Fiction & Social History from the Black Country and West Midlands
IMPORTANT NOTICE:-
FROM 21st OCTOBER 2011
THE KATES HILL PRESS MOVES TO
NEW ADDRESS:-
39 COWLEY DRIVE
MILKING BANK
DUDLEY
DY1 2SS
Tel: 01384 485034
NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE AUTHORS:-
SORRY, THE KATES HILL PRESS IS NO LONGER IN A POSITION TO CONSIDER ANY UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS.
NEWS:
09/10/11: TWENTY ONE TODAY LAUNCH DETAILS
Carol Hathorne's new novel Twenty One Today will be launched on Saturday 22nd
October 2011.
The Vicarage, Church Road, Short Heath, Willenhall.
Saturday 22nd October 2011, 10.30 to 13.00
OCTOBER 2011: THREE NEW TITLES NOW AVAILABLE
Rescued by Louise Stokes, and Twenty One Today, Carol Hathorne's sequel to Only
Sixteen, are now available. Also, Carol Hathorne's Five Minutes Love has
re-released in paperback form. Visit the New Titles page for full details.
21/01/11: LAUNCH NIGHT DETAILS
AMERICAN TOILET TISSUE & SCHRODINGER'S PUSSY LAUNCH NIGHT
The Brewhouse at The Lamp Tavern, 116 High Street Dudley, DY1 !QT
Friday 28th January 2011, 8.00pm kick off.
Performing with Greg will be top performance poet Brendan Hawthorne, the internationally acclaimed Geoff Stevens, and music from up and coming singer songwriter (and latterly author) Neil Morris.
A great night in prospect, launching not only the fabulously funny American Toilet Tissue & Scrodingers's Pussy, but also relaunching spoken word/accoustic nights at the Lamp.
21/01/11:
AMERICAN TOILET TISSUE & SCHRODINGER'S PUSSY NOW AVAILABLE
Greg Stokes has had audiences in stitches with his comic short stories since he
began performing them in 2005. At last, Doctor, The Grant, the Les and Sheila
stories and many more are available in print!
Toilet
tissue, to Brits its bog roll, to the Americans its an insult, arsewipe!
Read how Les and Sheila Parkes, along with Les’s kid brother Des and
his missus Steph tackle two arsewipe image rights attorneys from New York, and
help one from another time zone!
Find
out what happens when the Daleks come to Dudley in search of their arch foe the
Doctor.
And
what are those two Baggies fans doing going back in time to Kill Devil Hill to
witness the Wright brothers’ first flight,,,
Erwin
Schrodinger, find out who the hell he is, and how he really reconciled quantum
mechanics with Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity with his famous
equation... In Dudley!
Read
how the world’s biggest particle accelerator is built under the Black Country
and what happens when they find the elusive God Particle!
Finally,
read The Procedure only if you are not of a nervous disposition. One of these
doctor Johnnies has to introduce a camera into a chaps bladder, and there’s
only one way in apparently...
PARENTAL ADVICE: Contains some swearing, but no sex to speak of. Sorry. You’ll have to read Tried by Prejudice, some really serious shagging gets done in that...
20
stories, 128 pages packed with laughs.
ISBN 978 1 904552 40 6, £7.50 (plus£1.00 p&p)
01/07/10: EXHIBIT
B NOW AVAILABLE
Brendan Hawthorne's Exhibit B is now available. See new titles for details.
12/06/10: EXHIBIT
B PROOF RECEIVED
The proof copy of Brendan Hawthorne's Exhibit B was received today.
04/06/10:
GEOFF STEVENS BOOK LAUNCH
Geoff Stevens launched his latest book Islands in the Blood at the Barlow
Theatre, Langley tonight. Greg Stokes read from A Pack of Saftness at the open
mic event.
27/05/10:
BILSTON VOICES
Greg Stokes appeared at Bilston Voices tonight reading excerpts from A Pack of
Saftness.
24/04/10:
SANDWELL St GEORGE'S DAY SHOW
Greg Stokes joined Brendan Hawthorne and Heather Wastie at Sandwell's St
George's Day Show in Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich today.
23/04/10: BRENDAN
HAWTHORNE AT ST JAMES'S LIGHTHOUSE, WEDNESBURY
Brendan Hawthorne performed a one man show at St James's Lighthouse in
Wednesbury tonight. The show took the audience on an odyssey through the
characters from the Black Country of his childhood via rock and roll influences
to the society of today.
31/03/10: EXHIBIT
B MEETING
Greg Stokes met with Brendan Hawthorne today to finalise plans for the
production of Brendan's new book Exhibit B today. It is hoped that the title
will be available early June.
26/03/10: GREG
STOKES RETURNS TO WEST MIDLANDS
After six months working at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for 6 months,
Greg Stokes returned to the West Midlands tonight.
28/11/09: BLUE
GENES LAUNCH
Blue Genes was launched at the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Centre in Wednesbury.
Les Lacey read several sections from the book. Greg Stokes read The Carol
service. It is hoped to run a second event some time next year.
15/11/09: BLUE GENES LAUNCH
A launch event for Blue Genes will be held at the Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Centre, The Old Post Office, Holyhead Road, Wednesbury, 12.00 - 14.00 on
Saturday 28th November. All welcome.
15/11/09: BLUE GENES NOW
AVAILABLE
Les Lacey's Blue Genes is now available. See the New Titles page for further
details.
10/10/09: BLUE GENES PROOF RECEIVED
The proof copy of Les Lacey's Blue Genes has now been received. This title
should be available in the next few weeks. Details are available on the New
Titles Page.
03/10/09: GREG STOKES AT ST LUKE'S
Brendan Hawthorne put on a superb fund-raising show at St Luke's Church in
Wednesbury. Greg Stokes performed a short stand up piece, What's Clever? and
read The God Particle. Brendan Hawthorne, Geoff Stevens and Keith Melbourne were
the other spoken word performers taking part. An excellent show raised in ecess
of £250.00
25/09/09: CHAIN-MAKERS, CHAPELS AND
PUBS NOW AVAILABLE
Advanced copies of Peter Head's book about Cradley have now been delivered. The
book is now available from the Kates Hill Press. See the New Titles Page for
further details. (Note to retailers, information has not yet been submitted to
Neilsen Bookdata. This title will not be officially published, and therefore off
the system for a few weeks yet.)
13/09/09: GREG STOKES IN MANCHESTER
For the next few months Greg Stokes will be working away in Manchester. It will
only be possible in this period to respond to queries and orders at the weekend.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
10/09/09: BLACKLPOOL OR BUST NOW AVAILABLE
Advanced copies of Paul Evans' debut novel Blackpool or Bust have now been
delivered. The book is now available from the Kates Hill Press. See the New
Titles Page for further details. (Note to retailers, information has not yet
been submitted to Neilsen Bookdata. This title will not be officially published,
and therefore off the system for a few weeks yet.)
28/08/09: WE'RE BACK
Our biennial major computer crash has meant there has been no update to the
website for some three months. A lot has been happening however. Not a lot of
data was lost but all the business and book files have been replaced now. Below
are some of the events and developments since the end of May.
28/08/09: NEW WEBSITE COMING
The Kates Hill Press is to have a new web site. It will have a completely new
format with lots of extra features. It will be possible to purchase our titles,
and hopefully tickets to our shows on the new site. Clips of sketches will also
become available as the site rolls out. Keep visiting this site for details.
28/08/09: NEW TITLES UPDATE
With Blackpool or Bust about to go into production, work on 2 further titles is
nearing completion. Les Lacey's Blue Genes and Peter Head's Chain-makers,
Chapels and Pubs are a few weeks away from submission. Watch this site for
details.
26/08/09: LOUISE STOKES HAS WON AGAIN
Louise Stokes has won another stage in the 1click2fame competition. Voting
starts again on the next stage.
26/08/09: GREG STOKES ON WACR
Greg Stokes was on WACR Milk Bar feature this evening outlining the Wind Up
Radio collaboration with Brendan Hawthorne and Geoff Stevens.
23/08/09: BLACKPOOL OR BUST OFF TO THE PRINTERS
The files of Paul Evans' debut novel, Blackpool or Bust were uploaded to
Lightning Source today. Once the proof has been accepted the book will become
available. See this site for details.
14/07/09: BRITANNIA GIG
Steve Grey, Louise Stokes, Brendan Hawthorne, Geoff Stevens and Greg Stokes
performed at the Britannia in Rowley tonight. Les Lacey, author of Blue Genes
also read a short poem.
04/07/09: BRENDAN, GREG AND CAROL MIDWOOD AT THE
PUBLIC
Brendan Hawthorne, Greg Stokes and Carol Midwood performed at the Public in West
Bromwich today. The event which featured music acts, stalls, and a pig roast,
was in aid of Breast Cancer Charities.
26/06/09: LOUISE STOKES A WINNER
Louise Stokes has won through to the boot camp stage of the 1click2fame
competition. Clips of her various characters are on the 1click2fame website and
votes cast online. Louise will appear at a special show in London.
26/06/09: SECOND SAVE THE CHURCH SHOW
The second save the church show took place at the Ward Arms. A fair sized
audience braved monsoon conditions to see Brendan Hawthorne, Geoff Stevens, Greg
Stokes, Louise Stokes and Des Stokes.
28/05/09: WIND UP RADIO - LIVE ORAL TEXT
The writing co-operative of Brendan Hawthorne, Geoff Stevens, and Greg Stokes
was formalised in Wednesbury tonight with the formation of Wind Up Radio - Live
Oral Text. The trio aim to unfold a new format of sketch based comedy from the
platform of their current shows. Watch this web site for developments as they
unfold.
23/05/09: CHURCH LINE UP SHAPING UP
The line up for the Save the Church Show wll be poetry from Brendan Hawthorne
and Geoff Stevens, stories from Greg Stokes, Emma Rollason as Dolly Allen,
Louise Stokes with a blend of comedy and poetry, and Des Stokes with his old
style comedy of the lavatorial variety.
21/05/09: PRESERVATION GROUP AGM
The Kates Hill Press had a stall at the AGM of the St John's Church Preservation
Group at the Quality Hotel (Ward Arms) tonight. A good turn out heard much
positve committment to saving the building and getting it back in use.
13/05/09: 4th JULY AT THE PUBLIC
Greg Stokes will join Brendan Hawthorne. Keith Melbourne, and others at The
Public in West Bromwich on 4th July. The spoken word performers will be sharing
stage with accoustic bands throughout the day.
23/04/09: St GEORGES CELEBRATED IN STYLE AT THE
BRITANNIA, ROWLEY
Brendan Hawthorne, Geoff Stevens and Greg Stokes put on a show of spoken word
performance at the Britannia in Rowley Village as part of the pub's St George's
Day celebrations. The trio were well received by an appreciative audience.
18/04/09: St GEORGES SHOW AT DARTMOUTH PARK
Greg Stokes joined Brendan Hawthorne and other members of Poetry Wednesbury to
perform at Sandwell's St George's Show at Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich. Keith
Chegwin compered the main event.
12/04/09: GREG STOKES AT SANDWELL ST GEORGE'S EVENT
Grge Stokes will perform with other members of Poetry Wednesbury at Sandwell's
St George's Day Event at Dartmouth Park on Saturday 18th april 2009. Poetry
Wednesbury will have 2 slots, at 1.15 and 3.15. Greg will be in the second
slot. Other performers include Brendan Hawthorne and Geoff Stevens.
10/04/09: DATE SET FOR NEXT CHURCH GIG
The second Save St John's Church gig will take place on Friday 26th June 2009,
at the Quality Hotel (Ward Arms) Dudley. Line up to be announced.
16/03/09: St GEORGE'S DAY GIG
Greg Stokes will join Brendan Hawthorne and Geoff Stevens at the Brittania Inn
Rowley Village on St George's night to provide an evening of entertainment in
dialect. Admission is free. The pub are putting on a faggot and peas supper
which would have to be ordered through them (0121 559 3415). The food will
be available at 7.00 pm and the show will start at 8.30 pm.
15/03/09: KATES HILL PRESS AT CRAFT FAYRE
The Kates Hill Press had a stal at the Craft Fayre at the Redhill Glass Cone in
Wordsley today.
30/01/09: TOP NIGHT TO SAVE THE CHURCH
The Dudley Suite at the Quality Hotel in Dudley was rammed to the rafters with
over 100 punters to witness a great show. Deb Brownlee started the night
by announcing that St John's Church Preservation Group had got permission to
have work done to make the church building weatherproof, tangible fuits from all
their efforts. Greg Stokes kicked off the night's entertainment with a story of how he wasn't
allowed to read in the school Carol Service at St Johns in 1964 because he
didn't pronounce his H's. Geoff Stevens read many of his poems with a
local flavour including Darlaston Men and The Last of the Real Men. You
could hear a pin drop as Sue Hulse told two stories of her family back in
Yorkshire, where they too don't recognise the letter H. Emma Rollason came
on next to give a set of Dolly Allen material. Neil Morris closed the
first half with a set of his own songs. There was an extended interval to
sell raffle tickets and for people to have go on the Tombola. The raffle was
bolstered by local MP Ian Austin kindly donating a bottle of House of Commons
whisky signed by the Prime Minister - many thanks Ian. Greg Stokes opened
the second half with the parable of the Septemtrionial Soothsayer. Louise
Stokes came on next as street wise Kimmy Sue Anne, offering make up tips to
those willing to avail themseves - there were no takers! Brendan Hawthorne was in
fine form with a set of poems with local flavour including SOTNEV,
Granddad day arf spake funny, and Letter to aunt. He closed the set with
Seventies Child. Uncle Des completed the acts for the night in his
inimitable comic style, with tales of 1930s Dudley and the characters of those
times. Deb Brownlee closed the night with a notice of thanks. The audience
went home well pleased that hey had been royally entertained, the Preservation
Group made about £400 on the night, and the performers were buzzing at a job
well done.
A second Save the church Show is planned for late June.
19/01/09: NEIL MORRIS JOINS LINE UP
Singer/songer writer Neil Morris has joined the line up for the Save The Church
Show.
02/01/09: SAVE THE CHURCH LINE UP
The line up to the Save the Church show at the Quality Hotel has been drawn up.
Poetry from Brendan Hawthorne and Geoff Stevens
Stories from Sue Hulse and Greg Stokes
Comedy from Emma Rollason and Des Stokes
And a bit of everything from Louise Mary Stokes
For full details, visit the LIVE LITERATURE page.
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