Sturminster Newton Literary Festival - June 2024
Have you got your tickets?
With only a week to go until the Sturminster Newton Literary Festival 2024, final arrangements are heating up. Tickets are available for most events—check out the programme and book yours here.
Awards and Publications
Several writers featured in the Sturminster Newton Literary Festival programme this year have recently won awards, been featured in the national press, or appeared at prominent events.
We’re delighted to see our writers receive awards for their books. Elizabeth Delo has just returned from Chambery, where she was a laureate (or winner) at the 37th Festival du Premier Roman for her novel Becoming Liz Taylor. You can meet Elizabeth and find out more about her writing on 12th June.
Fiona Williams has been at Hay Festival as part of her book tour. We’re delighted she’s coming to Sturminster Newton on 14th June to discuss her writing and the House of Broken Bricks, a novel set in the Somerset Levels. Book your tickets here.
If you plan to attend the talk on Inanna by Cerne Abbas writer Emily H. Wilson, you will also be among the first to see the cover of her new book, Gilgamesh. It looks fantastic, and the publishers are working with us so we can be among the first places it is released. A wonderful event for those who like ancient history, fantasy, and mythology.
Taylor Downing will be at Sturminster Newton Literary Festival on 9th June, talking about his new book, The Army That Never Was, as part of the D-Day event. If you missed his feature in the Sunday Times Magazine on 26th May, here’s a link to the article.
The June Marshwood Vale Magazine has a wonderful feature written by Fergus Byrne on Douglas Adams and the book by Kevin J Davies. You can read it here and it’s on page 46 if the link doesn’t work. Tickets to the Douglas Adams event on 8th June are here. The Marshwood Vale Magazine also has a crowdfunding campaign to keep local journalism going. Read more here.
Jane Labous will speak about crime writing on 15th June, including her book Past Participle, which is set in Senegal. The Poole-based writer and journalist has just had an insightful feature published by Al Jazeera on the intimate and uplifting experiences of mothers and daughters around the world. Read it here.
Finally, Jim Carter spoke about his family and his book on BBC Radio Solent during May. There are a few tickets left for his talk on Hearts of Steel on 10th June.
D -Day Exhibition
Over the past few months, several local people have sent in testimonies from family members who experienced the D-Day invasion. These unique insights into a major historical event will be displayed as a free exhibition in The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, from 4 June.
The exhibition will be formally opened on 9th June as part of our D-Day event, and some testimonies will be read out as a reflection on the events of 80 years ago.
Free 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.
Free Zoom Talk
Our talk on The Bone Hunters, a novel set in Lyme Regis, will be on Zoom on June 11th and is now free with donations. If you would like to listen to author Joanne Burn in conversation with Jo Durrant, register here for the Zoom link.
