Fiction writing 'has a place in the world of activism'

Award-winning writer to run writers' workshop on-Island today

This year's Manx Litfest is now well and truly underway.

Last night (25 September) award-winning writer, environmental activist and Professor of Contemporary Fiction at Manchester Metropolitan University, Monique Roffey, was at the Erin Arts Centre discussing her latest book Passiontide.

Monique was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and lives in London. 

She is the author of seven novels and a memoir. 

The Mermaid of Black Conch won the Costa Book of the Year and the Costa Novel Award and was shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize and the Goldsmiths Prize.

This morning (26 September) she will host a writing workshop at St Catherine's Church Hall, in Port Erin, from 10am about writing for nature.

Today's session is suitable for writers of all levels, who are up for tackling the big questions, as Monique explains:

She says writers should be looking to embrace community themes, rather than being individualistic, and that all the recent winners of major literary prizes have been 'political vehicles':

You can get tickets for today's workshop, and the rest of the Manx Litfest line-up, here.

And you can hear more from Monique in our Newscast: