Jan Carson: No Vacancy

Jan Carson is at The Harrison Chambers of Distinction on Sunday 18 October, talking about her new collection No Vacancy. It's a book of micro-fiction — very short stories — that she built from her many hotel stays over the last few years. She'll be reading from the collection and talking through it, and the whole thing is paired with live songs from singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery. It's two of Northern Ireland's most distinctive voices sharing one room for the afternoon.

No Vacancy is written in Carson's usual style, which she describes as having an ethereal wit, and the hotel theme runs right through it. The setting for the talk fits that well: The Harrison Chambers of Distinction are restored Victorian merchants' residences from 1879, with 28 suites and rooms, each one named after a famous person connected to the city. There's antique furniture and a freestanding bath in every bedroom, so the whole place feels like a hotel that's grown its own history over the years. It's a fitting spot for a talk about a book inspired by hotel stays.

This is part of the 64th Belfast International Arts Festival, the city's longest-running international arts event. This year's edition runs from 14 October to 8 November, with more than 200 events across 30 venues and artists from 19 countries. Carson's afternoon is one of the many that will be happening across the city over those few weeks.

The talk starts at 4:00pm and lasts about an hour. Tickets are £7, or £6 for concessions.