Modern Gothic launch with Lauren Archer & Alyssa Lloyd

MODERN GOTHIC (Fly On The Wall Press, Oct ’24) invites ghoulish readers on a chilling journey through captivating, nightmarish tales; where they will encounter sinister landlords, ethereal housemates and a glass-encased jungle built by an eccentric father. A collection that blurs the lines between dreams and reality, weaving a tapestry of macabre encounters and festering secrets…

We’re delighted to be celebrating the launch of MODERN GOTHIC at the Bluecoat (School Lane, L1 3BX) on Wednesday, 23rd October at 6pm with contributing friend of the shop / pro-goth Alyssa Lloyd in conversation with contributing authors Lauren Archer, Pete Hartley, Michael Bird & Lerah Mae Barcenilla, who will also be reading from their works.

Lauren is a writer of the gothic, surreal and strange based in Liverpool, UK. Her short story 'Out of Water' was published by Crow and Cross Keys literary journal. In 2022, her short story 'The Allotment' was longlisted for the Mslexia Short Story Prize. Lerah Mae Barcenilla grew up in the Philippines before moving to the UK. She writes on diaspora, memory, mythology, folklore. She is an award-winning poet and researcher for Maniwala Movement on pre-colonial Philippine cultures. Michael Bird is a prolific fiction writer with stories published widely in journals/anthologies. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and works as an investigative journalist. Pete Hartley writes short fiction in addition to his extensive playwriting career. Award wins include BBC and Cheshire competitions. Acclaimed plays produced.

Alyssa hosts Book Club in the Pub and - along with Lauren - the small-press focused inclusive book club Feminist Fiction.