3
Book tickets
Join us for an evening with Marcia Hutchinson, discussing her semi-autobiographical debut novel ‘The Mercy Step’.
Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2026.
A precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb, to a chaotic household that seems to have no place for her. Her mother’s attention is given to the Church, and the entire family lives at the whims of her father’s quick temper. Mercy finds solace in books, her imagination, and the quiet comfort of her faithful toy, Dolly. But escapism has its limits, and as the grip of family, faith and fear threatens to close in, Mercy learns she must act if she wants a different future.
Caroline Roberts, Hexham, Monday 22 June
When: Monday 22 June, 6pm
Where: Hexham Community Garden, Wanless Lane Hexham NE46 1BZ
Price: Free
Book tickets
Northumberland Libraries & Grown Hexham invite you to a midsummer picnic with Northumberland author Caroline Roberts at Hexham Community Garden as part of New Writing North’s Northern Bookshelf Live series for 2026 and our Stories From Our Patch Europe Challenge project.
- Hear Caroline speak about the first novel in her Supper Club series; The Second Chance Supper Club, centred on the healing power of community and how sharing food brings people together – a perfect book for our community garden. There will be an opportunity to ask Caroline questions about the book, her writing and what inspires her. Copies are available to borrow from the library both before and after the event.
- Bring along a picnic and enjoy a relaxed social evening in the garden
- Explore the beautiful Community Garden in its midsummer glory and discover what’s growing this year in the beds and the polytunnel.
- Find out more about Hexham Library and Grown Hexham’s Stories From Our Patch project which is part of The Europe Challenge taking place in libraries across Europe and funded by The European Cultural Foundation.
Please note: there are no toilet facilities available in the garden.
Should the weather be too inclement then the event will take place in the library – picnics will still be welcome and all other elements of the event will continue as close to the outdoor plan as possible.
Sheena Kalayil, Marsden, Thursday 25 June
When: Thursday 25 June, 7:30pm (doors 7pm)
Where: Marsden Library, Marsden, HD7 6BW
Price: £3
Book tickets
Join us for an evening with Sheena Kayalil, discussing her fourth novel, The Others.
Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2026.
Sheena is an Indian-British author, whose debut, The Bureau of Second Chances (Polygon), won the Writers’ Guild Award for Best First Novel, and was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Prize for Fiction with a Sense of Place. She grew up in India and Zambia and has worked as a teacher all over the world, including in Nepal, Mozambique, Tunisia and Venezuela. Since 2002 she has lived in the UK, and now works at the University of Manchester.
Sally O'Reilly and Naomi Kelsey, Newcastle, Thursday 9 July
When: Thursday 9 July, 5:30pm
Where: Bewick Hall, Level 2, Newcastle City Library, Newcastle upon Tyne
Price: Free
Book tickets
The authors of Hagtale: A Macbeth Origin Story and Pale Mistress discuss forgotten women and re-imagining Shakespeare.
As part of our Year of Reading Summer program, Newcastle Libraries brings together Sally O’Reilly, Hagtale (2025), and Naomi Kelsey, Pale Mistress (2026), to discuss common themes in their work. Both authors have taken inspiration from Shakespeare to write their own dark fairytale and historical thriller based on his work. Drawing on themes of witchcraft, the supernatural, murder and vengeance, the authors foreground the women’s voices that are so often left out of the story.
This event will include a Q&A, book sale and book signing.
Daniel Tawse, Jesmond, Thursday 15 July
When: Thursday 15 July, 7pm
Where: Jesmond Library, St George’s Terrace, Newcastle
Price: £5
Book tickets
Daniel will discuss his new novel This Book Will Make You Cry.
Daniel Tawse lives on the northeast coast. He spent his childhood going on adventures in the wilds of Northumberland, and teenage years writing diaries about how much he didn’t fit in. Nowadays, Daniel turns those diaries into stories and is an advocate for queer representation in literature for young readers.
His first YA novel, All About Roman(ce), was listed for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2024. Two other titles quickly followed: Emmy Star is So Everything (2024) and This Book Will Make You Cry (2025), described as a heartfelt and heartbreaking queer summer romance to remember. Last year Iggy almost drowned, losing all memory of their magical Mediterranean holiday. Determined to piece together the fragments of that forgotten summer, they return to Europe to retrace their steps. When their paddleboard bumps into the gorgeous but mysterious Roscoe, Iggy realises that this trip is the perfect chance to make new memories. But as the sun sets on their summer romance, will Paris be the start of a new life for Iggy and Roscoe, or their last chance to say goodbye?
Sally O'Reilly, Bolton, Saturday 25 July
When: Saturday 25 July, 2pm
Where: Smithills Hall Smithills Dean Rd, Bolton BL1 7NP
Price: Free
Book tickets
Join us with acclaimed author Sally O’Reilly as she discusses her latest work, Hagtale: A Macbeth Original Story. Set in the atmospheric surroundings of our medieval hall at Smithills, this event promises to transport you to a world of intrigue and magic.
Books will be available to purchase a copy of Hagtale and have it personally signed by the author.
Tickets are free, but booking is essential via Bolton Library and Museum Services Eventbrite page.
Robert Rutherford, Sarah Mellor and Brian Groom, Sunderland, Saturday 19 September
When: Saturday 19 September, 11am-12pm and 1-2pm
Where: Culture House Sunderland
Price: £12/£10 concessions
Book tickets
Join us to celebrate the opening of an exciting new arts and cultural venue in Sunderland City Centre with a day of events featuring best-selling Northern authors, Robert Rutherford, Sarah Mellor and Brian Groom and book signings from a local bookshop, as Northern Bookshelf Live comes to Culture House Sunderland!
Come and hear all about what’s going on at Culture House, meet the authors and fellow book lovers in this beautiful new space right in the heart of Sunderland.
Your ticket price includes access to both events and refreshments.
Northern Crime Panel with Robert Rutherford and Sarah Mellor, 11am – 12pm
When your family member is wrapped up in a twisted web of secrets, how far would you go to help them? Join Robert Rutherford and Sarah Mellor to discuss how they explore family ties, loss, and the Northern landscape in their new crime novels, The Missing Hour and The Silent Places.
Robert Rutherford is an award-winning author and scriptwriter, whose books include The Missing Hour and the Sunday Times bestseller, Seven Days. He lives on the North East Coast with his wife, children & overly needy dog, and is a founding member of the Northern Crime Syndicate crime-writers group.
Sarah Mellor is a novelist and psychotherapist based in Liverpool, where she has lived for nearly 30 years. She kickstarted the process of writing her debut novel by attending an Arvon crime-writing course and taking part in the Literary Consultancy’s mentoring programme. The Departed was published by HarperNorth in 2025 and Sarah’s second novel, The Silent Places, was published in March 2026.
Brian Groom: These Isles, 1 – 2pm
Brian Groom, author of the bestselling Northerners, delves into the colourful and often-contested story of the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans and others who have occupied the British Isles throughout our history, and the influence their culture, languages and passions still have on our lives today in These Isles: A People’s History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Brian Groom is a journalist and a leading expert on British regional and national affairs. His career was spent mainly at the Financial Times, where he was assistant editor. His first book, Northerners, was a Waterstones History Book of the Year and his second, Made in Manchester, was a Financial Times Book of the Year. These Isles was published in February 2026.
Book sales from FeatherBed Bookshop.