Brightlingsea Literary Festival

Our local Author of the Month, R E Loten, also writes for children under the pen name Henrietta Edwards. These picture books feature some famous local characters:
Max, The Brightlingsea Cat mybook.to/Brightlingse...
What Next, Max? mybook.to/WhatNextMax
Lilibet the Lobster mybook.to/LilibetTheLo...

Introducing our current Local Author of the Month, R.E. Loten!

Her novel FOLLY is a split-timeline historical fiction story set in a fictionalised version of Brightlingsea and drawing on the town’s real WW1 and 1995 history.
All her books are available at www.reloten.com

Congratulations to the winners of this year's Spooky Tales short story competition!

Left to right:
Sarah Banham - 2nd prize for 'Time Capsule'
Andrew Obst - 1st prize for 'Downriver'
Linda Taglialavore - 3rd prize for 'McDuff'

Photo by Doug Blanks.

We're pleased to reveal the finalists of this year's #spookytales short story competition.

Thank you to everyone who entered.

These stories will be read out and the winners announced at our Tales at the Tavern event next week: brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk/events/tales...

We're pleased to feature another of our talented local authors, Stephanie Green. Her collection of twenty-one 'short stories with a twist' is now available at:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DRVVB1NX
www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRVVB1NX

#booksky

Books by local authors:

R.E. Loten's Avonstow books, 'Folly' and 'The Mermaid' - split timeline historical novels set in a fictional version of Brightlingsea during the world wars.

mybook.to/AvonstowFolly
mybook.to/AvonstowMerm...

What better way to chase away the winter blues than listening to Spooky Tales by brilliant Essex-based writers? See you there!

#booksky #writerscommunity

Join us for this free day of arts, crafts and activities, inspired by the history of Brightlingsea.

brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk/events/heroe...

#booksky

Our book launch event is only 3 days away! Free to attend, no bookings required.

brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk/events/launc...

Psst! Want to listen to some Spooky Tales about Brightlingsea?

Grab a drink and enjoy an evening at the Railway Tavern on Weds 26th Feb to hear the top ten entries in our short story competition, and find out who the ultimate winners are.

No bookings required!

*** POETRY, PROSE AND PROSECCO ***
Saturday 15th March, 6-9pm
Thames Estuary Lobster Hatchery, Brightlingsea

A reminder that tickets to this event, celebrating Brightlingsea's rich heritage and some of our talented local writers, are now on sale at Little Boat Gifts (New St).

Our popular Writing for Wellbeing workshop, led by author and psychologist Julia Stone, is almost full, but a couple of tickets remain!

More details and booking info at
brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk/events/heroe...

#booksky #writingcommunity #wellbeing

"You're never too old to smash it!"

One of the local writers featured at our 'Launch at the Legion' event on 2 February s the talented Ann, who became an author at age 75.

Event details at brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk/events/launc...

#booksky #writingcommunity

Budding artists and writers!

Join us for a creative workshop to explore the theme of 'Heroes and Heritage' at the Brightlingsea Museum. This is a free family day suitable for all ages.

Bookings now open for our Writing for Wellbeing Workshop on February 16th. Spaces are limited so reserve your place early to avoid disappointment!

More info at brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk/events/heroe...

The first event for this year's Literary Festival is free to attend. Here is another teaser for you!

brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk/events/launc...

Another taster of what's in store at our FREE launch event! Hope to see you there.

The 2025 Brightlingsea Literary Festival is just around the corner! Our launch event will feature local authors reading from new and forthcoming books, and it's free to attend.

Launch at the Legion
3-5pm Sunday 2nd February
Royal British Legion
9-11 Sydney St, Brightlingsea, Colchester CO7 0BG

List of events for the 2025 Brightlingsea Literary Festival. Please visit https://brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk/category/winterfest-events/ for more details about what's on.

The 2025 Brightlingsea Literary Festival is just around the corner, and here's what we have planned!

You can also find the information along with events for the Brightlingsea Winterfest at brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk/category/win...

We're a friendly town based in north-east Essex, UK.

On the final day of our uplifting Book Advent, may we suggest this story about secret love, a journey of discovery, and a fig tree...

Happy reading from Brightlingsea Literary Festival!

And now for something a bit more whimsical! On day 23 of our Book Advent, this quirky mystery is bound to make you smile.

We're almost at the end of our Book Advent, so we'd like to apologise to your 'To-Read' pile for making it bigger.

...and here's another!

#bookrecommendation #booksky #readerscommunity #bookadvent

On day 21 of our Book Advent, we're pleased to recommend this story about the power of books to broaden our horizons, and perhaps even to change the world.

#bookrecommendations #bookadvent #booksky #readerscommunity

Brrrr! It's cold outside here on day 20 of our feel-good Book Advent.

We know a little place in Tokyo where you can get a cup of coffee... if you're ready.

#bookrecommendation #bookadvent #booksky #readersofbluesky

On day 19 of our Book Advent, we're recommending this heart-warming tale of a woman who rediscovers who she used to be. Enjoy!

#bookrecommendation #bookadvent #booksky #uplifting

We know what you're thinking: 'I wish I could read a book about a crime-solving royal.'

Funny you should mention that...

#bookadvent #bookvent #bookrecommendation #booksky

It's day 17 in our Book Advent. If you want an uplifting book with a bit of an edge, today we're recommending the bestselling Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon.

#bookrecommendations #booksky

Each day of our #bookadvent, we've recommended an uplifting read to keep you smiling through the darkest time of year.

Today - we're doing exactly the same thing!

#bookrecommendations #bookvent #booksky #readerscommunity

It's already the middle of December!? Luckily we have another #bookadvent feel-good book recommendation to help soften the blow.

#bookrecommendation #bookvent #booksky #readerscommunity

Our #bookadvent recommendation for today is an uplifting story about books, mysteries and courage. What's not to like?

#bookrecommendations #bookvent #booksky