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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T180000
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SUMMARY:AUTHOR EVENT: 'Who’s the Real Dad?' with Doug Sharples\, Sanjay Sood-Smith\, and Amber Stein
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is excited to welcome Doug Sharples\, Sanjay Sood-Smith\, and Amber Stein to the store on 2nd July at 6pm to discuss their book\, Who’s the Real Dad? Two Dads\, One Surrogate: Our Journey to Become LGBTQ+ Parents. As well as a discussion on their book\, there will also be a Q&A\, plus the chance to get your books signed. \nTickets \nClick here to buy a book and ticket – £20\nClick here to buy a ticket only – £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nA candid\, humorous and moving account of how two men and their surrogate came together to make a family. \nLike countless other couples\, Sanjay and Doug (AKA The Travelling Gays) met\, fell in love – and were soon married. But when they decided they wanted a family of their own\, it was the beginning of an incredible journey that would see them become proud parents to three children – and have a new friend for life in their surrogate\, Amber. \nPart practical guide to the international surrogacy process with a first-hand account of what it’s really like to be a surrogate\, part memoir and social commentary about same-sex parenting\, Who’s the Real Dad? follows their experience step by step – from choosing between adoption and surrogacy to the legal and financial complexities along the way\, and from fertility treatment and embryo transfers to pregnancy\, birth\, and life with three children under two. \nExploring the long-term impact of growing up under Section 28\, changing social attitudes\, and the expanding possibilities for LGBTQ+ parents\, Who’s the Real Dad? demystifies the surrogacy process and offers a fresh perspective on what family really means in the twenty-first century.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/author-event-whos-the-real-dad-with-doug-sharples-sanjay-sood-smith-and-amber-stein
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
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ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260716T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260716T140000
DTSTAMP:20260704T093253Z
CREATED:20260702T172703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260704T093253Z
UID:22024-1784203200-1784210400@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:FREE - Signing and Live Portrait with Navya Raju
DESCRIPTION:Join illustrator Navya Raju on 16th July for a free live portrait and book signing event! Navya will be with us from 12pm – 2pm\, offering live illustrations of you and your little bookworms\, as well as signing copies of her books ‘The Twirly Wiggly Dance’ and ‘Not Now\, Goldilocks!’. Books will be available to purchase on the day. \nAttendance is free; we recommend arriving early to avoid disappointment as each portrait takes time and there may be a queue. \nWe look forward to seeing you there!
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/free-signing-and-live-portrait-with-navya-raju
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
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ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260722T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260722T190000
DTSTAMP:20260622T081050Z
CREATED:20260603T141900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260622T081050Z
UID:21211-1784743200-1784746800@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:50 Years of Punk: John Robb and Russ Bestley in conversation
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is excited to celebrate 50 Years of Punk with John Robb and Russ Bestley on 22nd July at 6pm. John will be discussing his memoir\, Punk Rock Ruined my Life: and other stories\, while Russ discusses his new title\, Turning Revolt into Style: The process and practice of punk graphic design. The talk will take place for one hour\, and will involve a Q&A and a chance to get your books signed by John and Russ. The event will be chaired by Kevin Quinn. \nTickets \nClick here to buy your ticket for £5. You can add on John Robb’s title for an additional £15 (£20 total)\, Russ Bestley £20 (£25 in total)\, or we are offering a bundle for both books and a ticket at £40. These will be available for collection on the night. \nAbout the books \nPunk Rock Ruined my Life: and other stories \nThe irresistible story of a one-man cultural phenomenon. \nMinister for the Counterculture\, Mancunian mainstay and alternative national treasure John Robb has lived a life in music. In this book he charts his adventures on the cultural frontline\, chronicling the making of a DIY icon. \nRobb’s quest began in his hometown of Blackpool – where punk was a battle against the odds – and went international when he toured the world with his band. The first person to interview Nirvana\, he also discovered The Stone Roses for weekly newspaper Sounds and did early interviews with The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Manics\, before moving on to legends such as Mark E. Smith\, Nick Cave and Patti Smith. Along the way\, he became an on-screen commentator and author of bestselling books. \nRobb’s memoir tells of deep friendships with figures from Poly Styrene to Chris Packham. Packed with riotous stories\, it provides an alternative account of British musical and cultural history and a triumphant blueprint for a punk rock life. \nTurning Revolt into Style: The process and practice of punk graphic design \nDrawing on interviews with leading punk and post punk designers including Malcolm Garrett\, Bill Smith\, Chris Morton\, Steve Averill\, Mike Coles\, Bob Last\, Rob O’Connor\, Jill Mumford and Neville Bordy along with detailed archival and historical research\, this book reveals the implicit tensions between a new creative vanguard and the design establishment\, together with the opportunities offered by new technologies and dramatic parallel changes in labour relations and working practices. \nAlong with a close analysis of punk and post punk record covers\, fanzines and other artefacts\, Turning revolt into style charts the story of a seismic cultural shift thar was to have a lasting impact for decades to come. The text centres on two key questions: how did a new generation of young\, punk inspired graphic designers navigates the music graphics profession the lates 1970s and early 1980s? And how did significant changes in printing technology\, labour relations and working practices in the design profession impact their work during that period? \nAbout the chair \nKevin Quinn is completing a PhD as a researcher at Central Saint Martins\, University of the Arts London. His thesis title is The NME: Counterculture and change\, 1980 – 1985 which maps a new history of the influential magazine the NME. Kevin is also a member of the UAL Subcultures Interest Group\, who have been extant since 2019 and in that time has produced five newspapers consisting of a broad range of topics\, hosted film screenings with Doc’n’Roll and other independent filmmakers\, and in July 2026 will be launching the new newspaper in conjunction with the newly opened Museum of Youth Culture in Camden\, London.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/50-years-of-punk-john-robb-and-russ-bestley-in-conversation
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
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