Talks
An informal opportunity to hear from renowned authors
Talks
Friday October 9th
7:30 pm
An evening with Patrick Gale
AN EVENING WITH PATRICK GALE
.
Patrick Gale has lived in Cornwall since 1987 and has used the county as a setting for many of his books. His latest novel ‘Love Lane’ (2026) revolves around an intriguing, but incomplete story of love and secrets drawn from his own family history.
Cornish cheese and biscuits from 6.30pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Tickets £7.50
Talks
Thursday March 11th
7:30 pm
Hollie McNish – New Book Tour
After a run of sell out shows up and down the UK, Hollie is back with the paperback of her latest collection ‘Virgin’. Same love, cheaper price, and some new poems thrown in for luck. A Sunday Times bestselling author, expect strong language and adult content, gift-wrapped in her much-loved poetry as she reads from this highly-praised collection about love, loss, wolves and warm morning croissants.
Adult content warning 14+ / Book signing after the gig
Ticket price: £15.00/£11.99
Past talks
Talks
Friday April 17th
7:30 pm
Emily Barr
Award-winning author of 18 highly acclaimed novels including thrillers and young adult literature, Emily will be talking about her current writing and her transition from journalist to novelist.
Cornish cheese & biscuits plus bar from 6.30pm. Talk, discussion and questions from 7.30pm.
Tickets £7.99
Venue Opens: 18:00
Event Starts: 19:30
Talks
Friday October 10th
7:30 pm
Samantha Harvey – Winner of the 2024 Booker Prize.
Constantine Bookgroup Plus
Proudly presents
Samantha Harvey*
Winner of the 2024 Booker Prize.
or £16.00 at the door.
Talks
Saturday June 28th - Sunday June 29th
The Pollinator Pathmaker Project Open days At The Tolmen
Talks
Friday June 6th
6:30 pm
From Cornwall to Morocco
Jane Johnson
Book Launch Event.
At the launch event for Secrets of the Bees the author Jane Johnson talks about her latest novels, The Black Crescent and Secrets of the Bees.There will be new and second hand books and Moroccan jewellery on sale.
Wine, cheese and biscuits will be available from 6.30pm.
Tickets £7.50 from We Got Tickets
Talks
Friday March 21st
7:30 pm
Hollie McNish / Lobster: The Paperback Tour
“Funny, so smart and refreshingly honest” – Sarah Millican
“Makes me cry and howl with laughter” – Paapa Essiedu
Hollie McNish is a poet whose live readings are not to be missed. After a run of sold out shows up and down the UK, she is back with the paperback tour of Lobster and other things I’m learning to love. A Sunday Times bestselling book, expect strong language and adult content, gift-wrapped in gorgeously crafted poetry as she reads from this collection plus a selection of firm favourites from Slug and Nobody Told Me.
Adult content warning 14+ / Book signing after the gig. Support poet to be announced.
About the Author
Hollie McNish is a poet and author based between Glasgow and Cambridge. She was the first poet to record at Abbey Road Studios, London and won the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry for her poetic parenting memoir – Nobody Told Me – of which The Scotsman stated ‘The World Needs this Book’. She has published four further collections of poetry – Papers, Cherry Pie, Plum and Slug, which was a Sunday Times bestseller and translated into French under the title Je souhaite seulement que tu fasses quelque chose de toi. Her new book is Lobster, and other things I’m learning to love. She loves writing.
Quotes for Hollie:
“Funny, so smart and refreshingly honest” – Sarah Millican
“Her writing is sublime” – Ellie Taylor
“Makes me cry and howl with laughter” – Paapa Essiedu
“like Pam Ayres on acid” – Lemn Sissay
“One of the best poets we have”. – Matt Haig
”Never have we needed her more’ – Stylist
Socials:
Website: www.holliemcnish.com
Instagram: @holliepoetry
TikTok: @holliemcnish
Facebook: /holliepoetry
Twitter: @holliepoetry
Youtube: /holliemcnish
Event Starts: 19:30
Tickets £14/£12
Adult content warning 14+ / Book signing after the gig.
Talks
Friday November 15th
7:30 pm
CONSTANTINE BOOK CLUB PLUS WITH SARAH WINMAN
Don’t miss out on what promises to be an amazing evening with one of our favourite authors.
Sarah Winman prize winning author of Still Life will be in conversation and discussing her novels and writing career.
Wine cheese and biscuits from 6.30pm Talk from 7.30pm followed by Q and A
Tickets £7
Talks
Thursday May 9th
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Dickens and Italy
Constantine Literary Pod welcomes
Lucinda Hawksley
Dickens and Italy
In 1844, Charles Dickens took his wife and young family to Italy for a year. Author, historian and broadcaster Lucinda Hawksley will speak about their year in which Dickens recovered from depression, wrote his second Christmas novella and travelled the country researching his travelogue Pictures from Italy. Dickens great, great, great granddaughter will speak about the family’s extraordinary year which also helped inspire her own book Dickens and Travel.
Wine, cheese and biscuits, available from 6.30.
Venue Opens: 18:00
Event Starts: 19:30
Talks
Friday October 13th
6:30 pm
Constantine Book Club present Tim Sullivan
Tim Sullivan is an acclaimed screenwriter, whose credits include A Handful of Dust, Jack and Sarah (which he also directed) and My Little Pony – A New Generation. He is also a Television director whose credits include Sherlock Holmes and Cold Feet.
He has now embarked on a series of crime novels – The Dentist, The Cyclist, The Patient, The Politician and The Monk – set in Bristol featuring the eccentric and socially-awkward, but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross.
Talk, discussion and questions from 7.30pm.
Tickets £7
Talks
Friday March 24th
7:00 pm
Wildlife Groundswell presents:Our Future with Beavers
How will we adjust to having beavers in our landscape and what effects will they have? Chris is a farmer and already has beavers on his land in Cornwall.
Free entry…
but please try to let us know in advance that you intend to come by contacting wildlifegroundswelltickets@gmail.com.
Tickets will be available on the door.
Hot drinks, biscuits and bar.
Donations to Cornwall Beaver Project.
Talks
Friday March 17th
6:30 pm
Cathy Rentzenbrink
Cathy Rentzenbrink is an acclaimed memoirist whose books include The Last Act of Love, Dear Reader and Everyone is Still Alive. Her book about how to write a memoir Write It All Down was published in 2022. She will be joining us to talk about her books and her interest in creative writing.
Cornish cheese and biscuits plus bar from 6.30pm.
Talk, discussion and questions from 7.30pm.
Talks
Friday September 30th
6:30 pm
Nicci Pugh – White Ship – Red Crosses
Constantine Book Group Plus present Nicci Pugh – White Ship – Red Crosses.
Nicci will be joining us to talk about her book White Ship – Red Crosses A Nursing Memoir of the Falklands War. An inspiring and fascinating presentation illustrating the role of a British hospital ship in the Falklands War.
Talks
Friday June 10th
6:30 pm
Unlost: A Journey of Self-discovery and the healing power of the wild outdoors
Local author and adventurer Gail Muller talks about her adventures on the 2200 mile Appalachian Trail, and how the experience helped her to heal both mind and body. For fifteen years she struggled with musculo-skeletal issues and chronic pain. In 2019, after years searching for cures for her physical and mental health, she realised it was time for a profound change.
The evening will include finger food and a bar, book sales and a quiz.
Tickets £5
Doors open 6.30pm, talk starts at 7.30pm.
Talks
Saturday December 4th
11:00 am
William Howard
In advance of tomorrow’s concert William Howard will be hosting an informal “Musical Chat” at the Tolmen Centre. This is a gentle introduction to a genre with which some may be less familiar. This is a free event but please book with Gia Shaw in advance on 07979 864736 as seats are limited.
Talks
Friday November 12th
7:30 pm
“The Courage Game” by Jeni Whittaker
A Free Literary Event
On Friday November 12th at 7.30pm The Tolmen Centre is hosting a discussion and book signing with local author Jeni Whittaker. Her ‘novelized biography’ of her great-aunt, Gladys Mary Hazel, tells the true story of one of the central figures in the Suffragette movement. It is a gripping narrative, following her from her childhood in Ireland through her schooldays and early teaching career, to her involvement in the radical movement for women’s rights. It is a terrific read, and has great relevance to the present day.
Jeni will be interviewed and open to questions, and will also be happy to sign copies of her book which will be on sale at the event.
The Tolmen bar will be open and all are welcome.
Talks
Thursday September 9th
7:30 pm
Patrick Gale
Constantine Book Club Plus present Patrick Gale
A live streaming of Cathy Rentzenbrink in discussion with the award winning author Patrick Gale. A fundraising event in aid of Emmaus, the charity working to support homeless people in Cornwall.
All proceeds will be donated to Emmaus Cornwall.
Why you hurt the way you do and what you can do about it
Pain, Fascia and The Bowen Technique
A talk by world renowned functional anatomist Julian Baker
An informal amusing and entertaining evening exploring the emerging science of fascia and its role in how the body works.
Julian has been a Bowen teacher and Functional Anatomist for nearly 30 years and has treated and taught thousands of people all over the world.
Ticket donations to:
Doctors Without Borders
Contact info: 07516474605
William Dalrymple
Constantine Book Club Plus
Multi award-winning William Dalrymple is the bestselling author of many books including In Xanadu, White Mughals, and most recently his collaborative book, Koh-I-Noor. Born in Scotland he now lives in Delhi with his family. A ‘master story-teller’ his work is meticulously researched. This is a rare opportunity to hear him speak in Cornwall.
Tickets £5
An Illustrated Talk by Ed Martin
SEABIRDS, SOLITUDE AND THE SUBLIME
In an illustrated talk, Ed Martin shares stories of his recent adventures
from Falmouth to Iceland by sailing yacht and sea-kayak.
Michèle Roberts
Constantine Literary Group
Michèle Roberts is the author of twelve highly acclaimed novels, including The Looking Glass and Daughters of the House which won the WH Smith Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Her memoir Paper Houses was BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week
Tickets £5
An Evening with Liz Fenwick
Liz describes herself as “writer, ex-pat expert, wife, mother of three, and dreamer turned doer...” Liz is the award winning author of many books set in Cornwall including 'The Cornish House' and 'A Cornish Affair'. 'The Returning Tide' was published in March 2017.
6.30pm for 7.30pm
Tickets £5
Wyl Menmuir
Constantine Book Club Plus
Wyl Menmuir is a novelist and editor based in Cornwall. His bestselling debut novel 'The Many' was long-listed for the 2016 Man Booker Prize. Wyl writes and edits for a range of national magazines, journals and blogs and is the 2017 writer in residence at Falmouth University.
Light refreshments and wine available from 6.30
Tickets £5
An Evening with Nina Stibbe
Join us for a lively and humorous evening with nationally-acclaimed writer Nina Stibbe, author of the fantastically funny and extremely successful Love, Nina which was recently televised for the BBC. In addition to this her massively acclaimed novel Man at the Helm was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Praise for Comic Fiction. Her latest novel Paradise Lodge is the sharp, humorous and touching sequel to Man at the Helm
Tickets £5.00
Ben Rawlence
Ben Rawlence talks about his internationally best selling book City of Thorns. Recently book of the week on Radio Four, it interweaves the stories of nine people living in the refugee camp Dadaab.
To the charity workers, Dadaab refugee camp is a humanitarian crisis; to the Kenyan government, it is a ‘nursery for terrorists’ but to its half a million residents, it is their last resort. City of Thorns is an urgent human story with deep international repercussions, brought to life through the stories of people who call Dadaab home.
Los Angeles Times “Magisterial”
The Sunday Times “Masterful”
Observer “Outstanding”
The Guardian “Remarkable... brilliant...Timely, compelling and disturbing.”
In aid of the WindleTrust which supports secondary education in the camp.
Tickets £7
Will Coleman
Constantine Book Group Plus
Will Colman film maker, author and musician explains how and why the tradition of Plen an Gwari (The playing places of Cornwall) flourished and died, and how we can locate our local sites. Light refreshments and bar available from 6.30pm.
Tickets £5
Will Hodgkinson
Constantine Book Group Plus
An evening with Will Hodgkinson, rock and pop music critic for the Times. His latest book ‘The House is full of Yogis’ describes the effect on his teenage self and family of his father’s conversion to BramaKumaris in 1983.
Light refreshments and wine available from 6.30.
Tickets £5
Victoria Glendinning
Constantine Book Group Plus
Acclaimed biographer, critic and broadcaster talks about Anthony Trollope who was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of his best-loved works, collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire.
He also wrote many other perceptive novels on political, social, and gender issues.
Light refreshments and wine available from 6.30 Tickets £5
Philip Marsden
Constantine Literary Group
The award-winning author of a number of works of travel, fiction and non-fiction, including The Bronski House, and The Levelling Sea, will talk about his latest book Rising Ground. an exploration of the mythology and topology of Cornwall.
Light refreshments and wine available from 6.30
Tickets £5
An evening with Patrick Gale
Constantine Literary Group
The award winning writer whose works include Notes from an Exhibition and A Perfectly Good Man will be talking about mothers in his fiction and the diplomatic challenges of writing about family life. He will also provide a sneak preview of his next novel A Place Called Winter.
Tickets £5
Light refreshments and wine available from 6.30
Constantine Literary Pod
The evening starts with Cornish language and music from Tirhatavas.
Then Jane Johnson, author of TheTenth Gift and The Salt Road, talks on Pirates and Slaves and a hidden chapter of 17th Century Cornish and Moroccan History which has changed her life.
Wine and light refreshments available from 6.45.
Tickets £5
Lucinda Hawksley: Book Group Plus
Bareback in Botswana
The third in the series, Sara and Gia talk about their recent holiday horse-riding with big game in the Okavango Delta. Dancing afterwards to the Sunshine boys
In aid of the Tolmen Garden Fund and the Okavango Education Project
Tickets £10 inc. free glass of wine
Cantering through the Caucasus
More adventures of our intrepid lady riders, Gia Shaw and Sarah Thomas, as they move on to the wilds of Georgia.
Tickets £5