Advent Showcase & Fellowship Event

Join us in London to celebrate the launch of Karen Lawrence's new novel The Last Midwife, as well as to celebrate together the first year and all the achievements of everyone in our Write for Life Academy! We will also have readings and performances from some of our rising stars:

• A beautiful piano performance from Joel Hayhow - an original composition inspired the story of the Elephant Man
• A reading from Natasha Collins' highly original novel in progress, Carouso, intended for the youth market, about an orphan and drawing on the juxtaposition between historical C19th Sicily and 'fairie'.
• Poetry from Sharon Mclafferty
• Table of creative pro-life clothes, accessories and merchandise, original designs by Mairi Lucas, ideal to purchase for Christmas presents,
• Table to display and share your own work, if you would like to.

This is an ideal opportunity to celebrate the work of our Academy and meet some of the people in person whom you might only have met on Zoom or WhatsApp. It's also an opportunity to bring pro-life friends to be the audience, who might to join the Academy, or even invest financially in some of the creative projects.

The event will also serve as a 'rehearsal' for the live programme in the Radio Maria studios upstairs that will be taking place early next year. St Dominic's Priory (where the studios of Radio Maria are based) have kindly offered us the use of their church hall for the event. They have a piano, and a kitchen so we can heat up the mulled wine!

• Date & Time: 11am-2.30pm Saturday 29th November 2025
• Venue: Parish Hall, St Dominic's Priory Church, Southampton Road, London, NW5 4LB
• Cost: We are holding the event FREE of charge, as a thank you to all those who have supported the Academy, but if you have £20 to spare please bring it with you to support the work of our artists. Karen's new novel will be on sale, as well as other publications, items and merchandise created by Academy members.
• Lunch & refreshments: We will be having a shared-buffet lunch, so please bring-and-share a few items for that (especially if you have particular dietary requirements). Mince pies and mulled wine (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be provided.

We hope you will join us for this Advent celebration of creativity and fellowship.

A chance to renew your commitment to your work and creative mission for the New Year!