An actress who starred in an evening of 1920`s themed murder and intrigue with The Groovy Gang is returning to The Milestone in New Invention Willenhall for a book launch at the New Invention Summer Fest.
Katie Victoria (pictured) appeared in the sold oit show Gun Shots at the Gin Joint on Saturday 12th July where the audience was invited to step back in time to the 1920`s. The drinks were flowing and the girls were singing and it was a night to remember with The Groovy Gang in a show presented by Purple Flames.
On Sunday 27th July Katie returns - to headline in a spoken word and music extravaganza entitled Saida & Friends for a free festival at The Milestone in Willenhall. There will be free creative writing workshops, 2 book launches and the very best entertainment from the local scene.
There will be free bouncy castle, free childrens face painting, sand pits, BBQ, arts and wellbeing stalls. The event is organised by Tal Singh at Soulbrite Seva CIC and Leesha Mansell of Community Matters CIC.
Celebrated local creatives Katie Victoria and Saida Chowdhury, Saida & Friends, will help lead an afternoon of spoken word, poetry workshops, and live performance at New Invention Summer Fest. The duo will be hosting interactive sessions designed to inspire creativity and self-expression as part of the community celebration at The Milestone Pub, running from 12pm to 6pm.
Other creatives performing at the event are poets Daniel Martin, Rosie Mitchell, Sara Meredith, Mark Perryman and musicians The Other Half - Andrew Keatley and Sylvia Keatley.
While Katie is fairly new on the local creative scene, 2025 marks a particularly exciting year in her journey. Her debut poetry collection "I Write Because. . . " has just been released, a raw and resonant body of work exploring identity, vulnerability, and resilience through sharply honest verse, copies of which, will be available for purchase on the day.
But that’s not all. This month also sees the launch of a completely separate and ambitious project: Harroway: A History, a fictional history book that forms the foundation of a dark psychological fiction series. Blending imagined folklore with haunting narrative layers, the book sets the stage for a unique literary universe that Katie describes as "part myth, part memory, part warning”.
Beyond her own writing, Katie is a passionate advocate for local creatives. She runs the theatre group Action!, a grassroots initiative offering opportunities for anyone who has ever dreamed of writing, acting, directing, or producing to take their first steps in a supportive environment. She also founded Black Country Authors, a collective born from the need for greater visibility and recognition of regional talent. “There are so many brilliant voices in this area,” Katie says. “Black Country Authors gives them a space to connect, collaborate and be seen”.
In addition, she curates The People’s Platform, an open mic-style initiative offering local writers a stage to share their work, whether published, performed, or scribbled in the margins of a notebook. “Everything I do is about making space, for creativity, and for people who’ve been told their voice doesn’t matter,” Katie explains. “At the festival, I want people to come to the workshop feeling welcome, even if they’ve never written a poem before in their life. It’s not about perfection. It’s about permission”.
New Invention Summer Fest offers a full day of family-friendly fun including a free bouncy castle, children’s face painting, sand pit, BBQ, arts and crafts, wellbeing stalls and more, all set in a lively and inclusive atmosphere. Whether you’re a long-time poetry lover or just curious to try something new, Katie’s workshop offers a rare opportunity to explore creativity in a way that’s accessible, inspiring and grounded in community spirit.
