FULL PROGRAMME 2024
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE - WE DON'T WANT ANYONE EXCLUDED BY COST
FOR KEYNOTE SPEAKER EVENTS WE ASK YOU TO MAKE A SMALL DONATION IF YOU CAN
FOR KEYNOTE SPEAKER EVENTS WE ASK YOU TO MAKE A SMALL DONATION IF YOU CAN
You are welcome to come and go as you wish. Come for an hour or stay the whole day and immerse yourself in the incredible stories of how God is still transforming lives today. Chat to all of the authors and be inspired by their testimonies. Be sure to enter our treasure hunt.
FRIDAY 6th September
14.00 Welcome (Revd Jo Regan) & Thought for the day devotional (Jane Walters ACW)
14.10 Book Fair open - Meet the authors, browse, chat, relax, enter the treasure hunt
15.00 Author Forum - Ask any author anything - Anything can happen
16.15 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
16.30 Free workshop with Brendan Conboy & Maressa Mortimer - Rise Above: Strategies for beating imposter syndrome
14.10 Book Fair open - Meet the authors, browse, chat, relax, enter the treasure hunt
15.00 Author Forum - Ask any author anything - Anything can happen
16.15 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
16.30 Free workshop with Brendan Conboy & Maressa Mortimer - Rise Above: Strategies for beating imposter syndrome
17.30 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
19.00 Keynote speakers - Adrian Plass FUNNY TALES 21.00 Festival CLOSED |
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SATURDAY 7th September
BOOK FAIR OPEN ALL-DAY
A DIFFERENT AUTHOR'S STORY EVERY HALF HOUR
BOOK FAIR OPEN ALL-DAY
A DIFFERENT AUTHOR'S STORY EVERY HALF HOUR
10.00 Welcome (Revd Jo Regan) & Thought for the day devotional (Jane Walters ACW)
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10.15 Author talk 1a - BRENDAN CONBOY (Stroud) - Book Blest Director
Was once told that he could never be an author but God had other plans. He has now published 16 books including 2 biographies, 3 novels, the entire book of Psalms in rhyme, a plethora of poetry and more. He is also a qualified editor and helps other writers via coaching and publishing. He is also available for workshops and speaking engagements. Brendan says that words are powerful. Whether a single word or a whole book. Words have the power to change lives. Visit website HERE |
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10.25 Author talk 1b - MARESSA MORTIMER (Stroud) - Christian testimony healing
Maressa Mortimer is Dutch but lives near Stroud with her husband and four children. Maressa is a homeschool mum as well as a pastor’s wife, so her writing has to be done in the evening when peace descends on the house once more. She loves writing Christian fiction, as it’s a great way to explore faith in daily life. Visit website HERE. 10.35 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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10.45 Author talk 2 - MARTIN LECKEBUSCH (Gloucester) - Hymn texts, Biblical Reflections
Martin’s writing ranges from hymn texts (of which he has produced over 600, including hymns based on all 150 psalms) to biblical character studies (The Call to Partnership) and a Lent book (Let Deserts Bloom). More recently he has been working on a one-year devotional commentary on the entire Bible, which is now nearing completion. Visit website HERE. 11.05 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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11.15 Author talk 3 - SUSAN SUTHERLAND (Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk) - Biblical fiction
Susan Sutherland is the author of the Leaving Bethany trilogy, telling the story of Martha and the first followers of Jesus. It moves from the confines of Jerusalem to the wider Roman empire. Martha discovers her courage to sacrifice everything to save those close to her. She learns that everyone is acceptable and this new Kingdom is open to all. Visit website HERE. 11.35 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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11.45 Author talk 4 - LETITIA MASON (Surrey) - Literary fiction
A busy wife and grandmother, Letitia taught in East Africa in 1972 and has returned many times on peace and reconciliation missions. She loves the velvet nights, the animals, and the people. The 'Maria of South Sudan' novels derive from real stories of families torn apart by conflict. She hopes you will come to appreciate their country and their resilience. Visit website HERE. 12.05 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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12.15 Author talk 5 - FIONA LINDAY
(Leicestershire) - Short Stories/Poetry & Young Adult fiction Initially wrote young adult fiction: Get Over It, Adventures, Onwards & Upwards. With prize-winning short stories: ‘Off the Beaten Track’ and life-writing called ‘Love.’ She facilitates life-long learners; creating Arts Council-supported anthologies Family Matters & Making Our World Better, Dahlia Publishing. Fiona’s inspirational collection is Count Our Blessings. She is a mentor, drafts picture books and edits her writing group's Christian anthology. Visit website HERE. 12.35 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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12.45 Author talk 6 - MIKE PEACOCK (Manchester) - Children's stories
Mike Peacock is an author, playwright, actor and screenwriter born and bred in Manchester. The recent audio broadcast of his children’s book ‘Angel’s Delight’ was short-listed for the Sandford St Martins broadcasting awards in 2023. He is also an award-nominated short film director and screenwriter and his first feature film is currently in post-production. Visit website HERE. 13.05 LUNCH - TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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13.45 Author talk 7 - ANDY MARCH (Coventry) - Prose, narrative, poetry
halwillpublishing.co.uk/Andy is a vicar with a passion for creative communication. Whether through monologues, poetry, sketches or spoken word, Andy seeks to find ways of bringing the Bible narratives to life and communicating them to all ages. His recent work challenges us to remember the extraordinary Gospel truths and invites us to become lost in wonder once again. Visit website HERE. 14.05 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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14.15 Author talk 8 - PHILIP S. DAVIES (Banbury, Oxfordshire) - Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
Novels: Destiny's Rebel trilogy and Cave of Immortality. After fifteen years as a Vicar, seeing the absence of teenagers from most churches, Philip was called to minister where they are, through stories. He runs Creative Writing Clubs in three local secondary schools with 70 to 80 young people every week. Visit website HERE. 14.35 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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14.45 Author talk 9 - EVE BONHAM (Dorchester, Dorset) - Christian Fiction
Eve has written fiction since 2006, creating books with an underlying Christian world view and moral code, but without preaching. She aims to write captivating stories that inspire and satisfy readers, whether Christian or not, by reflecting life with its trials and troubles. Her themes are hope and redemption; her characters struggle, make mistakes but persevere and come through. Visit website HERE. 15.05 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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15.15 Author talk 10 - KAREN MARTIN (Cirencester, Gloucestershire) - Dementia narrative non-fiction
Writes about friendship, faith and hope. When her friend Kathleen was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the axis of their relationship shifted. Memorable Loss is an honest account of a friendship that shifts the negative dialogue around dementia to an uplifting story of love and hope. She prays readers will be encouraged and empowered to support those living with dementia. Visit website HERE. 15.35 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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15.45 Author talk 11 - NEIL OBBARD (Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire) - Outreach to men in general
One Shot, one kill, one mission: Neil wrote this book to show people that no matter who you are, no matter what you have done or what problems you are facing. There is an answer, that answer is Jesus Christ. It is primarily given away for free in prisons especially veterans in prison. It changes people's lives as they know that God is there and he works today in people. Visit website HERE. 16.05 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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16.15 Author talk 12 - PAUL WREYFORD (Bude, Cornwall) - Humorous, fantasy fiction
As a former newspaper journalist, he jokes that he has had plenty of experience ‘making up’ stories! He writes non-fiction books, but his true love is fiction. His theological fantasy novel, What Happened After Mr Jones Died, delivers a serious Christian message in a fun and innovative way. Visit website HERE. 16.35 TIME TO BROWSE - CHAT TO AUTHORS
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16.45 TREASURE HUNT WINNERS - THANKS & FINISH
It's FREE TO ENTER! Pick up a form at the festival. Chat to each of the 14 authors and find out who matches the following facts.
- I am Dutch, and some of the words I use in my novels I have never heard, so I have no idea how to pronounce them.
- I'm enjoying being a chameleon writer granny to 5.
- My name means 'King Yellow Dog.'
- I’m a triathlete as well as an author.
- I taught in a 'Harambee' school in Kenya, aged eighteen, living with a fellow volunteer in a tin-roofed hut.
- I once won a holiday to America in a competition about postcodes.
- I went to the same secondary school and university as J.R.R. Tolkien.
- I am a 3rd Dan black belt in Japanese Ju-Jitsu and I like to juggle.
- My garage contains over 100 jars of jam, jelly and chutney which I have made over the past few years.
- Being an ex-sniper I can hide anywhere.
- My journalism career took me all over the world and, strangely, particularly to the seaside.
- I am the joint international coordinator for the International Christian Dance Fellowship.
- I sailed in a Whitbread Ocean Sailing Race (30,000 miles) around the World in 1977/78 as a crew member.
- Holidayed in Alaska as a teenager, where we stayed in a log cabin by a lake, where there were dried bear droppings and a toilet with no door and a bell to scare away the animals!
