Literary

Imagine discovering an animatronic sex doll hidden in the garage. What would you do? Award-winning author Sarah Crossan joins us to launch her highly original debut adult novel, Hey Zoey, a propulsive story of love, family, and trauma in our tech-buffered age of alienation, as strange as it is familiar. She talks to author and journalist, Alexandra Heminsley. ‘One […]

Join much-loved comedian Shaparak Khorsandi for a delicious mix of stand-up and excerpts from her new book as she looks back on her life through the lens of ADHD and finally makes sense of the chaos. Let Shaparak take you on her heartbreaking and hilarious journey of self-discovery where you just might learn something useful about yourself […]

Two dark and dazzling tales from two exceptional voices in gothic historical fiction. Anne Corlett’s The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is set in an alternate London, where in the city’s Theatre District a vast immersive theatrical production – the Show – has been running for centuries, growing ever bigger, more sprawling and lavish. Anna Mazzola’s The Book of Secrets is […]

How do we write about our own lives, and the people and places that shape us? Freedom to Write is a creative writing venture run by Yvonne Jewkes and Andy West. They host an annual residential writing retreat in Ross-on-Wye and creative writing workshops in London. This two-hour taster workshop is an opportunity to try your hand at […]

Zoologist Jules Howard takes us on a mind-bending journey into the revolutionary story of eggs, evolution and life on earth, inviting us to take a fresh look at the fascinating evolution of the animal egg. A simple shape which has played a dramatic role in how life on earth has come to be. Every egg there has […]

Millions of us suffer from imposter syndrome, letting our insecurities and doubts hold us back from enjoying our successes. Clinical psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd explains how to stop feeling like a fraud, banish self-doubt and be our best selves in this practical and reassuring talk. Dr Jessamy Hibberd is a respected chartered clinical psychologist, author and commentator. She […]

The number one bestselling author and radio host, John Connolly, joins Joe Haddow for a chat about his new Charlie Parker novel, The Instruments of Darkness. They’ll talk about how to keep a returning character fresh in each book, and why Maine makes a great setting for a crime novel. John Connolly is author of the Charlie Parker mysteries, The Book […]

A festival favourite! Bath poet and University of Bristol lecturer Carrie Etter will read from her new, fifth collection, Grief’s Alphabet, alongside local poets, with an open mic. Come read your poem (up to 40 lines) to a welcoming audience! During the breaks there will be a chance to mingle, have a drink from the bar and chat […]

A unique opportunity to get an early copy of THE destination read for 2024, from Costa-prize-winning author Francesca Segal, Welcome to Glorious Tuga. Set sail for a tropical paradise where secrets don’t stay hidden for long… Welcome to Glorious Tuga celebrates a fictional island and the eccentric community who live there. Enchanting, uplifting and very funny, this is […]