About this Event
**For one night only**
Justine Sless joins us for an evening celebrating her new book and the local collaborators who brought her book to life!
In Sunderland's brand-new Independent Bookshop, Chapter 13, you're invited to a Sunderland Lit & Phil: Author Talk. In an extra-special Sunderland Edition, we won't only be in conversation with the Author, but also her publishers, editor, and illustrator, the local creative titans Crear Publishing, Abbie Rutherford, and Fe Duncan!
We love the opportunity to champion local stories, but when the book's creative team are all members of Sunderland Lit & Phil, we knew this was a special cause for celebration!
The evening includes a reading, signing, and lots of conversation!
Tickets are Free - Spaces are Limited
Welcome glass of bubbly & slice of Book-Cake included
More about the Author
Justine was born in Sunderland and lived there till she was 19; she now lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Justine began her working life at 15 in Chalkie’s fruit shop in Grangetown. When she emigrated to Australia, she worked for ten years as a chef. Sless went on to work in community engagement and social impact, creating opportunities for local communities to connect through markets, volunteering, employment, education programs and arts festivals.
In 2007, Sless started doing stand-up comedy and has gone on to perform many solo shows in Australia, the UK and Europe. Sless teaches comedy in schools, workplaces and libraries and is also a comedy mentor and creative writing tutor. Sless is the Australian producer of Funny Women and the Australian Ambassador for CRAIC Comedy on Prescription.
Justine has been a writer for a long time, starting off with penning some awful poems as a teenager. She went on to write seriously in 2016 and in 2025 it became clear that she had lived with dyslexia her whole life, making sense of so much failure and shame associated with writing. Sless can tell a great story but can’t edit it to save her life! Much to Justine’s astonishment she gained a masters by research in creative writing.
The seed for writing Before I Sing You This Song was ten years ago when she watched the documentary the Little Waster about Sunderland comedian Bobby Thompson. This solidified her belief, that you can take the girl out of Sunderland but you can’t take Sunderland out of the girl. Before I Sing You This Song is the story of Elsie Bishop who wants stand-up comedy in the era of Bobby Thompson.
After many submissions and rejections advising Justine that the novel is just ‘too Northern,’ Sless is beyond delighted to come back to Sunderland to launch Before I Sing You This Song with the support and guidance of Crear Publishing.
Justine is also author of Mistress of Mirth’s COMEDY Tour, Measured Silk and Other Stories and a recipe book she created with her daughter called Fress with Sless.
Praise for Before I Sing You This Song
As the son of Bobby Thompson the Little Waster, I was fortunate enough to get the chance to read the book prior to its release. Previous publications were done in the interests of chasing profits, this book however has been compiled out of interest in the subject. That I am just a daft Geordie I found it a most engaging read. Justine has captured the moment and is quite clearly a gifted author.
Keith Thompson
Justine’s work explores social class, gender and northern identity in the 1970s, in her portrayal of one woman’s determination to forge a path for herself. In a time of increasing polarisation, it is more necessary than ever to hear the stories of places like Sunderland.
Jessica Andrews Author Saltwater & Milk Teeth
Before I Sing You This Song is a gorgeously funny novel that doesn't shy away from the difficult truths of life. Elsie is a sparkling heroine whose wit and humour pulls us deep into the vibrant heart of working-class Northern life. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but you'll never regret a second that you spend reading this delightful book.
Jen Bowden host of Northern Voices Podcast
"Before I Sing You This Song" is a masterpiece that transports readers to the stage of Northern England in 1978, where Melbourne author Justine Sless introduces Elsie Bishop, a renegade determined to claim her place at the mic. The novel expertly navigates two compelling landscapes, delving into the realities of a misogynistic comedy scene while immersing readers into the complexities of working-class life in Sunderland. However, it transcends mere sociological exploration, offering a testament to authenticity. Elsie draws strength from her community, her tribe, but ultimately, from herself. This poignant tale resonates with themes of laughter, love, and the courage to rise above narrow ideas. Don't miss this beautiful book.
Dr Rachel Matthews, author of ‘Never Look Desperate’, Transit Lounge
Event venue & nearby stays
Chapter 13, 11 Frederick St, Sunderland, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.