Unsung live at the Morpeth Book Festival!
#19: Come and see author and podcaster Alexis James give a talk at the Morpeth Book Festival in March...
“Hello Wembley Morpeth!”
It’s way too late in January to start this newsletter with the words “Happy New Year”, but I’ll do everyone a favour and avoid lazy quips about resolutions you’ve already broken. Mainly because I’m starting this year in the same way I ended the last. With a shameless plug.
Many thanks to those of you who voted for Unsung in the 2025 Sports Podcast Awards. It’s highly unlikely to win but I’ll pretend to be a good sport and link to the winning podcasts in February’s Off-Field newsletter.
Speaking of which, the regular January edition will be in your inboxes before the month is out, with its usual recommendations of gripping storytelling from the fringes. In the meantime, this bonus update brings some glad tidings of a live event that was tantalisingly teased at the end of last month’s newsletter (what do you mean you didn’t read that far?).
That’s the news that, exactly two months today, I’ll be doing a talk at the Morpeth Book Festival on Saturday 22nd March 2025 at 12.45pm. Yep, lil ol’ me. Stood at the front with wire wool mane, fingers bitten to the bone, eyes like a ref at the Istanbul derby.
The invitation was as unexpected as it was touching. Though given that I live in Morpeth, there’s a good chance I’m part of some obligatory local quota. Like a Premier League club selling its academy players to balance the books.
So, no, it’s not quite the beginning of a world tour. And, yes, I’ll seem as out of place as David Brent at his motivational speaking gig. I haven’t yet decided if I’ll be going for the backwards cap. You’ll have to turn up to find out.
What I will be doing is sharing a handful of stories about my Unsung book, the podcast that followed, and an exciting new publication that I’ll be revealing more about (and flogging) in the coming weeks.
Not only that, but if no one heckles me too brutally, the talk will hopefully be released as a live episode of the Unsung podcast later in the year.
I’ll also take some questions at the end should anyone want to ask me if there’ll ever be a boy born who can swim faster than a shark. And that’s probably enough The Office references for one newsletter…
If you’ve ever enjoyed my stuff, whether the book, podcast, or longreads, I’m sure there’ll be something in it for you. It’s only a fiver and, if nothing else, I’ll offer some tips on the best pubs in Morpeth.
You’ll find all the ticket details and links below. If you know someone who might be interested in coming along, do forward this email to them. Thanks for your support, and maybe see you in March!
Alexis James: Not All Heroes Wear Kits
Saturday 22nd March 2025, 12:45pm
Morpeth Library @ Leisure Centre, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1SR
Tickets £5
Morpeth Book Festival 2025
The third Morpeth Book Festival will be held on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd March 2025. Headliners include crime queen Mari Hannah, legendary BBC broadcaster James Naughtie, former MP Chris Mullin, and award-winning historian Alistair Moffat. View the full line-up.
Guide to Morpeth
If you’re visiting Morpeth for the first time, this handy guide includes recommendations for places to stay, things to do, and the best haunts to eat, drink, and be merry.
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