My First Book Cover and Openspace launches its documentary films

Nearly a month since I posted anything on here, so this is just a quick one to keep my hand in until I come back up for air after finishing an edition of Enterprising, the social enterprise magazine for Greater Manchester and a product report on Toys for the Christmas edition Ethical Consumer magazine.
The main thing I've been up to over recent months is helping Sharyn to edit her amazing blogs from Gaza into a book for Pluto Press. We now have a draft of the cover, which I got very excited about even if it feels very wrong that I should be deriving excitement from a book about something so grim. But I guess that's the bind of writing about this kind of thing... anyway, this image is a draft of the cover; the real one will have my name in smaller letters (at my request).
Secondly I need to give a little plug to the co-operative documentation film launch at my home-from-home at Openspace this evening. The press release is below, including links to Damien Mahoney's films...

Openspace launches Co-operative documentation film series

This evening, Wednesday 9th September, Openspace workspace co-operative, based in Hulme, Manchester, will launch the series of five short films by Damien Mahoney which document the founding and development of this successful social enterprise.

The films will be showcased at an event at Openspace this evening, to an invited audience of social and creative entrepreneurs and co-operators. Featuring in-depth interviews with founding and early members of the co-operative including eco web specialists Finn Lewis and Luke Geaney, social entrepreneur Jonathan Atkinson, gender consultant Hannah Berry and cartoonist Paul 'Polyp' Fitzgerald, the films will be introduced by Openspace's newest member, illustrator Ben Tallon.

Openspace's model, which provides affordable co-operatively managed workspace for ethical and creative freelancers and small businesses and freelancers, has bucked recessionary trends and attracted a full complement of tenants. A grant from the Co-operative Fund is due to be invested in refurbishment work on Openspace's offices, which will include a major extension.

Notes:

Last-minute requests to attend the launch should be made to Jonathan Atkinson at jonathan [at] lowwintersun.info or to the Openspace office on 0161 209 9930. Space is limited so please do get in touch before coming. Directions can be found at: http://www.openspace.coop/location

Openspace is a co-operative co-working project, offering cheap, flexible office space in a creative, friendly atmosphere. “We are all freelancers and small businesses who were sick of working out of our bedrooms and spare rooms. We created an office where we could work, meet clients and be around other nice people. Because we run the space ourselves we get cheap rent and to be our own landlord. We work for good people doing creative community or environmental work.” Openspace is also part of the second-tier Work For Change co-operative, http://www.work.change.coop/. More information on Openspace can be found at http://www.openspace.coop/

The full range of Damien Mahoney's videos documenting the vision and processes behind the establishment of Openspace can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/user/OpenSpaceCoop

Openspace Co-operative members currently include:
Ben and Ink
Ecobee and Ecohost Co-ops
Entreprenurses
The GAP Unit
lowwintersun
Polyp
Sarah Irving
Streamengine

Non-co-operative-member tenants include:
Columbidae Conservation
Helen Clifton – freelance journalist
Pow Wow Eco Arts
Proper Job Theatre Company