I will be appearing at both @litfest.bsky.social (Sun 8) and Words by the Water (Sat 14) in March, and at the Lake District Book Festival in June to talk about my new book on Beatrix Potter. Date for the latter TBC 🍄📚🍃
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/cu...
Staggered into the excellent @pgwells.bsky.social today in Winchester to spoil another fresh copy of the Immeasurable Heaven. Really lovely bookshop in a beautiful city.
@solarisbooks.bsky.social
If you enjoyed the #WaroftheWorlds performance @thedukeslancaster.bsky.social by #ImitatingTheDog come along @litfest.bsky.social event with @chrismould.bsky.social and Andrew Quick for another take on this classic tale geni.us/LFSpring26. The after show discussion was really insightful on Thursday
21.02.2026 09:27 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
On the left the Litfest 2026 Programme, in the middle a photo of Dan Hicks, on the right, the book cover for EVERY MONUMENT WILL FALL.
FREE EVENT! In person and online!
On Wednesday 18th March at 6:30pm, we will welcome @profdanhicks.bsky.social to @lancasteruni.bsky.social to deliver the Lancaster History Lecture on the topic of 'Every Monument Will Fall' in conversation with Deborah Sutton.
Book now: geni.us/LFSpring26
Poets featured at Litfest 2026: Blake Morrison, Karen McCarthy Wolf, Fiona Benson, Sarah Howe and Polly Atkin.
Litfest 2026 is packed with Poetry! We've got Blake Morrison, Karen McCarthy Woolf Fiona Benson, Sarah Howe, Polly Atkin and, perhaps, YOU at our very special gala reading of a selection your submissions to our Rights of Nature Poetry Map!
Book now geni.us/LFSpring26
We'll kick off on Friday Night with poetry readings from the 3rd Elizabeth Burns Memorial Prize. Then on Saturday: 10:30am Bounce and Rhyme 10:30am-1:15pm Drop in Reading Advice Sessions with Mo O'Hara 2pm The World of Mo O'Hara : My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish 3:30pm The Litfest Big Re M. G. Leonard - Twitch (Also available to join online) 5pm Chris Mould and Andrew Quick: The War of the Worlds And on Sunday: 10:30am Lancaster Lore Story Hunt 11am Annabel Ross : Messages from the Wild Live! (Also available to join online) 12:30pm Richard O'Neill: Storytelling - Romani Tales
We've got a packed Litfest Children's Festival coming your way over the first weekend - 13th-15th March! All tickets £3: geni.us/LFSpring26
Ft. Mo O’Hara M. G. Leonard Chris Mould & more!
Book/apply here: geni.us/LFSpring26
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A tiled series of images highlighting the queer writing strand at Litfest 2026.
Meet our Queer Writing Strand!
Our LGBTQ+ Writer in residence Paul Burston will run a queer life writing course & an event on Queering the Memoir with Gordon A. Urquhart, he'll also host the Polari Salon with VG Lee , Rosie Garland & @maxwallis.bsky.social !
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Litfest's ideas for things to do with the kids this weekend. Sign up to the Litfest Big Read Send us a message from the wild Book your tickets for Litfest 2026
Stuck for something to do with the kids this half term? We've got a few ideas for you! For more information on how to book, sign up, and submit: geni.us/LFSpring26
The majority of tickets only £3, with some events free! Two events can also be joined online.
Vincenzo Latronico and Sophie Hughes with their book PERFECTION.
Tonight has been our February edition of the Litfest International Fiction Online Book Club, so it's a great time to look ahead to our special festival edition on Monday 16th March at 6:30pm with Vincenzo Latronico and his translator, Sophie Hughes!
Book (£4) https://geni.us/LIFBC26
Sunday 22nd March 4pm Historical Fiction Writing Workshop with Victoria MacKenzie. Author of For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain.
Our final workshop for Litfest 2026, is a FREE Historical Fiction Writing Workshop with Vicky MacKenzie on Sunday 22nd March at 4pm! Apply here: litfest.org/workshop...
You can also join us at 2pm when she will be discussing her novel with Alex Wragge-Morley! geni.us/LFSpring26
Saturday 21st March 10:30am Nature and Environment Writing with Karen Lloyd.
Our 2nd workshop of Litfest '26 will be a session on Nature & Environment Writing with Karen Lloyd on 21st Mar at 10:30am!
In this time of crisis, consider ways that writers can engage in storytelling that places the rights of nature centre stage.
Apply (£15): litfest.org/workshop...
Queer Life Writing Course with Paul Burston and Gordon A. Urquhart. Saturday 14 March 11am-1pm
Our first Litfest workshop for 2026 will be a Queer Life Writing Course with @paulburston.bsky.social and Gordon A. Urquhart!
You can choose to join the first workshop only (£15) or the full course including an additional 5 digital workshops (£60)
Apply now: litfest.org/workshops26/
On the left, the Litfest 2026 programme cover, in the middle Karen Lloyd with her new book EARTHWORKS and on the right, Lee Schofield with his book WILD FELL.
One month today, we'll be launching Litfest 2026...with a book launch! We'll be celebrating our Naturalist in Residence @karenllo.bsky.social's new book - EARTHWORKS - in conversation with Lee Schofield!
13th March, 7pm at Atkinsons Upper Hall, tickets £6 geni.us/LFSpring26
On the left, the Litfest 2026 cover, in the middle a photo of Kit de Waal, on the right the book cover for THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.
On Tuesday 17th March at 7pm, we'll be welcoming @kitdewaal.com to Lancaster to discuss her latest novel - THE BEST OF EVERYTHING - with @lancasteruni.bsky.social's Zoe Lambert!
'Takes an ordinary life and renders it extraordinary' Monica Ali
Tickets £8, book now: geni.us/LFSpring26
On the left, the Litfest front cover, in the middle a photo of Eoghan Walls, on the right the book cover for field notes from an extinction.
We are very excited to be bringing Lancaster University 's Eoghan Walls 's new novel: field notes from an extinction ( Seven Stories Press UK ) to Litfest!
Join us at 5pm on Sunday 15th March for a very exciting launch!
Tickets £6, book now: geni.us/LFSpring26
On the left, the Litfest 2026 programme cover, in the middle a photo of Anna Whitelock, on the right, the book cover for THE SUN RISING: JAMES I AND THE DAWN OF GREAT BRITAIN.
On Sunday 22nd March 11am @thedukeslancaster.bsky.social , we'll be welcoming @profannawhitelock.bsky.social to discuss THE SUN RISING!
A panoramic history of the arrival of the Stuarts, and how the reign of King James I saw England reach new corners of the globe.
Tickets £8: geni.us/LFSpring26
On the left, the Litfest 2026 poster. In the middle, a photo of M. G. Leonard. On the right, the book cover for TWITCH.
This year is #nationalyearofreading2026! So, it's the perfect time to sign up to our Big read - litfest.org/big-read... - and come along to hear this year's featured author M. G. Leonard exploring her work: geni.us/LFSpring26
09.02.2026 11:20 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
On the left, the Litfest 2026 programme cover, in the middle a photo of Blake Morrison, and on the right the book cover for On Memoir.
We are very excited to be welcoming Blake Morrison back to Litfest!
In addition to his poetry double with Fiona Benson at 2pm on Saturday 21st Feb, he will also be treating us to an early preview of his A-Z of Life Writing- ON MEMOIR at 5pm!
Book now (£8): geni.us/LFSpring26
@litfest.bsky.social #BigRead is this excellent adventure @mglnrd.bsky.social . Its action packed a real page turner . Please get involved and read with your family and friends . We would love you to share your views with @litfest.bsky.social . 🐦🦉🐦⬛ And @mglnrd.bsky.social will be at the #festival.
06.02.2026 20:04 — 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Dear readers & bird-lovers of Lancaster, I'll be talking about how nature inspired me to write The Twitchers books & giving you an exclusive peak at The Adventures of Portly to Otter on MARCH 14th at @litfest.bsky.social. Tickets are ONLY £3!
www.mgleonard.com/events/2026/...
On the left, the Litfest 2026 programme, in the middle a photo of Penny Bradshaw and on the right, the book cover for A-Z of Beatrix Potter.
On 8th March at 7pm, Dr Penny Bradshaw will be celebrating #internationalwomensday by taking us through the A-Z of Beatrix Potter in conversation with Jo Baker!
Tickets only £8, book now! geni.us/LFSpring26
The Litfest 2026 cover to the left, the War of the Worlds Poster to the right.
As part of our Spring Season, we're delighted to include imitating the dog's retelling of H. G. Wells' classic - WAR OF THE WORLDS! They'll be bringing it to The Dukes from 18th-21st February (tickets £25), with a special after show discussion on the 19th (free!)
Book now: geni.us/LFSpring26
I'll be at the excellent Lancaster @litfest.bsky.social talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales', Sun March 22nd, 3.30pm. Tickets here: litfest.org/events/brian... Book due out Feb 26, can be preordered from bookshops and websites.
03.02.2026 18:32 — 👍 19 🔁 9 💬 1 📌 1
The Litfest 2026 programme cover next to a photo of Alan Hollinghurst.
Join us on 26th February, for a fascinating pre-festival event in partnership with our friends Lancaster Arts celebrating the work of Booker Prize-winning author Alan Hollinghurst and delight in dissent!
Tickets are £12-£16. Book now www.lancasterarts.org/youre-invite...
The Litfest 2026 programme cover with "Full programme and all tickets now available!"
It's here!
The full programme is now available to browse, and all tickets are available to book!
Explore our workshops, sign up to the Big Read, learn about what's on offer from our Writers in Residence and submit to our Rights of Nature Digital Poetry Map!
geni.us/LFSpring26
I am thrilled to be speaking about Beatrix Potter as part of @litfest.bsky.social 2026 and to mark International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March) 📚🍃
25.01.2026 15:21 — 👍 14 🔁 5 💬 1 📌 1
The cover for Litfest 2026's Spring Season programme.
It's time to reveal the programme cover for Litfest's 2026 Spring season, including our 47th Litfest (13th-22nd March)!
Whilst you'll have to wait a little longer for the full release of our packed programme, you can grab early-bird in-person tickets for a selection of events! geni.us/LF26Spring
LITFEST 2026 ‘THE RIGHTS OF NATURE’ – SAVE THE DATE – 13–22 MARCH
Browse our Christmas e-newsletter to learn about our children's book sale, enjoy three pre-festival events, and get those all-important dates for Litfest 2026!
Learn More! geni.us/LFDecENews
An autumn leaf with white text: Give us your feedback!
Help us to make Litfest better than ever!
As we take stock of the Autumn Weekend events that we've run so far, and look ahead to the future, we need to know what you thought of our events.
Let us know what worked, what didn't and what you'd like to see: geni.us/LFFeedback25AW
