The Thurston and Ixworth Flyer September 2023 edition
Welcome to the September 2023 edition of The Thurston and Ixworth Flyer. In this September edition of the Thurston and Ixworth Flyer we have news and updates from local schools, clubs and community news.
The Foreword Festival: books, authors, and writing workshops
The first literary fringe festival in the UK is coming to Bury St Edmunds on October 7th and 8th – and you’re invited! The festival is based at the Guildhall, with additional events taking place elsewhere in the town centre.
Organisers Jackie Carreira and Rachel Churcher are on a mission to bring together authors, independent publishers, and speakers from around the UK for a celebration of literature that’s outside the mainstream. As well as a fringe book fair where you can meet the authors and pick up signed books, you’ll find a programme of workshops on writing and publishing, and a selection of readings by QuirkHouse Theatre of flash fiction from their ‘Fast Forward’ competition.
“Jackie and I are both passionate about reading, writing, and the power of books to inspire creativity and change lives,” Rachel explains. “We can’t wait to welcome you to the Guildhall in Bury St Edmunds for a weekend of books, authors, writing, and publishing!”
Entry to the book fair and the ‘Fast Foreword’ short story reading events will be free – you’ll find information on venues and timings at www.forewordfestival.uk. There will be a charge of £10 (£5 for 16-18s) for each of the workshops, and tickets must be booked in advance. You’ll find a purchase link on the website from the beginning of September.
Find your writing voice
Saturday’s workshops are aimed at helping you to discover your individual writing voice, and tell the stories you want to tell. Award-winning author, poet, and playwright Jackie Carreira will be leading a workshop on creating characters. Creative writing tutor Tiffani Angus will be offering advice to writers of historical fantasy and historical fiction. Award-winning Young Adult author and fiction editor Rachel Churcher will explore the importance of tense and person in storytelling.
Your path to publication
On Sunday, the workshops will be based around bringing your book to market. Whether you’re searching for an agent, or looking at becoming an indie author, these workshops are designed to guide you through the important decisions on publishing, branding, and marketing. Sunday’s workshops will be run by Softwood Self-Publishing, award-winning publishing and marketing specialists based in Stowmarket.
And there’s more …
The team will announce extra fringe events nearer the time via their website, www.forewordfestival.uk. For new announcements, up-to-date information on the festival, and workshop ticket sales, follow the Foreword Festival UK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
The festival is sponsored by local businesses Taller Books, QuirkHouse Theatre, and Softwood Self-Publishing, and supported by the Bury Literature Festival, which takes place two weeks later on October 20th to 22nd.
Welcome to the fringe!
“We’re excited to be holding our festival book fair and workshops in the gorgeous Guildhall in Bury St Edmunds – a building with 1000 years of history,” says Jackie. “We hope you’ll join us for our celebration of reading, writing, and individuality!”