From first chapters to first submissions: novelists Rowan Hisayo Buchanan and Ellen Wiles read from their novels and discuss writing the all-important opening chapters, and how they began their journeys to publication.
Adult event.
Cost: FREE but booking essential
Rowan is the author of the novels Harmless Like You and Starling Days. Her work has won the Authors' Club First Novel Award and a Betty Trask Award. She has been shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award. She has been published in Granta, The Atlantic, Guernica, and elsewhere. Find out more HERE.
Ellen is the author of the novel The Invisible Crowd, which was awarded a Victor Turner Prize, and the books Saffron Shadows and Live Literature. Her literary and critical writing has been published in Guernica and The TLS. She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Exeter, and she has previously worked as a human rights barrister and as a busker. Find out more HERE.
Accessibility Statement: The main entrance to the DEI (facing the Cathedral) has double doors, and is accessible for most wheelchairs. From this entrance there is level access to the foyer, and to the inner and outer libraries. We apologise for the current lack of lift access to the South Range rooms on the second floor.
As we are a small building, parking is limited, but a space can be pre-booked by contacting the office by phone: 01392 274727, or by email: office@devonandexeterinstitution.org. Priority will be given to blue badge holders. The side door into the inner library should be accessible for most wheelchair users reaching the DEI from the driveway, or the front entrance can be reached through the side door at the end of the driveway. Please do contact us if you have any further questions about your route into the DEI.
There are toilets on site, though the nearest fully accessible Changing Places toilet can be found in the Princesshay Shopping Centre, at the back of Nationwide.
The library is usually a quiet space, though can be louder during events. A timetable for events can be found on the website. If you require a quieter space, please ask a member of staff.
If sounded, the fire alarm makes a repeated sound of two tones, and flashing lights will go off in the reading room and the toilets. On an ordinary day, ringing phones and door buzzers might also be heard.
Lighting is soft throughout the building, and may be low in certain areas.
Assistance dogs are welcome, and staff will be happy to provide water for your dog.
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