Marvellous Michael Anson and Oraine Johnson in Conversation - Birmingham

Join us for a brilliant evening of conversation with Marvellous Michael Anson and Oraine Johnson! They'll be discussing all things fantasy, from magic systems and world-building, to their writing processes and journeys.

Firstborn of the Sun is an epic fantasy debut inspired by the Yoruba myths where everyone is blessed with agbára, the power of the sun. Everyone except L'Ore, who must conceal this from everyone. Including her best friend, Alawani.But when the gods declare Alawani an Àlùfáà, he must be stripped of his power in a brutal trial likely to K*ll him. Unwilling to bear his death, Lóre vows to rescue him.In a desperate attempt to channel agbára, an icy magic pours from her hands; a power she learns originated from a forbidden, secret land beyond the walls of Oru. One where she and Alawani must now seek sanctuary and discover a secret that could bring the Kingdomto its knees...

Marvellous Michael Anson has been writing for over a decade and has self published a thriller, His Dark Reflection, to critical acclaim. She was shortlisted for the Future Worlds Prize in 2023, the 2022 Jericho Writers Friday Night Live Competition and the 2022 Kit De Waal Bursary, was longlisted for the 2023 REVPIT competition, and won the 2023 Jericho Writers’ Self Edit Course Bursary. In addition, Marve is a filmmaker who wrote and produced an awardwinning short film in 2016 and is a recipient of the 2017 AFRIFF Film School Scholarship Program. She is a mentor for Black Girl Writers

.Lucid is a gripping urban fantasy, set in the heart of a near-future Birmingham. Joseph Jacobs is just an ordinary university student – until a gift arrives on his 18th birthday: a dreamcatcher that hums with strange energy, and the mysterious inscription ‘We Are Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On’.Soon, his dreams grow darker – and begin to come true – the visions leak into reality as the lines between life and dreams melt away.Something is awakening – something that calls to Joseph, that wants to reach into our world – something ancient, with the power to change everything.Joseph, his friends, and family must face the darkness that lies beyond our world – and within it – and learn that if dreams can come true, so too can nightmares…

Oraine Johnson is an actor, composer, singer and writer who lives and works in Birmingham. He has performed at national and international theatre tours, on MTV, at Latitude Festival, the O2 Arena in London and has composed for Shakespeare productions and produced music for Warner Brothers records. He created Lucid to represent a diverse modern fresh story that would allow a multicultural cast to be a part of a fantastic story set in the U.K.

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Host or Publisher Waterstones