This is a short post to express my solidarity with the estimated 2 million public sector workers who are taking strike action in the UK today.

I’m writing this because I feel that the strikes will be more effective if people like myself, who are not in the public sector, add their voices to the action.

I don’t take this position out of any ideological conviction. I simply support the people in the public sector because the people in the public sector have supported me. They are hardworking people who know their own circumstances better than I do, and if they have voted for strike action, then I trust them to know that that is their best option.

The public sector includes the state school teachers who taught me & who teach my children. It includes the librarians who regularly host my community events and who promote reading in cities throughout the UK. It includes the NHS doctors and nurses who recently saved the lives of my sister-in-law and niece. It includes a lot of other extremely hard-working people who keep me safe and take away my mess and generally give me the space and time to write novels and blog posts.

They are the best of our society and it breaks my heart to see them taking the brunt of this government’s budget cuts. I quite understand that we live in straitened times. Nor am I convinced that punishing the rich would magically make everything okay. What I am certain of, however, is that there are many budgets that should be cut – not least our seemingly infinite budget for procuring arms and prosecuting foreign wars – before we start cutting basic public services.

The public sector is the trunk of the tree. It enables all the rest of us monkeys to do our stuff in the branches. If you are a public sector worker out on the picket lines today, then you are doing it on behalf of all of us. Thank you for your work and thank you for your voice.

I’m thrilled to be heading this week for Seattle – which I’m on record as admitting is one of my all-time favorite cities – to take part in the Seattle Reads program. This year Seattle Reads has selected my novel Little Bee. It goes without saying that I’m very honored and excited about it.

On Friday, May 13th the Book-It Repertory Theatre will perform a staged reading from “Little Bee” adapted and directed by Annie Lareau, and I will join the adapter/director and cast for a discussion with the audience from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The organizers say: “Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Microsoft Auditorium, Level 1, 206-386-4636. Tickets and reservations are not required. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. Limited parking will be available in the Central Library garage at the regular rates.”

Later on Friday, May 13th I’ll be discussing “Little Bee” from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., again at Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Microsoft Auditorium, Level 1, 206-386-4636. The organizers say: “No tickets are required. The Library will close at its regular Friday time at 6 p.m. and will reopen the Fourth Avenue entrance at 6:30 p.m. Limited parking in the Central Library garage will be available for $5 after 5 p.m. The event is presented in partnership with The Elliott Bay Book Co. Books will be available for purchase and signing.”

In addition to these two events, I’ll be at four branch library locations across the city to meet all comers, to chat about books in general and mine in particular, and to answer any and all questions. The organizers say: “Doors will be open 30 minutes before each branch event. Limited free parking and street parking is available at branch libraries.” Times and locations for these events are:

• 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12 – Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, Room 4106, 206-386-4636
• 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12 – Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7539
• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14 – Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089
• 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14 – Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S., 206-684-4711

If you can make it to any of these events, I will be delighted to meet you!

I’m delighted to report that Seattle has chosen Little Bee as the book for Seattle Reads 2011. I’ll be visiting the city in May – details here.

I’m especially happy about this as Seattle is one of my favourite cities on Earth or any other planet. Here is a short piece I wrote about the place last time I was there…

I’ll be at the Hampstead & Highgate literary festival on Monday 20th September at 7pm. Looking forward to meeting you if you can make it. Details here.

I’ll be talking at the Buxton Festival on Thursday 22nd July at 3pm – do come if you’re in the area. It says here that I’m going to be talking about the use of humour to broach difficult subjects…

These short vids by UK refugee kids are amazing. Respect to Refugee Council for the project.

Two live events this week, as part of my ongoing and very enjoyable project of visiting public libraries in all parts of the UK. All are very welcome at these events. Do come if you can – so far they’ve proved to be entertaining and good-humoured affairs.

• Bristol (Henleaze Library) – Wednesday 26th May, 6.30 pm – details here.
• Dorchester (Dorchester Library) – Thursday 27th May, 7.30 pm – details here.

I’m spending a couple of days every fortnight visiting as many UK public libraries as I can, to talk about my writing and the work of some other writers whose work I love. I’m looking forward to doing three live events this week:

LEEDS: Wed 12th May, Leeds Library, 12.30pm, tickets free. Details here.

NEWCASTLE: Wed 12th May, Newcastle Library, 6pm, tickets free. Details here.

BERWICK: Thurs 13th May, Berwick Library, 7.30pm, tickets £4. Details here.

All welcome. Please come if you’re in the area. I try to make the events interesting and fun.

Over the next few months I’ll be spending two days every fortnight doing live events at public libraries around the UK. The events will mostly be free, or with a small contribution to the excellent work that these libraries do in celebrating literature and promoting literacy.

Usually I’ll talk a bit about my work and the work of some of the contemporary writers I like, tell some of the real-life stories behind the novels, do a reading, and then throw the discussion open before signing books. The open discussion is always the best bit from my point of view, so please do come along and join in. Looking forward to meeting you if you can make it.

Events this week:

• Birmingham Central Library – Wednesday 28th April at 6.30pm
• West Bromwich Central Library – Thursday 29th April at 2.00pm
• Cambridge Central Library – Thursday 29th April at 7.30pm

Details coming soon:

Leeds, York, Newcastle, Berwick – May 12th & 13th

Bristol, Winchester, Dorchester – May 26th & 27th

Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Preston – June 16th & 17th

After five intense and very enjoyable weeks on the road, I’m finally headed for Texas.

Please do come along to one of these events if you’re in the area – I promise they will be fun. This tour has been fantastic and the atmosphere at the events has been extraordinary. I am very grateful to American readers for the wonderful welcome they have given me.

Tuesday March 23
HOUSTON, TX

Wednesday March 24
AUSTIN, TX

Thursday March 25
DALLAS, TX – Event sold out.

Friday March 26
DALLAS, TX – Live event with Special Guest, Nigerian Griot BABATUNDE SOLARIN!

Saturday March 27
DALLAS, TX – Creative writing workshop

DALLAS, TX – signing event

Tour photos from Wajiha Said and St Louis Public Library