Sturminster Newton Literary Festival News- April 2025

The countdown has begun to Sturminster Newton Literary Festival 2025! Our fliers are about to be distributed across Dorset and the Westcountry and will show all the books at the 2025 festival. Visit the website or scan the QR code on those with one to see more and book events. Don’t forget to use your subscriber Early Bird Discount. Submitting the code EARLYBIRD2510 allows you to get 10% off ticket prices until 15th April. And if you are looking for a 20% discount on tickets, join the Friends of Sturlitfest. Thanks to all of you who have already bought tickets- some events are selling fast this year.

Day Tickets

This year we have four types of day ticket available, which means you can see all the talks on that day at a reduced price. It’s also a good opportunity to listen to an unfamiliar writer with one of your favourites. And you can walk around the town between talks or visit one of the pubs or cafes.

Our First Friday Day ticket covers Natasha Solomons talking about her new novel Cleopatra and also the evening event with Mark Blackburn and Pen Farthing. Then the Crime Wednesday Day ticket includes talks by two award-winning writers, Tess Burnett and Rachel McLean. If you are feeling lucky, our Friday 13th ticket covers two talks about Thomas Hardy with Andrew Norman and Mike Langridge- and the Tracy Chevalier talk about the Glassmaker. Finally, the Saturday Day Ticket for 14th June covers three talks by Rachael Rowe, Greg Norman and Damien Lewis. if you have already bought a ticket to one of these events and want to swap to a day ticket, simply email us at info@sturlitfest.com and we’ll sort out the tickets.

Spotlight on Lorraine Gibson and Elvis, The King of Fashion

Elvis Presley would have been 90 years old in 2025. When we think of Elvis, his iconic music generally comes to mind as the undisputed King of Rock and Roll. He was a trailblazer in a new style of music. However, his clothes were also quite unique, and he championed several fashion styles during his career. Poole-based journalist Lorraine Gibson has meticulously researched Elvis and his classic fashion styles. From his unforgettable hairstyle to the incredible outfits he wore on stage, Lorraine has interviewed the people behind the fashions. Hal Lansky, who dressed The King, wrote the foreword. Lorraine’s book features insightful interviews with the people who knew him and dressed him, giving new insights into the life of Elvis. Lorraine travelled to Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis Presley leapt to fame in the 1950s, and walked in his footsteps and the places he hung out. Whether it’s the stand-out Vegas jumpsuit or the iconic sideburns, the spirit of Elvis shines through this book, as does the author’s enthusiasm for the subject.

Lorraine Gibson is an award-winning journalist and freelance writer, widely published in print and online. Author of Elvis: The King of Fashion, the must-have book about the man who was and remains the most iconic solo performer on the planet, she has a passion for fashion, history and, well, Elvis. Raised on her parents' Elvis records and watching his films in the school holidays, she was fascinated with his outfits and unconventional appearance and as a grown up, decided to write about how his clothes defined him as much as the music that surrounded him did. Elvis: The King of Fashion follows Lorraine's acclaimed debut book, Robert Baden-Powell: A Biography, with a foreword by Bear Grylls OBE, an examination of the light and shade that surrounds the controversial and wildly eccentric founder of the Scouts. Both books are published by Pen and Sword. Lorraine lives in Dorset with her husband and two daughters.

Lorraine will be at Sturminster Newton Literary Festival on June 8th, where she’ll take us on a Journey through Memphis in the footsteps of Elvis, the King of Fashion. Read more here.

Writing Workshops

We have two engaging writing workshops at this year’s festival. Award-winning writer Elizabeth Delo is leading a nature writing workshop on 7 June. Then, Don Nordberg will facilitate a Close Editing workshop on 14 June, where you can learn how to tighten up your prose. Booking is essential for these workshops as there is preparation work to do before the event.

Recent festival and book-related articles

Dorset Explored has compiled a list of indie bookshops in Dorset. We’re not sure they have all of them, but it’s an excellent list for those who can’t walk past a bookshop without going in.

The BV Magazine recently published a very interesting feature by Rupert Hardy on the real Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare in Dorset and Major Gus March-Phillips, who helped shape the modern Special Boat Service. The film was based on the book by Damien Lewis, who will be speaking at this year’s Literary Festival. Tickets for Damien Lewis are available here.

Dorset Magazine published an article by Rachael Rowe on Ten Significant Dorset Science Trailblazers, which you can read here. Rachael will speak at the festival on 14 June, and you can buy tickets here.

Running on Empty with Col. Guy Deacon was one of our most popular events at the 2024 festival. Sherborne Times has just published a very engaging feature on Guy’s work here on page 107. Then, on 10th April, Channel 4 will show the documentary about Guy Deacon’s journey through Africa to coincide with World Parkinson’s Day. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Guy spoke in Sturminster Newton, so have your tissues ready for the Channel Four programme.

Other Events in the Area

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead at Shaftesbury Arts Centre

This year’s spring show is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Performances run from 23rd - 27th April. You can get more details and book here.