Book Launch: Carnival at the End of the World

Come hang out and get a taste of the collection from readings by eight of our authors. Programme below:

7pm Doors

7:30pm Readings

Harper Walton

James Tilden

Maria Robinson

Luke Reilly

Break

8:30pm Readings

Olly Barrett

Lily Steve

Jack Houston

David Dobson

9pm Social until close

Free entry, all welcome!

Carnival at the End of the World is a collection of eleven short stories. People metamorphose into birds, vows of silence become clown eras, hallucinogenic visions are plentiful, language and form disintegrates and evolves, drugs unlock psychogeography, sex and gender fluctuate and threaten to explode, bodies open and close, toilet queues stretch on for infinity, and streams of consciousness are polluted.

In our contemporary moment of poly-apocalyptic anxiety, can we find a rugged sense of optimism? Or perhaps it is already too late, with nothing left for us to do but dance into the flaming rubble.

A note from the editor, Harper Walton

"I didn’t have an overt political goal with this publication, but the multiple crises of our moment are hard to ignore. Whilst I’m glad that none of the selected pieces attempt to speak with authority on global issues, I am proud of the subtlety with which they reference some of the most pressing topics of our time, from genocide to migration to trans rights. Writing cannot solve these problems alone, but it can give us space and time to reflect, to motivate each other to act.

Two aspects of the pieces stand out to me the most – the creative process itself, and the idea of youth and its fading. As I get older, I am becoming ever more passionate about writing and art at large, as a way of preserving my life, of adding meaning to it. I believe these stories crystallise moments in each of the writers’ lives, from the debaucherous festivities of youth to the bittersweet act of reminiscing.

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did."

Contents

My Year as Pierrot by Harper Walton
Aviary by David Dobson
Slow Heat by Olly Barrett
you will always find yourself someone else on the greener grass over there by James Tilden
SQUAWK by Lily Steve
secret keeping by Jack Houston
Interval by Luke Reilly
Pink Seafoam by Maria Robinson
Think On… by Nick Maynard
The Last Time I Took an E by Alfie White
Red Touching Yellow, K*ll A Fellow by Alice Musgrove

David Dobson is a writer from Bradford, West Yorkshire. He is a co-organiser, alongside poet Tom Branfoot, of More Song, a poetry reading series which has hosted the likes of Fran Lock, Zaffar Kunial, and Hannah Copley.

Jack Houston is a parent, writer and public librarian from East London whose short fiction has appeared in The Cardiff Review, The Interpreter’s House, Litro, Open Pen, Storgy and has been shortlisted for the Brick Lane Bookshop Prize and the BBC National Short Story Award.

Nick Maynard is a queer writer and artist living in Manchester. He has had work performed at The Arcola, Chicken & Hen, The White Bear (Kennington) and The Southwark Playhouse. He is Creative Director of Rough Boy MCR and his first novel Cripple is now available.

Alice Musgrove is a nonbinary writer and editor who occupies the space(s) between dimensions. Their work has recently been published by The BitterSweet Review, Carrion Press and Modern Queers. When not writing, they can usually be found illicitly making zines on the printers at work, or (unsuccessfully) befriending local cats.

Luke Reilly is a London-based writer whose prose has been published by Ink Sweat & Tears. His screenwriting credits include the feature film Small Gods, which was financed by Sovereign Films (Triangle of Sadness). He also writes essays on Medium under the pretentious but search engine optimisable Eubulus Kane.

Maria Robinson is a poet and fiction writer based in Bath. Before that, they were studying in Chicago. Their work focuses on the physical and the grotesque.

Olly Barrett is a writer and poet, living in southeast London. His work explores the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world, capturing the complex systems we find ourselves living within to reveal the feelings of modern life. Oliver is published with The Elegists Collective and Humble Soup.

Lily Steve is a writer, poetry workshop facilitator, and SEN educator. They approach writing from a fine art background, blending short fiction, poetry and experimental prose. Recent works include Dead blue lizard (‘my life is big’, Brixton Radio, 2023) and Fejka (‘Elks in the rear window’, AIR Studios, 2023).

James Tilden is a writer from Ottawa, Canada, living in Hackney. He performs humorous poetry at open mic nights across the city and writes short stories in his spare time. He enjoys reading, writing, philosophy, politics, exhibitions, staying active, and traveling.

Harper Walton is a writer, editor and tutor from Bath. Their poetry, fiction and essays have been featured by 1883 Magazine, Whitechapel Gallery, Venice Biennale and more. They achieved third place in the Brick Lane Bookshop short story prize, and have won two Young Poets Network challenges.

Alfie White

Alfie White is an artist born and based in South London. Their primary practice is documentary photography, dedicated to exploring the intricacies of the human condition. Alfie’s writing stems from a similarly personal and abstract space of experience and observation. Their work has been featured in CIRCA, Dazed, Goldsmiths CCA, i-D, Seedlings, Sunspot Lit and others.

Buoy Press is run by editor Elsa Kenningham and designer Jo Gray. We launched in 2023 to platform emerging writers and artists. Our catalogue to date includes poetry, short stories, essays, zines and posters. Alongside print, events are an important part of our practice.

Host or Publisher Buoy Press