Urgent Matter

For those of you reading this who're Sheffielders, I'm assured that Matter 8 has been published and is ready for launch: the annual showcase of new writing from Sheffield Hallam's MA Writing course.

Before I joined the MA, I'd quite often spot copies of the magazine - always beautifully designed and perfect-bound - in bookshops in and around Sheffield, and having enjoyed reading the diverse range of talent on display in each of them, it's been a real pleasure this year to have been involved in editing the publication's poetry.

As well as poems by MA students including myself, then, the issue contains new work by established guest contributors and an excerpt from the late E.A. Markham's memoirs.

Matter will be launched next Wedneday, 15th October @ Waterstones, Orchard Square, Sheffield, and it would be great to see as many people as possible there (it's a big sort of shop so space shouldn't be an issue). It will be followed by the launch of the Best Of MA Writing 2008, a selection of students' work by the tutors themselves, with details to follow.

Matter Launch

Matter magazine, published out of the MA Writing course at Sheffield Hallam University, is now in its tenth year and, to celebrate, this year's issue - just published - has a burnt gold cover. As ever, it's a stunning object to hold in hand and, like the best literature mags, combines quality production with excellent writing.

I've only dipped into the issue myself, having recently received a copy, but have already been struck by the guest contributions - from the likes of Daljit Nagra and Iain Sinclair - and the strength of writing from MA students included. (Jamie Coward's 'The Coxcomb' is a nifty little poem in particular; curious, amusing, subtly musical.) As in previous years, the issue points to Sheffield Hallam's ever-growing reputation as a place that nurtures some of the best new writers: Katharine Towers, Marina Lewycka, Tony Williams and Frances Leviston, to name but a few successful alumni.

Should you fancy getting hold of a copy of this year's issue, then, you'll find it on sale from the Matter website, as well as in Sheffield bookshops. And there's a couple of events tied in with it too, where contributors to the issue will read from their work and copies will be on sale. The first is the launch proper, at the Sheffield Hallam Blackwell's branch on Wednesday 13th October, from 7.15pm. Refreshments will be provided. There's also an event at the Riverside in Sheffield on the 21st October at 7pm. This will feature many of the same readers, but they'll be reading more of their work. I'm also told that the London launch is on 4th November at London Review Bookshop from 7pm.

You can find out more about these events, among other things, on the Matter website.