The 39th Lancaster Literature Festival Friday 2nd - Sunday 25th March www.litfest.org Litfest 2018 Dear Festival-goers, welcome to Litfest’s 2018 programme... when we bring you a month-long programme packed with incredibly varied events! The 2018 festival launches on a truly ‘Fantastic’ evening at Lancaster Castle’s Shire Hall. Olivia Lomenech Gill—illustrator of JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - will give us a fascinating insight into the Wizarding World. Next it’s YA Day, combining a fascinating cross-genre event with author and playwright Cathy Forde and an illuminating talk on the world of vlogging with Hannah Hodgson. In week two we celebrate the North’s independent presses. Kevin Duffy from Bluemoose talks about the complicated process of publishing a legacy work, Comma Press brings acclaimed writers Martyn Bedford and Sean O’Brien to Lancaster for a Short Story Showcase, Heidi James reads from her new novel So The Doves and we finish on an exclusive panel of the Independent Publishers themselves, giving you a special insight into their industry. In our third week we partner once more with Spotlight and More Music to bring you a bumper edition of this stalwart of the Lancaster arts scene. The evening will feature astonishing new talent Alabaster dePlume alongside firm favourite Ian Marchant. The next day we have a truly wonderful day of poetry, featuring three independent presses — Oversteps, Beautiful Dragons and Wayleave—alongside two double bills: Kate Fox and Rhiannon Hooson, followed by Philip Gross and Katharine Towers. Our final week begins with the return of Andrew Michael Hurley reading from his much anticipated second novel Devil’s Day. We continue with a new edition to our festival programme — Litfest Springfest — a two day celebration of nature writing featuring Jim Crumley, Kathleen Jamie, Paul Evans and Jackie Morris. We also bring you another Litfest first; a podcast literary walk around Lancaster, created by Inés G. Labarta. Last but certainly not least, our festival finale is a family friendly storytelling event featuring Swedish troll tales in a brand new performance from festival favourite Dominic Kelly. We look forward to seeing you in March. Jacqueline Greaves Chair, Litfest Board of Trustees Friday 2nd March 7pm Harry Potter’s Fantastic Beasts: An evening with Olivia Lomenech Gill The magical worlds conjured up by J. K. Rowling have enchanted readers for over two decades. Litfest are pleased to be launching this year’s programme with a very special event with Olivia Lomenech Gill, illustrator of the new coffee table edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Set in the historic Shire Hall at Lancaster Castle, this is a not-to-be-missed event for all fans of the books, films and anyone interested in illustration. Olivia will offer a behind-the-scenes insight into the creation of this extraordinary book, her life and work and some truly fantastic beasts. Cosplay is welcome at this event. ‘There is a wildwood spirit about Olivia’s work. She seems to be in touch with an inventiveness that everyday life knocks out of most people, as we toil through adulthood. She knows it’s not easy to keep that spirit alive and, Consequently, there is a determined joy in her work, a playfulness with hidden gravity. Animals and children are Olivia’s touchstones, all living creatures in fact, in their various landscapes. There are some imagined beasts too, but living ones triumph. Olivia calls herself ‘an untaught artist and accidental illustrator’. Perhaps that’s her secret. Her work speaks to everyone, unforced, and full of soul’. Kathleen Jamie, poet. Olivia lives and works in Northumberland, UK. http://www.oliviagill.com/ Venue: Shire Hall, Lancaster Castle, Castle Parade, Lancaster Tickets: £12 Full/ £10 Concession Tickets can be purchased in a variety of ways: Online: www.litfest.org In Person: Lancaster and Morecambe Visitor Information Centres By phone: 01524 582394/ 01524 582808 Saturday 3rd March 2pm YA Day: Cathy Forde: Story to Stage Young Adult fiction has seen a real boom in recent years and Litfest are delighted to welcome acclaimed novelist Cathy Forde to speak as part of our programme. Known for gritty and uncompromising prose that leaves readers thinking long after the final pages of her books are finished, Cathy has also worked with National Theatre Scotland on Theatre for young people. In this session, she will discuss her bestselling novels Fat Boy Swim and The Drowning Pond exploring the journey of adapting these from novels to the stage. A fascinating talk that will be of interest to writers and all interested in drama. Cathy Forde's breakthrough novel, Fat Boy Swim, was shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize and Blue Peter's 'Book I Couldn't Put Down.' It won the inaugural Grampian Book Award in 2004, and in 2014 was voted their 'Winner of Winners'. Cathy has adapted Fat Boy Swim for the theatre, commissioned by National Theatre of Scotland. Her novels Skarrs and The Drowning Pond won Scottish Arts Council book awards, andDead Men Don't Talk was shortlisted for a Scottish Children's Book Award . Cathy is an experienced public speaker and leads many workshops in creative writing and drama. She was the virtual writer-in-residence for the Scottish Booktrust and is mentor to young writers at Toonspeak in Glasgow. http://cathyforde.co.uk/ Venue: The Gallery, The Dukes, Moor Lane, Lancaster, LA1 1QE Tickets: £6 per event or SPECIAL OFFER YA COMBO £10 for both events Tickets can be purchased in a variety of ways: Online: www.litfest.org In Person: Lancaster and Morecambe Visitor Information Centres By phone: 01524 582394/ 01524 582808 Saturday 3rd March 3:15pm YA Day: Hannah Hodgson: The World of vlogging Ever wondered how to take the plunge and start a Bookish YouTube channel? Or maybe you already have, but wonder how to build up a relationship with publishers, viewers or authors themselves? In this talk and Q&A session Hannah Hodgson will be revealing everything she has learned (sometimes the hard way) to get you on your way towards starting a YouTube channel. She will be discussing everything from how to approach publishers for free books, how to manage your time when you have a serious illness or many commitments and how to get yourself out there using Twitter and other social media platforms. Most importantly, Hannah will be talking about how to enjoy yourself in your new online diary. Her favourite thing about her channel is the fact that her viewers feel like her friends - which means that she has avoided social isolation due to her disability. There will also be a Q and A session, where you can ask Hannah anything, from why she started her channel to what editing software she uses. Hannah Hodgson started her YouTube channel in June 2017. She quickly gained over 1.6k followers. www.youtube.com/c/HannahHodgson She reviews books and poetry collections on her channel; and also discusses her ill health to try and raise awareness of seriously unwell young people. Her first poetry pamphlet is due to be published by Wayleave Press in 2018 and she will be appearing in their showcase event ‘Wayleave presents…‘ on Saturday 17th March. https://hannahwritesablog.wordpress.com/ Venue: The Gallery, The Dukes, Moor Lane, Lancaster, LA1 1QE Tickets: £6 per event or SPECIAL OFFER YA COMBO £10 for both events Tickets can be purchased in a variety of ways: Online: www.litfest.org In Person: Lancaster and Morecambe Visitor Information Centres By phone: 01524 582394/ 01524 582808 Friday 9th March 7pm Everywhere is Somewhere: The World of vlogging A question of legacy Naseem Khan's memoir Everywhere is Somewhere explores how stories from our diverse community are essential in understanding what it is to be British today. A radical and a pioneer, Naseem was born in Birmingham to an Indian father and German mother. After studying at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, she was held as an 'Indian spy' whilst travelling in Pakistan during the second India-Pakistan war in 1965. She was ultimately released back into India. Naseem returned to London, and became part of the black power scene in Notting Hill, editing the Hustler magazine with contemporaries including Darcus Howe. Naseem sadly passed away on the 8th of June 2017. Here her publisher Kevin Duffy talks about the process of publishing her final work, chronicling Naseem’s extraordinary life. Naseem spent her life bringing communities together. Her books included Voices of The Crossing (2000), with Ferdinand Dennis, about the impact that writers from Asia, the Caribbean and Africa have had on Britain, and Asians in Britain (2004), providing the text to accompany photographs by Tim Smith. She also contributed to Being British: The Search for Values That Bind the Nation (2009), edited by Gordon Brown and Matthew D’Ancona. In 1999 she was appointed OBE. Kevin Duffy founded Independent Publisher Bluemoose Books in 2006 with his wife Hetha. They are based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire and believe in producing unique, transformative works. Their books have been published in multiple countries including the United States, Australia, India, Columbia, Greenland and Iceland. Kevin can be seen and heard ranting at various universities and library events. Venue: Waterstones, 2-8 King Street, Lancaster, LA1 1JN Tickets: £10/£8 Tickets can be purchased in a variety of ways: Online: www.litfest.org In Person: Lancaster and Morecambe Visitor Information Centres By phone: 01524 582394/ 01524 582808 Saturday 10th March 4pm Independent Publishing Day: Comma Press Short Story Showcase Since its beginnings as an artists’ group in 2003, Comma Press has continued to evolve into a thriving northern publishing house by embracing innovation, collaborations and digital media.