Home Page

THE UPPER WIMPOLE STREET LITERARY SALON

Covid Update

Due to Covid-19, the Upper Wimpole Street Literary Salon will not be convening in real life for some time to come.

However, we’re still kicking! And we are laying plans for a series of remote events for our 2020 winter season.

Please check back here or join our Facebook Group Page to receive updates and learn how to take part.

In the meantime, stay safe and keep working.

Image credit: Muses in the Time of Covid-19 by Michael Alford

Who We Are

The Upper Wimpole Street Literary Salon provides a forum for women creatives to meet and exchange ideas about ongoing work. We are a diverse group of over 350 women working in diverse fields including biography, journalism, fiction, graphic storytelling, memoir, translation, poetry and scriptwriting.

We meet about 5 times a year at venues in central London. Each salon features members presenting a recently published book or a work-in-progress. Our informal setting allows for frank discussion of craft and of the particular challenges women writers face in promoting and publishing their work.

READ MORE about the history and mission of the Upper Wimpole Street Salon.

Recently at the Salon

Carol Isaacs graphic memoir captures the longing for a family homeland she never knew.

Carol Isaacs: The Wolf of Baghdad at Persephone Books

12 February, 2020: The Salon was thrilled to welcome Carol Isaacs who appeared in a special event at Persephone Books to discuss her acclaimed graphic memoir, The Wolf of Baghdad. In a multimedia performance, this multi-talented artist treated us to an animated presentation of her book accompanied by traditional Iraqui accordion music. Hear Carol play for us in this clip, below.

Alba Arika & Marta Dziurosz: Trauma, History and the Power of Life Stories

November 27, 2019: With winter tightening its grip and the days drawing in, the UWSL Salon took time to focus on some of the finer points of the writer’s craft in an event featuring novelist Alba Arikha in conversation with literary translator Marta Dziurosz.

Elif Shafak:  Booker Nominee Discusses Her Latest Work

27 October, 2019: The Upper Wimpole Street Literary Salon was delighted to welcome Elif Shafak to a packed event and wonderful conversation between Catherine and Elif, full of laughter, hope and solidarity. READ MORE


Call for Submissions: Gemma Open Door for Literacy

Adult literacy nonprofit Gemma Open Door for Literacy is looking for authors to contribute to its book series for adult learners and improvers.

If you have the interest and the discipline to write a compelling story of 10,000 words or less at a low reading level, then Gemma would like to hear from you. The series publishes a diverse array of authors and books covering a wide variety of topics—there are no rules as far as content goes. Whatever story you choose to tell, the experienced editors at Gemma can help you navigate the process to ensure your book will be right for new adult readers.

To learn more about Open Door for Literacy or review submissions guidelines or speak to salon members Catherine Davidson or Marta Maretich, who are both Open Door authors.