An Evening with PJ Smith – Boomerang Process 

Hosted by Ted Kessler

Join us for an intimate and arresting evening with PJ Smith — the Liverpool-born writer and storyteller behind the cult character Roy, known for his visceral, darkly comic and fiercely human tales of life on the margins. Smith will discuss his new collection, Boomerang Process, a gripping follow‑up to his acclaimed debut Algorithm Party, published as the first title from TNC Books. 

Available from here - https://www.tncbooks.co.uk/

This event forms part of The Long Play Sessions, ICMP’s curated series spotlighting contemporary writers, artists and cultural voices who help us understand creativity, identity and the world we make art from. Each session offers a rare glimpse into the stories behind the stories — blending conversation, lived experience and cultural memory.

In Boomerang Process, Smith expands the world of Roy, delivering a set of intense, spectral, funny and sharply observed stories wired from the edges of Liverpool life. His work draws directly from personal history — from addiction recovery to unexpected creative breakthroughs — shaping narratives that are chaotic, compassionate and brutally honest. 

Through Roy’s voice, Smith captures a city’s poetry in its grit: characters who haunt pubs and pavements, absurdity that hides beneath everyday survival, and the complicated tenderness of growing up in communities marked by humour, hardship and unspoken codes. His storytelling — celebrated for its emotional clarity, raw wit and unfiltered humanity — has earned sold‑out shows and a growing audience across page and stage. 

Far from nostalgia, Boomerang Process is a meditation on consequence, identity, addiction, recovery and the relentless pull of the places that shape us. It is Liverpool seen through a kaleidoscope: dark, hilarious, painful, familiar — and utterly alive.

Ted Kessler, acclaimed author and music journalist, will be hosting the event and also talking about starting his own publishing imprint and the importance of generally being a self-starter in the new publishing/print landscape.

What to Expect

• A talk from PJ Smith on the origins, characters and lived experiences behind Boomerang Process
• Deep‑dive discussion on storytelling, recovery, identity and the cultural tensions that fuel his writing
• Insights into authorship and voice, including the creation of Roy and Smith’s shift across page, performance and screen
• Audience Q&A, offering a chance to connect directly with PJ about his art, process and Liverpool roots
• Book signing opportunity — bring your copy of Boomerang Process or purchase one at the event

We look forward to welcoming you to The Long Play Sessions for a raw, powerful and unforgettable evening with one of Liverpool’s most distinctive contemporary storytellers.