Sturminster Newton Lit Fest- Festival Edition
Celebrating writers with a Dorset and Wessex connection
The festival has started well, and we hope you enjoy visiting the town and attending the events this week. We have already been treated to some excellent talks. Celia Brayfield gave a wonderful talk on Anna Sewell and her pioneering animal rights, right on the old cattle market site (AKA the Exchange) in Sturminster Newton. Kevin J Davies not only gave an excellent talk on the late Douglas Adams but included his connections to Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton. We also got to see some original artwork of the Babel fish and other memorabilia.
Fiction and Crime
If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, there is still some availability for our crime writing and fiction events. Award-winning novelist Elizabeth Delo talks about her first book Becoming Liz Taylor on Wed 12th June. You’ll find tickets to a wonderful talk on mythology and fantasy by Emily H Wilson here when she discusses her trilogy and Inanna on Thursday 13th June. As part of her national book tour, Fiona Williams will be in conversation with Jenny Devitt on 14th June, discussing her writing and novel, The House of Broken Bricks, set in the Somerset Levels. Book your tickets here.
Treat yourself to a day of crime writing with our day pass ticket to three talks on Saturday, June 15th. Or, come to see Paula Harmon speak about where she gets her murderous ideas from or the settings that Jane Labous uses in her crime novels. Finally, take part in an interactive event with Mark Bridgeman where you, the audience, are the jury. Will you find the defendant guilty or innocent? Tickets here.
More Excellent Speakers
There is still availability for Guy Deacon’s inspirational talk on travelling from London to Capetown on Friday 14th June. Jim Carter will be speaking about his family’s naval career on 10th June and there are a few tickets left.
It’s your last chance to register for our free Zoom talk with Joanne Burn on The Bone Hunters, a novel set in Dorset. Film night on 11th June has a few places left to watch the 2009 edition of Far From the Madding Crowd and meet some of the cast. If you fancy a ghost walk in Sturminster Newton, we still have a few places left on 17th, 19th, and 20th June.
Crime Mystery Competition
From June 8th to 16th, you can enter our free crime mystery competition, which is sponsored by Bellway Homes. Pick up a flyer in town or download it online from our website. From June 8th, you will find a clue in these six shops in Sturminster Newton.
The Emporium (check out the books)
Once you have the clues, determine who committed the crime, where, the weapon used, and the motive. Send the answer to us by posting it in the box in The Exchange or emailing us the answers to info@sturlitfest.com by the 16th of June. The first correct answers will win book tokens. First prize £40, Second Prize £30, Third prize £20, Fourth prize £10 book tokens.
D Day Exhibition
The D-Day exhibition, full of local testimonies, is on display in The Exchange until 15th June. Do spend a moment reading the accounts of the invasion.