About this event

Join us for a special launch event celebrating Our Monstrous Bodies, the debut novel by Emma Cleary. Cleary’s striking first novel blends queer literary fiction with horror, exploring fractured sisterhood, the uncanniness of the female body, and the seductiveness of art. Drawing on visual art and horror cinema, it delves into themes of loneliness, motherhood, and threatened bodily autonomy, offering a haunting and thought-provoking reading experience. Originally from Liverpool, Emma Cleary is a writer and editor now based in Vancouver. Our Monstrous Bodies (published as Afterbirth in the US and Canada) is her debut novel. She holds a PhD in Literature from Staffordshire University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia, and is editor-in-chief of Geist magazine. The evening will be hosted by writer and director Julia Cranney, and will include readings, an in-conversation with the author, and an audience Q&A. The author will also sign copies of the novel, with book sales by Aldous Books. This event will appeal to readers and thinkers interested in contemporary literature, queer writing, literary horror, visual culture, the feminine grotesque, and critical discussion. Tickets: - General Admission: £5 - Concession: £2 A limited number of free tickets are available for those who are unwaged or experiencing financial hardship. Please select this option if it applies to you. Doors open at 5.30pm Booking required