Upcoming Publishing Events
By Erin Evett and Maria Sadek
Hay Festival
25 May – 04 June
Hay-on-Wye, Wales
Don’t miss out on one of the UK’s biggest literature festivals this year! The Hay Festival returns to Hay-on-Wye for its thirty-fifth year and promises to be just as captivating as always. There is an eclectic mix of events, ranging from sustainability and politics to history and children’s fiction. There really is something for everyone. For the full programme and to secure your tickets, click here.
A selection of events is below:
Josie Long talks to Natalie Haynes
26 May, 7:00 p.m.
Writer and comedian Josie Long will be in conversation with classicist and author Natalie Haynes as she discusses her debut collection of short stories Because I Don't Know What You Mean and What You Don’t. These stories promise to be hilarious and relatable as they look into a variety of people’s lives. Josie even won Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! To purchase tickets, click here.
Publishing in Wales Question Time
27 May, 7:00 p.m.
Do you have questions about the publishing industry? Look no further! Cyhoeddi Cymru Publishing Wales will be introducing an expert panel of those within the publishing industry to answer all your queries, with a focus on the problems that are facing the Welsh publishing sector. In the growing culture of rich diversity, they will be answering how Wales’ voice can be established within the industry. To purchase tickets, click here.
Tom Crewe, Derek Owusu and Yara Rodrigues Fowler: Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists
29 May, 7:00 p.m.
Three of the featured authors on the fifth iteration of the prestigious Granta magazine – Tom Crewe (The New Life), Derek Owusu (Losing the Plot) and Yara Rodrigues Fowler (There Are More Things) – will be in discussion with psychotherapist Maxine Mei-Fung Chung. They will be talking about the publishing industry, the writing process and their experience in being featured as the voice of a generation. To purchase tickets, click here.
How Can Books Change Lives? With Cressida Cowell, Connor Allen and Tom Percival
02 June, 10:00 a.m.
Join renowned authors and illustrators Cressida Cowell (How To Train Your Dragon series), Connor Allen and Tom Percival as they discuss the life-changing power of books, especially on children’s lives and prospects. They will be in conversation with CEO of the National Literacy Trust Jonathan Douglas. To purchase tickets, click here.
Susan Dennard in Conversation with Daphne Tonge
25 May, 7:30 p.m.
Waterstones Trafalgar Square, London
Join bestselling author Susan Dennard as she discusses her new novel The Luminaries with Daphne Tonge. This dark fantasy takes the reader on a journey through the forest, where family secrets and nightmares have been hidden away. A much more haunting book compared to her bestselling series Witchlands, this new novel is sure to thrill any lovers of fantasy books. To buy tickets to this exciting event, click here.
An Evening with Barbara Kingsolver
31 May, 7:30 p.m.
Waterstones Conway Hall, London
Join award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver as she talks about her new book Demon Copperhead, which has been longlisted for the 2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction. This reimagining of David Copperfield tells the story from a modern perspective and brings this classic novel into the modern age. Barbara will be joined by author of Mister, Mister Guy Gunaratne who will conduct the interview. To buy tickets to this exciting event, click here.
Susan Furber Author Event
31 May, 6:00 p.m.
Pimlico Library, London
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to meet Susan Furber and learn more about her new novel We Were Very Merry. This exciting sequel follows on from her debut novel The Essence of the Hour, following protagonist Lillie Carrigan as she travels the world with her husband, learning more about her marriage and her life whilst being haunted by her past. As an editor, Susan has worked in the publishing industry for over eight years across a range of fiction and non-fiction titles. This event is great not only for understanding her new novel and the process of writing a sequel, but also for learning more about the industry in general. To find out more, click here.
Claire Fuller in Conversation with Lucy Atkins
03 June, 2:30 p.m.
Odney Club, Cookham
Join Claire Fuller as she discusses her new emotionally charged novel In Memory of Animals which explores themes of freedom and captivity. Claire will be joined by Lucy Atkins who will also be discussing her new novel Windmill Hill, which follows the lives of a Hollywood director, a superstar actor and her Scottish husband after a night that changes all of their careers. The novel spans across two continents and is sure to be an unforgettable read. To reserve tickets to this exciting event, click here.