The Festival of Words will return this September and October with a selection of best-selling authors discussing their work.
Organised by East Riding Libraries and funded by Arts Council England, the Festival programme has been put together by librarians from the service, based on authors, poets and other creative writers who are popular with library members and customers.
This year’s line-up includes:
Friday, 26 September:
- 2pm, Goole Library – Zoë Sharp: Write to Fight: Join thriller author Zoë Sharp for a special session that blends the art of storytelling with the real-world skills of self-defence. £6 per person.
- 7pm, Beverley Library – Charlie Englishin conversation with Lee Karen Stow, discussing the shadowy world of Cold War espionage, uncovering the astonishing true story behind The CIA Book Club: the Best-Kept Secret of the Cold War. £6 per person.
Saturday, 27 September at Beverley Memorial Hall:
- 10am – Creator of the multi-award-winning Washington Poe series, M.W. Craven, and acclaimed author of the Blake & Byron Thrillers, Zoe Sharp. A must-attend for fans of dark, twist-filled fiction. £7 per person.
- 12 noon – Step into a world of vintage charm and sharp sleuthing as Paula Sutton, the beloved voice behind Hill House Vintage, and Mel Pennant, author of the gripping A Murder for Miss Hortense, come together for a delightful discussion of cosy crime. £7 per person.
- 2pm – Join Cara Hunter, bestselling author of the DI Adam Fawley series, and Simon McCleave, creator of the atmospheric Snowdonia crime thrillers for an electrifying afternoon of suspense, storytelling, and secrets. £7 per person.
- 30pm – Join us for an unforgettable murder mystery evening with Antony Johnston, author of Can You Solve the Murder? Unleash your inner detective in a captivating, interactive experience. £7 per person.
Sunday, 27 September at Beverley Library:
- 10.30am – Join AY Chao for a world building workshop, helping you to create the perfect settings for your stories. £10 per person.
- 1.30pm – Step into the strange, the mythic, and the marvellously unsettling with two of speculative fiction’s most exciting voices: Eliza Chan and Sunyi Dean. From underwater cities and East Asian folklore to secret societies that devour books, their stories push the boundaries of genre and imagination. £7 per person.
- 3pm – Join Ben Aaronovitch, the bestselling author of the Rivers of London series, for a chat about his trademark blend of police procedural, dry wit, and supernatural intrigue. The author is back with Stone and Sky, the 18th instalment in the beloved series. £7 per person.
Monday, 29 September at Bridlington Central Library and on Zoom:
- 5pm -Join acclaimed author Simon Tolkien—novelist, barrister, and grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien— online for a captivating conversation about history, heritage, and the power of storytelling. Simon will join us online from his home in California. This event will be held in person and via Zoom. Tickets are Free.
Tuesday, 30 September at Beverley Library:
- 1pm – In this session, author and legal expert Jeevani Charika demystifies the legal landscape for writers, offering clear, practical advice on intellectual property, publishing contracts, and protecting your creative work. £10 per person.
Wednesday, 1 October at Goole Library:
- 7pm -From Bagpuss to Fighting Fantasy, writer and broadcaster Bob Fischer (Fortean Times, Scarred For Life) takes a gentle look at the weirder side of his 1970s and ‘80s childhood. Tall tales, jumbled memories, urban folklore and maybe even the odd song or two. £7 per person.
Thursday, 2 October at South Cave Library:
- 30pm -Join acclaimed author, psychotherapist, and speaker Lola Jaye for an unforgettable event exploring the power of storytelling to illuminate hidden histories. Lola Jaye is known for her evocative historical novels such as The Attic Child and her latest release The Manual for Good Wives. £6 per person.
Friday, 3 October at Willerby Library:
- 2pm – Lucy Nichol will talk about some of the guiding principles she uses to craft compelling stories about mental health and work with participants to explore how different contexts and characters play an important role. £10 per person.
Friday, 3 October at Pocklington Arts Centre:
- 30pm – Join comedy legend Helen Lederer in conversation with presenter and podcaster Johnny I’Anson for an unfiltered, laugh-out-loud journey through the highs, lows, and sideways turns of a life spent in the spotlight—but not always centre stage. £10 per person.
Saturday, 4 October at Bridlington Spa:
- 10.30am – What happens when a stand-up comedian raids the kitchen? You get George Egg: Snack Hacker – a riotous mash-up of comedy, cookery, and culinary anarchy. £6 per person.
- 1pm – Join bestselling author Mike Gayle for a heartfelt and humorous conversation about his latest novel, Hope Street—a moving story of resilience, connection, and the meaning of home. £6 per person.
- 2pm – a quintessentially British treat! Come along for our Festival Cream Tea—a delicious addition to this year’s festival. Enjoy freshly baked scones served with lashings of cream and strawberry jam accompanied by tea or coffee. £6 per person
- 3pm – Step into a world of heartache, hope, and healing with bestselling author Cathy Bramley, as she shares the inspiration behind her new novel, Somewhere Only We Know. £6 per person.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit: www.festivalofwords.co.uk or call: 01482 392699 during office hours.
