North East Group: ‘Walking the line – Fiction, non-fiction and looking for the truth’

The North East Group’s next meeting is on Saturday 14th February. Doors open from 10:40am for an 11am start.

Peter Bromley will lead a talk on ‘Walking the line: Fiction, non-fiction and looking for the truth’ encouraging us to contemplate the question: In an age of AI and with boundaries between fiction and non-fiction blurring, how can writers continue to present truth in their work?

The presentation will examine how writers seek to present the truth. Using contemporary examples, his own work and in the context of A.I. and ‘alternative facts’, Bromley seeks to stimulate a discussion about how we, as writers, can continue to speak our truth in an increasingly sceptical world.

About Peter Bromley:

Peter qualified in Environmental Sciences before gaining a Master’s Degree in Conservation Management. He worked for a range of environmental organisations across the UK before moving into heritage conservation. Firstly, he was with English Heritage, where he was Director for their collection of 400 properties including Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall and Dover Castle. Peter then moved to Historic Scotland where he was again the Director for their national collection of 300 properties, including Edinburgh Castle, Skara Brae and the Border Abbeys.

Whilst working in the environmental sector, he wrote three non-fiction books on conservation and conservation management. But, as the language for the reports and business plans he was having to write in his day job became more and more formal and constrained, he thankfully re-discovered the enthusiasm for creative writing he’d had as a child. Therefore, as an antidote to the formality of board papers and ministerial briefings, he started to write short fiction, having a collection published, as well as winning a number of awards and receiving a New Writing North bursary. Most recently, Peter has turned to longer fiction, having two novels published through Silver Quill, a writer-led publishing company.

He is currently working on a number of projects, including further novels and a non-fiction book on building an eco-house in Assynt in the Northwest of Scotland.

He lives in North Northumberland with a view of the North Sea coast where, apart from family, he spends time writing, walking, playing the fiddle and trying keep an old 2CV going. He still attempts to run, but sadly, this is increasingly hard to distinguish from his walking.

We will meet at the Lit and Phil Library, 23 Westgate Road (next to Bolbec Hall), Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SE. It’s less than one minute from Newcastle Central Rail Station and the Central Station Metro. Turn right and walk for less than a minute, and the Lit and Phil is on the corner of Westgate Road, Orchard Street/Neville Street, next to Neville Hall.

We look forward to seeing members at the event! Just a reminder to bring along spare change for a coffee or tea/biscuits at £2.00.

All welcome!

To attend the meeting, click the Going button below and fill out the RSVP form. If you do not receive a confirmation email, or have trouble signing up, please contact localgroups@societyofauthors.org.