Last night Manchester's bloggers turned off their monitors and ventured out to celebrate the third Manchester Blog Awards. This prestigious event has become a fixture on the literary calendar, with a number of past winners going onto receive book deals and write for national newspapers. Two such blog stars were in our midst last night and read extracts from their soon-to-be-published books. Maria Roberts, last year's personal blog winner for Single Mother on the Verge read from her forthcoming book which will be published by Penguin next year and Chris Killen, who won last year's best writing award for Day of Moustaches, read from his book 'The Bird Room'(Canongate) which will be published in January 2009.
In addition to the previous winners, a number of nominated bloggers read from their blogs. The line up included Sally Cook (Nine Chains to the Moon), Socrates Adams-Florou (Chicken and Pies), Jenn Ashworth (Every day I lie a Little) and Maureen Ward for Miss EP Niblock (Diary of a Bluestocking).
And there was music from bloggers Black Country Grammar and Yer Mam.
The awards were announced by the Manchester Blog Awards organiser, writer and queen blogger Kate Feld.
Best New Blog
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Best Writing on a Blog
Every Day I Lie a Little
Best Arts and Culture Blog
Northernights
Best Personal Blog
Travels with my Baby
Best City or Neighbourhood blog
Manchester Buses
CityLife.co.uk Manchester Blog of the Year
Travels with my Baby
After the awards were announced Chris Killen read from his forthcoming book and answered questions from Kate and from the floor. He talked about his own blog, how he separates blogging and writing for his book and how blogging had helped with his writing career and expanded his reading material.
It was a good night. The atmosphere was informal and laid back with groups of people sat around tables with bottles of wine and pints. There was lots of time to chat and meet other bloggers and the venue lended an intimate vibe to the proceedings.
For more views and what the judges said, check out The Manchizzle.
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Jenny Hudson also blogs at www.indiequarter.com and www.ladylevenshulme.co.uk.
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