Services 
You couldn't really wish for a livelier or more articulate advocate for the cause of women to be recognised as individuals in their own right - or their own write - than the author and actor Stella Duffy. She delivered a very entertaining hour at FACT as part of Homotopia week, reading excerpts from her own novels which span a variety of genres, but all promoting the same message of women's rights to be allowed the freedom and honesty to live their lives without prejudice or gratuitous criticism. Duffy's watchword is "no lying".Despite the restrictions of her own upbringing in a Catholic family in a small town in New Zealand, Duffy was able to come out in her late teens and has openly lived with her partner for 20 years. In the Q&A session which followed the readings, she did however stress that even now it is still more difficult for lesbian women than gay men to be accepted without comment, partly because women are themselves less confident, and partly because it is still very much a man's world. The balance needs to be redressed
It's a strong and serious message, and Duffy delivers it with a sparkiness and humour that keeps you interested and engaged throughout, whether you're reading about the Dyke detective of the Saz Martin novels
, the Sleeping Beauty-type fairy princess of "Singling Out the Couples
", or the redoubtable 6th century whore turned powerful Empress Theodora
, the subject of Duffy's latest book. She read from three different examples of her work, and it is immediately obvious from listening to Duffy that she's also a consummate actor - she reads fluently and expressively, and yes, she's enjoying the whole performance at least as much as her audience - the perfect embodiment of her own message to the planet: be true to yourself, and make sure you have fun while you're doing it!
, the Sleeping Beauty-type fairy princess of "Singling Out the Couples", or the redoubtable 6th century whore turned powerful Empress Theodora , the subject of Duffy's latest book. She read from three different examples of her work, and it is immediately obvious from listening to Duffy that she's also a consummate actor - she reads fluently and expressively, and yes, she's enjoying the whole performance at least as much as her audience - the perfect embodiment of her own message to the planet: be true to yourself, and make sure you have fun while you're doing it!
Stella Duffy at FACT Sun 6 Nov
Tech-news 