Sturminster Newton Literary Festival- March 2024
The early bird catches the worm- and Sturlitfest tickets.
Image courtesy Pixabay
Early Bird Ticket Sales are Open
We appreciate all of you who have signed up on our subscriber mailing list, so we have opened our ticket sales with early bird prices. There are also some day ticket options, making things even cheaper. We will sell tickets at the full price from 5th April, so take a look at the programme and start booking. Enter code SNLFEARLYBIRD24 at the checkout, and you should find £2 off each ticket price (or a 20- 25% discount).
We are continuing to add information and events as we finalise details with speakers during March, so check our website regularly to see the full programme.
D Day Remembered
The nation will commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day with national events this year. As the date is close to the literary festival, we have dedicated Sunday, June 9th, to D Day with speakers and an exhibition.
Team member Sue Ashby is leading a project to collect local testimonies about D-Day and is creating an exhibition that will be free to visit at The Exchange in June. On Sunday, June 9th, the exhibition will include readings of some of the stories from local people.
We’re also delighted to welcome Lieut Col. James Porter, who will give a talk on the D-Day Spearhead Brigade: The Story of the Hampshires, Dorsets and Devons regiments in the invasion.
Taylor Downing will also attend the D-Day event and discuss his latest book, The Army That Never Was, and the deception surrounding the D-Day invasion. Read more about Taylor Downing here.
We have a special combined D-Day day ticket here, including the two talks and exhibition at the Exchange.
Inanna- possibly the first female literary hero
We’re delighted to welcome Dorset author Emily H Wilson to Sturminster Newton Literary Festival on 13th June. Emily is writing a trilogy retelling the Epic of Gilgamesh, and her first book centres around Inanna.
There are three heroes in this first book in the trilogy. First, Inanna, who is arguably the longest-lived female deity in history, since she went on to become Ishtar and then, much later, Aphrodite.
Second, Gilgamesh, the eponymous hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is probably the only Sumerian story to be relatively well known. (Gilgamesh was very likely a real-life king in Sumer, in about 3,000 BC.)
Third, Ninshubar, who was Inanna’s “sukkal”, or right-hand woman, and is central to the goddess’s most important myths.
Even if you know nothing about Ancient Sumer, though, the novel can be enjoyed simply as a fantastic adventure into our deep past.
Emily H Wilson will be in conversation with Jenny Devitt on 13th June. Tickets are available here.
Where to Stay in and around Sturminster Newton
We have updated our accommodation list of hotels, guest houses, and pubs with rooms, as well as camping and caravaning for those wanting to have a short break in North Dorset while attending the literary festival. You can check out our list here, and if you want to add accommodation, contact us.
Competition Time
Dorset Police have launched a writing competition aimed at preventing fraud. It’s based on fairy tales, and full details are here.
Shaftesbury Book Festival: Reading the Land
There’s a great book festival in Shaftesbury in March. Several writers, including Guy Shrubsole and Stephen Moss, will give talks about nature. You can see the programme and book tickets here.