Anita Rani and Salena Godden will be in conversation this Saturday evening.

Read all about it…

Hastings Book Festival gears up for a stellar second weekend. Chris Connelley rounds up what’s been going on and previews what’s on offer

Michael Rosen preparing to open the festival.

This year’s Hastings Book Festival got off to a blistering start with a sell-out launch event at the Observer Building last Friday. The audience was treated to a linguistic tour de force by poet, writer, cultural commentator and all- round ‘national treasure’, Michael Rosen, who talked around the nature of language, the theme of his new book, Rosen’s Almanac.  In a fast, funny and participative hour, Rosen covered a vast amount of territory, generating whoops of delight and a queue to buy his book.

Alex Milway with Finley and Georgia at the Children’s morning.

Saturday opened with two lively children’s sessions at Hastings Library, where Alex Milway and Patrice Lawrence wowed tomorrow’s bookworms  ( and their parents) with song, dance, drawing and stories. Meanwhile, the OB hosted a busy book fair, with over 30 text related exhibitors, and the ever popular open mic session, hosted by Book Festival patron, Henry Normal.

Patrice Lawrence with young fans Somto, Kamsi, Cy and Ebube at the children’s morning in the Library.

Last Sunday was given over to workshops on writing comedy, nature writing and how to perfect the art of the short story, and a showing of cult 1980s movie, For Queen and Country, followed by a Q&A with its Hastings-based director Trix Worrell.

The festival returns on Thursday with a celebration of independent publishing. This is a must-attend evening for anyone interested in new writing, innovation and the encouragement of diverse voices. The session showcases the work of three independent publishers: Rough Trade Books, époque press and Prós Publishing – and some of their authors. It begins with a five minute opening pitch by researcher – and occasional HOT writer – Dr James Prentice for his latest book on trendification in Hastings and St Leonards.

The weekend programme opens with an intimate cafe session with Costa Prize winning author Monique Roffey, who’ll  be talking about her new novel, Passiontide, on Friday evening, before launching into the super saturday mega mix, which brings together a stellar guest list including Stella P Corbett on the art of gentle protest, former Green MP, Caroline Lucas, on englishness, ex-Lush musician, Miki Berenyi, on her life and the road, academic Clare Chambers on her new novel, Shy Creatures, Karen McLeod, on her eventful  life above the clouds as a member of an airline cabin crew and, as the evening showstopper, Anita Rani and Salena Godden in conversation.

Festival organisers report that a few best value whole day tickets for all of the Saturday events are still available for £55. You can see a summary of all the events from Thursday through to Sunday below. Full timings are on the Festival website.

The Festival concludes on Sunday, when popular poet Henry Normal returns for a special afternoon show celebrating neurodiversity, Everyday Adventures with our Autistic Son, before the curtain falls on the 2024 programme with a panel discussion on the state of publishing and an informal networking event allowing authors, publishers and book lovers of all backgrounds to socialise over a drink.

Festival Director Wayne Berkeley commented, “we are delighted with the positive reactions to our first week and look forward to welcoming new and returning audiences for the second half of the Festival this weekend, which will see an unmissable super Saturday of literary delights”.

All events are held at the Observer Building. You can book tickets via the Hastings Book Festival website.

Also in: Literature