History, seaside, postcards and crime combine as Margate Bookie’s announces the line up for this year’s literary festival.
The friendly literature festival by the sea, Margate Bookie, is back for its fifth year, with a line up that includes Mark Billingham, creator of the Tom Thorne crime series, and Lisa Jewell, who’s sold over 4.5 million copies of her psychological thrillers.
Billingham and Jewell will be joined by Louis de Bernières (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin), Alison Weir (the top-selling female historian in the United Kingdom) and Richard Skinner (head of the Faber & Faber academy).
Alongside the usual mix of writerly talk, tips and book readings, there are also plans for an “intoxicating” hour of burlesque, ballet and banana dancing, as SelfMadeHero and Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School team up for a unique life drawing experience.
Writing tips
Writers who attend the festival can also expect to pick up tips on craft, as well as how to break into the industry, as there are an array of talks planned discussing these very topics.
Sebastian Baczkiewicz, author of Radio 4’s Pilgrim, is set to share trade secrets on how to write drama. Meanwhile, in How to Perfect Your Submission, Scott Pack of Guardian Masterclasses will offer practical advice on how to pitch your book to agents and publishers. And, in their latest workshop applying the science of happiness to creative writing, Elise Valmorbida and Vanessa King will explore how to engage your senses to write freely.
Supporting local writing
The festival has long had a reputation for supporting local writers as well as big name authors – and the 2019 festival promises to be no different. There will be a mask workshop with Annie Sutton, group storytelling and rope making from the Listening Post and Waste Land Walking Group, and special movie shows at the Margate School. And local writers will read from their latest works, covering everything from comedy to yoga, love stories to local history, and everything in between.
Book your tickets
The festival takes place from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th November, and coincides with the Turner Prize being resident at the Turner Contemporary, offering visitors the opportunity to explore new and interesting art forms.
To find out more go to MargateBookie.com. Or buy tickets direct from Eventbrite.
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